[blml] law 65A/Wayne Burrows/English language

[Wayne Burrows]

On 23/10/2007, Guthrie <guthrie at ntlworld.com> wrote:
> [Raija]
> To me (I am not a native English speaker)  the word *when* here means
> that players turn their card over  _after_ all four players have
> played to the trick but not _before_ all players have played a card to
> the trick. There  will always be fast players, slow players,  fast
> observers and slow  observers.  Nothing in the laws AFAIK prevents a
> slow observer from  inspecting the current trick, provided his own
> card was not turned over yet.  Perhaps the law could have said "After
> all four players have played a card"  instead of "When all four..."
> but to me both have the same meaning except  that "after" is clearer.
>  No time frame has been specified using either word, IMO.
>
> Interesting to see what native English speakers think.
>
> [nige1]
> Raija's and Jeff's interpretation coincides with mine. To avoid the
> possibility of Wayne's interpretation, I also agree that "after" would
> be better than "when".
>

'After' is only better because you do not like the implications of
having the word 'when'.  'When' is perfectly adequate if the intention
is that "When four cards have been played to a trick, each player
turns his own card face down near him on the table".  There is nothing
in this law or any other law that I can find that suggests that a
deliberate delay is allowed.

I am not talking about hastily turning down your card in order to try
and hide its value or suit from the opponents but a deliberate act at
the time 'when' the current trick has been completed.

Wayne