Presents They Felt “Lucky” in Las Vegas Appeals at the 2001 Fall NABC Edited by Rich Colker ACBL Appeals Administrator Assistant Editor Linda Trent ACBL Appeals Manager CONTENTS Foreword ...................................................... iii The Expert Panel.................................................v Cases from Las Vegas Tempo (Cases 1-18)...........................................1 Unauthorized Information (Cases 19-28)..........................58 Misinformation (Cases 28-41) ..................................84 Other (Case 42).............................................139 Closing Remarks From the Expert Panelists..........................142 Closing Remarks From the Editor..................................144 Advice for Advancing Players.....................................148 The Panel’s Director and Committee Ratings .........................150 NABC Appeals Committee .......................................151 Abbreviations used in this casebook: AI Authorized Information AWMW Appeal Without Merit Warning CC Convention Card LA Logical Alternative MI Misinformation PP Procedural Penalty UI Unauthorized Information i ii FOREWORD We continue our presentation of appeals from NABC tournaments. As always, our goal is to inform, provide constructive criticism, and foster change (hopefully) for the better in a way that is entertaining, instructive and stimulating. At NABCs, appeals from non-NABC+ events (including side games, regional events and restricted NABC events) are heard by Director Panels while appeals from NABC+ events are heard by the National Appeals Committee (NAC). Both types of cases are reviewed here. Each panelist is sent all cases and invited to comment on and rate each Director ruling and Panel/Committee decision. Some panelists may choose not to comment on every case. Ratings (averaged over panelists and expressed as percentages) are presented with each write-up and in a summary table at the end. Separate summaries for Panels, Committees, and all cases combined are included in the table. The numerical ratings are intended as a general index of Director, Panel, and Committee performance. They are not intended nor should they be used to compare the performance of Directors with Panels/Committees; each group is evaluated on different criteria. Directors are rated on their handling of situations at the table, including determining facts, applying appropriate laws, and making rulings which allow the game to progress normally. Their rulings may be reviewed and possibly overturned on appeal. Panels/Committees are rated on their fact finding, application of law, and use of bridge judgment appropriate to the level of event and the players involved. (Director Panels are expected to obtain bridge advice from appropriate players where a decision involves bridge judgment; their choice of consultants and use of the input received may affect their ratings). Ratings may also be affected by panelists’ views of PPs and/or AWMWs that were assessed or should have been. Table rulings are usually made after consultation among Directors, including the DIC of the event (who is responsible for the final ruling). This is true even if we occasionally refer to a ruling as the table Director’s. At management’s request, only the DIC’s name is included in each write-up. Additionally, we should bear in mind that we see here only a subset of all table rulings—those with which some players disagreed. To that extent they may not be representative of all rulings made. Ambiguity Department. Write-ups often refer to “an x-second break in tempo.” Our policy is to treat all tempo references as the total time taken for the call (unless otherwise specified) and not how much longer than “normal” the call took (which poses the additional problem of what is normal for the situation). Chairmen and scribes should adjust their reports accordingly. Mild Disclaimer Department. While we make every effort to insure that write- ups are complete and accurate, we cannot offer any guarantees. Since even minor changes in the reported facts can affect our evaluations, the opinions expressed are valid only for cases which match the reported facts. Otherwise, the discussions here should be regarded merely as theoretical exercises. New Feature Department. This issue marks the start of a new feature—Advice for Advancing Players—following my Closing Remarks. In this section I plan to focus on lessons to be learned from some of the cases reviewed; lessons that will help avoid problems at the table and enhance our enjoyment of the game. Suggestions for improvements are welcome. They may be sent via e-mail to: [email protected] or via USPS to the editor, c/o ACBL in Memphis. Finally, my thanks go to everyone whose efforts contribute to these casebooks: the scribes, reviewers and chairmen who labor to chronicle the details of each case; the panelists for their hard work and devotion to a truly arduous task for which they receive only our praise (and