APPEAL CASE 4 – Misinformation

Mitchell Open Board-a-Match Teams

First qualifying session

Board: 26  Vul : Both  Dlr: East

                Leszek Rabiega

               ªQ 9

               8 7 5 2

                A Q J 9 8 6

               3

Steven Johnson                 Mark Teaford

8 6 3                             K J 10 7

A K Q                            6 3

K 10                               5 4

A 10 7 6 5                     K Q J 9 4

                 Gabriela Rabiega

                      A 5 4 2

                       J 10 9 4

                       7 3 2

                      8 2

West         North       East         South

                                Pass        Pass

1NT (1)     2(2)      Dbl (3)      Rdbl

Pass           2           Dbl           All Pass

(1) 15-17 HCP.

(2) Explained as clubs plus a higher

ranking suit.

(3) Stayman.

The Facts: The director was called after the hand was played. The explanation of 2was incorrect. The actual agreement is an unspecified one-suited hand. East said that with the correct information, he would not have doubled 2

The Ruling: It was deemed that there was Misinformation (MI). With the correct

information, it was likely that East would bid 3 over 2. West would bid 3NT. North would lead the Q. Therefore, in accordance with Laws 40C and 12C2, the result was adjusted to the most favorable result that was likely for the nonoffending side and the same result for the offending side: 3NT by West, making three, E-W plus 600.

The Appeal: North asserted that had E-W arrived at a 3NT contract he would never lead the Q. He also did not correct the incorrect explanation prior to the opening lead because the damage had already been done E-W did not try to suggest how the

Auction might have gone if they had been given the correct explanation to the 2bid, other than stating that East would not double 2. The double of 2 was based on the assumption that West had to have diamonds given no club length or a four-card major.

The Decision: The committee concluded that the most likely auction given correct information was a forcing 3bid rather than the final double by East. West would most likely respond either 3 or 3NT. If West bid 3, East might bid 3followed by 3NT by West. The committee ruled that the most favorable result that was likely had the irregularity not occurred, for the non-offending side, and the most unfavorable result that was at all probable for the offending side would be 3NT making three. In accordance with Law 12C2, the results of plus 600 for E-W and minus 600 for N-S were awarded.

The committee found no merit to the appeal; therefore, an appeal without merit warning

(AWMW) was imposed to N-S and the team captain. There was some discussion as to imposing a procedural penalty (PP) to N-S for failure to disclose the correct explanation prior to the opening lead, but the committee chose not to.

DIC: Steve Bates

Chairperson: Bob Schwartz

Committee Members: Shannon Cappelletti, Jeff Goldsmith, Eugene Kales and Richard Popper