[mr1303]

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North South were not an experienced partnership. 2NT and 3C by South at his second call (rather than 3NT) were undiscussed. South intended 4NT as to play, North took it as Key Card Blackwood. 5C showed 0 or 3 key cards.

5C made on the king of spades lead from KQ9xx.

Do you have anything to say about this when you're called back at the end of play?

[ArtK78]

No. But from the title of the thread, there must have been a break in tempo or some other UI somewhere along the way.

However, I am going to throw the board out unless we get rid of the extra ♠9.

Edit: I didn't see the "slow" designations on the 4NT and 5♣ calls. However, I don't see anything untoward from the way the auction played out.

[CSGibson]

A slow 4N suggests that it is to play, not keycard in my experience. As such, I don't think N answering keycards is wrong/actionable.

Also, you have given two people the 9 of spades.

[TylerE]

0. What's the experience level of the individual players? Are they novices or have the been around the track a few times? Are they of sufficient calibre such that they'd be expected to have rough idea of what UI is?

1. Somethings fishy with the diagram. YOu have both S and W holding the 9♠.

2. A slow 4NT would tend to suggest IMO, that S isn't sure wether it's blackwood or not. I think N, by bidding 5♣, does the ethical thing, after perhaps spending some time thinking about his obligations. Given that 3N was offered, presumably to play opposite no extras, then a pass of 4N is sort of double shotty - it works whenever slam doesn't make (or the field doesn't bid it), or when 4N really was to play.

3. I think pass is ok. Since S presumably meant 4N to play (Side note: Seriously? With a non running suit a VERY questionable single entry?), 5♣ is a signal that the auction has gone off the rails, and at this point he's allowed to wake up at look at the contents of his hand and pass.

So, to sum up, I see no reason to make a ruling on this hand.

[FrancesHinden]

No.
Whatever South thought 4NT meant, he doesn't obviously have any UI from the auction that suggests one action over another. Neither does North.
A slow 4NT over 4D gives very little UI, it just means South doesn't know what to bid
The slow 5C just means that North isn't sure whether to show his void or not.

[nige1]

FrancesHinden, on 2013-February-13, 14:31, said:

No. Whatever South thought 4NT meant, he doesn't obviously have any UI from the auction that suggests one action over another. Neither does North. A slow 4NT over 4D gives very little UI, it just means South doesn't know what to bid The slow 5C just means that North isn't sure whether to show his void or not.

OK as far as it goes but Frances forgot to mention the nine of spades

[mr1303]

I was South. This was the first hand in a match when I'd turned up 15 minutes late after having rushed across London twice and I couldn't remember what our agreements were here.

1) I do know about UI laws.

2) I didn't bid 3C the first time (invitational) as it would deny 4 spades (or indeed 4 hearts) in our methods.

3) We hadn't discussed the meanings of 2NT or 3C. Playing with myself (as it were) I would bid 2NT as a transfer to 3C, then bid 3NT suggesting doubt. North is a reasonable player but doesn't have much knowledge of expert style bidding.

4) I REALLY didn't want to hear 4D come back to me. I thought for a long time before bidding 4NT. 4D was unconditionally forcing, although I was seriously tempted to pass it. We had no agreements as to what 4NT was either. I bid it hoping it was to play. If partner had responded 5D I was going to leave that one as well.

5) Partner didn't know what I intended by my 4NT bid. She also wondered whether or not to show a void (we had no agreements about showing voids, but she has read Mike Lawrence's Conventions CD). In the end, she decided to bid 5C showing 0 or 3.

6) I'm leaving the 9 of spades in there just to annoy people :-p

[ArtK78]

mr1303, on 2013-February-13, 15:53, said:

6) I'm leaving the 9 of spades in there just to annoy people :-p

You have succeeded.

[bluejak]

mr1303, on 2013-February-13, 15:53, said:

I'm leaving the 9 of spades in there just to annoy people :-p

Not me. I think it interesting how many people see the need to point it out.

As for ruling, no illegal bids, so no adjustment.