peterb001

I think that the first thing to do would be to ask them for a written description of their defense to 1NT. Within this, after 1NT X Pass, what bids can partner make, and what do each of these show? Given that this is an unusual convention, I think that it is reasonable to insist that this is made available if they are going to play it at your club. Once you have this, it becomes much clearer whether they follow it, or not. I don't know what the bidding regulations are in the USA, but I would like to tell them that they can't play this defense at the club until they provide a written description.

As long as the appropriate Regulating Authority (Chile?) allows the initial question (Law 61B3) then I don't see a problem with the repeated asking. And since partner denies it twice before finally finding a card of the suit that was led, it looks like the questioner is aware of partner's inability to follow suit correctly all the time (and to find relevant cards in their hand!!). Most players would find a card of the suit led at the first time of asking, so this suggests that this is not a game of the highest standard. The only thing that could be a problem would be if the questioner adopted a discourteous attitude in asking these questions (Law 74A).

This wasn't my intention, and I did agree with the initial pause, rather than playing immediately. I would also follow from 2 or 3 small cards at the same speed, so I don't think that this is unacceptable or illegal. I was actually considering the opposite point - if the 3rd player hesitates for a minute before playing a card to the first trick, while working out the hand, is this a problem if the card then played is a singleton? My personal feeling is that it is, but I'd be happy to be hear other views.

I think it does depend how long the 3rd player takes to work out the hand. If I have a singleton, then I wouldn't spend a significant time before playing it - no more than the 10 - 15 seconds suggested above. However I would leave the card face up while I finished my deliberations on the hand, which then stops declarer or partner from playing to the next trick until I am ready. (With the singleton A this isn't generally a worry!)