43rd GENERALI EUROPEAN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DAILY BULLETIN

Editor: J.-P. MeyerCo-Editor: M. HortonWeb Editor: Th. Matziaris
No.: 10 • Monday, 23 June 1997

Results Contents
OPEN Round 20, Round 21, Round 22
LADIES Round 12, Round 13
SENIORS Round 4, Round 5
BUTLER scoring, Open Round 21
BUTLER scoring, Ladies Round 13
Match of the Day, by Brian Senior
Open,Great Britain v Russia by Henry Francis
Banco in Monaco
Litle cards play major roles
The New Laws of Bridge by Ton Koijman



Italy slows the pace
but keeps the lead

The leaders did not enjoy a very good day but the rankings did not change much, with Italy staying ahead of Norway, but with a reduced margin of 6.5VP. Iceland shares third place, now with Spain, whilst only one point further behind we find Poland. France is, of course, in the race being only 4 points away from the bronze medals. The players will face some tense days in the very near future. This is the beauty of the European championship.

Lucky 13, but for whom?

Thirteen matches have been played in the ladies event. There are ten more battles to come. The figure 13 seems to be a happy one for the trio of France, Great Britain and Israel, who gained some ground over their main rivals, Poland, Spain, Austria, Italy and Germany. Three other teams have gone past the 200 victory point total, Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden and it looks as if the struggle for the five places in the Venice cup will be limited to that short list.

Italian seniors take the lead

We have had new leaders in the seniors every day. First France, then Netherlands and now Italy are in front - but for how long? Note that it is Italy C who is leading but they should beware of Italy A, not far behind in fourth place.


Match of the day
Denmark vs France

by Brian Senior

France jumped out to an early lead, gaining points on each of the first two boards.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All
6
K 8 7 6 4 2
10 7 6 5
K 5
K Q 9 4 8 3 2
Q 5 J 9
A K 9 4 3
Q 10 9 7 6 4 A J 3 2
A J 10 7 5
A 10 3
Q J 8 2
8

Open Room
West North East South
Levy Christiansen Mari Blackset

2 Pass 2NT
3 Pass 4 4
All Pass

Sorin Christiansen opened a multi and Lars Blakset used his forcing enquiry bid. When the French pair competed up to 4, Blakset bid 4, pass or correct. The defence was easy - A, 10 to king and ace, king and another diamond, ruffed. That was one down for +100 to France.

Closed Room
West North East South
Auken Mouiel Koch-Palmund Multon

Pass Pass 1
2 Dble 3 3
4 4 All Pass

A very different auction left East on lead, making the killing defence much harder to find. Dennis Koch-Palmund led A and now there was no way to beat the game; +420 and 10 IMPs to France.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Game
9 4
4 2
A Q J 6
Q 9 7 4 2
A 10 5 3 2 K J 7
A K Q J 9 8 7
9 5 7 4 3 2
J 6 A 8 3
Q 8 6
10 6 5 3
K 10 8
K 10 5

Both Wests opened 1 and were raised to 2. Levy made a try with 3 and Mari accepted. Christiansen led a low club and Levy won the ace and led K then low to the ten; +420. In the other room, Jens Auken did not make a try over 2 but Mouiel balanced with 2NT for the minors. Now Auken bid 3 over Multon's 3 but game was no longer in the picture. Auken also got the trumps right for +170 but 6 IMPs to France.

Board 4. Dealer West. Game All
A J 6 5
A K
10 5 2
8 5 3 2
10 4 Q 8 7
J 10 9 3 Q 8 7 6 5 4 2
A Q 9 6 4
Q J 6 10 9
K 9 3 2
K J 8 7 3
A K 7 4

Christiansen opened 1NT in second seat and the Danes had a free run to 4. Mari led his diamond and Levy won and played two more rounds, Mari ruffing. Mari switched to a club and Christiansen played a spade to the ace and a second spade; +620.

In the other room, Mouiel opened 1, allowing Koch-Palmund to make a weak jump overcall of 2. Mouiel ended up in 4 and the defence again started with three rounds of diamonds. But here East's known heart length made it quite possible that he had only a doubleton trump and declarer played to the K and finessed on the way back; one down for -100 and 12 IMPs to Denmark.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All
Q 8 4 3
K Q 8 4 3
10 7 6 3
J 7 6 K 2
10 5 A 9 7 6
K 8 6 4 7 5 3 2
A J 9 4 8 5 2
A 10 9 5
J 2
A Q J 10 9
K Q

Open Room
West North East South
Levy Christiansen Mari Blackset

Pass 2 Pass 4
All Pass

2 was weak with both majors, possibly only 4-4, and enabled Blakset to bid game without revealing anything about his hand. Levy led a diamond to declarer's jack and Blakset played his low heart to the queen, ducked, then ran 8 to Levy's jack. Levy played his remaining heart but Mari knew that he could not over-ruff declarer so switched to a club for the king and ace. Blakset won the next club and led Q and Levy covered, speeding things up considerably; +420.

