March 2022 - 36

RULING the Game
Q
At a recent tournament, partner and I bid up to
6NT. After the opening lead, I counted my winners
and was delighted to find 13 off the top. I
faced my hand and told the opponents, " I think I am going
to take all the tricks. " The opponents took a long look at
the combined assets between the hands and called for the
director. It was at that point that I noticed my spade holding:
In my hand, I had A-Q, and dummy had K-7. I had
mistakenly counted this for three winners and was now
one trick short. The director came and asked me to repeat
my statement. He took a moment to count my winners
and shared the bad news with the table. Here's the strange
thing: He then asked me how I would try for a 13th trick.
I told him I would hope clubs were 3-3. My opponents
showed him the suit was not splitting, so we scored 6NT
making six.
What if I had told the director about a different possible
line of play that would have led to 13 tricks? Would we
have been awarded the overtrick?
A
Congratulations on bidding and making a slam;
sorry about miscounting your tricks. One way this
situation might have been avoided is if you had
given a claim statement when you faced your hand. Law
68C says that, " A claim should be accompanied at once by
a clear statement of the line of play ... through which the
claimer proposes to win the tricks claimed, including the
order in which the cards will be played. The player making
the claim or concession then faces his hand. " It might
have been that at the point in your claim statement when
you said, " and three spade tricks, " that you would have realized
you only had two. Law 68A deems this to be a claim
once you face your hand. If you realized mid-statement
that you didn't have as many winners as you thought, you
can ask for a moment to collect your thoughts and propose
MODERATOR: MATT KOLTNOW
NATIONAL TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
rulings@acbl.org
a line of play for the 13th trick. You have not yet seen any
opponent's cards, and no one has objected to your claim,
so it is considered a continuation of your original claim
statement. Even if all you do is specify the order in which
you'll take your tricks, it may be that a 13th trick develops,
such as those clubs breaking 3-3. You might also have a
moment of great clarity and realize that there may be a
squeeze.
Assuming your opponents do not accept your revised
claim, by Law 69D, play is now suspended. If your opponents
ask you to continue play, and you and dummy
agree to do so, you pick up your cards and keep playing.
Continuing play voids the claim - play continues as if
there had never been a claim. Reminder: As a defender,
do not expose your own cards when declarer claims. You
can inspect declarer's cards without exposing your own.
You cannot suggest play continue if you expose your own
cards, but you can still object to the claim and call the
director to resolve it. In fact, if anyone objects (including
dummy), then it's time to call the director, who applies
Law 70 to sort things out.
Law 70A reminds the director to resolve the claim as
equitably as possible to both sides with the caveat that
any doubtful point as to a claim shall be resolved against
the claimer. The director proceeds by following Law 70B.
He asks the claimer to repeat the claim statement and
asks the other side about any objection they might have to
it. The director's considerations are not limited to the opponents'
objections. After that, the director may require
players to put their remaining cards face up on the table.
Law 70C handles outstanding trumps, so it would not
Share the game you love!
W
S
te
w
w
W
t
Reno NABC
March 10-13
education@acbl.org
hether you are just getting started as a bridge
teacher or looking to update your skills, arm yourself
with proven tactics in a hands-on workshop.
Gatlinburg Regional
April 18-24
education@acbl.org
Check the calendar at acbl.org/upcoming-events
More info contact education@acbl.org
36 | Bridge Bulletin | March 2022
apply here. 70D and 70E say, in effect, that the director
cannot accept any new suggested plays or choices of plays
(such as a finesse) that would work if there are normal
lines of play which do not. What is normal? It can include
plays that, even for the class of player
as the claimer, would be considered
careless or inferior. If the director
cannot resolve the claim quickly,
she may ask the players to return the
cards to the board, preserving the order
of play so she can take more time
to make a decision.
In your case, it sounds as if the
Houston TX
Jan. 22-24
ktmac432@hotmail.com
Reno NABC
March 10-13
education@acbl.org
director did not apply the Law correctly.
Although it is reasonable to
ask the claimer what they might do to
try to win a 13th trick, applying Laws
70D/70E correctly means the director
must ensure there is no other normal
line of play which would fail.
http://www.acbl.org/upcoming-events
March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2022
