APPEAL CASE 1

Subject: Incomplete explanation

Director-in-Charge: Henry Cukoff

Event: Von Zedwitz LM Pairs

Session: Second Qualifying

Board: 19 ♠ Vul: E-W Dlr: South	Carlos Pelligrini ♠ Q 8 2 ♥ A 10 3 ♦ A 2 ♣ A K J 7 5		North South Pass 1♣ 1♥ 2NT 3 ♦ (1) 3♥ 3 NT Pass (1) Alerted. Final Contract: 3NT by North. Opening Lead: ♣10.
Han Peterse ♠ A J 7 6 ♥ 8 6 ♦ 6 5 3 ♣Q 6 4 3		Rick Kaye ♠ K 10 9 4 ♥ J 9 2 ♦ Q 9 7 4 ♣ 10 9
	Serge DeMuller ♠ 5 3 ♥ K Q 7 5 4 ♦ K J 10 8 ♣ 8 2

Table Result: Made five, North-South plus 460.

Facts: Before the opening lead, East asked if the sequence showed spades. The answer was,“Yes, he should have spades.” South did notcorrect this explanation prior to the opening lead.When dummy was faced, the director was called.East told the director (away from the table) at thispoint that he would have led a spade if he hadn’t been misinformed about spades.

Director’s Ruling: In accordance with Law 40C, the director determined that failure to explain completely the meaning of South’s calls damaged East-West. Therefore, in accordance with Law 12C2, the score was adjusted to the result without a spade lead —3NT by North making three, North-South plus 400.

The Appeal: South said that he made a checkback rebid to give North a choice of rebidding 3NT or 4♥. His 3♦ bid had promised five hearts. North-South’s convention cards did not reflect the fact that South’s failure to show spades on the second round denied a 4-5 distribution and the explanation made no mention of that fact.

The Decision: The committee was very concerned because North-South’s convention card did not indicate their full agreement as stated at the hearing. Both the bid and explanation at the table appeared to be an attempt to discourage a spade lead. The committee judged that East’s decision not to lead a spade was affected by the statement that South’s 3♦ bid and subsequent bid of 3NT over 3♥ showed spades. The fact that East told the director that he would have led a spade, before it was known that a spade lead was right, substantiated his claim. The committee upheld the table director’s decision of an adjustment to 3NT by North making three, North-South plus 400.

The Committee: Gail Greenberg, chair, E.J.D. Kales, Ellen Kent, Chris Moll and Tom Peters.