[blml] 40B3 [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

[richard.hills at immi.gov.au]

Nigel Guthrie:

>>Opponent opens 1C (RHO alerts). Partner doubles (you
>>alert). RHO asks what the double means. You explain
>>that partner ...
>> - Passes without asking lacking anything to say.
>> - Passes after asking with a takeout double.
>> - Doubles without asking with 5+ clubs.
>> - Doubles after asking with weak notrump.
>> - Overcalls without asking with a normal values.
>> - Overcalls after asking with stronger hands ...

Stefanie Rohan:

>It is very hard to believe, but I do not see how the law
>can be read in any other way.

Richard Hills:

I can read it another way.  The initial phrase of Law
40B3 is: "The Regulating Authority may disallow prior
agreement...".  This is _not_ logically equivalent to:
"All prior agreements are automatically legal if not
disallowed by the Regulating Authority".

For example, prior agreements (such as those hypothesised
by Nigel Guthrie) are automatically illegal when they
infract Law 73B1:

"Partners shall not communicate by means such as the
manner in which calls or plays are made, extraneous
remarks or gestures, questions asked or not asked of the
opponents or alerts and explanations given or not given
to them."


Best wishes

Richard James Hills
Graduates and Developmental Training Section
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Telephone: 02 6223 8458
Email: richard.hills at immi.gov.au

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