[blml] Alert and alarmed (was continued)

[Steve Willner]

> From: richard.hills at immi.gov.au
> For example, if the Ali-Hills partnership played
> in an ACBL event, and if our uncontested auction
> started 1H - 1NT, a simple Alert! of that 1NT
> would be inadequate for our American friends.

On the contrary, saying "alert" while showing the alert card or tapping 
the alert strip would be exactly right.

> They would naturally expect our Alert! to be
> because we played the Eastern Scientific forcing
> for one round 1NT. 

The usual forcing NT is announced "forcing."  If it's potentially 
stronge but not quite forcing, the correct announcement is (the 
oxymoronic) "semi-forcing."

Under the prior rules (now at least a decade out of date), Richard's 
proper procedure would have been to say "special alert."  Prior to that, 
"alert" would have sufficed, despite the possible confusion.

The point is that SOs are empowered to make alert rules, and players 
should follow them.