[blml] Law 25A

[Sven Pran]

I was consulted (on telephone) on a case on which I would like to hear
opinions on blml, preferably from those that feel themselves competent on
the application of law 25A:

The auction: (North dealer, bid boxes in use, no screens)
N    E    S    W
1C - P - 1D - P
1H - P - 2S - P
2NT - P - P - P

Immediately after West's final pass, before any activity associated with the
opening lead, South exclaims: "God, what have I done" or words to that
effect.

Facts (undisputed) as established by the Director: 2S is forcing to game
(4th suit), there is no doubt that South intended to bid game, i.e. 3NT, and
that his pass as such was "unintended". (I am deliberately avoiding the word
"inadvertent" here).

Question: Shall South be permitted a Law 25A substitution of 3NT for his
last pass?

"Disturbing" circumstances: 

We have since long practiced a general (but not necessarily absolute) rule
in Norway that for a call to be considered inadvertent its bid card should
normally "come" from the same compartment in the bid box as the bid card for
the intended call. (Pass, Double and Redouble come from one compartment, all
bids come from a different compartment). 

I believe I have heard that Law 25B2(b)(2) was introduced because of a
situation where a player was so disappointed by his partner's response to a
Blackwood asking bid that he lost all hopes of slam but "inadvertently"
passed instead of correcting the contract to 5 in the agreed trumps. At that
time his mistake shall have been ruled not to qualify for a correction under
Law 25A?

Comments anybody? (I am deliberately not disclosing my own opinion or the
ruling actually made except that they do agree).

Regards Sven