VixTD, on 2014-July-21, 07:39, said:
After a heavy sigh from East, North says helpfully: "Oh, yes, you can't lead a diamond or a spade". (East has discarded on a diamond and ruffed a spade.) Has North claimed?
pran, on 2014-July-21, 13:56, said:
The only problem with this is that North has a good case if he states that he in no way tried to mislead East, on the contrary he tried to make life easier for him.
weejonnie, on 2014-July-21, 16:02, said:
73D2 A player may not attempt to mislead an opponent by means of remark or gesture . . . or by any purposeful deviation from correct procedure. Said procedure being a breach of law 74 B2 - As a matter of courtesy a player should refrain from making gratuitous comments during the auction or play. (As well as 74C3 - indicating the expectation or intention of winning or losing a trick that has not been completed)
pran, on 2014-July-21, 16:21, said:
Did North really attempt to mislead East?
biggerclub, on 2014-July-21, 21:23, said:
I wish no one would talk to me while I am playing cards.
blackshoe, on 2014-July-22, 09:03, said:
Sure, but it wasn't such a suggestion, it was a statement of fact - unless you can produce evidence from the player that he intended it as a suggestion to curtail play.
Trinidad, on 2014-July-22, 11:05, said:
So, the question remains: Why did North make his comment? The answer: He attempted to curtail play.
Trinidad, on 2014-July-22, 15:46, said:
Would you like to tell us why you think North made his comment?
Unless you've attended the mind-reading course for directors, it's hard to be sure why North made his comment. It's barely conceivable that North was trying to be helpful although, manifestly, his remark is gratuitous and unhelpfuI -- empty of information -- and likely to spoil East's concentration. As Weejonnie says, it flouts 73D2. North probably didn't intend his remark as a claim but it might qualify as such within the law -- and that interpretation accords with the interests of justice.