[blml] Nondisclosure

[Nigel]

[Wayne Burrows]
20 Board Match - National Trial
System Cards have been sent in weeks in advance. There was an
opportunity to register changes at a meeting immediately before play
began in the first match. This is match three on the evening of the
first day.

Board One

1C (1S*) ?

* Either diamonds or both majors

This method over a natural 1C has not been disclosed on their card nor
any verbal mention made of this defence.

[A] Do you ...

1. Allow this method

2. Disallow this method?

Assume you allow the method ...

Do you ...

1. Allow the opponents time to prepare a counter-defence

2. Allow no time for the opponents to prepare

3. Allow the opponents to prepare a defence but any time taken is
considered playing time

4. As for 3 but charge any initial overrun in time solely to the side
that did not disclose

5. Something else that I have not thought of.

[B] Are there any circumstances in which you think it would be reasonable
to allow the method and not let their opponents have any time to
prepare a defence against this method (or a different method if that
is part of your circumstances).

[nige1]
IMO, [A.1] The director should ban the method.
[A.2.4.a] The director might allow the method...
(a) If all competitors are familiar with it or
(b) If another competing pair had described and registered the same 
method or
(c) If, from any source, there were available a sound written defence to 
the method that all pairs were happy to consult and adopt.
(d) The non-offending pair judged the method to be disaster-prone and 
welcomed the chance to play against it.
If (for any reason) the director does allow the method then he should 
charge an initial time over-run only to the non-disclosers. This is 
likely to cause trouble. The non-offenders pair are unlikely to quickly 
devise a good defence and the offending pair will suspect them of 
deliberate time-wasting.

However, an old-fashioned director who cared about "protecting on the 
field" *still* might ban the method if he deemed it likely to randomise 
results. Assuming that such reactionary ideas of simple justice are 
still tolerated by law-makers.

[B] The offending pair are billionaires, friends and godfathers of the 
director:)