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

[Herman De Wael]

richard.hills at immi.gov.au wrote:
> 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 don't think we're quibbling at all. We are in perfect agreement!

> 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.
> 

I haven't mellowed at all. Then, as now, I feel that "undiscussed" in 
the second case is always false. Then, as now, you failed to 
understand that I was only talking about the second type of case, not 
the first.

> 
> Best wishes
> 

-- 
Herman DE WAEL
Antwerpen Belgium
http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/index.html