[blml] Difference in wording between law 24 and law 49 and consequences

[Ed Reppert]

On Dec 3, 2007, at 4:16 AM, Hans van Staveren wrote:

> My feeling is that the less strong wording of Law 24 would lead to the
> ruling in this case that the player could just pick up the card.

I haven't read the replies from others here, but it occurs to me that  
if I am sitting at the table, holding my cards fanned and facing  
toward me in the normal manner, every one of those cards is one of  
which my partner "could possibly see its face" -- if he gets up and  
walks around the table. The law, however, doesn't place constraints  
like "could, while sitting in his chair and acting in a reasonable  
manner, possibly see its face".

Nonetheless, I would tell the player who dropped a face up card on  
the floor, on his side of the table, to pick it up and put it back in  
his hand unless I had pretty clear evidence that his partner had  
either seen it, or made a distinct effort to do so. If an opponent  
has seen the card, well bully for him.