[blml] Profit from irregularities [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[David Grabiner]

Richard Hills writes:

> And given the obvious fact that an 11-13 range is very unusual in the
> ACBL, which has "historical usage" of ultra-conservative bidding, it
> seems to me that Jerry should have _voluntarily_ pre-alerted his
> opponents to his style, consistent with the "fully and freely
> available to the opponents" principle in Law 75A, _even if_ his
> interpretation of the ACBL Alert regulation is deemed to be correct.

The rule should be that any system over which the opponents might need to 
discuss their defenses must be pre-alerted.  A 14-16 point 1NT opening, for 
example, should be a pre-alert, so that the opponents can agree whether to 
use their weak or strong NT defense against it.  An 11-13 in an otherwise 
natural system doesn't require a pre-alert because the opponents can defend 
the same as they would against an 11-14 or 12-14; I agree that it is a 
desirable courtesy.