green48

I play in France. 2NT as a suited overcall is alertable and they are not strict at all about convention cards. North S 10 H A3 D AK652 C QJ532 East S J65 H K62 D QJ108 C 1094 South P Q9872 H J854 D 743 C 8 West S AK43 H Q1097 D 9 C AR76 Certainly the Club lead was an error as it turned out and North was known to have defence there if 2NT was natural. But East, with only 7 points was simply trying to find my suit. Nicolas Green

I opened 1C in West and North overcalled 2NT. South did not alert so East, my partner, took it as a strong balanced hand and passed. South passed and even though I had 16 points I had no rebid with 18/19 on my left so I passed as well. North intended his bid as showing both minors but he did not call the Director or offer any explanation. East led my suit and we got a very poor table score. I appealed on the basis that: 1. If North had explained, East would certainly have led a major for down 4 or 200. 2. If South had alerted and explained, I would have doubled, for us a non-minimum hand and primarily for penalties with strength in at least one of their suits (I had Clubs). North would probably have taken it out into a minor; my partner would have doubled 3K as she had good defence in that suit, and I would have doubled 3T. Both contracts go 2/3 down for 300/500. Neither North nor South had a convention card so in the basence of proof I believe that it is assumed to be an error of explanation rather than a system error on North's part. The Director decided to adjust to 2NT down 4 for NS but to leave the table result for us as we had misdefended the contract and contributed to our poor result, adding that my partner could/should have asked what 2NT meant before leading. Why is East supposed to smell a rat and ask about a bid not alerted or explained as anything other than natural? I cannot see any equity in this at all. Any comments? Nicolas Green