CHAPTER VI
The Play 
PART I
PROCEDURE
SECTION ONE
CORRECT PROCEDURE
LAW 41
- COMMENCEMENT OF PLAY 
- A. Face-down Opening Lead
- After a bid, double or redouble has been followed by three passes in
rotation, the defender on presumed declarer's left makes the opening lead
face down
. The face-down lead may be withdrawn only upon instruction of the
Director after an irregularity (see Law 47E2);
the withdrawn card must be returned to the defender's hand.
- B. Review of Auction and Questions
- Before the opening lead is faced, the leader's partner and the presumed
declarer each may require a review of the auction, or request explanation
of an opponent's call (see Law 20).
Declarer or either defender may, at his first turn to play a card, require
a review of the auction; this right expires when he plays a card. The defenders
(subject to Law 16) and the declarer
retain the right to request explanations throughout the play period, each
at his own turn to play.
- C. Opening Lead Faced
- Following this question period, the opening lead is faced, the play
period begins, and dummy's hand is spread. After it is too late to have
previous calls restated (see B, above), declarer or either defender, at
his own turn to play, is entitled to be informed as to what the contract
is and whether, but not by whom, it was doubled or redoubled.
- D. Dummy's Hand
- After the opening lead is faced, dummy spreads his hand in front of
him on the table, face up, sorted into suits, the cards in order of rank,
in columns pointing lengthwise towards declarer, with trumps to dummy's
right. Declarer plays both his hand and that of dummy.
Sponsoring organisations may specify that opening
leads be made face up.
LAW 42
- DUMMY'S RIGHTS 
- A. Absolute Rights
- 1. Give Information
- Dummy is entitled to give information, in the Director's presence,
as to fact or law.
- 2. Keep Track of Tricks
- He may keep count of tricks won and lost.
- 3. Play as Declarer's Agent
- He plays the cards of the dummy as declarer's agent as directed (see
Law 45F if dummy suggests a play).
- B. Qualified Rights
- Dummy may exercise other rights subject to the limitations provided
in Law 43.
- 1. Revoke Inquiries
- Dummy may ask declarer (but not a defender) when he has failed to follow
suit to a trick whether he has a card of the suit led.
- 2. Attempt to Prevent Irregularity
- He may try to prevent any irregularity by declarer.
- 3. Draw Attention to Irregularity
- He may draw attention to any irregularity, but only after play of the
hand is concluded.
LAW 43
- DUMMY'S LIMITATIONS 
Except as specified in Law 42.
- A. Limitations on Dummy
- 1. General Limitations
- (a) Calling the Director
- Unless attention has been drawn to an irregularity by another player,
dummy should not initiate a call for the Director during play.
- (b) Calling Attention to Irregularity
- Dummy may not call attention to an irregularity during play.
- (c) Participate in or Comment on Play
- Dummy must not participate in the play, nor may he communicate anything
about the play to declarer.
- 2. Limitations Carrying Specific Penalty
- (a) Exchanging Hands
- Dummy may not exchange hands with declarer.
- (b) Leave Seat to Watch Declarer
- Dummy may not leave his seat to watch declarer's play of the hand.
- (c) Look at Defender's Hand
- Dummy may not, on his own initiative, look at the face of a card in
either defender's hand.
- B. Penalties for Violation
- 1. General Penalties
- Dummy is liable to penalty under Law 90
for any violation of the limitations listed in A1 or A2 preceding.
- 2. Specific Penalties
- If dummy, after violation of the limitations listed in A2 preceding:
- (a) Warns Declarer on Lead
- warns declarer not to lead from the wrong hand, (penalty) either defender
may choose the hand from which declarer shall lead.
- (b) Asks Declarer about Possible Irregularity
- is the first to ask declarer if a play from declarer's hand constitutes
a revoke, declarer must substitute a correct card if his play was illegal,
and the penalty provisions of Law 64
apply as if the revoke had been established.
- 3. Draws Attention to Defender's
Irregularity
- If dummy, after violation of the limitations listed in A2 preceding
is the first to draw attention to a defender's irregularity, no penalty
shall be imposed. If the defenders benefit directly through their irregularity,
the Director shall award an adjusted score to both sides to restore equity.
LAW 44
- SEQUENCE AND PROCEDURE OF PLAY 
- A. Lead to a Trick
- The player who leads to a trick may play any card in his hand (unless
he is subject to restriction after an irregularity committed by his side).
- B. Subsequent Plays to a Trick
- After the lead, each other player in turn plays a card, and the four
cards so played constitute a trick. (For the method of playing cards and
arranging tricks see Law 65.)
- C. Requirement to Follow Suit
- In playing to a trick, each player must follow suit if possible. This
obligation takes precedence over all other requirements of these Laws.
- D. Inability to Follow Suit
- If unable to follow suit, a player may play any card (unless he is
subject to restriction after an irregularity committed by his side).
