[blml] L17E2 questions

[Sven Pran]

> On Behalf Of Robert Geller
> Hi David,
> 
> In your example L17E2 would not apply, because West has not yet passed.
> L17E2 applies only if there are THREE passes in a row, a player having
> been
> skipped.   In your example of
> W		N		E		S
> 1C		(no call)		Pass		Pass
> ?
> 
> South's pass, for better or worse, has condoned East's POOT and
> it is now West's legitimate turn to call, if I understand it, with the
> important exception that West is free to make any legal call
> he wants to and have the auction continue, EXCEPT that if
> West passes then (and only then), due to L17E2,  the auction reverts
> back to North, with East being treated as an offender under L16.
> 
> The more I think about it this is very strange, because L29A says
> **********************************************************
> LAW 29 - PROCEDURE AFTER A CALL OUT OF ROTATION
> A. Forfeiture of Right to Rectification
> Following a call out of rotation offender's LHO may elect to call
> thereby forfeiting the right to any rectification.
> **********************************************************
> It appears to me that after South's pass of East's POOT South has
> condoned the POOT, thereby forfeiting the right to any rectification.
> Under those circumstances, West should have the right to pass,
> thereby being able to declare 1C if he chooses to.  Yet because of
> the contradiction between L17E2 (which, being more specific,
> should take precedence over L29A) and L29A, West is apparently no longer
> able to elect to play 1C undoubled.
> 
> Am I missing something here  Or am I correct in now thinking this whole
> business is much worse than I initially thought, and that L17E2 and L29A
> are
> contradictory?

I think you are simply missing the fact that if West passes then the auction
would be concluded without North participating in the final round.

What Law 17E2 does is to guarantee that no player can be deprived of his
right to accept (by passing) or reject (by making another call) the last
call other than pass to determine the contract on that board.

If West does not make the third pass in a row the auction will not end and
North can again enter the auction, but if West tries to conclude the auction
with a third pass in a row then L17E2 gives North back his turn to call.

Straight enough if you ask me.

Regards Sven