[blml] Are the laws clear on telling pard to ask a question?

[Sven Pran]

> On Behalf Of Jerry Fusselman
> I was declarer as South, and while West was considering her lead, East
> said, "Wait!  What did your (my) 2S bid show?"  2S was alerted, but no
> one asked during the auction.  The director was called and ruled that
> I should not answer East's question at that time.  Then West, who had
> not yet selected her lead, asked the same question.  The director
> ruled I had to answer and West could base her lead on my answer.
> Presumably he felt there is nothing in the laws to prevent it.
> 
> I think you all see the problem, but are the laws truly crystal clear
> on this?  I still think the intent of the laws should be obvious:
> Since East is forbidden to ask at that time, then West should be not
> able to ask East's question either.  (Also, East's question probably
> creates UI, but I am ignoring that issue here.)  Apparently, 73A or
> 73B were not clearly applicable to this case for this director, who
> could cite 75A as more important than 20F2.  When I answered the
> question (fourth-suit forcing to game, says nothing about spades), the
> director left, satisfied that his work here was done.  Then West chose
> her lead.
> 
> Is there any existing law I could have asked the director to consider?
>  Will the laws be clearer on this issue next year?  Or should I hope
> this is all moot and the problem is too unlikely to appear again?

IMO the relevant law is L16A:
After a player makes available to his partner extraneous information that
may suggest a call or play, as by means of a remark, a question, a reply to
a question, or by unmistakable hesitation, unwonted speed, special emphasis,
tone, gesture, movement, mannerism or the like, the partner may not choose
from among logical alternative actions one that could demonstrably have been
suggested over another by the extraneous information.

East's attempt to ask a question before West has selected her lead is
illegal and creates extraneous information to West. Among the two
alternative actions now primarily available to West (either ask or not ask)
she may not choose the action (to ask) obviously suggested over the other
(not ask) suggested by East's illegal activity.

Next West may have more than one logical alternative (up to a maximum of
thirteen) for her opening lead. Among those alternatives she may not choose
any card that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by East's
illegal activity.

I would as TD have denied West the right to ask any question after East's
illegal activity, and in addition I would have warned West that it is now
her responsibility to avoid to the best of her ability any suspicion of
having chosen her opening lead based on this illegal activity.

Regards Sven