[blml] L9A vs L73B1 [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[Jerry Fusselman]

WBF Laws Committee minutes 1st September 1998:

"It is held illegal to ask a question in order that partner may be
aware of the information in the reply."

The answer to the original question seems simple to me.  Don't ask a
question to make partner aware.  Instead, call the director because
there has been an irregularity:  There is MI that may well damage your
side.  When you are aware of a failure to alert, protect yourself like
you should.  Get this simple category of MI corrected before you call.
 It seems some of you have more fun lawyering or taking double shots
than playing bridge.

It seems to me, if you don't get this kind of MI corrected before you
call, if you instead proceed and hope for an adjustment later, then
your equity on the deal falls to about 35%---at least in the ACBL.

ACBL alert regulation:

"Players who, by experience or expertise, recognize that their
opponents have neglected to Alert a special agreement will be expected
to protect themselves."

So, protect yourself, call the director, end the MI, and get on with
playing real bridge, and you won't have to stay up for three hours
that night on an appeal, which, as we saw in Cincinnati 2000, case 29
(unalerted 1D), may well lead to no redress.  I can't believe that the
quoted WBF Laws Committee minutes were meant to prevent a pair from
protecting themselves after such obvious MI.

Jerry Fusselman