Closed Room
West North East South
Auken Mouiel Koch-Palmund Multon

Pass Pass Pass 1
Pass 1 Pass 1
Pass 3 Pass 3
All Pass

Auken led 10 and Koch-Palmund won the ace and switched to a club. Auken won and played a second club and now declarer played ace then nine of spades. When he guessed to play dummy's queen he was one down; -50 and 10 IMPs for Denmark who had moved into the lead.

Board 10. Dealer East. Game All
7 5 4
J 10
Q 4 2
J 8 5 4 3
A K 9 8 3
K 7 A Q 9 5 4 2
K 8 7 10 6 3
A K Q 9 7 6 10
Q J 10 6 2
8 6 3
A J 9 5
2

Open Room
West North East South
Levy Christiansen Mari Blackset

Pass Pass
2 Pass 2 Dble
3 Pass 3 Pass
3NT All Pass













Christian Mari (Photo by Mark Horton)

The East hand did not meet Christian Mari's standards for a weak two bid so Alain Levy got to open his side's big bid. 2 showed a major-suit ace and the rest of the auction was natural.

Mari might have gone on over 3NT but it was possible he was facing a singleton heart and slam is only moderate anyway. Levy won the spade lead and showed good technique by testing the clubs before playing on hearts.

When South showed out on the second club, Levy switched his attention to hearts. After cashing the hearts he took the view that the A was with North so bared the K, played a spade to hand and exited with the diamond, hoping to endplay North to lead into the Q 9 at trick twelve. In practice, that meant only ten tricks as South had the remainder; +630.

Closed Room
West North East South
Auken Mouiel Koch-Palmund Multon

2 Pass
2NT Pass 3 Pass
4NT Pass 5 Pass
5 Pass 6 All Pass

The East hand was a routine Danish weak two and Auken enquired, heard of a decent suit opposite and launched into RKCB. He chose 6, risking a possible diamond lead through the king, to allow the clubs to be ruffed out if necessary. They were not ruffing out quickly enough after a spade lead had knocked out one of dummy's entries but the slam was still cold thanks to the favourable diamond position; +1430 and 13 more IMPs to Denmark who led by 37-16 at the half. France started the second set as they had started the first.

Board 14. Dealer East. Love All
J 8
A K 8 4 3
J 9 8 6 5 4
K 9 6 2 A 10 7 3
7 Q 6 5
A K 3 Q J 8 6 5
A K 10 7 3 Q
Q 5 4
J 10 9 2
10 9 7 4 2
2

Open Room
West North East South
Perron Christiansen Chemla Blackset

Pass Pass
1 1 1 4
4 All Pass

Paul Chemla passed as dealer and there was no danger of the French pair getting overboard. The lead was the singleton club and Chemla won the queen, cashed two top spades and played on diamonds, throwing dummy's heart on the fourth round. He had only to lose a spade; +480.

Closed Room
West North East South
Andersen Mari Schaeffer Levy

1 Pass
2 Pass 2 Pass
4 Pass 4 Pass
4NT Pass 5 Pass
5 Pass 5 Pass
6 Pass 6 Pass
Pass Dble 6NT Pass
Pass Dble All Pass

The Danes open a lot lighter than the French and here Andersen didn't let Schaeffer off the hook after his thin 1 call. 6 needs a big slice of luck, though 6 is a quite playable spot. But today no slam was making and Mari doubled 6 for a diamond lead. Schaeffer ran to 6NT but that was also doubled and the bad breaks meant he was two down even after having Q established at the start; -300 and 13 IMPs to France.

Denmark kept their small lead for the next few boards then extended it on Board 20.

Board 20. Dealer West. Game All
A Q J
9 7 2
Q J 6 5
9 8 2
9 8 7 6 5 2 K 10 4
8 5 K Q J 10
10 9 8 4 3 2
K J 10 5 4
3
A 6 4 3
A K 7
A Q 7 6 3

Closed Room
West North East South
Andersen Mari Schaeffer Levy

Pass Pass Pass 1
Pass 1NT 2 2
Pass 3NT All Pass Pass

Mari/Levy reached the normal game but the automatic heart lead and badly placed black suits gave Mari no chance; -100.

