Lead out of turn 

Lead out of turn Note that different rules apply to an opening lead out of turn. This section concerns leads to the remaining twelve tricks. After the first trick, if any player leads out of turn then either opponent (except dummy) may accept the lead. If the Left Hand Opponent plays a card to the illegal lead, he is deemed to have accepted it. Note that the defenders may not consult on the matter - the first defender to accept or decline the lead is assumed to speak for the partnership If declarer leads from the wrong hand, or leads when one of the defenders should have led, and the defence don't accept the lead, declarer simply replaces the card in the hand from which it came. There is no penalty. Declarer cannot have penalty cards and cannot be made to lead a particular suit. Really this is fair. Declarer has no partner to whom to give illegal information. If he illegally shows you one of his cards, that can only be to your advantage. If a defender leads out of turn and declarer doesn't accept it, the lead becomes the dreaded (major) Penalty card.

Opening lead out of turn Lead

When a defender makes an opening lead out of turn in bridge (Law 54), the declarer (or their partner if declarer becomes dummy) has five options: accept the lead (either playing it or becoming dummy), or refuse it and impose penalties on the offender, like forcing a lead in the same suit, forbidding it, or leaving the card as a penalty card. The goal is to rectify the mistake while potentially gaining an advantage, with specific rules for each choice. 

Declarer's Options (Law 54)

1. Accept the Lead & Play From Own Hand: You take the card and play second from your hand (partner becomes dummy).
2. Accept the Lead & Become Dummy: You table your hand face-up, and your partner plays the hand as declarer.
3. Require the Correct Lead: You ask the proper opening leader to lead the same suit. The illegally led card is returned to the offender's hand.
4. Forbid the Correct Lead: You prohibit the proper leader from leading that suit. The card returns to the offender's hand.
5. Leave it as a Penalty Card: The card stays on the table and becomes a major penalty card, to be played at the first legal opportunity, with the offender restricted.

Key Points & Common Scenarios

No Consultation: Declarer decides without help from their partner.

Offender's Restrictions: The player who led out of turn is restricted from leading that suit or cashing winners until they lose the lead (unless the card is returned).

Harmless Infraction: Often, it's a simple mistake; the declarer can simply accept the lead (Option 1 or 2) with no further penalty.

Director Call: If unsure, call the Director (Law 11).. 

My opponent has made the opening lead out of turn--Now what By: Larry Cohen

First of all, so it won't happen to you, remember to always make your opening lead face down. Give everyone at the table a chance to tell you if it isn't your lead. You can take back the face-down lead without any penalty.But, if an opening lead is made face up (out of turn), the first thing to do is for the declarer (the person who was supposed to be declarer) to (politely) call for the director by raising his hand and saying "director please." Don't make your own table ruling--that's what directors are there for.

The director will explain to the declarer that he has 5 (yes, 5!) options. I am often asked which one declarer should choose. There is no cut and dried answer. It depends. Here are the 5 options, with my comments on why you might want to choose (or not choose) each one.

Option 1) Accept the lead and just continue to play out the hand. Since the lead came from declarer's RHO (instead of the normal LHO), the declarer will be playing second to the trick. The dummy gets placed down before declarer plays and play continues normally with no further penalty.

Pros for accepting this option: You like the card/suit led
Cons for accepting this option: You don't like the card/suit led

Option2) Identical to Option 1 except that after the lead is accepted, you put your hand face up on the table as the dummy. Your partner (who was supposed to be dummy) becomes the declarer. You become the dummy and play continues without further penalty.

Pros for accepting this option:
 You like the card/suit led
 You think your partner is a better declarer than you.

Cons for accepting this option:
 You don't like the card/suit led
 You think your partner is a worse declarer than you (or maybe he is having a rough day).

Option 3) Make your RHO put the card back into his hand and forbid his partner from leading any card in that suit. Your LHO makes the opening lead (in some other suit) and the dummy comes down. Play continues normally, but LHO can't switch to the lead-out-of-turn suit if he holds the lead after the first trick(s). (For example, if LHO lays down a side ace, he can't then switch to the suit his partner led out of turn). LHO is not allowed to ever take advantage of the knowledge he gained from the lead out of turn.

Pro for accepting this option: You are terrified of the suit led.

Con for accepting this option: There isn't much penalty after trick one.

Option 4) Same as Option 3 except that after RHO picks up his card, you require LHO to lead that suit. LHO can lead any card in the suit and RHO can play any card in the suit.

There is no further penalty (other than again, LHO is not supposed to take advantage of the knowledge gained from the erroneous lead).

Pro for accepting this option: You welcome the suit erroneously led (and want the lead coming into your hand -- maybe with a tenace such as AQ).

Con for accepting this option: There isn't any penalty after trick one.

Option 5) You let LHO lead anything he wants and leave RHO's erroneous lead face up as a major penalty card.

Pro for accepting this option: You could have a big advantage later in the play because of the penalty card.

Con for accepting this option: You are allowing LHO lead any suit he wants.