psychique prohibit ?

[hrothgar]

Rebound:

 

I am so glad you wrote this posting because it reminded me of a question that I've been trying to get an answer to for a long time.

 

Anyone who knows the answer, please let me know.

 

Question: Are Gardner 1NT overcalls (either a strong NT hand or a WJO) legal in the acbl, are they considered destructive (I can't see why they would be), or are they regarded as being controlled psyches? (Advancer can bid 2C to ask which type of hand the 1NT bidder has.) I asked 2 different directors this question last summer at the NABCs in NYC, and neither was sure of the answer. One didn't appear to even be familiar with the convention..... Gardner NT overcalls have been around for a long time although I've never seen anyone actually have them written on their convention card. I have seen many a 1NT overcall psyche as I'm sure all of you have. But, as a convention, are they legal in acbl events?

 

Sincere thank you in advance to any and all who reply to this.

 

Don

Perfect example of the point that I was arguing:

 

The ACBL's Encyclopedia of Bridge defines a Gardener NT Overcall as "a two way bid in which may be either a natural NT overcall with 16-18 points or a weak hand with a long suit. Partner usually bids 2♣ to find out which type of overcall was made..."

 

1. The Gardener NT is clearly a conventional bid.

2. Its unclear whether this convention is permitted at any level of play within the ACBL. The convention is not permitted at the Midchart level. Whoile the Superchart" permits any "non-destructive convention, treatment, or method" the chart also notes "Defenses over the opponents natural suit bids must promise "for non-cue bids showing a single suited hand must possess a known suit or one of no more than two possible suits not to include the suit bid"

 

I'm not sure if the convention would be permitted or banned. Then again, given the enormous number of Superchart events that the ACBL holds, the point is probably moot.

 

Now lets move to the heart of the matter:

 

Players within the ACBL are not permitted to play a convention called the Gardener NT overcall. So, instead, they continue to play natural NT overcalls and just happen to psyche this bid holding a weak single suited hand. Of course, at all times they are very careful never to discuss this tendency within the partnership for fear of developing an understanding...

 

The end result is the same: They players are using the methods that they want. However, full disclosure becomes a joke and players respect for the Laws dwindles...