Questioning during the bidding

[aguahombre]

 

This leaves directors and players in a difficult situation. You see some people on this forum discussing strategies for randomising when they will ask questions to avoid passing information, but unless the TD and the opponents can be sure they really stick to such agreements it can be difficult to dispel the notion that they've asked in the full knowledge that doing so might hoodwink the opponents.

Being consistent about when we will ask questions is 1) not randomizing and 2) a policy which can be articulated. The times when it matters UI-wise are those where we ask and then pass.

 

We ask about alerted calls in the first two rounds of an auction, and ask when we are still alive competitively. This might be called a strategy, but it is quite easy for the TD and opponents to grasp.

[Aardv]

So this does seem peculiar in that there seems to be some sort of claim passed around - and I'm not sure from this thread whether it has any legitimacy - that you should ask about the bidding if you're not considering a call other than pass. If this injunction does exist, what sort of substance does it have, if (as it sounds here) there's no penalty from persistently ignoring it?

The EBU offers advice along those lines:

 

A player has the right to ask questions at his turn to call or play, but exercising this right may have consequences. If a player shows unusual interest in one or more calls of the auction, then this may give rise to unauthorised information. His partner must avoid taking advantage. It may be in a player’s interests to defer questions until either he is about to make the opening lead or his partner’s lead is face-down on the table.

However, that's not an injunction. Personally I like to have an idea what's going on during the auction, but I prefer looking at the convention card to asking questions.

[VixTD]

Being consistent about when we will ask questions is 1) not randomizing and 2) a policy which can be articulated. The times when it matters UI-wise are those where we ask and then pass.

 

We ask about alerted calls in the first two rounds of an auction, and ask when we are still alive competitively. This might be called a strategy, but it is quite easy for the TD and opponents to grasp.

The problem is not that we can't grasp the concept of always asking in certain situations, or asking randomly, it's that we can't be sure that you genuinely stick to your claimed strategy. I've met a few villains at the bridge table who'll claim anything to avoid an adverse ruling, and plenty more who probably believe they do what they say they do, but actually don't. If you always ask in set situations you may think it's easy to prove that you do: you could ask the TD to go round the field asking everyone you've played so far, or everyone you play against regularly, and ask them to verify it, but I think you'd be surprised at how few people actually register that you do this. It's also an impossible burden for the TD.

 

Asking always is fine for reducing UI passed to partner, but how does it help the opponents, who don't know you and might think you're an "ask-if-you-need-to-know" sort of person, and play you for the missing goods? Do you tell them in advance of your asking proclivities?

[barmar]

I don't think 73D1 is restricted only to tempo, it says "maintain steady tempo and unvarying manner". I think questions, particularly the way you ask them, fall under "manner". This is probably where EBU gets their guideline about "showing unusual interest" from -- if you ask questions that emphasize a particular suit, that's not an unvarying manner, and the TD may be able to adjust under 73F.