Play any card

[bhmwe...@gmail.com]

Let's assume there are fsome tricks to go.
Declarer plays something and dummy is void. Declarer state "Play any card" to dummy and in the end it turns out that the 7 of diamonds (or whatever) left in dummy turns out to win a trick.

True, the opponents asre enabled to tell dummy what card he must play (IIRC), but what if they are not aware that the D7 will be important?

What happens?

[dake50]

I think declarer surrenders any trick from dummy.
He chose the deviation from "calling the card to be played.
Or does this rise to a "coffee-house" getting to win D7
by putting defenders off D7 guarding?

[axm...@hotmail.com]

‘play anything’ has two important issues:

1. it commands dummy to participate in the play. L43A1c prohibits
dummy from participating in the play. You can add it up.
2. the law provides for a defender to select the card in such case.
The problem is that by doing so declarer obtains inferences that he
may capitalize upon and gain from. Thus, the ‘so-called penalty’ can
at the margin instead penalize the defenders.

If the penalty also included a loss of a trick, declarer will remember
to never ask dummy to participate in the play.

As far as the defenders not knowing that there is something to be
gained by the penalty, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

regards
axman

[Dave Flower]

On Thursday, 16 May 2013 14:32:04 UTC+1, axm...@hotmail.com wrote:
> bhmwestl...@gmail.com wrote: > Let's assume there are fsome tricks to go. > Declarer plays something and dummy is void. Declarer state "Play any card" to dummy and in the end it turns out that the 7 of diamonds (or whatever) left in dummy turns out to win a trick. > > True, the opponents asre enabled to tell dummy what card he must play (IIRC), but what if they are not aware that the D7 will be important? > > What happens? ‘play anything’ has two important issues: 1. it commands dummy to participate in the play. L43A1c prohibits dummy from participating in the play. You can add it up. 2. the law provides for a defender to select the card in such case. The problem is that by doing so declarer obtains inferences that he may capitalize upon and gain from. Thus, the ‘so-called penalty’ can at the margin instead penalize the defenders. If the penalty also included a loss of a trick, declarer will remember to never ask dummy to participate in the play. As far as the defenders not knowing that there is something to be gained by the penalty, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. regards axman

I think L45F is the most relevant, which allows an adjusted score if the Director considsrs dummy suggested a play to declarer and the defenders were damaged by the play suggested.

However, the Law requires 'without instruction from Declarer', and 'play any card' is certainly an instruction, so I am inclined to rule 'no penalty'.

Dave Flower

[france...@googlemail.com]

On Thursday, May 16, 2013 11:45:58 AM UTC+1, bhmwe...@gmail.com wrote:
> Let's assume there are fsome tricks to go. Declarer plays something and dummy is void. Declarer state "Play any card" to dummy and in the end it turns out that the 7 of diamonds (or whatever) left in dummy turns out to win a trick. True, the opponents asre enabled to tell dummy what card he must play (IIRC), but what if they are not aware that the D7 will be important? What happens?

The 7 of diamonds wins the trick.

[france...@googlemail.com]

2. the law provides for a defender to select the card in such case. The problem is that by doing so declarer obtains inferences that he may capitalize upon and gain from. Thus, the ‘so-called penalty’ can at the margin instead penalize the defenders.

I agree that it's bad practice to say 'play anything', but to suggest that declarer gains an advantage is way too obscure.

[Adam Beneschan]

But you're all missing the important question: who owes a beer to whom?

-- Adam

[HoneyMonster]

No-one, unless it was the last trick. Then of course it is *extremely*
important.

[Lorne]

As dummy I would always keep the 7D just in case, and expect declarer to
buy the beer since it is my 7D that won the last trick.