[blml] Law 27 + Law 13

[Robert Frick]

> I don't know why this should be a good thing. Automatic penalties are  
> easy
> for directors to distribute and for players to understand. The offending
> side have no excuses; the game is defined by rules, and it is not asking  
> too
> much for those who play it to do so according to those rules. Especially
> when we are talking about things that are completely avoidable -- eg  
> revokes
> and insufficient bids.
>
> Stefanie Rohan
> London, England

I will try to explain my point about enjoyment.

I feel sick when I make a stupid mistake like a revoke and I am punished  
for it. Of course.

But I also do not like it when the opponents make a stupid mistake and  
they are punished for it beyond what is needed to protect me. (I have  
passed over the auction 2NT - P - 2H (transfer) just so the director will  
not be called. My partner has allowed the opponent to correct an error  
without penalty in a tournament for significant prizes, saying "I don't  
want to win that way." We always tell our opponents when they are about to  
make an opening lead out of turn. Etc.)

So, adding the two up (big minus for the person being punished and small  
plus for the side benefitting), players will enjoy the game more when the  
rules are less punitive.

I think the rules should be designed mostly to maximize enjoyment of the  
players, not the directors. But as director, I feel guilty about handing  
out the revoke penalty, because it is usually too punitive.

Bob