[blml] Is "no agreement" like a get-out-of-jail-free card? [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Richard Hills:

>>Some players have the mistaken belief that they need to disclose
>>only their explicit agreements.  For those players some of their
>>"Undiscussed" explanations are MI, since on those occasions they
>>should be saying, "We have an implicit agreement that.....".

[snip]

Herman De Wael:

>We really need to define our circumstances here. There are two quite
>distinct kinds of "undiscussed":
>
>1) Partner opens 1Di, and we have agreed to play 5-card majors, but
>have not discussed how to deal with the minors. The reply will be:
>"5-card majors, minors undiscussed, so presumably more diamonds than
>clubs, but not necessarily 4".
>
>2) Opponents open 1Sp, partner overcalls 2NT. No particular
>agreements, but most people play this for the minors (in this
>setting) so that is what one should explain.
>
>In the first case, "undiscussed" is true, and given that everything
>else has already been said, this is a complete explanation.
>In the second case, while "undiscussed" is basically true, the
>explanation should include, "so it's most probably minors".

[snip]

Richard Hills:

We seem to be quibbling over semantics.  In the second case my
explanation would be, "We have an implicit partnership understanding
that it shows both minors".  2007 Law 40A1(a).

I am pleased to note that Herman has mellowed from his previous
hard-line position of a few years ago ("undiscussed" always false),
and is now willing to concede that in the first case "undiscussed"
is true.


Best wishes

Richard James Hills
Governance & Graduates Section
National Training Branch
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Telephone: 02 6223 8439
Email: richard.hills at immi.gov.au

Important Notice: If you have received this email by mistake, please advise
the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately.  This email,
including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally
privileged and/or copyright information.  Any review, retransmission,
dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other
than the intended recipient is prohibited. DIAC respects your privacy and
has obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. The official departmental
privacy policy can be viewed on the department's website at www.immi.gov.au
See: http://www.immi.gov.au/functional/privacy.htm