[blml] this time I'm sure

[David Burn]

[AG]

Next time, please poll experts of the field in question.

[DALB]

Why? There wasn't any question of 2S being a "fit non-jump" in the sense
intended by Belgium's leading authorities on the subject. If there had been,
the question would have arisen at the table before it arose at the appeal.
East-West weren't actually playing fit non-jumps a la Belgique, so it really
doesn't matter what fit non-jumps a la Belgique actually are. 2S patently
was an attempt to show spade length, and thereby deter the opponents from
playing in spades. This method works rather better, of course, if West can
be relied upon to show no inclination to play in spades - and lo and behold,
he showed no such inclination despite a maximally suitable spade holding
facing length. And that's cheating.

Curiously enough, I have just returned from discussing this deal with two
thirds of England's Venice Cup team and their captain. There were five votes
for three spades, with passing mention of four hearts and four spades. No
one passed.

David Burn
London, England