[blml] 25 something ?

[Jean-Jacques Lafay]

Here is what happened yesterday (Teams, high level but played in clubs 
with no director immediately available, although one can be reached by 
phone if necessary).

2D   -    2S   -
3S   -    4S   -
4NT  -    5C   -
5D   X    -    -
??

not that it matters very much, but here is the meaning :

2D was (french style) forcing to game, 2S showed a major Ace, 3S 
natural, 4S a fit but nothing else interesting to mention, 4NT asked 
about kings, 5C showed (as expected) none, 5D was a further enquiry, 
probably related to the SQ, pass over the double of 5D denied anything 
else of even remote value.

The trouble is that opener did not notice LHO's double and thought that 
responder had a (very) blind spot and had passed 5D ! So he was under 
the impression that the auction was over, and that he was playing 5D. He 
therefore removed his bidding cards, which is of course normally viewed 
as meaning "pass". As a matter of fact, he is (as the vast majority of 
players) unaware of the various possibilities where a "call" can be 
changed, he did not try to change anything when he realized he was 
actually playing in 5D *doubled*, went 3 down for a loss of 14IMPs (6S 
was on thanks to the 2-2 split, but was not bid at the other table).

I was wondering what the ruling should be if the player had tried to do 
something when he realized what was going on : he did not really called 
(he did not even know he had to call !), so if we judge that removing 
the bidding card is a "pass", then it should be inadvertent, although 
not a "slip of the hand", shouldn't it ?

Jean-Jacques.
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