bridgetalk.com forums :: Laws & Rulings :: Appeals committee correct an incorrect director's ruling?

Frances Hinden

Appeals committee correct an incorrect director's ruling? ( 12:53:43 MonDec 9 2002 )

Playing in a club heat of the National Pairs, I was nearly on an appeals committee for the following hand:

 
           x
           QJ98x
           KJ8
           KTxx

 KJ98                  10xxx
 Kx                    xxxx
 QTxx                  xx
 AQx                   xxx

           AQxx
           AT
           A9xx
           Jxx

Game all, matchpoints.

South opened 1D, West overcalled 1NT and North doubled. North then said 'oh sorry, I should have alerted the 1D'. The director was called, and discovered that the 1D could have been a short suit planning to rebid in NT (I assumed better minor, but I didn't get to hear any further details). The director told West he could change his call. West did, and the auction proceded:

 
S       W       N       E
1D      1S      2H*     P
2NT     P       3NT     all pass

2H was alerted and described as non-forcing. South made 9 tricks in 3NT for 18 mps out of 24. West asked for a ruling, saying that South had made use of the fact he knew his partner had a maximum for the 2H bid because of the withdrawn double of 1NT. The director asked N/S about what sort of hand 2H showed, and eventually decided to let the score stand. West objected, and the director came and discussed the hand with us. When we discovered that she had already given a ruling (rather than was asking before ruling) we said she shouldn't change a ruling just because West doesn't like it; he could appeal if he wanted to. West did not appeal (West was a strong tournament player, the other 3 people at the table were standard club players).

When we got round to looking at a rule book, it seemed to us that the director had been wrong in allowing West to change his 1NT call as it did not seem probable that he made the call as a result of misinformation (21B1). So my question is this: suppose E/W had appealed suggesting the contract should be 2H+2. Suppose that the appeals committee believe that the director had made an incorrect ruling earlier on the auction, even though that ruling is not being appealed. Do we adjust the score to 1NTx-3? East might feel aggrieved at this and say that at pairs he would pull the double of 1NT (or xx for rescue depending on their methods); 2Sx might only lose 500, gaining a few matchpoints over 3NT making.

bluejak

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Re: Appeals committee correct an incorrect director's ruling? ( 22:49:42 WedDec 11 2002 )

Phew!

Bit complicated! :ohwell:

First, the answer to the basic question. ACs may correct or amend any judgement ruling by the TD, but may not over-rule him on a matter of Law or Regulation. However, except when a TD suspends a player, an AC may hear a case and recommend to the TD that he should change his ruling - and it would have to be a TD very sure of his ground who ignored such advice.

Second, the withdrawn double was authorised, so the main reason for the ruling/appeal fails anyway. South was allowed to use the information from it.

Third, the TD should have told West he could change the call if it was because of the misinformation [the lack of alert]. Since he did not, we have Director error, and should consider a split score as a result, cconsidering both sides as non-offending.

---
David Stevenson <laws2@blakjak.com>
Liverpool, England, UK
http://blakjak.com/lws_menu.htm

James Vickers

Re: Appeals committee correct an incorrect director's ruling? ( 16:15:11 ThuDec 12 2002 )

David, I don't have my rule book with me, so I might be missing something simple, but could you explain why the withdrawn double is authorized for South? NS are, after all, the offending side as it was their failure to alert which started this whole business.

I agree with Frances that the change of call was not based on the misinformation, but I think some directors might disagree and give EW as non-offenders the benefit of the doubt. I think, oddly enough, the outcome is dependent on whether the Director (not the AC) considers that West's first call was based on the misinformation.

If the TD judged that West would have made a different call given the correct information presumably the AC can overrule her on the exercising of her judgement. In this case the adjusted score is the most favourable likely absent the infraction to EW, the least favourable at all probable to NS.

If the TD was unaware of L21B1 and agrees with the AC that the change of call was not based on misinformation then she has made an error and law eighty-something (director's error) applies and both sides are considered non-offending.

As to which scores to award, I would need evidence that EW have an arranged rescue procedure (e.g. xx as you suggested) before allowing them to escape from 1NTX.

James

bluejak

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Re: Appeals committee correct an incorrect director's ruling? ( 23:29:30 MonDec 16 2002 )

You are right, I seem to have confused the two sides, so the double is not authorised for N/S. :sad:

So I generally agree with you, except about the arranged rescue manoeuvre. Surely you do not need an agreement to bid 2D with a 4=4=2=3 and then redouble?

---
David Stevenson <laws2@blakjak.com>
Liverpool, England, UK
http://blakjak.com/lws_menu.htm

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If you need help with the Laws or rulings from any country in the world, this is the place!Hosted by David StevensonSenior Consultant DirectorEnglish Bridge Union

If you need help with the Laws or rulings from
any country in the world, this is the place!

Hosted by David Stevenson
Senior Consultant Director
English Bridge Union