[Chris3875]

This is a bizarre situation that was reported to me by a neighbouring club. East was the dealer and opened the bidding 1C. North then LED a small spade. I looked at Law 24 (card exposed or led prior to play period) and noted that card be left face up on the table until the auction period ends, etc. I am a little confused with Law 24B - does that mean that in this situation South must now pass at his first turn to call ?

[gordontd]

Yes. I can't help thinking this law would be clearer if "then" were replaced by "and".

[ahydra]

Agree - that "then" is silly as it really does read like you're meant to pass after the auction's finished!

To the Changing Laws forum! \o-

I think rather than substitute "then" for "and", the entire bit

Law 24 said:

If the offender becomes
declarer or dummy, the cards are picked up and returned
to the hand. If the offender becomes a defender, every
such card becomes a penalty card (see Law 50)

should be moved to a paragraph D "At the End of the Auction". That way the progression of text follows the progression of play.

ahydra

[Chris3875]

One of the directors here has made a point that the small spade "prematurely led during the auction period" should be a minor penalty card should the offender become a defender.

Law 24 relates to the auction period, so a card led or exposed during this time is not a lead in the real sense of the word. A lead can only be made after the auction period finishes, so any card exposed before this cannot become a major penalty card if below the rank of honour.

I would have thought it was a major penalty card by virtue of the fact that it was exposed deliberately.

[gordontd]

What a strange argument for him to present, when the very law he quotes gives the lie to it. Perhaps pointing him to L50 as well would do the trick?

[aguahombre]

Was he trying to bid 2, 3, or 4 ♠? some of us old people can empathize

Wouldn't change the ruling, but...

[campboy]

Chris3875, on 2012-June-17, 04:56, said:

One of the directors here has made a point that the small spade "prematurely led during the auction period" should be a minor penalty card should the offender become a defender.

Law 24 relates to the auction period, so a card led or exposed during this time is not a lead in the real sense of the word. A lead can only be made after the auction period finishes, so any card exposed before this cannot become a major penalty card if below the rank of honour.

I would have thought it was a major penalty card by virtue of the fact that it was exposed deliberately.

Whether it is a "lead" is irrelevant. Law 50 says "any card exposed through deliberate play [...] becomes a major penalty card". This card was exposed through deliberate play.

[barmar]

gordontd, on 2012-June-17, 05:16, said:

What a strange argument for him to present, when the very law he quotes gives the lie to it. Perhaps pointing him to L50 as well would do the trick?

Yeah, he seems to be saying that "led during the auction period" is an oxymoron, and thus the law never applies in this case.

[jules101]

aguahombre, on 2012-June-17, 08:56, said:

Was he trying to bid 2, 3, or 4 ♠? some of us old people can empathize

Wouldn't change the ruling, but...

I once bid 1♦ (first bid of auction), and LHO (who seemed to be in a bit of a dwam) led the 2♦ much to the surprise of the other 3 of us at the table.

The director was quite excited to get an uncommon ruling rather than the usual nonsense!