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

[Harald Skjæran]

On 04/04/2008, Robert Frick <rfrick at rfrick.info> wrote:
> 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
>
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>
To cite Law 73B1 seems very strange to me. Law 73 define the correct
form for communication between partners regarding how they communicate
the cards they hold to be able to bid to the best contract or to find
the best defence.

I can't see how this law can be used to stop someone from telling
their partner that he is about to lead or make a call out of turn, not
play a penalty card etc.

You can argue that since these aren't positively allowed in the laws
(pre 2007), they're forbidden. But I don't see how you can twist law
73 to have such meaning.

I've stopped several partners from doing such mistakes, and also been
stopped by partners. Of course I've also stopped several opponents
too. And opponents have stopped their partners. My belief is that this
is how it should be.


-- 
Kind regards,
Harald Skjæran