APPEAL no. 41 |

Appeals Committee
Chairman | Steen Møller | DEN
Members | Naki Bruni John Wignall Herman De Wael | ITA NZD BEL
Scribe | Herman De Wael | BEL

Event
1998 World Championships
Ladies Pairs | Qualifying
Countries
Sweden | v | France
Players
NS | Mellström | Midskog
EW | Renoux | Isoard
Board
Board 11. Dealer South. Love All
| ª | K 7 6 3 |
© | Q J 7 4 2
¨ | 3
§ | 10 6 4
ª | J 9 2 |  | ª | A Q 4
© | 9 8 6 | © | A K 5 3
¨ | Q J 10 4 | ¨ | A 7
§ | Q 9 8 | § | A 7 5 2
| ª | 10 8 5 |
© | 10
¨ | K 9 8 6 5 2
§ | K J 3
West |  | North |  | East |  | South
|  |  |  | Dble |  | Pass
Pass |  | 2¨¹ |  | Dble |  | Pass
Pass |  | 2© |  | Pass/Dble² |  | 2ª
Pass |  | Pass |  |  |  |
¹ 7-11, 5/4 in the Majors ² under discussion
Result
2ª-3: -150
Facts
East placed a Green card on the tray and wanted to change it to a Double.
TD's Decision
The Director had to give a ruling at the table, and decided not to accept the change of call.

Appellants
E/W
Players' Comments
There was some amount of discussion as to whether or not the tray had passed after the attempt at changing the call, before the Director had reached the table. East, through a translator, told the Committee that of course she intended to double on that hand, and that the green card had been a mechanical error.

Committee's Comments
The Committee decided to believe that East had wanted to double, but had taken a green card inadvertently. The Committee believed that she had tried to change her call without pause for thought. If this was indeed the case, then East should have been allowed to change her call without penalty, according to Law 25A. The Committee did not want to change the ruling without hearing the Director one last time, and it turned out he may well have ruled as he did because of language problems at the table. The Director, having also heard the evidence presented at the Committee hearing, indicated that he had no problem with the Committee's decision. Since there basically was no Director's error, there was no reason to rule under Law 82C, which could provide for average plus to both sides, but rather under Law 93B3, which allows the Committee to exercise the Director's powers. So basically the Committee decides to allow the change of call. Now in some cases, this might lead to an incomplete board, but in this particular case, the Committee decided that the board would end with a contract of 2ª doubled, making the same number of tricks.
Committee's Decision
The result was changed to 2ª doubled, down three, -500 to both sides.
Relevant Laws
Law 25 A, Law 93 B3
Deposit
Returned | X
Forfeited |

Return to Top of page | To main Championship page