- E. Tricks Containing Trumps
- A trick containing a trump is won by the player who has contributed
to it the highest trump.
- F. Tricks Not Containing Trumps
- A trick that does not contain a trump is won by the player who has
contributed to it the highest card of the suit led.
- G. Lead to Tricks Subsequent to First Trick
- The player who has won the trick leads to the next trick.
LAW 45
- CARD PLAYED 
- A. Play of Card from a Hand
- Each player except dummy plays a card by detaching it from his hand
and facing
it on the table immediately before him.
- B. Play of Card from Dummy
- Declarer plays a card from dummy by naming the card, after which dummy
picks up the card and faces it on the table. In playing from dummy's hand
declarer may, if necessary, pick up the desired card himself.
- C. Compulsory Play of Card
- 1. Defender's Card
- A defender's card held so that it is possible for his partner to see
its face must be played to the current trick (if the defender has already
made a legal play to the current trick, see Law 45E).
- 2. Declarer's Card
- Declarer must play a card from his hand held face up, touching or nearly
touching the table, or maintained in such a position as to indicate that
it has been played.
- 3. Dummy's Card
- A card in the dummy must be played if it has been deliberately touched
by declarer except for the purpose of arranging dummy's cards, or of reaching
a card above or below the card or cards touched.
- 4. Named or Designated Card
- (a) Play of Named Card
- A card must be played if a player names or otherwise designates it
as the card he proposed to play.
- (b) Correction of Inadvertent Designation
- A player may, without penalty, change an inadvertent designation if
he does so without pause for thought; but if an opponent has, in turn,
played a card that was legal before the change in designation, that opponent
may withdraw without penalty the card so played and substitute another
(see Law 47E).
- 5. Penalty Card
- A penalty card, major or minor, may have to be played, subject to Law 50.
- D. Card Misplayed by Dummy
- If dummy places in the played position a card that declarer did not
name, the card must be withdrawn if attention is drawn to it before each
side has played to the next trick, and a defender may withdraw (without
penalty) a card played after the error but before attention was drawn to
it; if declarer's RHO changes his play, declarer may withdraw a card he
had subsequently played to that trick (see Law 16C2).
- E. Fifth Card Played to Trick
- 1. By a Defender
- A fifth card contributed to a trick by a defender becomes a penalty
card, subject to Law 50, unless the
Director deems that it was led, in which case Law 53
or Law 56 applies.
- 2. By Declarer
- When declarer contributes a fifth card to a trick from his own hand
or dummy, there is no penalty unless the Director deems that it was led,
in which case Law 55 applies.
- F. Dummy Indicates Card
- After dummy's hand is faced, dummy may not touch or indicate any card
(except for purpose of arrangement) without instruction from declarer.
If he does so, the Director should be summoned forthwith. The Director
shall rule whether dummy's act did in fact constitute a suggestion to declarer.
When the Director judges that it did, he allows play to continue, reserving
his right to assign an adjusted score if the defenders were damaged by
the play so suggested.
- G. Turning the Trick
- No player should turn his card face down until all four players have
played to the trick.
The opening lead is first made face down (unless
the sponsoring organisation directs otherwise).
SECTION TWO
IRREGULARITIES IN PROCEDURE
LAW 46
- INCOMPLETE OR ERRONEOUS CALL OF CARD FROM DUMMY 
- A. Proper Form for Designating Dummy's Card
- When calling a card to be played from dummy, declarer should clearly
state both the suit and the rank of the desired card.
- B. Incomplete or Erroneous Call
- In case of an incomplete or erroneous call by declarer of the card
to be played from dummy, the following restrictions apply (except when
declarer's different intention is incontrovertible):
- 1. Incomplete Designation of Rank
- If declarer, in playing from dummy, calls "high", or words of like
import, he is deemed to have called the highest card; in fourth seat he
may be deemed to have called for the lowest winning card of the suit indicated;
if he directs dummy to win the trick, he is deemed to have called the lowest
winning card; if he calls "low", or words of like import, he is deemed
to have called the lowest.
- 2. Designates Suit but Not Rank
- If declarer designates a suit but not a rank, he is deemed to have
called the lowest card of the suit indicated.
- 3. Designates Rank but Not Suit
- If declarer designates a rank but not a suit:
- (a) In Leading
- Declarer is deemed to have continued the suit in which dummy won the
preceding trick, provided there is a card of the designated rank in that
suit.
- (b) All Other Cases
- In all other cases, declarer must play a card from dummy of the designated
rank if he can legally do so; but if there are two or more such cards that
can be legally played, declarer must designate which is intended.
- 4. Designates Card Not in Dummy
- If declarer calls a card that is not in dummy, the call is void and
declarer may designate any legal card.
