[blml] adjudication

[Eric Landau]

On Jun 25, 2007, at 7:38 AM, Brian wrote:

> On 06/25/2007 04:19 AM, Alain Gottcheiner wrote:
>> At 17:46 22/06/2007 +0100, Nigel wrote:
>>
>>> [D] It is perfectly easy to take adjustments into account but still
>>> accurately describe HCP. For example, when you open 2H...
>>> --  if you sometimes upgrade 5-point hands and downgrade 11 HCP,  
>>> then
>>> you can accurately describe the HCP range as "5-11".
>>
>> IBTD. Nobody can compel you to count QJ bare at full value.
>
> More than one NCBO has made regulations to ban upgrades for borderline
> openers. What stops them from banning downgrades too?
>
> I'm not suggesting that this is likely, but it's really not much more
> asinine than the strict 'Rule of 19' phase that the EBU went  
> through, or
> the ACBL's rigid requirement of at least 10 actual HCP for a mini 1NT
> opener, no upgraded 9 counts allowed.

Actually, such regulations are illegal.  The ACBL, under pressure  
from its own LC (and, one hopes, the WBF as well), had to retract its  
original "rigid requirement" that banned opening 1NT on a 9-count  
under any circumstances.  Instead they passed a regulation that  
forbade any pair that allowed (or actually perpetrated) a 1NT opening  
with fewer than 10 HCP from using any conventions, justifying this  
loophole by citing their power under L40D to "regulate the use of  
bidding... conventions".  The WBF subsequently ruled this to be  
legitimate, and the regulation remains in force.


Eric Landau
1107 Dale Drive
Silver Spring MD 20910
ehaa at starpower.net