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Appeal No 15

Misbid

Ladies Teams Round 9
Sweden v the Netherlands

Board 6.
Dealer East.
East/West Game.

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

West	North	East	South
Simons	Andersson	Pasman	Midskog
		1	Pass
2	Dble	2	Pass
3NT	Pass	4	All Pass

Contract: Four Hearts, played by East.
Result: Twelve tricks, +680 to East/West.

The Facts: Two Clubs was alerted on both sides of the screen, but North did not ask what it meant and doubled to show clubs. South did ask what Two Clubs meant, namely natural or heart fit with as little as 2 points. South subsequently explained the double as Take-Out.
West claims she would have bid Two No-Trumps (forcing), if she had known that the Double of Two Clubs showed clubs They might then have reached Six Hearts.

The Director: Adjusted the score.

Ruling: Score adjusted to Six Hearts, making, +1430 to East/West.

North/South appealed.

The Players: West feared that because of the Take-Out Double behind her, the suits would be breaking badly for her, and that was why she had taken a rather conservative action.

The Committee: Decided that North/South had been lucky in the bidding. North did not ask for the meaning and consequently made a wrong bid. The explanation by South was however correct, and so East/West cannot claim any redress.

The Committee's decision: Director's decision overturned, original table result restored. +680 to East/West

Relevant Laws: Law 40A

Deposit: Returned