APPEAL no. 32 |

Appeals Committee
Chairman | Bobby Wolff | USA
Members | Rich Colker Dan Morse Naki Bruni David Stevenson | USA USA ITA GBR
Scribe | David Stevenson | GBR

Event
1998 World Championships
Rosenblum Cup | Qualifying
Countries
France | v | Croatia
Players
NS | Delmouly | Renouard
EW | Miladin | Diklic
Board
Board 11. Dealer North. Love All
| ª | Q |
© | K 9 6 5 4
¨ | Q 5 2
§ | K J 9 2
ª | A K J 10 9 7 5 |  | ª | 8 2
© | A | © | 10 8 7
¨ | 10 4 3 | ¨ | A 9 6
§ | 6 3 | § | 10 8 7 5 4
| ª | 6 4 3 |
© | Q J 3 2
¨ | K J 8 7
§ | A Q
West |  | North |  | East |  | South
|  |  |  |  |  | 1ª*
Pass |  | 2¨* |  | Pass |  | 2©*
3ª |  | All Pass |  |  |  |
Result
3ª-1: +50
Facts
1ª was described by South to West as either 5+ cards in spades with a normal opening bid, or a weak no-trump. 2¨ was a transfer: 2© promised at least two hearts. North/South's system was special with some Brown sticker conventions. In fact, 1ª showed either 5+ cards in spades with a normal opening bid, or a weak no-trump with two or three (never four) spades. There were convention cards available with this description, clear and in full. When playing 3ª the defence cashed two clubs and switched to a heart. West took this, went to dummy with the ¨A, and ran the ª8.
TD's Decision
Table result stands

Appellants
E/W
Players' Comments
East did not attend the hearing. The problems of having insufficient time to check the Brown sticker conventions owing to late arrivals were described at length. It was suggested that when the draw was published a Brown sticker should be attached to any team playing Brown sticker conventions so that their opponents should have as much notice as possible. South said that he had explained his 1ª opening carefully in advance of the start of the match and on other occasions but agreed that this time he forgot to mention that it could not have precisely four spades. West said that if he knew South could not have precisely four spades then he would have cashed the ªA before going to dummy to finesse.

Committee's Comments
The Committee agreed that the suggestion of the draw showing Brown stickers was useful and asked the Chief TD to consider this. The Committee said it was especially important when playing such complex methods that the meaning of conventions was explained carefully and completely on every occasion. It was suggested that players using such methods should not wait for a question before writing a description of such a convention.
Committee's Decision
Score adjusted for both sides to 3ª making, E/W +140.
Relevant Laws
—
Deposit
Returned | X
Forfeited |

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