[blml] What does "specified" mean in Law 29C?

Jerry Fusselman jfusselman at gmail.com
Mon Dec 3 07:37:45 CET 2007


[Law 29C]

If a call out of rotation is artificial, the provisions of Laws
30, 31 and 32 apply to the denomination(s) specified, rather
than the denomination named.

[Jerry]

What does "specified" mean in Law 29C?

Maybe an example helps---consider this auction with no competition:

1S (5+ spades)  -  1N (forcing)
2D (3+ diamonds) - 2N (11--13)
3H ("5341 shape or better, game forcing")

But the bid was 2H instead---insufficient.  The first question is
whether 3H would have been artificial or not.  Who can tell for sure
under the new laws?  Not me, but I'll assume it is, because it
guarantees four diamonds and a singleton or void in clubs.  Also, in
case it matters, it is game forcing.

Here is my main question:  Which denominations are in effect for laws
30, 31, and 32?  Hearts, even though hearts was named? Diamonds,
because now we are assured there are at least four diamonds?  Clubs,
because the call promises a singleton or void in clubs?  Spades,
because the alert happened to include the word spades?

Currently, I think we have no way of knowing what denominations are to
be applied to the provisions of laws 30, 31, and 32.  This uncertainty
looks like a problem to me.

Jerry Fusselman



More information about the blml mailing list