[blml] on warning partner not to lead out of turn

[Robert Frick]

The question is if you notice partner is about to lead out of turn (on  
defense), is it legal to warn partner?

David Stevenson has said that the "common interpretation" is that this is  
illegal. I have no reason to doubt this, but I am just checking. (In my  
local area, this intrepretation apparently is considered crazy.)

He then says that if he is called to the table, he would site the law  
(73B1) against illegal communication. He would then warn the player (Law  
90) and possibly apply a procedural penalty. I asked if the defender would  
be forced to lead out of turn, and he said no. I asked if Law 72B1 would  
kick in (player could have known at the time of the irregularity that he  
would gain from it) and the answer to that is apparently no also.

Is that the common ruling? I am having trouble believing it. (It makes  
sense to me that you don't punish a player for making that warning, but I  
am from a region that does not consider this illegal -- I want to verify  
that people who think this communication is illegal might nonetheless  
allow the information to be used.)

Sorry if this is inappropriate for this list.

Bob Frick