[blml] E = Mpc cubed [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Vulnerable: North-South
Contract:   Five Clubs redoubled
Declarer:   South

            2
            ---
            2
            A
---                      A
---                      ---
K                        AQ
K2                       ---
            ---
            ---
            3
            QJ

In this three-card endgame, West is on
lead and South needs two of the last
three tricks to make their redoubled
contract.

However...

The ace, king and queen of diamonds
are all major penalty cards.

Law 50D1:

"A major penalty card must be played
at the first legal opportunity ...
The obligation ... to comply with a
lead or play penalty, takes precedence
over the obligation to play a major
penalty card ..."

Therefore, if declarer wishes,
declarer could prohibit West from
leading their king of diamonds for as
long as West retains the lead due to
East also holding diamond penalty
cards.

However, suppose that declarer does
want West to immediately lead their
king of diamonds, would this law be
applicable?

Law 51B1(a):

"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."

Of course, the only way that 5Cxx can
be made is if West leads the king of
diamonds, East overtakes with the ace
of diamonds, then East continues with
the queen of diamonds - the contract
makes on a smother play.

Can this smother play be achieved by
declarer applying this law?

Law 50D2(b):

"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 ...
Declarer may choose:
...
not to require or prohibit a lead,
in which case the defender may lead
any card; the penalty card remains
a penalty card."

That is, can declarer simply announce
that declarer is choosing for East's
AQ of diamonds to remain major
penalty cards, and allowing West to
make any legal play?  If so, West's
only legal play (by the first phrase
of Law 50D1) is the king of diamonds.

But the choice by declarer under Law
50D2(b) is identical to the choice
by declarer under Law 51B1(a); in
both cases declarer is requiring
West to lead the king of diamonds.

However, the two identical choices
by declarer lead to different
outcomes; applying one Law sees the
AQ of diamonds remain penalty cards,
while applying another Law sees the
AQ of diamonds cease to be penalty
cards and picked up.


Best wishes

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