A call has been made when it has been pulled from the box with apparent intent.

This means that once the bid is out of the box you have made that call even if no one has actually seen it.

Of course if you have accidentally pulled out too many cards or grabbed a card you didn’t intend (a mechanical error) you can correct it, but it is always best to call the director if there is any doubt.

This would also cover the situation if you put a pass or double followed by jump bid on the table. i.e. you missed the stop card!

A bid has not been made if you get as far as producing a stop card and realise it’s not your bid.

Please try not to fiddle or touch the cards in the box until you make up your mind. Touching various cards shows indecision, which is "unauthorised information" and could put your partner in a difficult position when they have to make a bid that they must be able to justify wasn’t influenced by your indecision.

How well do you know the laws?

    With thanks to the London Metropolitan Bridge Assoc.

    The answers are below.

1.             You see partner is about to play from his hand when the lead should be from dummy. You think that playing from his hand is likely to be the better play.
(a) You are obliged to tell him he is playing from the wrong hand.
(b) You are not obliged to tell him he is playing from the wrong hand.

2.             Partner calls for a card from dummy but the lead is in his hand.  You think that playing from dummy is likely to be the better play.
(a) You are obliged to tell him he is playing from the wrong hand.
(b) You are not obliged to tell him he is playing from the wrong hand.

3.             Partner has played from hand when the lead should be from dummy.
(a) You are obliged to tell him he is playing from the wrong hand.
(b) You are not obliged to tell him he is playing from the wrong hand.
(c)  You may not tell him he has played from the wrong hand.

4.             Partner shows out of a suit.
(a) You may ask “Having none?”
(b) You may not ask “Having none?”

5.             Partner has one of his tricks pointing the wrong way and may think he is making his contract.
(a) You may point out his error.
(b) You may not point out his error.

6.             You notice that a defender failed to follow to a suit, but later plays a card from that suit.
(a) You should call the director immediately.
(b) You should call the director as soon as the last trick is played.
(c) You have no rights – your partner should have noticed.

7.             You notice that partner failed to follow suit, but later plays a card from that suit.
(a) You should call the director immediately.
(b) You should call the director as soon as the last trick is played.
(c) You don’t have to call the director - your opponents should have noticed.

How well do you know the laws?

Answers

1. Answer (b) is correct.

Law 42B2 says dummy may try to prevent any irregularity by declarer, and in the introduction to the laws it says ‘When these laws say a player ‘may’ do something, the failure to do it is not wrong.

2. Answer (b) is correct.

The same logic applies as to the first question.

3. Answer (c) is correct.

This time the irregularity has occurred, so dummy must not draw attention to it. Law 43A1(b) applies. He may point it out once the hand is over.

4. Answer (a) is correct.

Law 42B1 applies. This specifically says that dummy can ask declarer whether he has a card of the suit led.  Note that the  law has recently been changed. Defenders are also allowed to ask each other – see  Law 61B3.

5. Answer (a) is correct.  Since August 2008, you may alert declarer provided you do it before the lead is made to the next trick. See Law 65B3

Pointing out his error later may alert him to the fact that his line of play needs to be different. This would be unauthorised information, so Law 16A could apply.

6. Answer (b) is correct.

Law 42B3 says dummy may draw attention to any irregularity, but only after play is concluded.

7. Answer (c) is correct.

Law 72B2 says there is no obligation to draw attention to an inadvertent infraction of law committed by one’s own side. But note that Law 72B3 says you must do nothing to conceal the revoke, such as mixing the cards prematurely.