American Contract Bridge League Presents The Philadelphia Experiment Appeals at the 2003 Spring NABC Edited by Rich Colker Assistant Editor Linda Trent CONTENTS Foreword ............................... iv The Expert Panel ..........................v Cases from Philadelphia Tempo (Cases 1-18) .....................1 Unauthorized Information (Cases 19-27) ...40 Misinformation (Cases 23-33) ............48 Other (Cases 34-37) ....................72 Closing Remarks From the Expert Panelists ....79 Closing Remarks From the Editor ............80 Advice for Advancing Players ...............82 NABC Appeals Committee .................84 Abbreviations used in this casebook: AI Authorized Information AWMW Appeal Without Merit Warning BIT Break in Tempo CC Convention Card LA Logical Alternative MP Masterpoints MI Misinformation PP Procedural Penalty UI Unauthorized Information iii FOREWORD We continue our presentation of appeals from NABC for one or two nights at a Nationals. We hope this will increase the tournaments. As always, our goal is to inform, provide constructive level of bridge expertise (or at least the perception of that level) criticism, and foster change (hopefully) for the better in a way that that goes into each appeal decision. While the cases here represent is not only instructive but entertaining and stimulating. only the beginning stages of this effort, we hope this leads to better At NABCs, appeals from non-NABC+ events (including side appeals decisions—or at least better acceptance of those decisions games, regional events and restricted NABC events) are heard by in the bridge community. Director Panels while appeals from unrestricted NABC+ events are Ambiguity Department. Write-ups often refer to “an x-second heard by the National Appeals Committee (NAC). Both types of BIT.” Our policy is to treat all tempo references as the total time cases are reviewed here. taken for the call (unless otherwise specified) and not how much Each panelist is sent all the cases and invited to comment on longer than “normal” the call took (which poses the additional as many or as few as he wishes; some choose not to comment on problem of what is normal for the situation). Chairmen and scribes every case. should adjust their reports accordingly. Table rulings are normally made after consultation among Mild Disclaimer Department. While we make every effort to Directors, which typically includes the DIC of the event (who is insure that write-ups are complete and accurate, we cannot offer responsible for the final ruling). This is true even if on occasion we any guarantees. Since even minor changes in the reported facts of refer to a ruling as the table Director’s. In addition, in 2003 we are a case can have a large affect on our evaluations, the opinions witnessing an increase in Directors consulting with expert players expressed should be considered valid only for cases which match (or peers of the players involved in a ruling situation) on bridge- the facts reported. Otherwise, discussions of cases reported here judgment issues before making a final ruling. While this has not yet should be regarded merely as theoretical exercises. become standard policy (as it is in the WBF) we enthusiastically Suggestions for improvements are welcome. They may be sent applaud the Directing staff’s efforts in this direction. via e-mail to: [email protected] or via U.S. mail to the editor, At management’s request, only the DIC’s name is included in c/o ACBL, 2990 Airways Boulevard, Memphis TN 38116-3847. each write-up. Additionally, we should bear in mind that we see in Finally, my thanks go to everyone whose efforts contribute to these pages only a subset of all of the table rulings that are made these casebooks: the scribes, reviewers and chairmen who labor to at an NABC tournament—specifically, those which some players chronicle the details of each case; the panelists for their hard work disagreed with. To that extent their representativeness of all rulings and devotion to a truly arduous task for which they receive only is open to question. our praise (and occasional abuse); and, of course, Linda Trent, my In 2003, under the guidance of Joan Gerard as Director and assistant editor. My sincere thanks to all of you. I hope my efforts Barry Rigal as Chairman of NAC, an attempt has been made to have not in any way diminished your good work. increase the presence of top players on Appeal Committees. To this end a number of top players who are not members of NAC have Rich Colker been asked to donate their time and serve on Appeals Committees October, 2003 iv THE EXPERT PANEL Karen Allison, ageless, was born in Brooklyn and is a graduate of His web site (http://www.gg.caltech.edu/~jeff) contains lots of Brooklyn College. She