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Appeal No 11

Hesitation

Open Teams Round 8
Portugal v Russia

Board 4.
Dealer West.
Game All.

Please note: Screen runs from top left to bottom right.
			Q 6 2
			K Q J 4 3
			Q J 7
			6 2
	J 5 4	N   W E   S			A K 7
	8				A 6 2
	A 8 5 2				K 9
	A J 9 7 3				K Q 8 5 4
			10 9 8 3
			10 9 7 5
			10 6 4 3
			10

West	North	East	South
Silva Santos	Gromov	Santos	Petrunin
Pass	1	Dble	3
Dble	Pass	4	Pass
5	Pass	6	All Pass

Contract: Six Clubs, played by West.
Result: Twelve tricks, +1370 to East/West

The Facts: West had taken a very long time in bidding Five Clubs. All players agreed to this.

The Director: Established that the tray had come back to North/West after several minutes. He decided that a Pass by East was a Logical Alternative and that Six Clubs was suggested by the break in tempo.

Ruling: Score adjusted to Five Clubs, making 12 tricks, +620 to East/West.

East/West appealed.

The Players: West told the Committee that he had a problem and needed to think it over. He was wondering if East did not have five spades and was asking to play Game in that denomination.
East explained his actions. From the pre-empt (according to opponents always promising a 5-4 Heart fit) he knew his partner held a singleton Heart. From the responsive Double, he knew partner would be at least 4-4 in the minors, so Six Clubs was definitely on. By bidding Four Hearts, he committed himself to the slam, because he would also bid Six Clubs if partner had bid Five Diamonds. He was still searching for the grand.
North stated he thought the hesitation helped in bidding the slam. He pointed out East had not asked any questions so he could not be a certain as he said about the 9-card heart fit. He admitted that the Three Hearts bidder would have a four-card suit in 99% of the cases.

The Committee: Accepted that East, through his bid of Four Hearts, where he could risk a response of Five Diamonds, had proved that he would always be going to at least a small slam, no matter what West would bid.

The Committee's decision: Director's decision overturned, original table result restored. +1370 to East/West

Relevant Laws: Law 16A

Deposit: Returned