[blml] 3NT or 4S

[Herman De Wael]

There are only two possibilities:

Either you rule that the contract is 4S, because that was actually 
bid. This means that east did not pass on that bid, but he accepted 
the lead so cannot complain.
The play has gone as it has and barring ruffs that were not noticed 
(not actually the case) nothing must be corrected.

Or you rule that both parties are in error, and cancel the board.

I don't think there is enough wrong so as not to do the first.

Wayne Burrows wrote:
> Screens in use.
> 
> Uncontested auction.
> 
> West North East South
>                  1S    Pass
> 2D     Pass 3NT  Pass
> 4S     All Pass
> 
> This was how the auction was intended but things did not quite happen this way.
> 
> As the tray was being passed through the screen after the 4S bid the
> 4S card fell off the tray.  South who was responsible for moving the
> tray replaced the 4S card on the tray.  However somehow the 4S card
> still did not make it to the other side of the screen.
> 
> Neither North nor East noticed that West had not passed (nor bid 4S or
> any other bid).  North passed thinking he was passing out 3NT.
> 
> The tray was passed through to the other side of the screen where now
> neither South nor West noticed that East had not passed or bid.  South
> passed thinking she was passing out 4S.
> 
> I suspect that the 4S card had been caught in the screen and was
> somehow picked up by the tray as it returned.
> 
> South now brilliantly underled her diamond ace against 4S and partner
> won the singleton queen.  The play continues until about trick 8 or 9
> when declarer claimed pitching his spades on his established winners.
> This was a novel idea for South who believed that spades were trumps.
> 
> In reality the auction had gone:
> 
> West North East South
>                  1S    Pass
> 2D     Pass 3NT  Pass
> ---      Pass
> 
> on one side of the screen and
> 
> West North East South
>                  1S    Pass
> 2D     Pass 3NT  Pass
> 4S     Pass ---     Pass
> 
> on the other side of the screen.
> 
> How would you rule?
> 
> 3NT had made an overtrick with one defender defending that contract
> and the other defending 4S.
> 
> 4S would most likely have failed especially after the underlead of the
> diamond - the underleader did think she was defending 4S.
> 
> Wayne
> 
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-- 
Herman DE WAEL
Antwerpen Belgium
http://www.hdw.be