Take Advantage of the Rules!!

[Benoit35]

To me, it isn't all that obvious that North should be allowed to double 4♥. At the very least, he should not be allowed to make a penalty double (i.e. if he doubles, his partner can't pass). I have no idea if the rules cover this, but the auction below looks very different when one knows that your partner intended to support your hearts:

 

1♣ - p - 1♥ - 4♥

X - p - ?

 

Under such a ruling, NS would eventually reach 5♥, a nice reward (but not an outrageous one) for West.

 

Probably a good case for never letting me become a Director...

[blackshoe]

It may be that doubling 4♥ should be ruled illegal use of UI, but that's a separate issue, and you can't tell a player that he can't take such a call, you can only tell him his obligation not to take advantage of UI, and then adjust the score later if he fails in that duty.

[vuroth]

When I don't want to call a Director against rookies, I might gently suggest that they ask what the rules are after the session and note that I'm not sure but it's the Directors job.

Well, feel free to call the director on me. If nothing else, maybe getting comfortable with director calls will help a rookie like me not be so terrified the next time I have to call the director.

 

I don't want to derail the thread, but getting a few director visits to the table is probably GOOD for rookies - helps to put them at ease, and reduces the likelihood that they'll get steamrolled by some club shark.

[mycroft]

I'm sure I've said this before, but I teach the new players that the proper response to opponents trying to "teach" them the laws (most commonly phrased as "I could call the director for that, but...") is to call the TD and explain to them what happened.

 

First, it is evidence that it's the table's right and responsibility to call the TD, not just the non-offenders'.

Second, it helps defuse the "Call the cops" mentality of TD calls that sometimes exists - frankly, I tend to call when our side has caused the problem, simply because I'm less likely to sound like I'm "calling the cops" than at least some of my opponents...

Third, if the experienced pair *are* trying to intimidate the new players (and there are still players who do this on purpose, never mind the ones who don't know they're doing it "deliberately"), having the new players call the TD makes it clear that they're not going to be intimidated.

Fourth, one of three things happen:

- what the NOS was complaining about actually was wrong, and the NOS knows what would happen; if they didn't want to take advantage of the penalty, L81C5 exists for a reason. Even if the new players do get hit with a rectification they could have avoided by not calling the TD, at least they'll know what happens for the next time (or it happens against them).

- what the NOS was complaining about actually was wrong, but the NOS knows the "wrong" rectification; this is common, and this method stops the growth of old wives' tales like "dummy can't revoke" or "just make it sufficient". Frequently the OS learns of options they have that nobody at the table knew about...

- what the NOS was complaining about was just fine, actually, and this is a good way to discourage this kind of new-player intimidation. "He hesitated, and she bid!" "So, I think for 5 minutes, and open 1C, Precision. Partner has to pass the forcing call?" (and then checking, as usual, if the so-called hesitation actually existed, that the UI wasn't used, and explaining to the hesitating side (in the NOS' hearing, as they need to hear it, clearly) what their rights and responsibilities are when a break in tempo occurs).