- 5. No Suit or Rank Designated
- If declarer indicates a play without designating either a suit or rank
(as by saying, "play anything", or words of like import), either defender
may designate the play from dummy.
LAW 47
- RETRACTION OF CARD PLAYED 
- A. To Comply with Penalty
- A card once played may be withdrawn to comply with a penalty (but a
defender's withdrawn card may become a penalty card - see Law 49).
- B. To Correct an Illegal Play
- A played card may be withdrawn to correct an illegal or simultaneous
play (see Law 58 for simultaneous play;
and, for defenders, see Law 49, penalty
card).
- C. To Change an Inadvertent Designation
- A played card may be withdrawn without penalty after a change of designation
as permitted by Law 45C4(b).
- D. Following Opponent's Change of Play
- After an opponent's change of play, a played card may be withdrawn
without penalty (but see Law 62C2)
to substitute another card for the one played.
- E. Change of Play Based on Misinformation
- 1. Lead out of Turn
- A lead out of turn may be retracted without penalty if the leader was
mistakenly informed by an opponent that it was his turn to lead (LHO should
not accept the lead).
- 2. Retraction of Play
- (a) No One Has Subsequently Played
- A player may retract the card he has played because of a mistaken explanation
of an opponent's call or play and before a corrected explanation, but only
if no card was subsequently played to that trick. An opening lead may not
be retracted after dummy has faced any card.
- (b) One or More Subsequent Plays Made
- When it is too late to correct a play, under (a) preceding, Law 40C
applies.
- F. Illegal Retraction
- Except as provided in A through E preceding, a card once played may
not be withdrawn.
PART II
PENALTY CARD
LAW 48
- EXPOSURE OF DECLARER'S CARDS 
- A. Declarer Exposes a Card
- Declarer is not subject to penalty for exposing a card, and no card
of declarer's or dummy's hand ever becomes a penalty card. Declarer is
not required to play any card dropped accidentally.
- B. Declarer Faces Cards
- 1. After Opening Lead out of Turn
- When declarer faces his cards after an opening lead out of turn, Law 54
applies.
- 2. At Any Other Time
- When declarer faces his cards at any time other than immediately after
an opening lead out of turn, he may be deemed to have made a claim or concession
of tricks, and Law 68 then applies.
LAW 49
- EXPOSURE OF A DEFENDER'S CARDS 
Except in the normal course of play or application of law, when a defender's
card is in a position in which his partner could possibly see its face,
or when a defender names a card as being in his hand, (penalty) each such
card becomes a penalty card (Law 50);
but see the footnote to Law 68,
when a defender has made a statement concerning an uncompleted trick currently
in progress.
LAW 50
- DISPOSITION OF PENALTY CARD 
A card prematurely exposed (but not led, see Law 57)
by a defender is a penalty card unless the Director designates otherwise.
The Director shall award an adjusted score, in lieu of the rectifications
below, when he deems that Law 72B1
applies.
- A. Penalty Card Remains Exposed
- A penalty card must be left face up on the table immediately before
the player to whom it belongs, until it is played or until an alternate
penalty has been selected.
- B. Major or Minor Penalty Card?
- A single card below the rank of an honour and exposed inadvertently
(as in playing two cards to a trick, or in dropping a card accidentally)
becomes a minor penalty card. Any card of honour rank, or any card exposed
through deliberate play (as in leading out of turn, or in revoking and
then correcting), becomes a major penalty card; when one defender has two
or more penalty cards, all such cards become major penalty cards.
- C. Disposition of Minor Penalty Card
- When a defender has a minor penalty card, he may not play any other
card of the same suit below the rank of an honour until he has first played
the penalty card (however, he is entitled to play an honour card instead).
Offender's partner is not subject to lead penalty, but information gained
through seeing the penalty card is extraneous, unauthorised (see Law 16A).
- D. Disposition of Major Penalty Card
- When a defender has a major penalty card, both the offender and his
partner may be subject to restriction, the offender whenever he is to play,
the partner when he is to lead.
- 1. Offender to Play
- A major penalty card must be played at the first legal opportunity,
whether in leading, following suit, discarding or trumping (the requirement
that offender must play the card is authorised information for his partner;
however, other information arising from facing of the penalty card is unauthorised
for partner). If a defender has two or more penalty cards that can legally
be played, declarer may designate which is to be played. The obligation
to follow suit, or to comply with a lead or play penalty, takes precedence
over the obligation to play a major penalty card, but the penalty card
must still be left face up on the table and played at the next legal opportunity.
- 2. Offender's Partner to Lead
- When a defender has the lead while his partner has a major penalty
card, he may not lead until declarer has stated which of the options below
is selected (if the defender leads prematurely, he is subject to penalty
under Law 49). Declarer may choose:
- (a) Require or Forbid Lead of Suit
- to require
the defender to lead the suit of the penalty card, or to prohibit
him from leading that suit for as long as he retains the lead (for two
or more penalty cards, see Law 51);
if declarer exercises this option, the card is no longer a penalty card,
and is picked up.
