Question In a recent game a player was considering taking a card thrown by the previous player. Instead she put down a condition of Aces and then picked. We all know that this is wrong, but she insists that it was o.k. She refuses to believe us and will only accept the answer in writing from an authority. Are you that authority? If so, please send answer. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Answer You are right. She is wrong.
You can add to a square but cannot add to a rope or lay down a new condition unless you use a card that has been plucked off the deck. Period. You may not request to be paid for a money condition unless you meld a card that has been plucked off the deck and ask before you discard. Period.
The only exception would be if she laid down the condition and the action went around twice. In other words she plucked twice and no one said anything. Then it would be too late. That almost never happens. In fact it only happened once in my over 10 years of being a dealer and floorman in the pan section at the Bicycle Club and Commerce Casino in Southern California.
Her hand would not be fouled. She would be required to put the condition back into her hand until she melded a card plucked either by her or the player in front of her after that player offers and releases the card.
