[blml] Positronic brain [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Alain Gottcheiner:

[snip]

>This remembers me of one "code" I use with my favourite
>partner, and after reading all this, I wonder whether we
>may do so.
>
>When arriving at the table, one of us might say "cloudy
>table". This may be translated as "they're even more
>crazy as we are, so let's bid quietly". Of course, opps
>often ask what it means, and we explain it. Sometimes we
>explain it spontaneously. They usually laugh, but don't
>realize we're in earnest.
>
>How would you all classify this item of information ?
>
>Ah, yes, why "cloudy" ? Because some of our preempts and
>overcalls are rather lax. Those are indicated, in our
>notes, by an asterisk. Now, when it's cloudy, stars are
>out :-))

Richard Hills:

When playing my idiosyncratic version of Symmetric Relay
(system notes emailed on request) against local Canberra
experts who have played against my system many times
before, I restrict my pre-alerts to this single warning:

"We play lots of penalty doubles and not many negative
doubles."

On one occasion, this nil vul auction followed:

Pard      RHO      Me       LHO
1S        2C(1)    Dble(2)  All pass(3)

(1) Stars-in-eyes lax overcall
(2) Old-fashioned penalty double
(3) +800 to the good guys

The following week I met the same RHO, gave the same pre-
alert, and received the response, "I remember - this time
I will pay attention to your warning!"  :-)

Likewise, it seems to me that Alain and his partner are
required by the principle of full disclosure to pre-alert
*all* their opponents as to whether asterisks apply.
(Law 75A and Law 40B.)


Best wishes

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