The club suit is distributed as follows:

a) South (declarer) leads the 3 and West follows suit with the 7. Declarer says: ‘Ace of clubs’, but dummy touches the 8 and East plays the J. Declarer summons the TD (you);

b) South leads the 3 and West follows suit with the 7. Declarer has said nothing, but dummy touches the 8 and East plays the J. Declarer summons the TD;

c) South (on lead in his own hand) says to dummy: ‘eight of clubs’. West says: ‘no - you are in your own hand’, whereupon East plays the J. Declarer summons the TD.

What is your ruling in each case?

Answers:

a) Law 45D. Dummy has to play the ace and East may take back the Jack (UI for declarer).

b) Declarer did not play a card from dummy yet and has the right to decide himself. If he chooses a different card (than the 8), East may also change his card (UI for declarer). Law 45D.

c) Applying Law 55A, East has accepted the LOOT (Lead Out Of Turn)

The pertinent laws

Dummy has to sort out his hearing aids. I refer you to....

LAW 42 - DUMMY’S RIGHTS
A. Absolute Rights
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3. He plays the cards of the dummy as declarer’s agent as directed and ensures that dummy follows suit (see Law 45F if dummy suggests a play).

LAW 45 - CARD PLAYED
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D. Dummy Picks up a Non-designated Card
1. If dummy places in the played position a card that declarer did not name, the card must be withdrawn if attention is drawn to it before each side has played to the next trick, and a defender may withdraw and return to his hand a card played after the error but before attention was drawn to it; if declarer’s RHO changes his play, declarer may withdraw a card he had subsequently played to that trick. (See Law 16C.)

LAW 55 - DECLARER’S LEAD OUT OF TURN
A. Declarer’s Lead Accepted
If declarer has led out of turn from his or dummy’s hand then either defender may accept the lead as provided in Law 53 or require its retraction (after misinformation, see Law 47E1). If the defenders choose differently then the option expressed by the player next in turn to the irregular lead shall prevail.