how do you rule?

[blackshoe]

Well, the laws say it's legal (Law 12C1d), so it has to be possible. Having said that, I've never given one in 17 years of (very part time) directing...

Yes, that's what I meant. I've never given one either.

[barmar]

Yes, that's what I meant. I've never given one either.

I suppose to poor directors, the possibilities are all "not obvious", so in effect that's their justification.

[mycroft]

I can see situations where it would apply (basically the EBU ones) - if you open 2♠ "bad preempt in a minor" in a GCC event, or 1♦ Precision on a bad 9 count, the auctions "given a legal auction" could be "not obvious". I'd certainly investigate to ensure that A- wasn't materially better than a justifiable auction before I did so, however.

[helene_t]

I would give NS some weighted average of -200, -500, -800 and -1100. North's 3♥ is a SEWoG but he might have been only one down without being confused by the misexplanation.

 

EW gets some weighted average of -50, -100, -300 and -500. North might not have been tempted to enter the auction if he were told that his small doubleton is not opps' suit, so E gets to accepts the transfer. W must raise the 3♣ bid to at least 4♣ given that he has UI which makes a raise less attractive, so EW will get to 4♣ or 5♣, possible doubled, making 8 or 9 tricks.

[mycroft]

Perhaps you should refresh your chemistry.

You are exactly right I should. Look stuff up before posting, mycroft.

 

I did in fact mean to refer to the most common regulated drug in 90% of the world (let us not dwell on the - thankfully rejected - request for mycroft to spend August. In Riyadh. During Ramadan.) For generic punters, I will in future reference Ethyl Hydrate; for those known to have active chemical knowledge, OSHA has provided me a more obscure one: Methyl Carbinol. Added benefit of the dreaded "methyl" moniker (methyl mercury, magic methyl, methyl alcohol...)

 

Having said that, liberal application of Ethanoic Acid, diluted as Trinidad suggests above, to chopped, fried and salted root vegetables is a necessary part of modern life (and stops at 49 North Latitude for some reason. Seriously, Americans, that sludge you call ketchup? Please give me your floor cleaner (and yes, seriously, someone finally figured out that I was looking for the stuff they cleaned the floors with. Philistines.))

[weejonnie]

Perhaps you should refresh your chemistry.

 

Very few people enjoy consuming large amounts of Ethanoic Acid. This is, next to DHMO, Dihydrogen Monoxide (also known as water), the main ingredient of vinegar. I assume you meant ethanol, which is the characteristic ingredient of many "fun enhancing" beverages that some people enjoy consuming in either moderate, large or enormous quantities, with - as a consequence - moderate, large or enormous effects on their behavior and their judgement.

 

Rik

In the past it was more popular.

 

The Holy Sponge is one of the Instruments of the Passion of Jesus Christ. It was dipped in vinegar (or in some translations sour wine), most likely posca, a favorite beverage of Roman soldiers, and offered to Christ to drink during the Crucifixion, according to Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; and John 19:29. (Wikipedia)

 

Posca: Posca was a popular drink in ancient Rome and Greece, made by mixing sour wine or vinegar with water and flavouring herbs. (Wikipedia).

[hrothgar]

The 3♥ bid is so egregious as to break any link between the mistaken alert and the result.