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Appeals

Appeal No 37.
Inference from Opponent's Action

Open Teams Round 33

Board 20.
Dealer West.
Game All.

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

West	North	East	South
Multon	Koumas	Mari	Politis
1	2	3	Pass
4	Pass	Pass	Dble
All Pass

Contract: Four Hearts doubled, played by West.
Result: 9 tricks, -200 to East/West

The Facts: Three Hearts was a limit bid.
South asked about the meaning of Three Hearts before passing.
North thought before his pass, and this hesitation was not denied.
West thought to conclude from South's actions that the trumps might be 0-4, and so he played a spade from the table at trick two. When this was ruffed by North, there was no way he could avoid going one down.

The Director: Ruled that South did indeed have a bridge problem, which makes that West takes the conclusions from South's hesitations at his own risk.

Ruling: Result Stands

East/West appealed.

The Players: West took the view that South should not double without four trumps, after the hesitation by North. He explained that his plan was logical given these considerations.

The Committee: Decided that the Director had ruled correctly when he let the score stand.
West could easily well have concluded that South's hesitation after 3 may well have been an indication that South held four spades. There was clearly no damage to East/West.

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

Relevant Laws: Law 73D1

Deposit: Forfeited