[blml] Sykes and Mist Beads [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[Wayne Burrows]

On 05/02/2008, gesta at tiscali.co.uk <gesta at tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Grattan Endicott<gesta at tiscali.co.uk
> [following address discontinued:
> grandeval at vejez.fsnet.co.uk]
> *******************************
> "Continuing to do the same thing
>  hoping for a different outcome."
>           Einstein: definition of madness.
>  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Stefanie Rohan" <daisy_duck at btopenworld.com>
> To: "Bridge Laws Mailing List" <blml at amsterdamned.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 8:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [blml] Sykes and Mist Beads [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]
> >> Further it is clear from the law that it is only the
> >> 'meaning' of the
> >> 'partnership understanding' that needs to be
> >> 'understood and
> >> anticipated'.  There is nothing in this law that
> >> suggests that the
> >> opponents have to have devised some optimal or
> >> reasonable
> >> countermeasure.
> >
> +=+ That is a matter for regulation in the discretion
> of the Regulating Authority - and could be tournament
> specific. +=+
>

What is "That" to which you refer?

"A special partnership understanding is one whose meaning, in the
opinion of the Regulating Authority, may not be readily understood and
anticipated by a significant number of players in the tournament."

This law plainly says it is the meaning of the understandings that
need to be not readily understood or anticipated.  The discretion that
the regulation authority have is subject to them legitimately holding
the opinion that "0-8 any shape" is not understandable.  Richard Hills
view that 'understood' includes knowing how best to defend is not
supported by the phrase "is one whose meaning".

Anticipation is easily solved by telling everyone that all bids "whose
meanings" are "readily understood" will be allowed.

If I tell everyone in the tournament I am playing ferts they will
"anticipate" that I will play ferts then the regulating authority will
need to rely on these simple 0-8 any distribution bids being not
understood in order to regulate.  I think they will find that hard to
justify when they allow, for example, 1C = 16+ any distribution as I
cannot see how 0-8 is harder to understand than 16+.

Wayne