- (b) No Lead Restriction
- not to require or prohibit a lead, in which case the defender may lead
any card; the penalty card remains a penalty card.
If the player is unable to lead as required, see
Law 59.
LAW 51
- TWO OR MORE PENALTY CARDS 
- A. Offending Player's Turn to Play
- If a defender has two or more penalty cards that can legally be played,
declarer may designate which is to be played at that turn.
- B. Offender's Partner to Lead
- 1. Penalty Cards in Same Suit
- (a) Declarer Requires Lead of That Suit
- When a defender has two or more penalty cards in one suit, and declarer
requires the defender's partner to lead that suit, the cards of that suit
are no longer penalty cards and are picked up; the defender may make any
legal play to the trick.
- (b) Declarer Prohibits Lead of That Suit
- If the declarer prohibits the lead of that suit, the defender picks
up every penalty card in that suit and may make any legal play to the trick.
- 2. Penalty Cards in More Than One Suit
- (a) Declarer Requires Lead of a Specified Suit
- When a defender has penalty cards in more than one suit, declarer may
require
the defender's partner to lead any suit in which the defender has a penalty
card (but B1(a) preceding then applies).
- (b) Declarer Prohibits Lead of Specified Suits
- When a defender has penalty cards in more than one suit, declarer may
prohibit
the defender's partner from leading one or more of such suits; but the
defender then picks up every penalty card in every suit prohibited by declarer,
and makes any legal play to the trick.
If the player is unable to lead as required, see
Law 59.
LAW 52
- FAILURE TO LEAD OR PLAY A PENALTY CARD 
- A. Defender Fails to Play Penalty Card
- When a defender fails to lead or play a penalty card as required by
Law 50 , he may not, on his own initiative,
withdraw any other card he has played.
- B. Defender Plays Another Card
- 1. Play of Card Accepted
- (a) Declarer May Accept Play
- If a defender has led or played another card when required by Law to
play a penalty card, declarer may accept such lead or play.
- (b) Declarer Must Accept Play
- Declarer must accept such lead or play if he has thereafter played
from his own hand or dummy.
- (c) Penalty Card Remains Penalty Card
- If the played card is accepted under either (a) or (b) preceding, the
unplayed penalty card remains a penalty card.
- 2. Play of Card Rejected
- Declarer may require the defender to substitute the penalty card for
the card illegally played or led. Every card illegally led or played by
the defender in the course of committing the irregularity becomes a major
penalty card.
PART III
IRREGULAR LEADS AND PLAYS
SECTION ONE
LEAD OUT OF TURN
LAW 53
- LEAD OUT OF TURN ACCEPTED 
- A. Lead out of Turn Treated as Correct Lead
- Any lead faced out of turn may be treated as a correct lead. It becomes
a correct lead if declarer or either defender, as the case may be, accepts
it (by making a statement to that effect), or if the player next in rotation
plays
to the irregular lead, but see Law 47E1.
(If no acceptance statement or play is made, the Director will require
that the lead be made from the correct hand.)
- B. Wrong Defender Plays Card to Declarer's
Irregular Lead
- If the defender at the right of the hand from which the lead out of
turn was made plays
to the irregular lead, the lead stands and Law 57
applies.
- C. Proper Lead Made Subsequent to Irregular
Lead
- If it was properly the turn to lead of an opponent of the player who
led out of turn, that opponent may make his proper lead to the trick of
the infraction without his card being deemed played to the irregular lead.
When this occurs, the proper lead stands, and all cards played in error
to this trick may be withdrawn without penalty. (Law 16C2
applies to a defender.)
But see 53C.
LAW 54
- FACED OPENING LEAD OUT OF TURN 
When an opening lead is faced out of of turn, and offender's partner
leads face down, the Director requires the face down lead to be retracted,
and the following sections apply.
- A. A Declarer Spreads His Hand
- After a faced opening lead out of turn, declarer may spread his hand;
he becomes dummy, and dummy becomes declarer. If declarer begins to spread
his hand, and in doing so exposes one or more cards, he must spread his
entire hand.
- B. Declarer Accepts Lead
- When a defender faces the opening lead out of turn declarer may accept
the irregular lead as provided in Law 53,
and dummy is spread in accordance with Law 41.
- 1. Declarer Plays Second Card
- The second card to the trick is played from declarer's hand.
- 2. Dummy Has Played Second Card
- If declarer plays the second card to the trick from dummy, dummy's
card may not be withdrawn except to correct a revoke.
- C. Declarer Must Accept Lead
- If declarer could have seen any of dummy's cards (except cards that
dummy may have exposed during the auction and that were subject to Law 24),
he must accept the lead.
