(short description of image)APPEAL no. 41

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Appeals Committee
Chairman (short description of image)Steen Møller DEN
Members (short description of image)Naki Bruni
(short description of image)John Wignall
(short description of image)Herman De Wael 		ITA
NZD
BEL

Scribe (short description of image)Herman De Wael BEL

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Event
1998 World Championships
Ladies Pairs Qualifying
   
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Countries
Sweden v France
   
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Players
NS (short description of image)Mellström (short description of image)Midskog
EW (short description of image)Renoux (short description of image)Isoard
   
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Board
Board 11. Dealer South. Love All
ª K 7 6 3
© Q J 7 4 2
¨ 3
§ 10 6 4
ª J 9 2 (short description of image) ª A Q 4
© 9 8 6 © A K 5 3
¨ Q J 10 4 ¨ A 7
§ Q 9 8 § A 7 5 2
ª 10 8 5
© 10
¨ K 9 8 6 5 2
§ K J 3
West
North
East
South
Dble Pass
Pass 2¨¹ Dble Pass
Pass 2© Pass/Dble² 2ª
Pass Pass

¹ 7-11, 5/4 in the Majors
² under discussion
   
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Result
2ª-3: -150
   
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Facts
East placed a Green card on the tray and wanted to change it to a Double.
   
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TD's
Decision
The Director had to give a ruling at the table, and decided not to accept the change of call.

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Appellants
E/W
   
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Players'
Comments
There was some amount of discussion as to whether or not the tray had passed after the attempt at changing the call, before the Director had reached the table. East, through a translator, told the Committee that of course she intended to double on that hand, and that the green card had been a mechanical error.

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Committee's
Comments
The Committee decided to believe that East had wanted to double, but had taken a green card inadvertently. The Committee believed that she had tried to change her call without pause for thought. If this was indeed the case, then East should have been allowed to change her call without penalty, according to Law 25A. The Committee did not want to change the ruling without hearing the Director one last time, and it turned out he may well have ruled as he did because of language problems at the table. The Director, having also heard the evidence presented at the Committee hearing, indicated that he had no problem with the Committee's decision. Since there basically was no Director's error, there was no reason to rule under Law 82C, which could provide for average plus to both sides, but rather under Law 93B3, which allows the Committee to exercise the Director's powers. So basically the Committee decides to allow the change of call. Now in some cases, this might lead to an incomplete board, but in this particular case, the Committee decided that the board would end with a contract of 2ª doubled, making the same number of tricks.
   
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Committee's
Decision
The result was changed to 2ª doubled, down three, -500 to both sides.
   
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Relevant
Laws
Law 25 A, Law 93 B3
   
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Deposit
Returned X
Forfeited  

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