Duplicate Play

Penalty Card Proceures

A card that has been prematurely exposed, but not led, by a defender is handled as a penalty card within the rules of ACBL Laws of Duplicate Play. The

A. The Exposed Penalty Card
A penalty card must be placed face up on the table until an penalty procedure has been selected.

B1. Minor Penalty Card definition

A single accidently exposed card below the rank of an honor and exposed is handled as a minor penalty card.

B2. Major Penalty Card definition

An honor card, or a card exposed through deliberate play is a major penalty card. If a single defender has two or more penalty cards, all penalty cards are handled as major penalty cards.

C. Minor Penalty Card play

A defender may not play any other card within his hand of the same suit and below the rank of an honor until he has first played the minor penalty card.

D. Major Penalty Card play

A defender with a major penalty card places restrictions on both the offender and his partner

1. Offender Play
   
   The offender plays a major penalty card at the first legal opportunity; including the following; in leading, in following suit, in discarding or trumping. With two or more penalty cards owned by one defender and where more than one can be legally played, the declarer designates which is to be played.
   
   
2. Offender`s Partner to Lead
   When the partner of the offender with one or more major penalty cards, the declarer will state which option for play is to be selected from the options below:
   
   (a) Suit restriction
   The declarer may require the defender to lead the suit of the penalty card or the declarer may prohibit the defender from leading that suit for as long as he retains the lead. If this option is selected by the declarer (either to require or forbid the lead of the suit), the card is no longer a penalty card and is picked up.
   
   (b) No Restrictions
   Without any suit restrictions as in (a) above, the defender may lead any card and the penalty card remains a penalty card.