[bluejak]

What is alertable is a matter for the TO. How you alert is a matter for the TO. So if the TO does not make something pre-alertable then it is not pre-alertable and if the opponents do not pre-alert it all you can do is moan at the TO afterwards. You cannot and will not get an adjustment based on a lack of pre-alert.

In the next couple of weeks we shall be playing some MidChart agreements that require a pre-alert, and we have lovely little laminated cards that do the pre-alerting for us. Based on my experience last year the opposition will take no notice, but there you go.

But in England these bids are only pre-alertable insofar as we are required to exchange SCs and make these bids clear on the SCs. Of course we do that.

So long as we follow the rules it is tough luck if opponents get in an unfortunate position. After all, it happens to us everywhere because of lack of local knowledge: we just live with it. But you cannot expect an opponent to pre-alert something unless the TO requires it.