Appeals

July 2000

Appeal No 1.
Hesitation

Open Teams Round 1
Poland v Switzerland.

Board 2.
Dealer East.
North/South Game.

Please note: Screen runs from top left to bottom right.
			K J 8
			5
			K 9 6 5 4 2
			10 9 7
	Q 6	N W E S			A 9
	Q 10 8 7 3				K J 6 4 2
	Q 8 3				A J 10 7
	K J 2				5 4
			10 7 6 4 3 2
			A 9
			-
			A Q 8 6 3

West	North	East	South
Yalcin	Pszczola	Duong	Kwiecien
		1	2
4	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

Contract: Five Hearts Doubled, played by East.
Lead: 7
Result: 10 tricks, -100 to East/West.

The Facts: Two Hearts was Spades and another.
The Director was called by West when the tray came back after Four Hearts after some delay.
According to the Polish pair, the delay had been minimal, according to the Swiss, it was at least half a minute.

The Director: Included the nature of North's hand in his establishment that there had in fact been a hesitation, and decided there had been unauthorised information.

Ruling: Table result changed to Four Hearts making, +420 to East/West.

North/South appealed.

The Players: North showed the Committee how he had written the explanation (5 and 5+/), which had apparently taken him 7 seconds. He stated he had passed in tempo.
East told the Committee that north had clearly hesitated and even touched the Pass card for some time before taking it out of the Bidding Box. The Swiss captain, who had sat behind East, stated the same.
West stated that the tray had remained on the other side for at least 30 seconds.
South said he had not noticed the hesitation. Two Hearts could have been made on very strong or on weak hands.
The Polish captain added that Four Hearts is not necessarily made.

The Committee: Agreed with the Director that north did indeed have a problem, and chose to believe that there had been a hesitation. When East notices a delay, South may well have noticed it as well.

The Committee's decision: Director's decision upheld. +420 to East/West.

Relevant Laws: Law 16A, Law 12C2

Deposit: Returned.