Open Room
West North East South
Perron Christiansen Chemla Blackset

Pass Pass Pass 1
1 2NT 3 Dble
Pass 3NT Pass Pass
4 Dble All Pass

Michel Perron overcalled 1 and, despite the natural 2NT call, Paul Chemla had enough to compete to 3. Blakset doubled to show a good hand and Christiansen converted to 3NT. But Perron had a distributional hand and thought that 3NT might easily make while 4 would be a cheap save or even, on a very good day, make. The scorer had keyed in Christiansen's double before he had made it, so obvious was it. Less obvious was the opening lead. 4 gets quite expensive on ace and queen of spades but Christiansen led a normal enough club. Perron pitched a diamond from dummy, ruffed the diamond switch and played on hearts, Blakset winning the second round. Now came the spade switch but it was too late. Perron had only two spades to lose for one down. -200 was hardly a triumph for the French pair but it was a lot better than it might have been; 7 IMPs to Denmark.

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Game
Q 5 4 2
K 10 8
K Q 9 5
K Q
J 7 K 9 8 3
A Q 6 4 J 7 2
J 7 6 3 2 A 10 4
8 2 A 10 9
A 10 6
9 5 3
8
J 7 6 5 4 3

Schaeffer opened a loose diamond and the Danes had a free run to 1NT by West which drifted one off despite a favourable Q lead.

In the other room, Chemla opened 1 and Christiansen doubled Perron's 1 response. Blakset responded 1 and competed with 2 when Perron tried 1NT. Perhaps 2 would have been more advisable than 2, but it seems that Blakset was expecting a bit more playing strength for the takeout double. Anyway, 2 it was. Perron led a club and Chemla won the ace and continued the suit. If he never touches trumps, declarer can get quite close to 2 but at trick three Blakset tried a spade to the ten. That was not a success, losing to the jack. Perron switched to a low heart for the ten and jack and Chemla played his last club, ruffed and over-ruffed. Chemla now had trump control. Blakset played a spade to the ace and a diamond to the queen and ace. Chemla drew the opposing trumps and led a heart to the ace. Perron played another heart and Blakset could make only the two red kings; three down for -150 and 6 IMPs to France.

Board 24. Dealer West. Love All
Q J 9 2
A K J 7 2
K 6
7 4
K 10 4 8 7 6 5 3
9 4 3 Q
J 9 7 A 10 8 5 3 2
K Q 9 8 5
A
10 8 6 5
Q 4
A J 10 6 3 2

Closed Room
West North East South
Andersen Mari Schaeffer Levy

1 1 2 4
Pass 4 4 Pass
Pass Dble Pass Pass
5 Dble All Pass

4 was making comfortably enough so the fact that the save cost 500, losing two spades and one trick in each of the other suits, was of no great consequence; at worst a couple of IMPs away, it seemed. But things went badly wrong for the Danes in the other room. After a long and tortured artificial sequence, Christiansen found himself in 5, awkwardly high.

Chemla led ace and another diamond. Christiansen cashed A then took a club finesse. A spade came back to the ace and he drew the missing trumps then led a second club. The 4-1 break left him with no chance of establishing clubs. His last chance was ten to three spades with West and he duly took the ruffing finesse; one off for -50 and 11 IMPs to France.

It looks as though the best line when the Q falls is to play ace and another club. Now it appears that declarer prevails despite the awkward break.

The late French recovery brought the scores level at 49-49, a 15-15 VP tie.


OPEN TEAMS Great Britain v Russia
by Henry Francis (USA)


Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Game
K 6 5
K Q J
3
A Q 6 5 4 3
Q 8 7 3 2 A 4
A 6 5 3 9 8 7 4 2
10 7 4 A K J 8 5 2
10
J 10 9
10
Q 9 6
K J 9 8 7 2

Open Room
West North East South
Khiouppenen Hackett Ju. Kholomeev Hackett Ja.

1 Pass
1 2 2 3
4 Dble All Pass


Closed Room
West North East South
S. Tredinnick Petrounine G. Tredinnick Zlotov

1 Pass
1 Pass 2 All Pass

Justin Hackett liked his hearts, and his brother Jason had shown some cards with his 3 bid, so he doubled.












