[blml] How do you deal with this mess?

[Ed Reppert]

On Dec 6, 2007, at 8:04 AM, Guthrie wrote:

> I've suffered in similar incidents in home matches: After a few
> tricks, declarer put his cards back in the slot and wrote down the
> score for contract made. In spite of repeated requests he refused to
> face his hand or declare a line of play. Declarer habitually used this
> tactic to waste time and disconcert opponents. It was quite effective.
> We had no idea what to do and we were working the next day.
> Eventually, we "reserved out rights" and got on with the next board.
> We lost a match that we should have won.

I suggest you read section 162 of the White Book, in particular 162.3.

I think it's nuts to let somebody get away with this kind of crap.  
Ask for a ruling. If he habitually does this kind of thing,  
particularly for the reasons you allege, submit a player memo, or  
follow whatever other procedure EBU or county rules specify, *every  
time* he does it. Yeah, it's a pain. So what? There's a procedure for  
dealing with this kind of thing. Either you follow the procedure, or  
you don't bitch when he does it.

The laws specify that if you want a ruling, you ask a director to  
give you one. The EBU has established procedures for doing that in  
county level matches played in homes. So either you ask for a ruling,  
or you live with the consequences. If you think you got stuffed  
because you didn't know the rules, then *find out what the rules are*.