[blml] Pointing out who won the trick [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Ed Reppert:

>It is commonly accepted in my neck of the woods (Rochester, NY)
>that a defender is permitted to point out to his partner that
>he has turned his card of the just completed trick the wrong
>way, so long as he does so "right away" (whatever that means).
>However, I am told by others, mostly not in the ACBL, that it
>is illegal to do so. I can find no law which explicitly
>addresses this question, no law that authorizes it and none
>that expressly forbid it.

[big snip]

Law 65B:

>>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.

Law 9A2(a):

>>Unless prohibited by Law, declarer or either defender may
>>call attention to an irregularity that occurs during the
>>play period.

Richard Hills:

Failure to comply with Law 65B is an irregularity.  Since a
defender is not prohibited by Law 65 to draw attention to a
Law 65B irregularity, Law 9A2(a) permits a defender to do so.

_Dummy_, however, is specifically prohibited by Law 9B2(b)(1)
from drawing declarer's attention to a Law 65B irregularity by
declarer.  Some players and National Bridge Organisations have
suggested that in next year's Lawbook Law 65B gives a special
exemption to dummy to allow dummy to do so "right away", that
is before declarer's side plays to the next trick.


Best wishes

Richard James Hills, amicus curiae
National Training Branch
02 6225 6285