[blml] player overruling the TD ?

[Harald Skjæran]

On 05/03/07, Alain Gottcheiner <agot at ulb.ac.be> wrote:
> Dear blmlists,
>
> Is there such a thing as asking the TD to overrule himself ? This is a case
> that appeared in Belgian mixed teams last week :
>
> You hold Qxxx - AKx - 10x - Q9xx. Well, that's the kind of hands 11-14 NT
> are made for, so you merrily open one. LHO doubles. Partner passes (shows
> values and suggests beginning to double). RHO bids 1S. No Sir ! says partner.
> RHO reaches for something else in his BB (presumably 2S) but you stop him
> in his tracks, and call for the TD.
>
> The idea is to accept 1S. Then you'll bid 1NT, which you hope partner will
> understand as denying interest in going any higher, showing a spade
> stopper, but by the same time not goodish spades, as you didn't attempt to
> have a whack at 2S. Right ?
>
> Not for the TD, alas, who checks that 2S wouldn't have been artificial,
> then explains that 'if you bid 2S etc.' and 'if you bid something else,
> including pass, etc.', but completely forgets to mention the possibility of
> accpeting the IB. Upon which RHO bids 2S.
>
> What are your rights here ?
>
> a) asking the TD to reconsider his reading, or to read the applicable law
> rather than citing it ? And what if RHO has bid before you can utter any
> word, as was the case ?

I'd ask the TD "What about L27A? Am I not allowed to accept the IB?"
I'd do that regardless of RHO having corrected his bid, if accepting
the bid was my intention.

I have, on occasion, corrected a TD overlooking a law or some other
important fact. And I'd be very happy if a player stopped me from
making such a mistake as a TD.

>
> b) directly tell you'll request use of L82 if needed ? Sort of keeping your
> rights ?

No problem with that one either. But can't see the point. If I've told
the TD about his error already (as above), he'd be expecting an appeal
anyway.

>
> c) are you allowed to mention the IB, call the TD, then accept it (rather
> than accepting it altogether), so that partner knows you know what you're
> doing ?

Not for the purpose of ensuring that parnter knows what I'm up to, NO!
Normally I'd just accept an IB by bidding over it. If someone
objected, I'd inform them of my right to do so, and tell them to call
the TD if they thought this was incorrect.


-- 
Kind regards,
Harald Skjæran

>
> In practice, I did neither, afraid that my reaction could give out UI, or
> any kind of information to opponents.
> Partner reopened with 2NT (take-out), which I passed.
> Herman and collegues were spared a headache, as the defense was soft enough
> to allow that contract to be made, so L82 remained in its bed.
>
> Best regards,
>
>   Alain
>
>
>
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