[blml] 25 something ?

[Steve Willner]

> From: "Roger Pewick" <axman22 at hotmail.com>
> imo when a player in pass out position returns [at his turn to call] his 
> cards to the box rather than overtly making a call he has passed.

It shouldn't be a matter of opinion; it should be covered by the bid box 
regulations.  The practical ruling you will get in the ACBL is pretty 
much the one Roger advocates, though.

Personally (and David S., whom we greatly miss has written to the same 
effect), I think some provision should be made to protect players who 
follow the correct procedure.

> The law provides for the actions of players during the auction- bid, double, 
> redouble, pass.  Of the set of four actions bids are defined, double is 
> defined, and redouble is defined.  And pass is defined as not electing any 
> of the other three.

You've missed the first and most important part of the definition.  Pass 
is defined as _a call_.  If no call has occurred under the applicable 
regulations, there cannot have been a pass.  (Don't expect an ACBL TD to 
rule this way, though.)

> From: "Sven Pran" <svenpran at online.no>
> A player believes he is in turn to make the last PASS and just takes back
> all his bid cards only to be told by the other players that his LHO has his
> turn for another call.
> 
> So his bid cards are of course restored on the table and he shall make his
> call properly in this turn.
> 
> Is this player now allowed to make any other call than PASS? I cannot
> imagine any possible reason for him to make such a different call at this
> time other than that he has "changed his mind"!

If the player has not made a call, he should be free to choose whatever 
call he likes.  If the bidding box regulations say the player has 
called, then any change should be subject to the usual rules.

 > So to answer my own question above: In my honest opinion this player
 > shall
 > absolutely not be allowed to call anything but PASS in this situation!

Depending on exactly what the player's misunderstanding was, he might 
well wish to do something other than pass.  If under the regulations he 
has not yet called, why shouldn't he be allowed to do so?