dburn

I had read this question and answered "play the jack on the second round" before realising that there was a part b. A moment's reflection convinced me that this did not matter.

Speaking of Grosvenors, what should you do if RHO plays the ace on the jack, then the nine when you next lead the ten from dummy?

I am very surprised indeed at the number of strong disagreements with this ruling. The point is that once 2NT is explained as clubs and hearts, West cannot bid his eight-card heart suit not because he believes North has five of them, but because he knows that East will treat 4♥ as a cue bid agreeing spades. In short, the misinformation has seriously prejudiced East-West's chances of reaching the right contract. Whether or not they actually would have reached the right contract is far from clear. I would expect a director to award 6♥ making, and for an appeals committee to adjust to some percentage of 6♥ making and some percentage of 5♥ making six (the table result). I would also expect the director and / or the appeals committee to have at least a stern word with North regarding his 5♣ bid, which seems to me a clear case of illegal use of extraneous information (from South's explanation of 2NT). If North were a player of any experience, I would expect a procedural penalty to be awarded.

Q: How many tournament directors does it take to change a light bulb? A: It doesn't matter. The Appeals Committee will only change it back again.