Courtly Provocateur — ruling 1

After the first ability resolves, the creature attacks only if it’s able to do so as the declare attackers step begins. If, at that time, the creature is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, or hasn’t been under that player’s control continuously since the turn began (and doesn’t have haste), then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having the creature attack, the player isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t attack in that case either.

Courtly Provocateur — ruling 2

The controller of the creature targeted by the first ability chooses which player or planeswalker that creature attacks.

Courtly Provocateur — ruling 3

After the second ability resolves, the creature blocks only if it’s able to do so as the declare blockers step begins. If, at that time, the creature is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t block, or no creatures are attacking that player or a planeswalker controlled by that player, then it doesn’t block. If there’s a cost associated with having the creature block, the player isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t block in that case either.

Courtly Provocateur — ruling 4

The controller of the creature targeted by the second ability chooses which attacking creature that creature blocks.

Courtly Provocateur : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Courtly Provocateur is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

: Target creature attacks this turn if able. : Target creature blocks this turn if able.

How it works : Courtly Provocateur

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1July 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
After the first ability resolves, the creature attacks only if it’s able to do so as the declare attackers step begins. If, at that time, the creature is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, or hasn’t been under that player’s control continuously since the turn began (and doesn’t have haste), then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having the creature attack, the player isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t attack in that case either.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2July 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
The controller of the creature targeted by the first ability chooses which player or planeswalker that creature attacks.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3July 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
After the second ability resolves, the creature blocks only if it’s able to do so as the declare blockers step begins. If, at that time, the creature is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t block, or no creatures are attacking that player or a planeswalker controlled by that player, then it doesn’t block. If there’s a cost associated with having the creature block, the player isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t block in that case either.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4July 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
The controller of the creature targeted by the second ability chooses which attacking creature that creature blocks.
No other card is named in this ruling.