Presents Kansas City Bombers Appeals at the 2001 Spring NABC Edited by Rich Colker ACBL Appeals Administrator Assistant Editor Linda Trent ACBL Appeals Manager CONTENTS Foreword ...................................................... iii The Expert Panel.................................................v Cases from Kansas City Tempo (Cases 1-8)............................................1 Unauthorized Information (Cases 9-11)...........................32 Misinformation (Cases 12-20) ..................................40 Other (Case 21-22)...........................................71 Closing Remarks From the Expert Panelists...........................76 Closing Remarks From the Editor...................................78 The Panel’s Director and Committee Ratings ..........................84 NABC Appeals Committee ........................................85 Abbreviations used in this casebook: AI Authorized Information AWMW Appeal Without Merit Warning 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. The ACBL Board of Directors continues having Director Panels, comprised of pre-selected Directors, hear appeals from non-NABC+ events (including side games, regional events and restricted NABC events) while appeals from NABC+ events continue to be heard by the National Appeals Committee (NAC). We review both types of cases in our traditional format. Panelists were sent all cases and invited to comment on and rate each Director ruling and Panel/Committee decision. Not every panelist commented 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 with separate summaries for Panels, Committees and overall. 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 as each group is evaluated on different criteria: Directors on their handling of situations at the table, including determining facts, applying appropriate laws, and making rulings which allow the game to progress normally, expecting that they may be reviewed and possibly overturned on appeal. Panels/Committees are rated on their fact finding, application of law, and use of bridge judgment (or consultation with players) appropriate to the level of the events and players involved. Both types of ratings may also be affected by panelists’ views of PPs and/or AWMWs. 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 lapse and 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—in particular, those with which some players disagreed—and so may not be entirely representative. Director Panels are expected to obtain bridge advice from appropriate players where a decision involves bridge judgment. The Panel’s choice of consultants and their use of the input received may be used by our panelists in their ratings. 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 facts reported. Otherwise, the discussions here should be regarded merely as theoretical exercises. Any and all 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 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 September, 2001 iii iv THE EXPERT PANEL where he has been a practicing attorney since 1967. He is a graduate of Ohio State University (BS) and obtained his JD from Case Western Reserve. He is currently Bart Bramley, 53, was born in Poughkeepsie, NY. He grew up in Connecticut and the WBF Counsel and former ACBL League Counsel. He is a member of the ACBL Boston and is a graduate of MIT. He currently resides in Chicago with his longtime and WBF Laws Commissions and former Co-Chairman of the ACBL National companion Judy Wadas. He is a stock options trader at the CBOE. Bart is a sports Appeals Committee. 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 Barry Rigal, 43, was born in London, England. He currently resides in New York wins include the 1989 Reno Vanderbilt and the 1997 Reisinger. In 1998 he was City with his wife, Sue Picus. A bridge writer and analyst, he contributes to many second in the World Par Contest and third in the Rosenblum Teams. He also played periodicals worldwide and is the author of the book, Precision in the Nineties. He in the 1991 Bermuda Bowl and captained the 1996 U.S. Olympiad team. Bart is enjoys theater, music, arts, and travel. Barry is also an outstanding Vugraph currently the chairman of the ACBL Conventions and Competition Committee. commentator, demonstrating an extensive knowledge of bidding systems played by pairs all over the world. He coached the USA I team to the Venice Cup in 1997. He Jon Brissman, 56, was born in Abilene, TX. He attended Purdue University and is proudest of his fourth-place finish in the 1990 Geneva World Mixed Pairs and earned a B.A. from Parsons College, an M.A. from Northeast Missouri State winning the Common Market Mixed Teams in 1987 and the Gold Cup in 1991. University, and a J.D. from Western State University College of Law. He operates a small law office in San Bernardino, California, teaches at the Los Angeles College David Stevenson, 54, was born in Kumasi, Gold Coast. He currently resides in of Chiropractic, and serves as a judge pro tem in small claims and municipal court. Liverpool, England with his wife Elizabeth and his two cats, Quango and Nanki He was Co-Chairman of the National Appeals Committee from 1982-88 and was Poo. His hobbies include anything to do with cats and trains. David has won many reappointed in 1997. A Good Will Committee member, he believes that a pleasant titles as a player, including Great Britain’s premier pairs event, the EBU Grand demeanor coaxes forth his partnership's best efforts. 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 Larry Cohen, 41, was born in New York City and is a graduate of SUNY at Committee. 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 Dave Treadwell, 89, was born in Belleville, NJ, and currently resides in from writing/publishing bridge books/articles/software and playing bridge Wilmington, DE. He is a retired Chemical Engineer, a graduate of MIT, and was professionally. Larry has played bridge in special invitational tournaments in a employed by DuPont for more than 40 years where he was involved in the dozen different countries. His biggest passion/hobby is golf and watching sports, production of Teflon for introduction to the marketplace. He has three grown especially his beloved Yankees. He has won seventeen National Championships children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His hobbies include and was second in the 1998 World Open Pairs and third in the 2000 World Teams blackjack and magic squares. The bridge accomplishment he is proudest of is Olympiad. breaking the 20,000 masterpoint barrier. He believes bridge can be competitive and intellectual, but above all can be and must be fun. Ralph Cohen, 75, was born in Montreal, PQ. He currently resides in Memphis, TN. He has held several positions with the ACBL from 1971 until 1991 including Bobby Wolff, 69, was born in San Antonio and is a graduate of Trinity U. He Executive Director from 1984 to 1986. He has been a member of ACBL Laws currently resides in Fort Worth. His father, mother, brother and wives all played Commission since 1984 and is currently a Co-Chairman. He is a Vice-Chairman of bridge. Bobby is a member of the ACBL Hall of Fame as well as a Grand Life the WBF Laws Committee. He wrote the Ruling the Game column for two years Master in both the WBF and the ACBL. He is one of the world’s great players and along with other contributions for The ACBL Bridge Bulletin. He represented has won ten World Titles and numerous National Championships including four Canada in the World Team Olympiad in 1964 and has won four National straight Spingolds (1993-96). He served as ACBL president in 1987 and WBF Championships.