How Would You Rule?

John Fails to Alert

By Mike Swanson

'I am sorry, I should have left you in 3 and not bid that crazy 3NT,' said John apologetically.
'Well, at least we weren't the only ones,' replied Julie understandingly. 'After all it was very tempting to try for game, but next time I try to play in diamonds maybe you should let me!'

Dealer: West. Game All.     K Q J 7 6   6 2   A 8   Q 10 9 5     A 8 4   A 7 4 3   Q 9 7 2   K 2   5   10 5   K 10 4 3   A J 8 6 4 3     10 9 3 2   K Q J 9 8   J 6 5   7

West	North	East	South
	Julie		John
1NT	2	Pass	Pass

Just before West made the final pass to conclude the auction he turned to John and asked him: 'What does the 2 bid show?'

John stared at the auction (using bidding boxes) and gasped: 'Oh dear! I should have alerted 2. I forgot that it shows spades and another suit. I'm so sorry, but I'm having problems with the diamond suit today.'

Julie shook her head in disbelief.

East suddenly came to life: 'In that case I want to withdraw my pass,' he said.

'Director!' called out Julie with an air of resignation.

The Tournament Director arrived at the table and explained: 'Since he was misinformed due to John's failure to alert Julie's 2, East may withdraw his pass (he would not have been able to do so if West had already called).

'If he does so, then John may also change his call without penalty.'

East then bid 3, over which John found himself able to show his spade support with 3, which ended the auction.

West started the defence with king and another club, ruffed in hand by John. John now tried the K, taken by West with the A.

West now sat and thought a while, trying to reason why partner wouldn't bid 3 over a natural 2. Since the only logical explanation was that East also had diamonds, West switched to the 2 and, when the dust had died down, John emerged with nine tricks which turned out to be quite a good score.

West started to berate his partner: 'If you had just let them play in 2, they would have gone miles off and we would have had a top!'

'That means we have been damaged by John being able to bid over my 3. I think we had better have the Tournament Director back,' said East hopefully.

The Director studied his law book and then said: 'John was entitled to withdraw his pass and the only circumstance in which I would cancel the score and assign an adjusted score of 60/40 is if John's withdrawn pass conveyed such information as to damage East-West. This is clearly not the case here as the information gained from the pass was to East-West's advantage, especially since John admitted that he had forgotten the system.'

East looked crestfallen, and entered the result on his score-card with a sigh.

'I shall avoid bidding diamonds for the rest of the evening if I possibly can,' said Julie wearily.

'Don't worry, I won't let you down again,' said John hopefully.

'Until the next time,' replied Julie sceptically.