<p>The relevant rule is Law 45 (C) from the <a href="http://www.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017LawsofDuplicateBridge-paginated.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Laws of Duplicate Bridge (2017)</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>LAW 45 - CARD PLAYED</strong></p>
  
  <p>...</p>
  
  <p><em>C. Card Deemed to be Played</em></p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>A defender’s card held so that it is possible for his partner to see its face is deemed played
  to the current trick (if the defender has already made a legal play to the current trick, see
  Law 45E).</p></li>
  <li><p>Declarer is deemed to have played a card from his hand if it is:
  (a) held face up, touching or nearly touching the table; or
  (b) maintained in such a position as to indicate that it has been played.</p></li>
  <li><p>A card in the dummy is played if it has been deliberately touched by declarer except for the
  purpose either of arranging dummy’s cards, or of reaching a card above or below the card
  or cards touched.</p></li>
  <li><p>(a) A card is played if a player names or otherwise designates it as the card he proposes to
  play (but see Law 47).<br>
  (b) Declarer may correct an unintended designation of a card from dummy until he next
  plays a card from either his own hand or from dummy. A change of designation may be
  allowed after a slip of the tongue, but not after a loss of concentration or a
  reconsideration of action. If an opponent has, in turn, played a card that was legal before
  the change in designation, that opponent may withdraw the card so played, return it to
  his hand, and substitute another (see Laws 47D and 16C1).</p></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>So to answer your question: No, a Defender's card is not played simply because an opponent (Declarer) can see which card it is; rather it is played if it is held so that the Defender's partner can identify it,</p>

<p>Further clarification through Minutes of the W.B.F. Laws Committee, where necessary, are available <a href="http://www.worldbridge.org/rules-regulations/2017-laws-of-duplicate-bridge/" rel="noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-19T03:32:55.100Z
2018-06-19T03:38:03.873Z
2018-06-19T03:38:03.873Z
Forget I was ever here
<p>If player pulls card out of his hand and then puts it back in his hand, and opponents have seen the card, must player play that card?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-19T00:54:53.137Z
Not sure if relevant but ACBL? Or Europe/elsewhere? There are duplicate bridge laws which might potentially vary with (large) jurisdiction.
Aryabhata
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-19T03:36:08.630Z
@Aryabhata: My understanding is that the Laws of Duplicate Bridge are promulgated by, and authorized by, the World Bridge Federation; albeit with assistance and co-operation from from the A.C.B.L., E.B.L., and Portland Club. Only where specifically designated in the Laws are authorities delegated to National and Organizing committees.
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-19T21:21:21.467Z
@ForgetIwaseverhere: That makes sense. Hopefully this one is a global rule.
Aryabhata
<bridge>
Duplicate bridge mislead
7cats
# Duplicate bridge mislead

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-18)

If player pulls card out of his hand and then puts it back in his hand, and opponents have seen the card, must player play that card?

**Tags:** bridge

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Not sure if relevant but ACBL? Or Europe/elsewhere? There are duplicate bridge laws which might potentially vary with (large) jurisdiction.  
> **username_2**: @username_1: My understanding is that the Laws of Duplicate Bridge are promulgated by, and authorized by, the World Bridge Federation; albeit with assistance and co-operation from from the A.C.B.L., E.B.L., and Portland Club. Only where specifically designated in the Laws are authorities delegated to National and Organizing committees.  
> **username_1**: @ForgetIwaseverhere: That makes sense. Hopefully this one is a global rule.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-19. Score: 5

The relevant rule is Law 45 (C) from the [Laws of Duplicate Bridge (2017)](http://www.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017LawsofDuplicateBridge-paginated.pdf)

> **LAW 45 - CARD PLAYED**
>
> ...
>
> *C. Card Deemed to be Played*
>
> 1. A defender’s card held so that it is possible for his partner to see its face is deemed played
>    to the current trick (if the defender has already made a legal play to the current trick, see
>    Law 45E).
> 2. Declarer is deemed to have played a card from his hand if it is:
>    (a) held face up, touching or nearly touching the table; or
>    (b) maintained in such a position as to indicate that it has been played.
> 3. A card in the dummy is played if it has been deliberately touched by declarer except for the
>    purpose either of arranging dummy’s cards, or of reaching a card above or below the card
>    or cards touched.
> 4. (a) A card is played if a player names or otherwise designates it as the card he proposes to
>    play (but see Law 47).  
>    (b) Declarer may correct an unintended designation of a card from dummy until he next
>    plays a card from either his own hand or from dummy. A change of designation may be
>    allowed after a slip of the tongue, but not after a loss of concentration or a
>    reconsideration of action. If an opponent has, in turn, played a card that was legal before
>    the change in designation, that opponent may withdraw the card so played, return it to
>    his hand, and substitute another (see Laws 47D and 16C1).

So to answer your question: No, a Defender's card is not played simply because an opponent (Declarer) can see which card it is; rather it is played if it is held so that the Defender's partner can identify it,

Further clarification through Minutes of the W.B.F. Laws Committee, where necessary, are available [here](http://www.worldbridge.org/rules-regulations/2017-laws-of-duplicate-bridge/).


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