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| A. |
Face-down Opening
Lead |
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After a bid, double or redouble has been followed by
three passes in rotation, the defender on presumed declarer’s
left makes the opening lead face down (13).
The face-down lead may be withdrawn only upon instruction of the Director
after an irregularity (see Law 47E2); the withdrawn card must be returned to the
defender’s hand. |
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| B. |
Review of Auction
and Questions |
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Before the opening lead is faced, the leader’s
partner and the presumed declarer each may require a review of the
auction, or request explanation of an opponent’s call (see Law
20). Declarer or either defender may, at his first turn to play
a card, require a review of the auction; this right expires when he
plays a card. The defenders (subject to Law 16)
and the declarer retain the right to request explanations throughout
the play period, each at his own turn to play. |
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| C. |
Opening Lead Faced |
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Following this question period, the opening lead is
faced, the play period begins, and dummy’s hand is spread. After
it is too late to have previous calls restated (see B, above), declarer
or either defender, at his own turn to play, is entitled to be informed
as to what the contract is and whether, but not by whom, it was doubled
or redoubled. |
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| D. |
Dummy’s Hand |
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After the opening lead is faced, dummy spreads his
hand in front of him on the table, face up, sorted into suits, the
cards in order of rank, in columns pointing lengthwise towards declarer,
with trumps to dummy’s right. Declarer plays both his hand and
that of dummy. |
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(13) Sponsoring organisations may specify
that opening leads be made face up |
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