[blml] 25 something ?

[raija]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Herman De Wael" <herman at hdw.be>
To: "blml" <blml at rtflb.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 1:57 PM
Subject: Re: [blml] 25 something ?


> raija wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Assuming the lead was not gunshot-fast,
>
> The way Ton told the story the second time, it may well have been.
>
>> there is nothing illegal or
>> infractious (is this a word...)  in taking advantage of an opponents 
>> error.
>
> But the problem here is that the opponent had not made an error -
> except one in his mind. He has not passed, and therefor the lead is
> during the bidding period. There can be no question of taking
> advantage of an error if that error is not made.
>
>> Nor does it - or should it - matter what the bidder "wanted" or 
>> "intended"
>> to do.  He _did_ what he _did_, ie. in the OP case passed and ended up
>> playing in a cuebid.
>
> No, he did NOT pass. He took away his bidding cards, which is the
> correct way of acting once (you think) the bidding is over. All of you
> may well rule that taking away the bidding cards means passing, but
> only if that is what a player intends to do.
>
>> Things happen. Inattention is often costly and the
>> laws should cater to those who are inattentive of the game, IMO.
>>
>
> I agree - but then so are the opponents in this case. They have
> misinterpreted their opponent's mistake. They should have asked "did
> you pass?" rather than assume he did.
>
> -- 

Going this route, all common habits which are always condoned, should also 
become illegal. For example calling a card from dummy without naming its 
suit and rank: Declarer says *play* and  the opponent behind dummy sits and 
waits for declarer to name a suit and rank of a card to be played from 
dummy???  Or worse, says "Did you call a card from dummy".  Or should he 
call the Director because an infraction has occurred (declarer used illegal 
phrase to call a card from dummy).  Tongue in cheek...

I think innocent habits locally used and perfectly well understood, such as 
picking up one's bidding cards and putting them in the box (means "pass" in 
the last seat to pass) or calling dummy's cards in other manner than what 
the Laws prescribe, should not become feed for bridge lawyers or cause for 
someone to survive his own error or inattention.