[blml] Strange biddings

[Adam Beneschan]

Alain wrote:
 
> Sven Pran a écrit :
> > On Behalf Of Paul
> > The following occurred to me during a butler interclub "competition" .
> > I was sitting West.
> > So, here the hands and the biddings (no alerts)  :
> >  
> >  
> > Dealer North, EW vulnerable.
> >  
> > .......KJT985..........W....N....E....S
> > .......53...................1C...1NT..2C
> > .......T872............3NT..p....p....p
> > .......5
> > 4.............A76
> > 764...........AKT92
> > AK93..........Q5
> > AJ973.........Q42
> > .......Q32
> > .......QJ8
> > .......J64
> > .......KT86
> >  
> > North has psyched before.
> > Result : 3NT + 3 after a "cautious" C lead by South.
> > I assume implicit partnership understanding a.o. by the bidding behaviour by
> > South.
> > Does a TD have the right (duty ?) to react if he sees this happen, and if
> > so, how ?
> >
> > Sven: I see nothing irregular or strange in calls or lead made by South? He
> > has a flat 9HCP ordinary raise to 2C, nothing else, and leading a small club
> > against 3NT seems quite normal to me?
> >
> >   
> Alain : neither do I. 2C is normal. The club lead shows beyond doubt 
> that South believed his partner

This is the clincher to me.  I don't see how anyone can look at
South's lead and think South fielded a psych.

I think one of the biggest mistakes directors can make is to assume
that they "know" what the correct action is during the auction, and
that a departure from this is either a bridge error or indicates that
something funny is going on.  2C appears to be rather conservative.  I
don't think I'd bid it.  But it's hardly silly, and the double of 1NT
itself is borderline.  And Alain gave a good reason why doubling 3NT
is risky and may gain little (Butler is IMP scoring, right?).  So I
don't see any basis for any suspicion here.  

                                -- Adam