Declarer plays wrong card
I'd be interested on the ruling on the following situation: declarer is in a diamond contract and plays another suit from dummy not expecting me to be void in that suit, and I ruff with 9D. Declarer also ruffs but with a lower diamond and realises his mistake quickly and before my partner has played to the trick. We call the director and declarer says he pulled the wrong card (he had plenty of diamonds higher than my 9). The director allowed declarer to correct the card to win the trick. Should declarer be able to change his card to beat 9D?
Latest Posts on this Thread
- Ant Hopkins19 Jul 2016 at 10:58AM
I should have added that my partner didn't get a chance to play to the trick since declarer halted proceedings while changing his card to beat the 9D, at which point we called the director.
- PETER BOWYER20 Jul 2016 at 12:22PM
Possibly the Director was convinced Declarer pulled the wrong card out accidentally ? and ruled 45C.4(b) "unintended"?
However...IMO
As you say;
"Declarer also ruffs but with a lower diamond and realises his mistake quickly"
The answer has got to be "No" - surely? - Law 45C.2 Compulsory Play of Card.Perhaps one of our National Directors could comment?
- Michael Ware20 Jul 2016 at 04:11PM
Peter is absolutely correct. The "played card" rule applies - "Declarer must play a card from his hand if it is (a) held face up, touching or nearly touching the table; or (b) maintained in such a position as to indicate that it has been played."
The "unintended" law relates only to cards thar are "designated" or named - ie the calling/naming of the card to be played from dummy.
The logic behind this apparent inconsistency is that the laws are trying to correct the situation where you clearly intend to do one thing but SAY or WRITE something else - not play something else. This is why you are possibly allowed to correct an unintended call under law as well.
Michael
- BETTY HOPLEY10 Aug 2016 at 06:04PM
In a similar situation, East leads a club, declarer plays low from dummy and pulls the Jack from his hand, then notices West has played the Queen.
The Jack is still in his hand, at the same level as the remaining cards in his other hand, not near the table but visible to all.
Is this a played card or may declarer return the Jack to hand and play the King?
The Director did not allow declarer to change his card.
- NICK WHITTEN11 Aug 2016 at 09:49AM
I agree with the Director in Betty's example
Although the Law (45C2(b)) is open to varying interpretation here
(must be played if) "maintained in such a position as to indicate it has been played"The law for a defender is different "if it is possible for partner to see its face" but I think it is reasonable to use that as a guideline for the declarer in grey areas
BTW pretty dumb play by declarer wasn't it?
If I had to rule on a contested claim at the start of that trick, I would regard losing to the queen as "irrational" not "careless"Nick Whitten
- Wilma Duncan14 Feb 2020 at 11:35AM
When something like this happens at.my club, the response at the table usually is “declarer can do no wrong”. I would really like to know if this is true.
- NICK WHITTEN14 Feb 2020 at 05:42PM
Hi Wilma
To say "Declarer can do no wrong" is unmitigated nonsense
Whoever said that might have been thinking of Law 48A
"declarer is not subject to restriction for exposing a card"
and
"declarer is not required to play any card dropped accidentally"Which is not the same
"Played card" laws apply to declarer and defenders
Nick
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