Justin Hackett (Photo by Mark Horton)

On a different opening lead, like the J for instance, the double would have earned a small payoff. But not surprisingly Justin led the K. Now Kholomeev had a chance, and he used it well. He ruffed and ducked a trump to North. Justin realized his problem and returned the K. But declarer won this and played two top diamonds. Justin refused to ruff, but he was forced to win his Q when Kholomeev led another heart. Justin thought long and hard, but he was thoroughly endplayed with only black cards to lead. He finally tried a club, but declarer got rid of his losing spade while ruffing in dummy. He still had to lose to the Q, but that still was plus 590. In the other room Gerald Tredinnick didn't find the endplay and went down one for a 12-IMP loss.

Over the field in general, there were many saves in 5. When 4 was allowed to play, it usually went down, most of the time after a spade opening lead. Board 4 provided an interesting push.

Board 4. Dealer West. Game All
A J 7 2
K 9 3
J 3
A J 8 6
8 6 9
8 7 6 5 4 J 2
9 8 6 5 2 A K Q 10 4
K Q 10 9 7 3
K Q 10 5 4 3
A Q 10
7
5 4 2

Open Room
West North East South
Khiouppenen Hackett Ju. Kholomeev Hackett Ja.

Pass 1NT 2NT 4
5 Pass Pass 5
Pass 5 All Pass

Justin gave his brother the choice over 5, and Jason decided not to double. Instead he made a transfer bid - 5 - leading to the 5 final contract. This contract has some chances, especially if the defense starts with two diamonds. Now there will be an endplay eventually. The opening lead actually was a diamond, but Kholomeev quickly switched to a club, and now Justin had no chance.

One of the commentators did not think much of the 5 bid. "With three small clubs South should know that there is trouble ahead. And don't forget - the five level belongs to the opponents." So true this time.

Closed Room
West North East South
S. Tredinnick Petrounine G. Tredinnick Zlotov

Pass 1 1 Dble
3 Pass 4 4
5 5 All Pass

Here West settled the issue quickly - he led the K, and the contract was down one for a push.

Both teams got to a club game on our next offering, but only Russia scored the plus.

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Game
J 9 6
8
10 8 7 5 4
K J 6 2
Q 3 2 10 7 4
K J 5 A 10 7 3 2
Q J 9 6 2 K 3
10 4 9 5 3
A K 8 5
Q 9 6 4
A
A Q 8 7

Open Room
West North East South
Khiouppenen Hackett Ju. Kholomeev Hackett Ja.

Pass 1
1 3 Pass 3
Pass 5 All Pass

The opening diamond lead went to the ace, and declarer immediately led a heart. West rose with the jack and switched to a trump - the 4. It appears that declarer has far better chances if he lets this ride to his hand, but Jason went up with the king and passed to J to the queen. But Khiouppenen accurately returned another trump. Now declarer was one trump - and one trick - short, minus 50.

Closed Room
West North East South
S. Tredinnick Petrounine G. Tredinnick Zlotov

Pass 1
Pass 1 Pass 1NT
Pass 3 Pass 3
Pass 4 Pass 5
All Pass

Stuart Tredinnick got off the best lead - the 10 - but Gerald went up with the ace when declarer called for dummy's singleton heart. Gerald did not return his other trump - instead he led a spade. Now Zlotov was able to crossruff his way to 11 tricks and a 10-IMP pickup. Russia now led, 22-0.

Russia had a chance to pick up another bundle of IMPs on Board 8, but they wound up in their 5-2 fit instead of their 5-3.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All
Q 7 5 4 3
10 7 4
9 6
Q 6 2
K A J 9 6 2
A K J 6 5
A Q 5 4 3 K 8
K J 10 9 5 8 4 3
10 8
Q 9 8 3 2
J 10 7 2
A 7

Open Room
West North East South
Khiouppenen Hackett Ju. Kholomeev Hackett Ja.

1 Pass 1 Pass
2 Pass 3NT Pass
4 Pass 4 Pass
4 Pass 4 Pass
5 All Pass

This certainly was not an impossible contract - it could make with the opposition's clubs reversed or with trumps 3-3. But neither condition existed - minus 50. In 5, however, chances would have been much better. Even with the unhappy lie of the club honors, 5 still was a possible winner.

Closed Room
West North East South
S. Tredinnick Petrounine G. Tredinnick Zlotov

1 Pass 1 Pass
2NT Pass 3 Pass
3NT All Pass

This contract came down to the club guess after Petrounine found the inspired lead of the 10. Stuart of course finessed for the queen and as a result lost two clubs and three hearts for a push board.

