On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 8:41:23 AM UTC-3,
bhmwe...@gmail.com wrote:
> Yesterday when I played Matchpoint pairs, I had the following hand during the last round, non-vul vs vul:
>
> 86 AJT762 A Q873
>
> OK, now the problem:
>
> The TD had been called to a table the previsous round. There had been a heart lead OOT, and declarer required the correct defender to lead a heart.
>
> Unfortunately the correct defender was void in hearts so she played some other suit. Declarer with KQxxx of hearts now wanted to change her mind, but was of course not allowed to do that.
>
> Unfortunately I as a TD had been consulted about the not too common albeit simple situation, and I discovered now that this was the board in question.
>
> I now knew that partner is void in hearts and that LHO has KQxxx.
>
> I could have called the TD and claimed that I could not play the board and score 60%, but as we needed a better board than that I decided to stand my ground and try not to use this knowledge.
You really don't get to make that decision. An irregularity has occurred, you know it, and you need to call the director. It's the director's decision whether or not you should be allowed to play it. At this point, I'm not inclined to let you even have the 60% (that is, you're entitled to equity - but your failure is egregious and deserves its own penalty).
I also think you should endeavour not to consult on boards you're about to play - though I realize it's sometimes difficult not to. A couple of weeks ago, I consulted another director about a board, and she even asked me if she'd played it yet, and I told her (wrongly) that she had... (and yes, Axman I returned her entry and gave her a free play [OK, she's the club owner...] but I probably owe her a beer).
> RHO opened 1S and I called 2H.
> LHO bid 3D and RHO bid 3C(!).
>
> I did not accept this and he corrected to 4C.
>
> His partner tried to end the bidding with 4 NT, but RHO bid 5D.
>
> Now, I know that 5D is going down, as partner can ruff hearts. But a double would be more the result of my UI, I felt. So I stoically passed.
>
> LHO passed but partner did have AT975 - T9643 T96
> so he had reason to double, and we collected 1100.
>
> Was it a correct decision to try and act like I knew nothing of partner's hand.
No.
> Am I allowed to double 5D reasoning that I have two aces, and a well-placed club, as well as shortage of diamonds, meaning that partner could have some diamond tricks? Or could opponents claim that I doubled on the UI that partner was void in hearts?
No, and yes. You have a "well placed club" but you don't KNOW that's a trick. otoh, you know it doesn't matter because your partner's getting a ruff.