Faulty claim

[Nick Whitten]

Declarer holds A 6 of spades (which are trumps) and claims the last two tricks with RH opponent on lead. He has forgotten the 7 of trumps is still out.
RH opponent, who holds a heart and a club, says “I am leading a heart”
LH opponent holds a heart and the 7 of trumps

I presume the TD would cancel the heart lead and allow a trick to the defence on a club lead & trump promotion (“play ceases when a claim is made”)

But what if the claim and the heart lead were simultaneous? That is both actions made when unaware of the opponents action.

[Ed Reppert]

Ordinarily, one would give the benefit of the doubt to the side which did not claim, but

Originally Posted by Law 70D3

In accordance with Law 68D, play should have ceased, but if any play has occurred after the claim, this may provide evidence to be deemed part of the clarification of the claim. the director may accept it as evidence of the players’ probable plays subsequent to the claim and/or of the accuracy of the claim.

I could be wrong but I think that in view of this law in both cases you should rule on the basis of a heart lead, not a club lead. So two tricks to declarer.

[bluejak]

Simultaneous acts are really very rare. A claim and a lead? Claims usually take some time, so the lead will be there face up on the table while declarer is still saying "I am ...". I would then treat the claim as following the lead and thus legitimate because the lead stands.