occasional abuse); and, of course, Linda Trent, NABC Appeals Manager and my assistant editor. My sincere thanks to all of you. I hope my efforts have not in any way diminished your good work. Rich Colker May, 2002 iii iv THE EXPERT PANEL enjoys theater, music, arts, and travel. Barry is also an outstanding Vugraph commentator, demonstrating an extensive knowledge of bidding systems played by Bart Bramley, 53, was born in Poughkeepsie, NY. He grew up in Connecticut and pairs all over the world. He coached the USA I team to the Venice Cup in 1997. He Boston and is a graduate of MIT. He currently resides in Chicago with his longtime is proudest of his fourth-place finish in the 1990 Geneva World Mixed Pairs and companion Judy Wadas. He is a stock options trader at the CBOE. Bart is a sports winning the Common Market Mixed Teams in 1987 and the Gold Cup in 1991. fan (especially baseball and specifically the NY Yankees), a golf enthusiast, a Deadhead and enjoys word games. He was 1997 Player of the Year. His NABC David Stevenson, 53, was born in Kumasi, Gold Coast. He currently resides in wins include the 1989 Reno Vanderbilt and the 1997 Reisinger. In 1998 he was Liverpool, England with his wife Elizabeth and his two cats, Quango and Nanki second in the World Par Contest and third in the Rosenblum Teams. He also played Poo. His hobbies include anything to do with cats and trains. David has won many in the 1991 Bermuda Bowl and captained the 1996 U.S. Olympiad team. Bart is titles as a player, including Great Britain’s premier pairs event, the EBU Grand currently the chairman of the ACBL Conventions and Competition Committee. Masters, twice. He was the Chief Tournament Director of the Welsh Bridge Union, is active internationally as a Tournament Director, and serves on the WBF Appeals Jon Brissman, 56, was born in Abilene, TX. He attended Purdue University and Committee. earned a B.A. from Parsons College, an M.A. from Northeast Missouri State University, and a J.D. from Western State University College of Law. He operates Dave Treadwell, 87, was born in Belleville, NJ, and currently resides in a small law office in San Bernardino, California, teaches at the Los Angeles College Wilmington, DE. He is a retired Chemical Engineer, a graduate of MIT, and was of Chiropractic, and serves as a judge pro tem in small claims and municipal court. employed by DuPont for more than 40 years where he was involved in the He was Co-Chairman of the National Appeals Committee from 1982-88 and was production of Teflon for introduction to the marketplace. He has three grown reappointed in 1997. A Good Will Committee member, he believes that a pleasant children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His hobbies include demeanor coaxes forth his partnership's best efforts. blackjack and magic squares. The bridge accomplishment he is proudest of is breaking the 20,000 masterpoint barrier. He believes bridge can be competitive and Larry Cohen, 41, was born in New York City and is a graduate of SUNY at intellectual, but above all can be and must be fun. Albany. He currently resides with his wife, Maria, in Boca Raton, Florida. He is a former computer programmer and options trader but presently makes his living Howard Weinstein, 49, was born in Minneapolis and graduated the University of from writing/publishing bridge books/articles/software and playing bridge Minnesota. He is a retired options trader who currently resides in Sarasota, FL, with professionally. Larry has played bridge in special invitational tournaments in a his fiancee (the wedding is planned for this fall). His brother, sister and parents all dozen different countries. His biggest passion/hobby is golf and watching sports, reside in Minneapolis. His parents both play bridge and his father is a Life Master. especially his beloved Yankees. He has won seventeen National Championships Howard is a sports enthusiast and enjoys playing golf. He is co-chair of ACBL and was second in the 1998 World Open Pairs and third in the 2000 World Teams Ethical Oversight Committee, former chair of Conventions and Competition Olympiad. Committee, and former National Appeals Committee member. He has won eight National Championships and represented the USA in the 2000 World Teams Ralph Cohen, 74, was born in Montreal, PQ. He currently resides in Memphis, TN. Olympiad (where his team finished third). He has held several positions with the ACBL from 1971 until 1991 including Executive Director from 1984 to 1986. He has been a member of ACBL Laws Bobby Wolff, 68, was born in San Antonio and is a graduate of Trinity U. He Commission since 1984 and is currently a Co-Chairman. He is a Vice-Chairman of currently resides in Fort Worth. His father, mother, brother and wives all played the WBF Laws Committee. He wrote the Ruling the Game column for two years bridge. Bobby is a member of the ACBL Hall of Fame as well as a Grand Life along with other contributions for The ACBL Bridge Bulletin.