[pclayton]

Lets say you like to make psyches of cue bids, 1N (or 2N openings), doubles of cue bids and splinters.

How frequent do you have to make the call before it becomes alertable? Is there a standard?

[matmat]

Jlall, on May 11 2008, 07:08 PM, said:

8.239 %

and a half

[TylerE]

It's the old catch 22. At least in ACBL land, it frankly sounds as if your psyches are so frequent as to constitute a partnership agreement, and, again, in ACBL-land, an illegal one.

[CSGibson]

I'd say if you do it frequently enough that partner starts taking it into consideration, then he has to alert it.

[rbforster]

How frequently do you have to psych 1NT (say in 3rd seat) with less than 10 points before your forbidden from playing conventions at all over your NT openings? Once?

[matmat]

hmmm...

phil, if it's getting to the point where you have to ask about it on a forum, you should alert.

[jtfanclub]

matmat, on May 12 2008, 12:07 AM, said:

phil, if it's getting to the point where you have to ask about it on a forum, you should alert.

In fact, if you've never done but discussed that you would like to do it, then it becomes an agreement.

Dumb, but true!

[pclayton]

jtfanclub, on May 12 2008, 06:45 AM, said:

matmat, on May 12 2008, 12:07 AM, said:

phil, if it's getting to the point where you have to ask about it on a forum, you should alert.

In fact, if you've never done but discussed that you would like to do it, then it becomes an agreement.

Dumb, but true!

I'm not talking about myself. I'm referring to other pairs that like to make these calls.

[brianshark]

Just put it on the convention card.

[hrothgar]

Rob F, on May 12 2008, 07:47 AM, said:

How frequently do you have to psych 1NT (say in 3rd seat) with less than 10 points before your forbidden from playing conventions at all over your NT openings?  Once?

For what its worth, I sent the following letter to the ACBL about 8 years ago

-----------

Quote

I have a VERY explict question regarding the ACBL policy regarding psyches.

This year, in the International Teams trial, Zia opened 1N in second seat NV holding the following hand.

S       JT3
H       K98
D       AJ64
C       T65

(The board in question is hand number 107 from the ITT finals)

His partner, Michael Rosenberg, blasted directly to 3N holding a flat 14 count.  (I don't think for a moment that Rosenberg "fielded" this bid in any way.)

I recall Zia making almost the exact same psyche in another recent event.  (Opening a balanced hand with ~9 HCP with a "psychic" 1N).   The hand in question was board 82 from the semi finals of the 1999 International Team Trials when Zia opened a 12-14 HCP 1N in third seat, NV holding

S       4 2
H       A 10 7 5
D       J 9 8 5 4
C       A 6

I find it hard to reconcile this behavior with the ACBL's strict policy with respect to psyches.  In particular, ACBL policy states that making the same psyche more than once creates a concealed partnership understanding.

I am left with the uncomfortable conclusion that one of two different things is occurring.

The ACBL is selective in its enforcement of the Laws of Bridge. Existing legitimate regulations are not enforced against well known players.

The ACBL policy with respect to psyches is not legitimate according to the Laws of Bridge.  This policy is not enforced during major events because the players involved at this level understand that the policy is not enforcable and would protest.  However, this illegitimate policy is imposed those players who do not have a strong enough understanding of the actual laws.

Any clarification would be appreciated.

I received a response from the ACBL that players have the right to psyche and this extends to examples of making identical psyches on multiple occasions. The ACBL also stated that they had no idea where I would have ever concluded that there was any kind of restrictions on repeated psyches...

Its not like all the stuff that Oakie published over the years had any official standing... The ACBL was simply publishing one person's opinion. Sorry for any confusion that this might have caused.

[TimG]

Did you get a response from ACBL?

[hrothgar]

TimG, on May 12 2008, 06:13 PM, said:

Did you get a response from ACBL?

Ammended the original post to include relevant information

[FrancesHinden]

Slightly off-topic, but...

My partner caused much amusement at the weekend when he opened 1NT (strong) in third seat NV on x 10x AKQ10xxx Kxx and scored up +400 when I invited on Axxxx Q9x xx Q10x and he accepted. Oppo took it with good grace.

A couple of matches later, he opened 1NT in third seat vul on Ax Axx 987 AQxxx. I raised to game on a 9-count and this went a couple off (3 finesses were wrong, it had reasonable play). 4th seat said with some disgust "hold on, you said 15-17 but did you just open a strong NT on a crap 14 count just because you were in 3rd seat?". He got the amused reply "if you think that's a crap 14 count let's just agree that our evaluations differ" followed 10 minutes later by "...and it's a flat board on the same auction"

[Apollo81]

Whenever your partner makes any call other than pass, alert that you have seen him psych before but can't predict a pattern.