Penalty cards are cards that, through the action of one defender (the "offender") are placed in a position where the offender's partner may have been able to see them. It is not relevant whether the offender's partner actually did see the card, just that it could have been seen. (For the record, it's about 95% that it wasn't seen. I'm not sure I actually believe this. But, surely, no bridge player would lie to the cops?)
There are two types of penalty cards, major and minor.
A minor penalty card is a single card below the rank of an honor (which are defined as the 10-ace), which is inadvertantly dropped in such a way that the offender's partner could have seen it. This can happen either by a fumble of the whole hand,resulting in a card falling out, or two cards being played to the same trick. A minor penalty card must be played before any other non-honor of that suit. An honor (ten or higher) may be played in that suit before the minor penalty card is played. It does not need to be played at the first legal opportunity, and there are no lead restrictions on partner.
Major penalty cards are all other penalty cards, including 2 or more cards of any rank, regardless of how they got in the position where the other defender could have seen them. A major penalty card must be played at the offender's first legal opportunity. If there is more than one penalty card that may be legally played, declarer designates which penalty card is to be played. If the offender's partner gets on lead while the penalty card(s) is on the table, then declarer may choose from among the following options:
1 - The offender's partner must lead, one time only, the suit that the penalty card(s) is in. 2 - The offender's partner may not lead, for as long as he retains the lead, the suit that the penalty card(s) is in. If options 1 or 2 are selected, the penalty card(s) in question is returned to the offender's hand, and he has no restrictions on when he can play it, except for the requirement to follow suit. 3 - The declarer may allow the offender's partner to lead anything he wants to, and the penalty card(s) will remain on the table.
If there are penalty cards from more than one suit, then declarer may require or forbid the lead of any suit that is represented by a penalty card(s).
If there are multiple penalty cards in one suit, as soon as declarer requires or forbids the lead of that suit, all of the cards in that suit are returned to the offender's hand.
- Bill
-- Edited by Bill Michael on Sunday 29th of March 2009 07:44:00 AM
I was surprised at this explanation concerning an exposed minor penalty card. However, upon careful rereading, is it correct to say that if a defender reneges with a non-honor card, it is treated the same as a major penalty card? Shouldn't it remain on the table and, if his partner gets on lead, can't declarer require the defender to lead, or not lead, that suit?
What you say is correct. The key is; a minor penalty card must be inadvertently dropped, as well as being a non-honor. In the situation you've outlined, the card was intentionally played, not accidentally dropped. Once it's intentionally played, it is a major penalty card and all lead restrictions on partner, as well as the requirement to play it at the first legal opportunity apply.
