Chapter X: Section 10: of Etiquette provides, "If a player concede in error one or

more tricks, the concession should stand." There is no law affecting this situation, and, therefore, the section of Etiquette above quoted clearly covers the first portion of the query.

As to whether good sportsmanship would require the Declarer, under such circumstances, to voluntarily surrender any of the tricks to which he is entitled by law, does not seem to produce a more serious question.

It is true that the adversaries, by overlooking a possible play, made a concession that was not required, and that the Dummy noticed the error of the adversaries. Why, however, should the Dummy be obliged to correct this error any more than any other mistake of his opponents?

It is perfectly clear that, had a similar error been made by the Declarer, the Dummy could not have saved himself from suffering by reason of it, and, whether the question be either a strict interpretation of law or of sportsmanship, it is a poor rule that does not work both ways.

Both parts of the query are, therefore, answered in the affirmative.

CASE 11

The Declarer leads three rounds of Trumps, on the third an adversary refuses.

Later in the play the Declarer leads a winning card which is trumped by the adversary who has refused Trumps.

The player who trumped the trick gathered it.

The Declarer said, "How did you win it?"

The player answered, "I trumped it."

The Dummy then said, "Who trumped it?"

After this remark by the Dummy, the Declarer claims a revoke, the claim is disputed upon the ground that the Dummy called the revoke to the attention of the Declarer. The Declarer states that he would have made the claim, regardless of Dummy's remark.

Query: Should the revoke be allowed?

DECISION

Law 60 prescribes explicitly the privileges of the Dummy after he has placed his hand on the table.

There are exactly six things which he may do and no more.

Law 61 provides, "Should the declarer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play in consequence of which any penalty might have been exacted, the declarer is precluded from exacting such penalty."

Inasmuch as asking "Who won the trick?" is not one of the six privileges allowed the Dummy, such action is irregular, and must, of necessity, call attention to the revoke. Had the Dummy actually claimed the revoke, it would preclude the exaction of a penalty, even had the Declarer been about to claim it. It is, therefore, immaterial whether the Declarer would have noticed the revoke had the Dummy not made the irregular remark.

The question is decided in the negative.

CASE 12

The adversaries of the Declarer take ten tricks, but revoke. Under these conditions, can either side score "except for honors or chicane?"

DECISION

Law 84 provides that "a revoking side cannot score, except for honors or chicane."

It also provides: "If either of the adversaries revoke, the declarer may either add 150 points to his score in the honor column or may take three tricks from his opponents and add them to his own. Such tricks may assist the declarer to make good his declaration."

It is evident that the Declarer is given the option of either scoring 150 points or taking three tricks, should he prefer to make good his declaration rather than receive the bonus.

In the case cited, three tricks could not fulfill the contract, but should a thoughtless or generous Declarer elect to take a penalty which would not benefit him, in preference to 150, he would be acting within his rights.

The rule clearly decides this case. The adversaries "cannot score except for honors or chicane," and the Declarer can "add 150 to his score in the honor column" if he elect so to do.

Acknowledgment is made of the courtesy of The Whist Club of New York in permitting the publication of its code of laws and of the decisions of its Card Committee.

SUMMARIZED PENALTIES

For the benefit of those who wish to hastily ascertain the penalty for an offense or to refer to the law upon the subject, the following table of summarized penalties has been prepared. It does not include every possible penalty, but merely those of most frequent occurrence.

OFFENSE PENALTY LAW

Revoke by Declarer 150 points 84 _a_ Revoke by Adversary 150 points or 3 tricks 84 _b_ Revoke by Dummy None 63 Second revoke in same hand 100 points 84 _c_

Lead out of turn by Declarer None 77

{ Exposed card
Lead out of turn by Adversary { or 76
{ Called lead

Card exposed during deal New deal 37 _c_

{ Partner cannot bid nor
Card exposed after deal and { lead suit of card and card 65
before end of bidding { may be called

{ May be called and if exposed
Card exposed after end of { by Third Hand that suit 66
bidding and before lead { not be led

Card exposed { Declarer None 72
during {
play by { Adversary May be called { 67
{ 72

Two or more cards played at All may be called 70
once by adversary

Not playing to trick New deal 81 Playing 2 cards to trick Liable for revoke 82 Playing with less than 13 cards Liable for revoke 38 Holding 14 cards New deal 37 _d_

Misdeal New deal { 36
{ 37

Dealing out of turn or with May be corrected before 40
wrong cards last card is dealt

Declaration out of turn New deal 49 Double out of turn New deal 57 Pass out of turn None 49

Insufficient declaration Made sufficient and partner 50
debarred from bidding

Impossible declaration Made 7 tricks and partner 50
debarred from bidding; or
new deal; or previous
declaration may be made final

Dummy's calling attention to Penalty for offense 61
eliminated any offense

Dummy's suggesting a play It may be required or 62
prohibited

Declarer's naming or touching May have to play it 64
card in Dummy

Adversary's calling attention Partner may be required to 92
to trick play highest or lowest card
or win or lose trick

Giving information about Called lead 51
bidding after final bid

Fourth Hand playing before Second Hand may be required 80
Second to play highest or
lowest card or win or lose
trick

Cutting more than one card Must take highest 16