When the result from the Closed Room came up for Board 9, everyone assumed it was going to be a ho-hum board. Not so! Justin found an opening 1 bid on that 7-point North hand.

Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Game
10 2
8 4
10 2
A K 10 8 7 4 2
J 5 3 K Q 8 7 6
A 10 5 K J 9 6 2
K 8 7 6 5 A 9
5 3 9
A 9 4
Q 7 3
Q J 4 3
Q J 6

Open Room
West North East South
Khiouppenen Hackett Ju. Kholomeev Hackett Ja.

1 1 Dble
2 Pass 4 Dble
All Pass


Closed Room
West North East South
S. Tredinnick Petrounine G. Tredinnick Zlotov

Pass 1 Pass
2 3 3 Pass
4 All Pass

The Closed Room result looked totally normal, except for the overtrick, and indeed a spade game making either four or five was the result at most tables in both the Open and the Women's. But as you can see things were different here.

Jason had heard his partner's opening bid, and he decided to go for a big one by doubling, even though most of his points were in queens and jacks. This gave Justin plenty to think about, and he spent several minutes studying his cards. But finally he pulled out the green card.

After a trump opening lead, Kholomeev drove out the A. The defense took a club, but declarer ruffed the next club and guessed the hearts correctly, making a doubled overtrick for an 8-IMP gain. The Russians picked up 1 more point over the last three boards and shut out the British, 31-0, in the first half. Great Britain got on the scoreboard in the second half, but Russia actually extended their winning margin by 8 IMPs, 64-25. That translates into 22 Victory Points for Russia to 8 for Great Britain.


Banco in Monaco

Some jewels are played in matches that are not under the spotlight, but we are able to track them down and bring them to you. Let us consider board 17 of Round 5 of the Ladies competition and see what happened when the much improving team from Monaco played Turkey.

Dealer North. Love All
K 3
J 9 8 7 3
10 6
K Q 8 5
9 8 2 A 6 5 4
K Q A 6 5
A K J 9 7 4
A J 6 9 7 4 3 2
Q J 10 7
10 4 2
Q 8 5 3 2
10

West North East South
Varenne Ilpars Hugon Idil

Pass Pass Pass
1 2 Pass Pass
Dble Pass 3 Pass
4 All Pass

Perhaps you have the impression declarer is bound to lose three trump tricks and one or two clubs but wait and see....

The lead was the two of hearts, taken by the Queen, and declarer ducked a spade all round. A spade was returned to declarer's ace. Then the jack of diamonds was finessed and two clubs discarded on the ace and king of diamonds. Then a diamond was ruffed in hand, followed by a heart to dummy s king and the last diamond ruffed in hand.

Declarer was home safe and dry, with 3 heart tricks, 3 diamonds, the 2 black aces and two ruffs. A big swing? Not at all, the points went to Turkey when they managed to score 12 tricks in the other room on the queen of clubs lead. Finally the match went to Monaco 22-8VP.


Litle cards play major roles

In the drama of card play the honour cards, aces, kings and queens, do not always play the leading roles. Take, for example, Hand 23 from Round 18, Ireland v. Estonia.

The play had a tragic hero, the humble 7, destined for sacrifice in a typical Tom Hanlon squeeze and endplay. His twin, the 7, became a Prince at the end and inherited the Kingdom. The play had a fool too, East's 8, who put his head on the block all too early.

Board 34. Dealer South. Game All
A J 7 3
A 6 5
K 9
A Q 9 4
10 K 9 8 5 4
9 4 J 10 8 3
A J 7 4 Q 8 5
K 10 8 7 6 2 J
Q 6 2
K Q 7 2
10 6 3 2
5 3

A brief auction, during which West bid Clubs on the second round, resulted in Tom Hanlon, North, being Declarer in 3NT.

The queen won the jack of clubs lead. A Heart was played towards dummy and the 8's brief appearance on the stage did not go unnoticed by Tom Hanlon as the king won. A Spade to the jack and king and the J played his part in the tragedy when he exited, felling his partner's 9 as the ace took the trick. From here on Hanlon directed his cast superbly.

A diamond off the table followed a spade to the queen. The ace went up and when the 10 came back the little 4 enabled declarer to duck. West played a diamond to the king, after which this was the position:

Board 34. Dealer South. Game All
A 7
6
A 9
9 5
10 3
J 7 Q
K 6 2
6
Q 7
10 6

The ace of clubs forced East to part with the Q. Tom now played the Q and the seven of hearts, waiting in the wings, played the part which destiny had ordained, and put East on lead to surrender the last two tricks to the spade ace and seven. It makes no difference if West allows declarer to win the K at trick six. Declarer can exit with the 9. Now

(a) If West takes all his diamond winners he automatically squeezes his partner in the majors when playing a club to the ace four tricks from the end.

