[blml] L9A vs L73B1

[Sven Pran]

> On Behalf Of Jan Peter Pals
> East (dealer) opens 1C, not alerted. This may be a doubleton in a
> 5crd-major system and is alertable in the NL. Against this opening, NS
> play an artificial defence, based on transfers.
> 
> South, who knows about the possible doubleton C, holds:
> 
> K9
> 62
> QJ8
> AKQ942
> 
> He would like to bid 1S (=transfer to clubs OR showing diamonds and
> hearts).
> Over a 'natural' 1C (min. 3crd)  he would have bid 1NT.
> 
> South does not know what will happen:
> a) If he bids 1S, partner may not alert and jump to 3S.
> b) If he bids 1NT, partner may alert, explain spades and diamonds OR
> hearts and clubs, and jump to 3H.
> 
> Is south allowed to ask the meaning, or draw attention to the
> alertability of 1C?
> If he doesn't, what are his options under the calamity scenarios in a)
> and b)?

There are unanimous and correct comments that you may not ask question(s)
for the purpose of drawing your partner's attention to opponents' system.
Thus in this case you are supposed to bid 1S and continue the auction with
the assumption that partner is aware of the systems in use.

There is however deeper water in this pond:

You say that you know opponents' agreements, but how do you know that they
haven't recently changed their agreements and that the opening bid in 1C now
shows clubs so that no alert from West was missing after all?

I would rule that you are allowed to verify your assumed "knowledge" of
opponents' system, primarily by looking at their CC, or if this is
unavailable by asking question(s). This so much more because you see a
conflict between opponents' actions and what you believe is their agreement.

Actually I would take this principle even a step further: If I am aware that
you saw such a conflict and just assumed one or the other alternative
(incorrectly) with damage as the result, I might quite likely rule that your
damage was self-inflicted because you failed to protect your interests by
clarifying the situation. 

Your question(s) will definitely create UI for your partner but as long as
you have a legitimate reason for asking such questions there is no law that
makes them illegal. (Your partner must of course be very careful not to
select his actions from the fact that you asked questions.)

Regards Sven