- D. Declarer Refuses Opening Lead
- When declarer requires the defender to retract his faced opening lead
out of turn, Law 56 applies.
LAW 55
- DECLARER'S LEAD OUT OF TURN 
- A. Declarer's Lead Accepted
- If declarer has led out of turn from his or dummy's hand, either defender
may accept the lead as provided in Law 53,
or require its retraction (after misinformation, see Law 47E1).
- B. Declarer Required to Retract Lead
- 1. Defender's Turn to Lead
- If declarer has led from his or dummy's hand when it was a defender's
turn to lead, and if either defender requires him to retract such lead,
declarer restores the card led in error to the proper hand without penalty.
- 2. Lead in Declarer's Hand or Dummy's
- If declarer has led from the wrong hand when it was his turn to lead
from his hand or dummy's, and if either defender requires him to retract
the lead, he withdraws the card led in error. He must lead from the correct
hand.
- C. Declarer Might Obtain Information
- When declarer adopts a line of play that could have been based on information
obtained through the infraction, the Director may award an adjusted score.
LAW 56
- DEFENDER'S LEAD OUT OF TURN 
When declarer requires a defender to retract his faced lead out of turn,
the card illegally led becomes a major penalty card, and Law 50D
applies.
SECTION TWO
OTHER IRREGULAR LEADS AND PLAYS
LAW 57
- PREMATURE LEAD OR PLAY BY DEFENDER 
- A. Premature Play, or Lead to Next Trick
- When a defender leads to the next trick before his partner has played
to the current trick, or plays out of turn before his partner has played,
(penalty) the card so led or played becomes a penalty card, and declarer
selects one of the following options. He may:
- 1. Highest Card
- require offender's partner to play the highest card he holds of the
suit led, or
- 2. Lowest Card
- require offender's partner to play the lowest card he holds of the
suit led, or
- 3. Card of Another Suit
- forbid offender's partner to play a card of another suit specified
by declarer.
- B. Offender's Partner Cannot Comply with Penalty
- When offender's partner is unable to comply with the penalty selected
by declarer, he may play any card, as provided in Law 59.
- C. Declarer Has Played from Both Hands before
Irregularity
- A defender is not subject to penalty for playing before his partner
if declarer has played from both hands, or if dummy has played a card or
has illegally suggested that it be played. A singleton in dummy, or one
of cards adjacent in rank of the same suit, is not considered to be automatically
played.
LAW 58
- SIMULTANEOUS LEADS OR PLAYS 
- A. Simultaneous Plays by Two Players
- A lead or play made simultaneously with another player's legal lead
or play is deemed to be subsequent to it.
- B. Simultaneous Cards from One Hand
- If a player leads or plays two or more cards simultaneously:
- 1. One Card Visible
- If only one card is visible, that card is played; all other cards are
picked up without penalty.
- 2. More Cards Visible
- If more than one card is visible, the player designates the card he
proposes to play; when he is a defender, each other card exposed becomes
a penalty card (see Law 50).
- 3. After Visible Card Withdrawn
- After a player withdraws a visible card, an opponent who subsequently
played to that card may withdraw his play and substitute another without
penalty (see Law 16C).
- 4. Error Not Discovered
- If the simultaneous play remains undiscovered until both sides have
played to the next trick, Law 67 applies.
LAW 59
- INABILITY TO LEAD OR PLAY AS REQUIRED 
A player may play any otherwise legal card if he is unable to lead or
play as required to comply with a penalty, whether because he holds no
card of the required suit, or because he has only cards of a suit he is
prohibited from leading, or because he is obliged to follow suit.
LAW 60
- PLAY AFTER AN ILLEGAL PLAY 
- A. Play of Card after Irregularity
- 1. Forfeiture of Right to Penalise
- A play by a member of the non-offending side after his RHO has led
or played out of turn or prematurely, and before a penalty has been assessed,
forfeits the right to penalise that offence.
- 2. Irregularity Legalised
- Once the right to penalise has been forfeited, the illegal play is
treated as though it were in turn (but Law 53C
applies to the player whose turn it was).
- 3. Other Penalty Obligations Remain
- If the offending side has a previous obligation to play a penalty card,
or to comply with a lead or play penalty, the obligation remains at future
turns.
- B. Defender Plays before Required Lead by Declarer
- When a defender plays a card after declarer has been required to retract
his lead out of turn from either hand, but before declarer has led from
the correct hand, the defender's card becomes a penalty card (Law 50).
- C. Play by Offending Side before Assessment
of Penalty
- A play by a member of the offending side before a penalty has been
assessed does not affect the rights of the opponents, and may itself be
subject to penalty.
