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Appeals

Appeal No 34.
Hesitation

Open Teams Round 31
Croatia v Bulgaria

Board 8.
Dealer West.
Love All.

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

West	North	East	South
Miladin	Karaivanov	Diklic	Trendafilow
Pass	Pass	1	1
Dble	2	3	4
Pass	Pass	Dble	Pass
5	All Pass

Contract: Five Clubs, played by East.
Result: 10 tricks, -50 to East/West

The Facts: One Club was strong, and the first Double showed 7 points or more. Two spades was artificial and showed heart support. East's Double came after an agreed hesitation of around 45 seconds.

The Director: Ruled that a Pass for West was a logical alternative to the suggested action of pulling the slow double.

Ruling: Score adjusted to Four Hearts doubled, made, +590 to North/South.

East/West appealed.

The Players: East/West explained that the pass of Four Hearts was forcing; on this type of sequence they cannot be pre-empted below their own game level (five clubs) and all passes below that are forcing. They were not able to arrive in five clubs more quickly because their methods are to reverse the usual principle that quick arrival indicates no interest in proceeding further. For this pair the delayed arrival is weaker than the quick arrival which would show a mild interest in slam.
North/South did not wish to comment.

The Committee: Was surprised to hear of the E/W style of bidding and considered it should be mentioned on the convention card. In the absence of such corroborative evidence, and since there was unauthorised information, the Committee decided against the East/West pair.

The Committee's decision: Director's decision upheld.

Relevant Laws: Law 16A, Law 12C2

Deposit: Returned