[blml] adjudication

[Nigel]

[Eric Landau]
Of course you should "explain the basis for the exceptions" -- you
should explain whatever considerations may be relevant to your choice
of call; that's what full disclosure is about.

But Nigel is still missing the point, which has nothing to do with
"exceptions".  "Using a different point count" cannot validly be
contrasted with "adjusting for other factors", because using a
different point count has nothing whatsoever to do with adjusting for
anything at all!

I think it would be a terrible idea to require "adjustments" to be
declared on the CC.  99.9% of pairs would need to write an essay
("upgrade lots of 10s and 9s or good honor combinations, downgrade
lots of HC in Qs and Js or short or unguarded honors...") -- and
that's just for NT openers! -- and would merely be stating what is
near-universal and obvious to most.  I'm talking about pairs who
really do use alternative evaluation methods (which can include far
more than merely "a different point count"); they are rare, but
definitely do exist.

Nigel seems to have fallen into exactly the trap I anticipated, by
failing to appreciate the fundamental difference between using a
genuine alternative evaluation method and making adjustments to a
base evaluation using standard point-count.

[nige1]

Wallowing in Eric's Walrus trap :)

I understand Eric's distinction and recognise its validity; I just 
suggested the *same* solution to the two problems.

My suggestion is that you disclose:
[A] True HCP range.
[B] Other requirements.

As Richard Willey demonstrated, that does not work well with 
alternative point counts (like Vienna's 7531) but it seems adequate
if there are adjustments for other factors.

I recommend that you declare your 15-18 HCP notrump opener as, say...
[A] 15-18 HCP.
[B] Flat may have 5 card major. We adjust for factors like texture, 
shape, distribution, and concentration. For example, we don't open 
4333 15 counts with poor texture; On 18 counts we open something else, 
unless they are 4333 with poor texture.

Your true 15-18 HCP range is more useful to opponents than a *16-17 
HCP* or *15-17 HCP* or *16-18  HCP* curtailment. For example, it is 
clear that you don't open 1N on 14HCP or 19HCP.

IMO you should still declare [B] but failure to do so is less damaging 
to opponents because even Walrus know that there are often exceptions 
at the extremes.