SECTION THREE
THE REVOKE
LAW 61
- FAILURE TO FOLLOW SUIT - INQUIRIES CONCERNING A REVOKE 
- A. Definition of Revoke
- Failure to follow suit in accordance with Law 44
, or failure to lead or play, when able, a card or suit required by law
or specified by an opponent in accordance with an agreed penalty, constitutes
a revoke (but see Law 59 when unable
to comply).
- B. Right to Inquire about a Possible Revoke
- Declarer may ask a defender who has failed to follow suit whether he
has a card of the suit led (but a claim of revoke does not automatically
warrant inspection of quitted tricks - see Law 66C).
Dummy may ask declarer (but see Law 43B2(b)).
Defenders may ask declarer but, unless the zonal organisation so authorises,
not one another.
LAW 62
- CORRECTION OF A REVOKE 
- A. Revoke Must Be Corrected
- A player must correct his revoke if he becomes aware of the irregularity
before it becomes established.
- B. Correcting a Revoke
- To correct a revoke, the offender withdraws the card he played in revoking
and follows suit with any card.
- 1. Defender's Card
- A card so withdrawn becomes a penalty card (Law 50)
if it was played from a defender's unfaced hand.
- 2. Declarer's or Dummy's Card, Defender's Faced Card
- The card may be replaced without penalty if it was played from declarer's
or dummy's hand
, or if it was a defender's faced card.
- C. Subsequent Cards Played to Trick
- 1. By Non-offending Side
- Each member of the non-offending side may, without penalty, withdraw
any card he may have played after the revoke but before attention was drawn
to it (see Law 16C).
- 2. By Partner of Offender
- After a non-offender so withdraws a card, the hand of the offending
side next in rotation may withdraw its played card, which becomes a penalty
card if the player is a defender (see Law 16C).
- D. Revoke on Trick Twelve
- 1. Must be Corrected
- On the twelfth trick, a revoke, even if established, must be corrected
if discovered before all four hands have been returned to the board.
- 2. Offender's Partner Had Not Played to Trick Twelve
- If a revoke by a defender occurred before it was the turn of his partner
to play to the twelfth trick, and if offender's partner has cards of two
suits, (penalty) offender's partner may not choose the play that could
possibly have been suggested by seeing the revoke card.
Subject to Law 43B2(b)
, when dummy has forfeited his rights. A claim of revoke does not warrant
inspection of quitted tricks except as permitted in Law 66C.
LAW 63
- ESTABLISHMENT OF A REVOKE 
- A. Revoke Becomes Established
- A revoke becomes established:
- 1. Offending Side Leads or Plays to Next Trick
- when the offender or his partner leads or plays to the following trick
(any such play, legal or illegal, establishes the revoke).
- 2. A Member of Offending Side Indicates a Lead or Play
- when the offender or his partner names or otherwise designates a card
to be played to the following trick.
- 3. Member of Offending Side Makes a Claim or Concession
- when a member of the offending side makes or acquiesces in a claim
or concession of tricks orally or by facing his hand (or in any other fashion).
- B. Attention Is Illegally Drawn
- When there has been a violation of Law 61B,
the revoker must substitute a legal card and the penalty provisions of
Law 64 apply as if the revoke had been
established.
- C. Revoke May Not Be Corrected
- Once a revoke is established, it may no longer be corrected (except
as provided in Law 62D for a revoke
on the twelfth trick), and the trick on which the revoke occurred stands
as played (but see Law 43B2(b)).
LAW 64
- PROCEDURE AFTER ESTABLISHMENT OF A REVOKE 
- A. Penalty Assessed
- When a revoke is established:
- 1. Offending Player Won Revoke Trick
- and the trick on which the revoke occurred was won by the offending
player, (penalty) after play ceases, the trick on which the revoke occurred,
plus one of any subsequent tricks won by the offending side, are transferred
to the non-offending side;
- 2. Offending Player Did Not Win Revoke Trick
- and the trick on which the revoke occurred was not won by the offending
player, then, if the offending side won that or any subsequent trick, (penalty)
after play ceases, one trick is transferred to the non-offending side;
also, if an additional trick was subsequently won by the offending player
with a card that he could legally have played to the revoke trick, one
such trick is transferred to the non-offending side.
- B. No Penalty Assessed
- The penalty for an established revoke does not apply:
- 1. Offending Side Fails to Win Revoke Trick or Subsequent Trick
- if the offending side did not win either the revoke trick or any subsequent
trick.
- 2. Second Revoke in Same Suit by Offender
- to a subsequent revoke in the same suit by the same player.
- 3. Revoke by Failure to Play a Faced Card
- if the revoke was made in failing to play any card faced on the table
or belonging to a hand faced on the table, including a card from dummy's
hand.
- 4. After Non-offending Side Calls to Next Deal
- if attention was first drawn to the revoke after a member of the non-offending
side has made a call on the subsequent deal.
- 5. After Round Has Ended
- if attention was first drawn to the revoke after the round has ended.
