failure to alert

Views on the following please

Dlr N E/W vul	76432 Q52 T AQ64
QJ T96 K976 9532		KT985 AKJ73 J52
8   6   12   14	A 84 AQ843 KJT87	N: 41NT S: 41NT E: 21 W: 21

East opened 1S, South 2NT (Non alerted), Pass by West, 3C by North Pas out.

I would mention that East is a very Junior player unaware you could ask -evokes sympathy but can't be considered. At the end of the auction I was called and ascertained that noone had asked during the auction about south's bid. West claimed damage through failure to alert, though interestingly East did not comment. My ruling was that though failure to alert was an infraction, either West or East could have protected themselves by asking. I also feel that East could have bid 3S with comfort (South says she would have bid 4C, but I think that is using hindsight after seeing the hands unfold) From my pre retirement days of tournament directing I seem to remember that it is accepted that failure to alert does not absolve you from any resposposability to check in this sort of situation. The 2NT cannot be a natural overcall - i have never seen or heard of it as such, so surely a defender could have asked. On those grounds I allowed the 3c to stand but applied a standard procedural penalty to N/S for the failure to alert. The board results are at http://www.teawamutu.bridge-club.org/results%20/%20this%20week (Tues Board 9) I am not comfortable about E/W getting a bottom, but am I expecting too much of them.

Over the last 4 years or so since giving this up I am now a bit rusty but I think this is a good case study for our new directors

Started by on 26 Apr 2017 at 01:03PM