(short description of image)APPEAL no. 28

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Appeals Committee
Chairman (short description of image)Bobby Wolff USA
Members (short description of image)George Retek
(short description of image)Rich Colker
(short description of image)Eric Kokish
(short description of image)David Stevenson
CAN
USA
CAN
GBR

Scribe (short description of image)David Stevenson GBR

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Event
1998 World Championships
Rosenblum Cup Qualifying
   
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Countries
Switzerland v France
   
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Players
NS (short description of image)Weiss (short description of image)Wunderli
EW (short description of image)Leenhardt (short description of image)Dechelette
   
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Board
Board 24. Dealer West. Love All
ª Q 8
© 6 5 2
¨ A 7 6 5 2
§ A 8 4
ª 9 6 (short description of image) ª K J 7 4
© A 10 9 4 3 © Q 8 7
¨ 10 9 8 ¨ K 9 3
§ J 9 2 § 7 6 5
ª A 10 5 3 2
© K J
¨ Q J
§ K Q 10 3

West
North
East
South

Pass Pass Pass 1NT¹
Pass 2§ Pass 2ª
Pass 3NT All Pass

¹ Could have a 5 card major
   
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Result
3NT+1: +430
   
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Facts
2§ was alerted on the N/E side of the screen only. In answer to a question, South described the sequence as 'normally showing four hearts', although it is not clear whether West understood that the word 'normally' had been used. It is clear from the convention cards that 2§ does not show a major.
   
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TD's
Decision
Table result stands. Laws 75C and General Conditions #5

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Appellants
E/W
   
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Players'
Comments
North and South did not attend the hearing. West spoke very little English. East and one of the Committee members as interpreted for him most of the time. According to the Appeals Form, South agreed he did not alert 2§, and West said he would have checked the convention card had he been alerted. Then he would have led a heart. The reason for not alerting was because 2§ does show interest in a major, though it might only be 3 cards looking for five cards in the opening hand. East said 2§ was initially Stayman for four card suits. West believed that North had shown four hearts.

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Committee's
Comments
The Committee believed that West would have been significantly more likely to have led a heart if the explanation of 2§ had indicated that North could have held as few as three hearts on this sequence. Dissenting opinion (Bobby Wolff): Even with the misinformation the heart lead looks best, so while it is suitable that N/S should lose 50, E/W should only get part of the benefit of this adjustment. The Chairman had to leave before the final decision was promulgated, so the Acting Chairman issued it.
   
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Committee's
Decision
Score adjusted to 3NT minus one, N/S -50, for both sides, per Laws 12C2 and 40C.
   
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Relevant
Laws
Law 12 C2, Law 40C
   
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Deposit
Returned X
Forfeited  


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