- 6. Revoke on Twelfth Trick
- to a revoke on the twelfth trick.
- C. Director Responsible for Equity
- When, after any established revoke, including those not subject to
penalty, the Director deems that the non-offending side is insufficiently
compensated by this Law for the damage caused, he shall assign an adjusted
score.
PART IV
TRICKS
LAW 65
- ARRANGEMENT OF TRICKS 
- A. Completed Trick
- When four cards have been played to a trick, each player turns his
own card face down near him on the table.
- B. Keeping Track of the Ownership of Tricks
- 1. Tricks Won
- If the player's side has won the trick, the card is pointed lengthwise
toward his partner.
- 2. Tricks Lost
- If the opponents have won the trick, the card is pointed lengthwise
toward the opponents.
- C. Orderliness
- Each player arranges his own cards in an orderly overlapping row in
the sequence played, so as to permit review of the play after its completion,
if necessary to determine the number of tricks won by each side or the
order in which the cards were played.
- D. Agreement on Results of Play
- A player should not disturb the order of his played cards until agreement
has been reached on the number of tricks won. A player who fails to comply
with the provisions of this Law jeopardises his right to claim ownership
of doubtful tricks or to claim a revoke.
LAW 66
- INSPECTION OF TRICKS 
- A. Current Trick
- So long as his side has not led or played to the next trick, declarer
or either defender may, until he has turned his own card face down on the
table, require that all cards just played to the trick be faced for his
inspection.
- B. Own Last Card
- Until a card is led to the next trick, declarer or either defender
may inspect, but not expose, his own last card played.
- C. Quitted Tricks
- Thereafter, until play ceases, quitted tricks may not be inspected
(except at the Director's specific instruction; for example, to verify
a claim of a revoke).
- D. After the Conclusion of Play
- After play ceases, the played and unplayed cards may be inspected to
settle a claim of a revoke, or of the number of tricks won or lost; but
no player should handle cards other than his own. If, after such a claim
has been made, a player mixes his cards in such a manner that the Director
can no longer ascertain the facts, the Director shall rule in favour of
the other side.
LAW 67
- DEFECTIVE TRICK 
- A. Before Both Sides Play to Next Trick
- When a player has omitted to play to a trick, or has played too many
cards to a trick, the error must be rectified if attention is drawn to
the irregularity before a player on each side has played to the following
trick.
- 1. Player Failed to Play Card
- To rectify omission to play to a trick, the offender supplies a card
he can legally play.
- 2. Player Contributed Too Many Cards
- To rectify the play of too many cards to a trick, Law 45E
(Fifth Card Played to a Trick) or Law 58B
(Simultaneous Cards from One Hand) shall be applied.
- B. After Both Sides Play to Next Trick
- After both sides have played to the following trick, when attention
is drawn to a defective trick or when the Director determines that there
had been a defective trick (from the fact that one player has too few or
too many cards in his hand, and a correspondingly incorrect number of played
cards), the Director establishes which trick was defective. To rectify
the number of cards, the Director should proceed as follows.
- 1. Offender Has Too Many Cards
- When the offender has failed to play a card to the defective trick,
the Director shall require him forthwith to face a card, and to place it
appropriately among his played cards (this card does not affect ownership
of the trick); if
- (a) Offender Has Card of Suit Led
- the offender has a card of the suit led to the defective trick, he
must choose such a card to place among his played cards, and there is no
penalty;
- (b) Has No Card of Suit Led
- the offender has no card of the suit led to the defective trick, he
chooses any card to place among his played cards, and (penalty) he is deemed
to have revoked on the defective trick - he may be subject to the one-trick
penalty of Law 64.
- 2. Offender Has Too Few Cards
- When the offender has played more than one card to the defective trick,
the Director inspects the played cards, and requires the offender to restore
to his hand all extra cards
, leaving among the played cards the one faced in playing to the
defective trick (if the Director is unable to determine which card was
faced, the offender leaves the highest of the cards that he could legally
have played to the trick). A restored card is deemed to have belonged continuously
to the offender's hand, and a failure to have played it to an earlier trick
may constitute a revoke.
The Director should avoid, when possible, exposing
a defender's played cards, but if an extra card to be restored to a defender's
hand has been exposed, it becomes a penalty card (see Law 50).
PART V
CLAIMS AND CONCESSIONS
LAW 68
- CLAIM OR CONCESSION OF TRICKS 
For a statement or action to constitute a claim or concession of tricks
under these Laws, it must refer to tricks other than one currently in progress
. If it does refer to subsequent tricks:
- A. Claim Defined
- Any statement to the effect that a contestant will win a specific number
of tricks is a claim of those tricks. A contestant also claims when he
suggests that play be curtailed, or when he shows his cards (unless he
demonstrably did not intend to claim).
