Posted 2013-September-05, 10:44
I suspect that East was considering bidding 3♠, but it really doesn't matter, because all West can infer is that East has some reason to consider a call other than pass. However, West also has AI that East has around 16 HCP and a balanced hand, which means he has at least two clubs. This means the opponents have around 23 points and not more than four clubs. South's hand is clearly not great, and hasn't heart support, since he passed. North probably doesn't have much either. So is pass a logical alternative for West? Maybe, maybe not. He has no defense to 3♦, and he can't expect his side will get many club tricks unless clubs are trumps. If I were West, I'd expect to go down 2 in 4♣ (doubled if my opponents know what they're doing). That argues for pass at this vulnerability, unless I'm pretty sure they won't double. so I'd rule it's an LA. As for the failure to double, that's an error, true, but not a serious one in my view. Hell, I have partners who never double unless it's absolutely obvious. So I would adjust, and I would not consider letting NS keep their table result. Note that if I judged the failure to double to be a serious error, NS would not get back all of the damage the table result did, whether that's "keep the table result" or something else (I haven't looked at it), but EW would still get their score adjusted due to violation of Law 16.
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As for tv, screw it. You aren't missing anything. -- Ken Berg
I have come to realise it is futile to expect or hope a regular club game will be run in accordance with the laws. -- Jillybean