Transfer Confusion

[Adobe BC]

[hv=d=e&v=b&n=st5hqjt7d53cak653&w=s4hk654dkt876c984&e=saj92ha8daqj92ct7&s=skq8763h932d4cqj2]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv]

 

ACBL

 

East opens 1N, South bids 2♣, alerted as 1 unidentified suit, West bids 2♦, intended as natural but alerted as a transfer, East accepts the transfer, and South bids 2♠, ending the auction. The double dummy result of -1 is achieved, which beats the possible EW result of making 11 tricks in♦. However, South claims that he would have passed 2♥ if he had known that 2♦ was not a transfer. There was no correction of the possible misexplanation that 2♦ was a transfer, and the convention card is not filled out in the appropriate area. The double dummy result for 2♥ is not known, but it would be down at least 2.

 

Is this worthy of a score adjustment?

[blackshoe]

I don't know. What are EW's actual agreed methods in this situation? Why did East think 2♦ was a transfer? Was the TD called? When?

[bluejak]

I am not sure any of that is relevant. I cannot see how the MI, even if it exists, affects South's bid, so see no reason to adjust anyway.

[blackshoe]

If the alert and explanation were not in fact MI, well, then the answer to the question would seem to be "no". If they were MI, then, well, "South claims that he would have passed 2♥ if he had known that 2♦ was not a transfer".

 

South may well be blowing smoke, but maybe not.

[jdonn]

The misinformation clearly affects south's bid. If west transfers to hearts it might (or might not) be a good idea to bid 2♠. But if west bids a natural 2♦ and east bids 2♥ over it then by far the most likely explanation is that the opponents are having a misunderstanding and then south is likely to want to pass.

[Mbodell]

Isn't there also a big UI issue here as well? If West thinks partner has bid 2♥ on his own opposite a natural 2♦ call then this might suggests something like 3523 and 15-17. At matchpoints, with 6 points opposite 15-17 and a likely 9 card heart fit wouldn't you compete to 3♥ with a stiff in opponents ♠ suit rather than letting the opponents play there?

[wank]

Isn't there also a big UI issue here as well? If West thinks partner has bid 2♥ on his own opposite a natural 2♦ call then this might suggests something like 3523 and 15-17. At matchpoints, with 6 points opposite 15-17 and a likely 9 card heart fit wouldn't you compete to 3♥ with a stiff in opponents ♠ suit rather than letting the opponents play there?

no, i would jump to 4h.

[wyman]

However, if it is not their style to open 1N with a 5cM, the 2H bid is either impossible or a hand that's content to bid on. This might wake W up to the fact that they've had a misunderstanding, but even if east has not misbid, he will likely take a bid over 2S, so I don't think it's reasonable to require west to bid over 2S.

[jdonn]

Isn't there also a big UI issue here as well? If West thinks partner has bid 2♥ on his own opposite a natural 2♦ call then this might suggests something like 3523 and 15-17. At matchpoints, with 6 points opposite 15-17 and a likely 9 card heart fit wouldn't you compete to 3♥ with a stiff in opponents ♠ suit rather than letting the opponents play there?

People always say this, but the natural 2♥ bid over the natural 2♦ bid never happens, ever. I think when partner bids the next suit up players should be entitled to know through AI that partner has taken their bid as a transfer, even if they also have the UI that partner explained as a transfer.

[bluejak]

I argued this once to the EBU L&EC. They did not agree.

[Adobe BC]

The players have already indicated what they thought they were playing, and didn't change their stories. The blank area in the CC implies that the 2♦ bid is natural, but given that the rest of the card was not completely filled out, this should not be considered conclusive. Lebensohl was marked, but this particular sequence is considered an exception by a substantial majority of the local players.

 

BTW, is there anyone besides me who would take the 2♥ bid as a que in support of diamonds, rather than natural?

[aguahombre]

A super acceptance of a drop dead minor suit bid is too sophisticated for me, but raising to 3D with a super acceptance of hearts and 3 diamonds, as a hedge, might get me to committee.