APPEAL no. 14 |

Appeals Committee
Chairman | Bobby Wolff | USA
Members | Grattan Endicott Virgil Anderson Tommy Sandsmark | GBR USA NOR
Scribe | Tommy Sandsmark | NOR

Event
1998 World Championships
Mixed Pairs | Final
Countries
France | v | South Africa
Players
NS |  |
EW |  |
Board
Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game
| ª | K 10 7 |
© | K J 5
¨ | A 10 2
§ | A J 5 4
ª | J 3 |  | ª | A 5 2
© | A 9 3 2 | © | Q 10 8 7 4
¨ | K Q 6 4 3 | ¨ | J 9 7
§ | K 6 | § | 9 7
| ª | Q 9 8 6 4 |
© | 6
¨ | 8 5
§ | Q 10 8 3 2
West |  | North |  | East |  | South
|  | 1NT |  | Pass |  | 2©
Pass |  | 2ª |  | Pass |  | Pass
Dble |  | Pass |  | 3© |  | Pass¹
Pass |  | 3ª |  | All Pass |  |
¹ Alleged slow pass
Result
3ª+2: +200
Facts
The TD was called to the table after the bidding. The tray was at the W/S side of the table and West explained that it took South about 6-8 seconds before she passed over 3©. South denied having hesitated at all. After the play the TD was called to the table and asked for a ruling.
TD's Decision
The TD agreed with North's bid of 3ª. Furthermore, he did not believe that a hesitation of 6-8 seconds with screens was enough to bar North anyway. Had it been 15-20 seconds, it would have been another story, and especially if the hesitation could be pinpointed to one particular hand. The TD therefore let the score stand.

Appellants
E/W
Players' Comments
East maintained that the hesitation was more than 6-8 seconds, more like 10-12 seconds. In a demonstration of the felt length of the pause, West demonstrated a pause of about 20 seconds. South categorically denied having paused at all. She stated that she did not even think about bidding on that hand.

Committee's Comments
East did the right thing when he called the TD when he believed North to have acted on South's change in tempo. The Committee believed South's hand to be the classic hand for a deliberation in this bidding sequence. The Committee believed there may have been a hesitation, but since this was not substantiated in any way, the Commitee allowed the score to stand.
Committee's Decision
Score stands
Relevant Laws
—
Deposit
Returned | X
Forfeited |

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