LAW 48 - EXPOSURE OF DECLARER’S CARDS

 

A. Declarer Exposes a Card

 

Declarer is not subject to restriction for exposing a card (but see Law 45C2), and no card of declarer’s or dummy’s hand ever becomes a penalty card. Declarer is not required to play any card dropped accidentally.

 

B. Declarer Faces Cards

 

1. When declarer faces his cards after an opening lead out of turn, Law 54 applies.

 

2. When declarer faces his cards at any time other than immediately after an opening lead out of turn, he may be deemed to have made a claim or concession of tricks (unless he demonstrably did not intend to claim), and Law 68 then applies.

 

LAW 49 - EXPOSURE OF A DEFENDER’S CARDS

 

Except in the normal course of play or application of law (see for example Law 47E), when a defender’s card is in a position in which his partner could possibly see its face, or when a defender names a card as being in his hand, each such card becomes a penalty card (Law 50); but see the footnote to Law 68 when a defender has made a statement concerning an uncompleted trick currently in progress, and see Law 68B2 when partner objects to a defender’s concession.