[blml] Clarification...

[Tim West-Meads]

Nigel wrote:

> [A] Herman de Wael and I argue about the simplest basic case (An 
> implicit agreement, not disclosed to opponents, that Herman opens 
> 1H, 3rd in hand, on 0-3HCP and any shape), 

It's not an implicit agreement - it's a habit of Herman's of which most
of his partners are unaware (so there's nothing to disclose).  BLML
readers *are* aware of the habit and were I playing with Herman in a WBF
competition it would say so on the CC.  However, were I playing with him
in a EBU competition the CC would say nothing (as mandated by the EBU)
but the knowledge would be disclosable in answer to questions.  I would
be permitted, but not required, to alert Herman's 3rd in 1H openers.

It's not complicated.  Knowledge is *always* disclosable - SO regulations
dictate how and when.  Agreements are subject to regulation and, if
conventional (or initial actions not within a king of average strength),
prohibition/constraint.  "Knowledge" does *not* constitute "Agreement".

When partnering Herman my actions will be subject to particular scrutiny
in order to determine if my (disclosed) knowledge appears to have been
used in such a way as to indicate the existence of an agreement.  This
won't happen if I bid normally over a Herm1H opener because there will be
no grounds to say that his openings are *based* on an agreement.

Tim