[bali 2]

Suppose in a competitive auction North has a BIT and then Pass, and South makes a bid. It is determined that the break in tempo does not absolutely suggest that bid, but it is also determined that Pass by South was a L. A .
Do we rule that as there was a LA South must Pass, or that as the BIT do not suggest bidding, S is allowed to bid ?

Many thanks in advance
Best regards, and Merry Christmas to you all !!

[PeterE]

Emphasis in quotes are mine ...

Law 73 C said:

When a player has available to him unauthorized information from his partner, such as from a remark, question, explanation, gesture, mannerism, undue emphasis, inflection, haste or hesitation, an unexpected alert or failure to alert, he must carefully avoid taking any advantage from that unauthorized information.

It does not read "... he has to pass ..."

Law 16 B1a said:

After a player makes available to his partner extraneous information that may suggest a call or play, as for example by a remark, a question, a reply to a question, an unexpected* alert or failure to alert, or by unmistakable hesitation, unwonted speed, special emphasis, tone, gesture, movement, or mannerism, the partner may not choose from among logical alternatives one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by the extraneous information.

The red part is a necessary condition to judge the chosen bid an infraction.

So, as long as the cosen action (bid) could not demonstrably have been suggested over Pass, the player in question may chose it.

And Merry Christmas to you as well as to all the others outside