(b) If West keeps a diamond winner and exits with a club five tricks from the end, declarer will execute the same endplay which he did in the first place.

West's play of the 8 at trick at trick two and his subsequent play of the J at trick four were fatal errors. In effect it meant that declarer can always finesse the 7 for his ninth trick. However had East kept the 8, now when declarer exits with the diamond after winning the king, East can put an end to declarers aspirations by playing a heart.

Tom Hanlon, of course, is expected to give repeat performances.


The New Laws of bridge 1997
by Ton Kooijman (Netherlands)

Once in every ten twelve years, the laws of duplicate bridge are renewed, taking into consideration all kinds of developments in our more and more complicated world of bridge. After 1975 and 1987, this year will be another one for a new edition. As a member of the WBF laws Committee (Bill Schoder is also a member), I am involved in the critical decisions. And this seems to be a good opportunity to inform you about the main issues, which I will do in a series of articles starting today.

There are two changes of general impact in the laws, one dealing with withdrawn information given by the offending side, and one with irregularities not easily covered by specific laws.

Suppose a pair caused an infraction by making a call out of turn or an insufficient bid, or by showing a card (or cards) they were not going to play to that trick, or anything similar involving a withdrawn call or card. Up until this moment, they were allowed to use that information after having paid the penalty for the infraction, which is normally imposed when the TD applies the laws.

For example: West is the dealer but North opens Two Spades out of turn, showing 8-11 points with five spades and a five card minor. East does not accept the bid, and now West opens One Heart. The penalty under the new laws is that South must pass once.

The auction continues:

West North East South

1 1 Pass Pass
Dble Pass 2 ?

The '87 laws allow South to bid Three Clubs with 4-4 in the minors, looking for a partscore and knowing his partner has a minor, which he did not show with his legal bid.

The '97 laws do not allow South to bid Three Clubs. He has to consider One Spade as a normal overcall and may not use extraneous information.

This example gives the impression that the change is easy to apply and a reasonable one. I think that to be true for an auction after withdrawn calls, but problems arise when we enter the play of the cards. In the example above, when West becomes the declarer in Two Hearts, there are lead penalties. However, after applying those, South may not use the information that North has a minor.

The position for the non-offending side is unchanged - they may use the information. Here is another example from an IMP event:

Dealer South. E/W Game
10 8 6 5
K 7
A J 8 2
K J 10
K Q 4 A J 9 7 2
J 10 9 6 5 A Q 4 2
7 5 10
6 3 2 9 5 4
3
8 3
K Q 9 6 4 3
A Q 8 7

South is the dealer, but East opens out of turn with one spade. South does not accept it, and the auction continues uncontested to five diamonds by South, who has shown 6-4 in the minors. South demands a spade lead, so West lays down the king. After that, he switches to the jack of hearts: one down.

South calls the TD, telling him that West used the information that East had a five card suit and therefore found the switch. West defends himself by saying that South will always make five diamonds when he has the ace of hearts, so the only way to defeat the contract was to switch to a heart.

In the '87 version, West was allowed to switch to hearts, after paying the penalty of an obliged spade lead. In the '97 laws, the TD, and probably the Appeals Committee, has to decide whether or not the switch was an obvious one. (In this example East would probably drop the jack of spades under the king, clearly a suit preference signal, but it will not always be so simple.)

The treatment of a penalty card is also influenced by this change. From now on, the only information partner may use is the fact that the penalty card has to be played at the first legal opportunity; aqll other inferences are forbidden. As a result of this change, we may expect some nice new cases for Appeals Committees in the future.

The second fundemental change deals with a principle that could be found in some laws already on the statute books, but which now become a general approach. If a player causing an infraction could have known at the time that he might gain by it, the TD has to adjust the score, taking away the advantage. Edgar Kaplan has a nice example in which dummy has AKQJ84 without any other possible entry, and declarer is void in that suit and still wants to make his Six-Notrump contract. Somewhat 'confused', he plays the ace from the table at trick two and his RHO sleepily follows suit. Now South manages to win all thirteen tricks. There is certainly reason to adjust the score under the new laws (as we did under the old ones, but nobody could say which law allowed us to do so).


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