Evening star., 1928-11-27
BRIDGE TALKS
BY MRS. JOHN MUNCE, JR.

Continuing the discussion of the laws
of auction bridge, we now come to the
law regarding exposed cards. The fol-
lowing law is a very good one to re-
member, and one very few people seem
to know: That declarer is not obliged to
play card from his own hand merely
because he has exposed it. Exposing a
card in declarer's hand does not give
any beneficial information to dummy
(his partner), because dummy has moth
ing to do with the play. 1t is harmful
only to declarer's side, as it shows
something to the adversaries.
An entirely different rule prevails,
however, when either adversary exposes
card. If card of either of declarerS
adversarieS be dropped or lowered, so
that the partner of the holder of the
card sees any portion of its face, it is
exposed" and the declarer, whenever
it is the owners turn to play or lead,
can "call' it. In other words, demand
that it be played on that trick, unless
some other suit has been led and the
holder of the exposed card Is obliged
left face up on the table in front of the
person exposing it, until played But
while the declarer may call 1t, he can
not prevent its owner from playing 1t
at any time he wishes to do So Until
it is played it may be called by the
declarer any number of times. After
any call its holder must play 1t, un-
less he has TO follow suit.
When the first card is Led by the
adversary on the left of the declarer,
the dummy'S hand is spread face up
on the table and it becomes the duty
of the declarer to play from dummy
by pulling a card from it and placing
it in the middle of the table. The
or about any lead or play that the
declarer may make from the dummy
hand. Dummy has no right to sug-
gest any lead or play from his hand,
and If he does. the adversaries have
the option of demanding that the de-
clarer make such lead or play or that
he refrain from doing so.
The declarer. when playing from
the dummy, must follow suit if the
dummy has a card of the suit that
is led, and this rule applies to all
plays by all players. The leader to
any trick may lead any card he has
in his hand, but each of the other
three players, when playing to that
trick, must play a card of the suit
led if he has one. If he has not a
CdAO VI VIC Quiz Acu, 1AS HAY play ally
card he chooses, and If there be a
trump, can trump the card or cards
on the trick or not. as he sees fit
The play goes around in turn from
left to right (clockwise); the player
who wins a trick leads to the next
When a player does not follow suit
he lin the words of the laws) refuses.
and when he does not follow suit with
a card of the suit that was led. and
has a card of that suit in his hand,
he renounces. That, however, is not
necessarily revoke, because a player
is given time in which to correct
renounce and save himself from
revoke.
or course, dummy should not re-
nounce, because there are three players
with eyes open to see and correct an
error Of that sort. But it may happen
to any of the others, and in order to
give a player who renounces the op-
portunity to correct his error and save
himself the severe penalty imposed
upon q revoker, either adversary of the
declarer is allowed to ask his partner
whether he has any card in his hand
OF the suit that he is refusing. Dummy
has also the right, provided he has not
Intentionally looked at any unpIayed
card OF any player, to ask declarer
whether he has any card in his hand
of the suit which he is refusing. The
restriction which prevents a dummy,
who Intentionally has seen an unplayed
card in any hand except his own, from
asking his partner the question which
may save him (the declarer) from a
revoke, is imposed because the dummy
who looks over the cards of one or
both adversaries Is a nuisance, and the
dummy who walks around the table
and watches his partner play is worse.
In either event he may obtain in
formation that induces him to ask the
question, when without it he might
neglect to do so. When dummy who
has Intentionally seen card held by
declarer or either adversary asks de-
clarer whether he has any of suit
he is refusing, declarer is not allowed
to change his play If he have card Of
the suit and Is liable for any revoke
resulting therefrom.
There are many common expressions
used in asking this important question;
the most commonly used one is the one
naming the suit, as mo more Hearts,
Partner?" or mo more Clubs, Partner?"
The laws do not specify the exact words
to be used, but say you must ask your
partner the question.
Our next talk will be about the re-
woke and the penalty therefor.
Another bridge talk will appear in
next Tuesdays Star.