[blml] adjudication

[Eric Landau]

On Jun 27, 2007, at 2:10 PM, Nigel wrote:

> Let's shred another straw man :)
>
> If you agree a *14-17 HCP* 1N I see no problem with you passing on
> Robert's first hand and opening 1N on his second. Nor can I imagine
> anybody else objecting.
>
> The problem arises when a pair don't declare that agreed range.
> For example if their *agreed range is *14-17 HCP*, but their *declared
> range* is 14-16 HCP* or *15-16 HCP* or *15-17 HCP*
>
> *In practice* Robert approves of them doing this, even against  
> beginners.
>
> I believe that, on the contrary, *in theory and in practice*
> (A) A pair should declare their true agreed HCP range for a call.
> (B) They should also declare other requirements.
>
> Furthermore, I feel strongly that, if you adopt the BLML approach of
> allowing prevarication about [A}, then [B] is *practically essential*.

There are two kinds of bridge players in this world.

One kind, the majority IME, understands perfectly well that there are  
some 14-counts and some 18-counts that may be best described by  
opening a 15-17 HCP 1NT.  They will upgrade or downgrade such hands  
frequently or rarely -- or even never -- but they understand that it  
is a normal practice among all but the least experienced players, and  
are not put off when someone judges to do so.

The other kind, "walruses" after Mollo, believe that a HCP range is a  
contract to be fulfilled exactly as written.  They believe that there  
is something somehow wrong -- Nigel calls it "prevarication" -- with  
opening a 15-17 HCP 1NT holding a flat 14-count.  But they also  
believe that there is something somehow wrong -- equivalent  
"prevarication" -- with *not* opening a 14-17 HCP 1NT holding a flat  
14-count.  They are unsatisfied with the common, usual disclosure  
practice, but would be equally unsatisfied with Nigel's suggested  
alternative.

If the object is to minimize "prevarication", the rule should be:   
Include a HCP value in your HCP range if you will open more than half  
the (otherwise qualified) hands with that number of HCP.

And we can, and routinely do, improve on that by denoting marginal  
inclusions with '+' and '-' signs.  So when we (speaking for the  
first kind of player) see a 1NT range of "15-17", we expect fewer  
than 1/4 of (otherwise qualified) 14-counts to be opened with 1NT.   
When we see "14-17", we expect more than 3/4 of 14-counts to be  
opened 1NT.  "14+-17" denotes something in between.  That is far more  
useful and informative than writing "14-17" for all three cases.


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