- B. Concession Defined
- Any statement to the effect that a contestant will lose a specific
number of tricks is a concession of those tricks; a claim of some number
of tricks is a concession of the remainder, if any. A player concedes all
the remaining tricks when he abandons his hand. Regardless of the foregoing,
if a defender attempts to concede one or more tricks and his partner immediately
objects, no concession has occurred; Law 16,
Unauthorised Information, may apply, so the Director should be summoned
forthwith.
- C. Clarification Required for Claim
- A claim should be accompanied at once by a statement of clarification
as to the order in which cards will be played, the line of play or defence
through which the claimer proposes to win the tricks claimed.
- D. Play Ceases
- After any claim or concession, play ceases. All play subsequent to
a claim or concession shall be voided by the Director. If the claim or
concession is acquiesced in, Law 69
applies; if it is disputed by any player (dummy included), the Director
must be summoned immediately to apply Law 70
or Law 71, and no action may be taken
pending the Director's arrival.
If the statement or action pertains only
to the winning or losing of an uncompleted trick currently in progress,
play proceeds regularly; cards exposed or revealed by a defender do not
become penalty cards, but Law 16, Unauthorised
Information, may apply, and see Law 57A,
Premature Play.
LAW 69
- ACQUIESCENCE IN CLAIM OR CONCESSION 
- A. When Acquiescence Occurs
- Acquiescence occurs when a contestant assents to an opponent's claim
or concession, and raises no objection to it before his side makes a call
on a subsequent board, or before the round ends. The board is scored as
though the tricks claimed or conceded had been won or lost in play.
- B. Acquiescence in Claim Withdrawn
- Within the correction period established in accordance with Law 79C,
a contestant may withdraw acquiescence in an opponent's claim, but only
if he has acquiesced in the loss of a trick his side has actually won,
or in the loss of trick that could not, in the Director's judgement, be
lost by any normal
play of the remaining cards. The board is rescored with such trick awarded
to the acquiescing side.
For the purposes of Laws 69, 70, and 71,
"normal" includes play that would be careless or inferior for the class
of player involved, but not irrational.
LAW 70
- CONTESTED CLAIMS 
- A. General Objective
- In ruling on a contested claim, the Director adjudicates the result
of the board as equitably as possible to both sides, but any doubtful points
shall be resolved against the claimer. The Director proceeds as follows.
- B. Clarification Statement Repeated
- 1. Require Claimer to Repeat Statement
- The Director requires claimer to repeat the clarification statement
he made at the time of his claim.
- 2. Require All Hands to Be Faced
- Next, the Director requires all players to put their remaining cards
face up on the table.
- 3. Hear Objections
- The Director then hears the opponents' objections to the claim.
- C. There Is an Outstanding Trump
- When a trump remains in one of the opponents' hands, the Director shall
award a trick or tricks to the opponents if:
- 1. Failed to Mention Trump
- claimer made no statement about that trump, and
- 2. Was Probably Unaware of Trump
- it is at all likely that claimer at the time of his claim was unaware
that a trump remained in an opponent's hand, and
- 3. Could Lose a Trick to the Trump
- a trick could be lost to that trump by any normal
play.
- D. Claimer Proposes New Line of Play
- The Director shall not accept from claimer any successful line of play
not embraced in the original clarification statement if there is an alternative
normal
line of play that would be less successful.
- E. Unstated Line of Play (Finesse or Drop)
- The Director shall not accept from claimer any unstated line of play
the success of which depends upon finding one opponent rather than the
other with a particular card, unless an opponent failed to follow to the
suit of that card before the claim was made, or would subsequently fail
to follow to that suit on any normal
line of play; or unless failure to adopt this line of play would be irrational.
For the purposes of Laws 69, 70, and 71,
"normal" includes play that would be careless or inferior for the class
of player involved, but not irrational.
LAW 71
- CONCESSION CANCELLED 
A concession must stand, once made, except that within the correction
period established in accordance with Law 79C,
the Director shall cancel a concession:
- A. Trick Cannot be Lost
- If a player has conceded a trick his side had, in fact, won, or a trick
his side could not have lost by any legal play of the remaining cards.
- B. Contract Already Fulfilled or Defeated
- If declarer has conceded defeat of a contract he had already fulfilled,
or a defender has conceded fulfillment of a contract his side had already
defeated.
- C. Implausible Concession
- If a player has conceded a trick that cannot be lost by normal
play of the remaining cards. Until the conceding side makes a call on a
subsequent board, or until the round ends, the Director shall cancel the
concession of a trick that could not have been lost by any normal
play of the remaining cards.
For the purposes of Laws 69, 70, and 71,
"normal" includes play that would be careless or inferior for the class
of player involved, but not irrational.
Next: CHAPTER
VII - Proprieties Top of this Chapter
Previous: CHAPTER
V - The Auction
Last modified: Mon Oct 13 17:31:09
1997