[blml] adjudication

[Eric Landau]

On Jun 25, 2007, at 10:59 AM, Brian wrote:

> On 06/25/2007 09:56 AM, Eric Landau wrote:
>>
>> 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.
>
> Oh, OK. I thought that one about no 9 counts was still in force. Not
> being an ACBL member, it takes some while for me to hear of changes!
> Have they ditched the 8 HCP limit on natural 1-of-a-suit openers (even
> without conventions) too? I have recollections of an attempt to
> challenge that one some while back by opening a 7 count, but I don't
> think it got anywhere. (You reading this, Richard?) Maybe that also
> dates from before the ACBL LC got on the case.

The 8 HCP limit is legal now.  It wasn't when they first imposed it,  
but rather than create a loophole under the "convention" powers of  
L40D, as was necessitated in order to outlaw the 9-HCP 1NT opening,  
they were able instead to convince the WBFLC to extend L40D (in 1987,  
IIRC) to permit zones to "regulate partnership understandings (even  
if not conventional) that permit the partnership's initial actions at  
the one-level to be made with a hand of a king or more below average  
strength".  That wording was designed to be explicit permission to  
ban outright one-level openings on fewer than 8 HCP without setting  
the (potentially terribly destructive) precedent of actually writing  
"high-card points" into the law.


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