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)
- Accept the Lead & Play From Own Hand: You take the card and play second from your hand (partner becomes dummy).
- Accept the Lead & Become Dummy: You table your hand face-up, and your partner plays the hand as declarer.
- 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.
- Forbid the Correct Lead: You prohibit the proper leader from leading that suit. The card returns to the offender's hand.
- 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.
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