[blml] Definition of the term "Natural"

[Eric Landau]

At 04:18 PM 2/27/07, rwilley wrote:

>Through the years we've seen a number of debates on BLML dealing with
>the meaning of the word natural.  As I recall, it was (generally)
>accepted that bids could be both natural and conventional.  For
>example, a Muiderberg 2S opening which showed 5+ Spades and 4+ cards
>in either minor is both natural and conventional.

I don't think so.  Granted, we've had a lot of unresolved discussion 
regarding the semantics of various such terms, but ISTM we have come to 
the general conclusion that TFLB requires a bifurcation of agreements 
into two mutually exclusive categories, "conventional" and "not 
conventional".  So unless we choose to define "natural" as synonymous 
with "not conventional", it becomes a useless term for the purpose of 
understanding and applying the laws.

>More recently, I've some definitions which suggest an alternative
>approach.  The EBU Organge Book definines natural as
>
>"Natural Suit bid:
>
>a bid showing length in the suit and saying nothing about any other
>suit. Length is at least four cards unless explicitly stated
>otherwise. In many situations, especially on later rounds, a natural
>suit bid may show at least three cards in that suit."
>
>The Bridge World offers ""a call indicating a desire to play in the
>named strain without offering information relevant to a specific
>different strain." and I've seen some claims that the ACBL is using
>the same definition.

We haven't come to consensus on the definition of a convention -- or, 
in the case of the above, an equivalent definition of "not a 
convention", whether we choose to use "natural" as a synonym or not -- 
beyond "I know it when I see it".  But I think those of us who "know it 
when we see it" have something very much like one of the above 
definitions in mind.

>I'm curious whether there is a significant change taking on here...

I suggest that we have, collectively, not so much changed our thinking 
on the subject as refined it.


Eric Landau                     ehaa at starpower.net
1107 Dale Drive                 (301) 608-0347
Silver Spring MD 20910-1607