currently lives in Las Vegas, NV, with her bridge and other material. two cats, Stella and Stanley—and is loving it. A former options trader, Karen is currently a bridge teacher and writer. When she Mike Passell, 55, was born in Yonkers, New York, He currently isn't “catting” around she enjoys traveling, reading, the theater and resides in Plano, Texas, with his wife Nancy and daughter Jennifer. concerts. She has served on the National Laws Commission since Mike, one of the ACBL’s top professional players, enjoys movies 1982 and has worked on several revisions of both the Laws of and playing golf and softball. He ranks #2 all-time in masterpoints Contract and of Rubber Bridge. Karen is proudest of her silver and holds the most ACBL regional titles (eat your heart out, medal for the Women's Teams in Albuquerque in 1994 and of Soloway). He won the Bermuda Bowl in 1979, the World winning the CNTC and representing Canada in the Open Teams Transnational Teams in 2001, and has victories in all four of the Olympiad in Monte Carlo in 1976. More recently, at the 2002 major NABC team events. He has enjoyed serving on the ACBL World Women’s Pairs in Montreal she and partner Peggy Sutherlin Hall of Fame and National Appeals Committees. placed “as close to a medal as one can without getting one…sigh.” Jeffrey Polisner, 61, was born in Buffalo, NY and currently Bart Bramley, 54, was born in Poughkeepsie, NY. He grew up in resides in Northern CA where he has been a practicing attorney Connecticut and Boston and is a graduate of MIT. He currently since 1967. He is a graduate of Ohio State University (BS) and resides in Dallas with his longtime companion Judy Wadas where obtained his JD from Case Western Reserve. He is currently the he is a technical analyst for a risk-management company. Bart is a WBF Counsel and former ACBL League Counsel. He is a member sports fan (especially baseball and specifically the NY Yankees), of the ACBL and WBF Laws Commissions and former Co- a golf enthusiast, a Deadhead and enjoys word games. He was Chairman of the ACBL National Appeals Committee. 1997 Player of the Year. His NABC wins include the 1989 Reno Vanderbilt and the 1997 Reisinger. In 1998 he was second in the Barry Rigal, 44, was born in London, England. He currently World Par Contest and third in the Rosenblum Teams. He also resides in New York City with his wife, Sue Picus. A bridge writer played in the 1991 Bermuda Bowl and captained the 1996 U.S. and analyst, he contributes to many periodicals worldwide and is Olympiad team. Bart is currently the chairman of the ACBL the author of the book, Precision in the Nineties. He enjoys theater, Conventions and Competition Committee. music, arts, and travel. Barry is also an outstanding Vugraph commentator, demonstrating an extensive knowledge of bidding Larry Cohen, 43, was born in New York City and is a graduate of systems played by pairs all over the world. He coached the USA I SUNY at Albany. He currently resides with his wife, Maria, in team to the Venice Cup in 1997. He is proudest of his fourth-place Boca Raton, Florida. He is a former computer programmer and finish in the 1990 Geneva World Mixed Pairs and winning the options trader but presently makes his living from Common Market Mixed Teams in 1987 and the Gold Cup in 1991. writing/publishing bridge books/articles/software and playing In 2003 he was appointed chairman of the ACBL National Appeals bridge professionally. Larry has played bridge in special Committee. invitational tournaments in a dozen different countries. His biggest passion/hobby is golf and watching sports, especially his beloved David Stevenson, 54, was born in Kumasi, Gold Coast. He Yankees. He has won seventeen National Championships and was currently resides in Liverpool, England with his wife Elizabeth, cat second in the 1998 World Open Pairs and third in the 2000 World Nanki Poo, and new kitten Minke. His hobbies include anything to Teams Olympiad. He also won the 2002 ACBL Player of the Year do with cats and trains. David has won many titles as a player, award. including Great Britain’s premier pairs event, the EBU Grand Masters, twice. He was the Chief Tournament Director of the Ralph Cohen, 77, was born in Montreal, PQ. He currently resides Welsh Bridge Union, is active internationally as a Tournament in Memphis, TN. He has held several positions with the ACBL Director and serves on WBF Appeals Committees. from 1971 until 1991 including Executive Director from 1984 to 1986. He has been a member of ACBL Laws Commission since Dave Treadwell, 91, was born in Belleville, NJ, and currently 1984 and is currently a Co-Chairman. He is a Vice-Chairman of resides in Wilmington, DE. He is a retired Chemical Engineer, a the WBF Laws Committee.