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One of our players says that once the declarer touches a card in the dummy (unless he comments "arranging") he must play that card and cannot change his mind. Other players say the declarer can amend his choice before taking his hand off the card???

Who is right?

Keith Sheppard
Crewe, UK

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Law 45.C.3:
"A card in the dummy must be 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."

Note that the law does not state that declarer has to say anything in particular, so whether not he touched a card for the purposes of rearranging is open to interpretation (ultimately by the tournament director). Stating "arranging" before touching cards will avoid any doubt but doesn't appear to be mandatory under the law.

What is clear is that if declarer touches a card with the intention of playing it, he cannot subsequently change his mind and play a different one.

Keith Sheppard
Crewe, UK

I should have added that declarer shouldn't really be touching dummy's cards anyway. The laws state that declarer plays from dummy by naming the card he wants and dummy plays it. There is a rider which states:

"In playing from dummy’s hand declarer may, if necessary, pick up the desired card himself."

But an eminent British tournament director has stated that "if necessary" should be interpreted as only applying if the normal method is not practical - for example Dummy has left the table or is handicapped (physically, deaf etc.) to the extent that it is impractical or impossible for dummy to play the cards.

Specifically, "if necessary" does not cover the situation where declarer just feels like playing the cards himself on a whim.