[blml] L25A or not

[Eric Landau]

At 01:08 PM 9/18/06, Herman wrote:

>I was directing in Pula (Croatia) last week, and this ruling created
>some controversy among us TDs:
>
>East opens 1D and South puts 1NT on the table.
>
>West enquires and North says "16-18".
>
>Now South looks at the table in front of him and utters the classical
>"ooops", saying he intented to bid 1S.
>
>FWIW, I was convinced that the error was mechanical.
>And it was also clear to everyone that South only looked at the table
>after hearing (and being surprised at) North's explanation of what he
>thought was his natural spade bid.
>
>So, does L25A apply or not?

I can't speak for Croatia, but the ACBL interprets "without pause for 
thought" as applying to the time between the player's noting the actual 
identity of the bid card on the table in front of him and his 
indicating that it is not the one he intended to put there.  So 
assuming no "pause for thought" between "South looks at the table" and 
"'oops'", I would allow a L25A correction.


Eric Landau                     ehaa at starpower.net
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