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The Maastricht Appeals

Appeal No 4

Seniors Teams Round 3
Netherlands Antilles v Wales

Board 5.
Dealer North.

			10 9 7 6 5
			K 7
			A K J 10
			Q 7
	8	N W E S			K
	J 9 6 5				Q 10 4 3
	Q 7 5 2				8
	J 10 9 3				A K 8 6 5 4 2
			A Q J 4 3 2
			A 8 2
			9 6 4 3
			-

Contract: Seven Clubs doubled, played by East
Result: 10 tricks, NS+500

The Facts: The match had finished at 17:30. At 23:30 the same evening, notification was received that there had been a revoke. While the period for penalty had ceased, Law 64C requires the Director to restore equity.

The Director investigated the matter. According to North/South, the play had gone: A, small to the K, K. This had been ruffed, and declarer had conceded the King of Spades at the end. East/West had not been able to establish a line of play.

The Director: ruled there had been a revoke

Ruling: Score adjusted to 7* -4, NS +800

East/West appealed.

The Players: North explained the line of play. She wanted to show partner that she also had the Ace and Jack of Diamonds, before returning the Spade. East gave a different version of what had happened in her opinion. Following the K, North/South had played two rounds of spades, which accounted for the diamond loser.

The Committee: Started by stressing that they realize that it is possible for players to believe that they remember correctly. The Committee must weigh the evidence and reach a decision, but this does not mean that they think one or the other player is lying.

The Committee then checked the conditions of contest and concluded that indeed the score had to be changed if they believed there had been a revoke. The Committee decided that no new evidence had been presented. And concluded that there was no reason to overturn the Director’s decision.

The Committee's decision: Director’s ruling upheld.

Relevant Laws: Law 85A, Law 64C, Law 79C, Conditions of contest 18-3

Deposit: Returned