[blml] psyches, rule of coincidence

[Jeff Easterson]

Ciao! Many years ago I directed a tournament in which a player opened 1 
in a major.  According to the conv. card (and the players) they played 
"limit raises", with adequate support in suit and 8 losers they raised 
to 3.  But, in this case the partner bid 1NT (with adequate trump 
support and 8 losers), which the opener passed for a decent score. 
Opener had something like 3 HCPs and a doubleton in his bid suit.  Do 
you allow the score to stand?  (I didn't, but then I rather approve of 
the law of coincidence, even when it has only happened once as in this 
case.)  (Naturally I asked why the responder didn't make a limit raise 
but was not convinced by his explanation.)  Later, another pair (from 
the same country) had a fairly similar bidding sequence. Opener psyched 
1 in major, partner with an ideal limit raise bid 2 in a minor (normally 
forcing) which opener passed.  Again decent score.  Again, the first 
time it happened with this pair.  Again I adjusted the score.  Ciao, JE