[blml] EBL 2004 appeal number 10 [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Richard Hills:

[big snip]

>>So in Australia such a two-way pass is defined
>>as non-conventional, therefore is not alerted.

Sven Pran:

>Does not your alert regulation include a clause
>(or clauses) to the effect that an otherwise
>non-conventional call which includes "side
>information" shall be alerted?

Richard Hills:

No, the definitions in the ABF alert regulation
define only two types of calls:

(a) conventional, and
(b) natural (not conventional)

The ABF requires that any natural call whose
meaning the opponents are "unlikely to expect"
should be alerted (unless it is self-alerting
call).

And the ABF does not define the common and
general natural trap pass as "unlikely to
expect".

Sven Pran:

>Example: A popular agreement in Norway is that
>an opening bid in 2M shows exactly 5 cards in
>that major suit and at least 4 cards in a minor
>suit. That bid is "natural" as far as the named
>major suit is concerned, but it must still be
>alerted because of the "side information".

Richard Hills:

Under the ABF alert regulation, that popular
Norwegian agreement would be defined as _not_
natural, since its so-called "side information"
about distribution makes that agreement a
convention.  So that agreement would also be
alerted in Australia.

Sven Pran:

>IMO the trap pass carries such "side
>information".

Richard Hills:

"Side information" about strength does not
change a natural call into a conventional call.
But "side information" about distribution does
define a call as a conventional call.

Of course, Norway can regulate any or all calls
to be alerted.  And Norway can include as part
of its regulation the term "side information".

And indeed Norway can even define the term
"natural" to include some conventions.

But it is impossible to have a rational debate
about natural calls on blml if the word
"natural" is used with a different meaning by
the blmler disputants.


Best wishes

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