[blml] Tie me kangaroo court, sport [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Grattan Endicott:

>>+=+ The statement is too sweeping. There is only an
>>irregularity if the action is prohibited by regulation.
>>Otherwise it is an extraneous action.
>>        The possibilities are that an action may be
>>1. 'lawful' - authorized by an express provision of law
>>    or regulation
>>2. 'infractive' - contrary to an express provision of law
>>    or regulation
>>3. 'extraneous' - neither of the above.
>>The movement of the hand to the box would be an
>>infraction if it were designed to communicate
>>information purposefully to partner.
>>                             ~ Grattan ~   +=+

Alain Gottcheiner:

>Indeed, but it would nevertheless, in all cases, be an
>irregularity, i.e. deviation from normal procedure (which
>states that extraneous gestures shall be avoided).

Richard Hills:

Alain's statement of "in all cases" is still too sweeping.

An extraneous gesture is not always necessarily an
irregularity, so need not necessarily be avoided "in all
cases".  A more nuanced view of an extraneous gesture is
defined by Law 73D1, which states:

"It is desirable, _though not always required_, for players
to maintain steady tempo and unvarying manner. However,
players should be _particularly careful_ in positions in
which variations may work to the benefit of their side.
_Otherwise, inadvertently_ to vary the tempo or manner in
which a call or play is made does not in itself constitute
a violation of propriety, but inferences from such
variation may appropriately be drawn only by an opponent,
and at his own risk."

Anecdotally, when Groucho Marx played bridge, he was not
"particularly careful" with his gestures.  Whenever
Groucho's partner used Blackwood, not only would Groucho
give the correct response, but also Groucho would hold up
fingers equal to the aces he held.  This may have been a
subtle Groucho jest, insulting his partner by implying that
pard was too stupid to remember the step responses to
Blackwood.

:-)


Best wishes

Richard James Hills, amicus curiae
National Training Branch
02 6225 6285