Revoke

[Chris]

Here's one that tricked me today - I'm not sure whether I made the right decision .....

I was North and East was the declarer - they were in a spades contract. The King of clubs and some small clubs were in dummy and after a few rounds I led the Jack of clubs which was trumped by declarer, small clulb from my partner and a small club called from dummy.

I actually didn't realise the Jack had been trumped, and immediately led another club, thinking (correctly) that my partner had the Ace ... at that point East said "oh, did you lead a club - I have a club" and she faced the 9 of clubs and took back her small trump ... my question is, can she now play the King of clubs from dummy ? My partner did not withdraw her played card.

I have read and re-read Law 62 A, B and C (after a few wines) and really cannot understand it - I did not allow declarer to change her call from dummy, but am now thinking I was wrong. Help !!

[Ed Reppert]

Let's take it one step at a time.

Declarer revoked (Law 61A).
She must correct the revoke if she becomes aware of it before it becomes established (Law 62A).
The revoke has not been established, as the conditions for that have not been met (Law 63A1).
The revoke must be corrected (Law 62A again).
The trump goes back in declarer's hand (Law 62B2).
South may now choose to withdraw her low club and substitute another (Law 62C1).
If (and only if) South chose to withdraw her played card, declarer may withdraw the card played from dummy and substitute the King (Law 62C2).
However, as South did not do that, dummy's low card cannot be withdrawn (also Law 62C2).

So no, you weren't wrong.

Technically, you led out of turn when you led the second club, because at that moment the lead was in declarer's hand. I would ignore that in ruling, though, since after the revoke is corrected, you do retain the lead.

[Chris]

Cheers, thanks Ed.

We have our "peer support" directors' group meeting coming up in a few weeks so it is a great thing to be able to present a scenario - discuss it - then show them the answer that you have provided (complete with Law reference numbers).

[bluejak]

Originally Posted by Ed Reppert

Technically, you led out of turn when you led the second club, because at that moment the lead was in declarer's hand. I would ignore that in ruling, though, since after the revoke is corrected, you do retain the lead.

Hmm. Ignoring a lead out of turn? Is that correct?

Let us approach it another way. Law 62C1 allows the non-offending side to withdraw any card played after the revoke. It does not say "in turn". So the second club may be withdrawn under that Law.

[Ed Reppert]

Hm. Okay, that works better.