AlexJonson

If you polled me on this hand I would pass with no second choice ( auction 2NT - 3NT natural with a penalty double). The bidding side may need to call the TD, and the doubler may well want to call the TD anyway to get his double removed. Easy auction for me (after ignoring partner's explanation) because I don't see an LA to pass in this or any reasonably closely related universe.

I guess the issue is 'head to head' teams of four where some teams have six players (or n), so you have to think about the consequences of that. When I was young, I would have said teams of 4 should = 4 players, but that is probably impractical. I doubt that it's acceptable with more than 4 without knowing who played and when, to just equalise all the results.

If the location is ebu, I agree with this. In the ebu (in my experience) from low level club games upwards the stop procedure is absolutely followed.

Thanks for your clarification. I know that in a bridge 'philosophical' sense alerts and questions are not often AI, although the rules and regulations of the game require them. On a forum it would be a bit tedious to say ' non AI that doesn't normally create a law 16 problem for partner' . If I can read my partner in the auction (or they me) in the way you indicate, it is time to extend the use of screens IMO.

I don't see that Law 16 is an issue in this case. I may ask because I am thinking of bidding or because I may need to know to understand any bids partner may make. I may not ask because I already know. I can't see that I create UI.

I'd go a bit further. There's no requirement to examine the opponent's card. And in the world of announcements and alerts, a lot to be said for getting on with it. An alert at this stage in this auction means you can ask. I hope no TD would be tempted to consider UI when you do ask, and I don't think your partner needs to think about UI.

This is a pass IMO.

If North was void in spades with Axxxx clubs how many tricks do NS make.

If every one of our decisions stood up to analysis we would be world champions, most likely.

yes of course - it doesn't matter if both E cards in spades are higher than the 8 - we get a ruff and discard from one or other of the opps. Nice concept.

I can play East for just one of the spades above the 8 - so eliminate diamonds and play AK of clubs before finishing trumps in dummy and playing a spade covering East's card.

Did EW really say the double showed the majors by prior agreement? I might think as E that partner very likely had majors, because of the auction and my hand.

Can't see a problem of misinformation, or any sign of concealed information.

Good poll, I was happy to respond. Be interested to see the original poster's view on the poll results.

You can hit a second round diamond ruff a lot of the time everything else works out. In addition a natural diamond loser is probably more likely than a club loser.

I'd bid 4H because partner can never evaluate their hand v mine.

Seems an excellent point to me.

Try harder.

I'll enjoy an argument that persuades me to rule other than card designated was not inadvertent.

In reply to the OP title I would not challenge the claim.

I prefer to play my card in one unhurried movement, having already thought if I need to. I also invariably turn my card in a consistent unhurried way once everyone has played to a trick, unless I have a reason related to the current trick. None of the devices described in this thread appeal to me at all, but I've learned to live with them.

Fame at last.

Returning to the OP with due apologies for not reading it incorrectly.. It's presumably unlucky that NOS didn't ask for an explanation of 4NT and 6NT, which would normally reveal the misunderstanding. On the general point, if the 4c bidder believes he may cue bid or may show a suit needing help, he should say so. If he misbid and realised it after 4NT he may have a difficulty. If he misbid and thought 4NT was to play, he is in the clear.

I find this thread puzzling. A player makes a bad bid, and then apparently uses Ui in the auction. Now we have big discussion about pran. If I was the TD I would have adjusted to 4 NT.

This is fun, but it is perhaps obvious that 4c was a misbid.