(short description of image)APPEAL no. 14

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Appeals Committee
Chairman (short description of image)Bobby Wolff USA
Members (short description of image)Grattan Endicott
(short description of image)Virgil Anderson
(short description of image)Tommy Sandsmark		 GBR
USA
NOR

Scribe (short description of image)Tommy Sandsmark NOR

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Event
1998 World Championships
Mixed Pairs Final
   
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Countries
France v South Africa
   
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Players
NS (short description of image) (short description of image)
EW (short description of image) (short description of image)
   
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Board
Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game
ª K 10 7
© K J 5
¨ A 10 2
§ A J 5 4
ª J 3 (short description of image) ª A 5 2
© A 9 3 2 © Q 10 8 7 4
¨ K Q 6 4 3 ¨ J 9 7
§ K 6 § 9 7
ª Q 9 8 6 4
© 6
¨ 8 5
§ Q 10 8 3 2
West
North
East
South
1NT Pass 2©
Pass 2ª Pass Pass
Dble Pass 3© Pass¹
Pass 3ª All Pass

¹ Alleged slow pass
   
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Result
3ª+2: +200
   
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Facts
The TD was called to the table after the bidding. The tray was at the W/S side of the table and West explained that it took South about 6-8 seconds before she passed over 3©. South denied having hesitated at all. After the play the TD was called to the table and asked for a ruling.
   
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TD's
Decision
The TD agreed with North's bid of 3ª. Furthermore, he did not believe that a hesitation of 6-8 seconds with screens was enough to bar North anyway. Had it been 15-20 seconds, it would have been another story, and especially if the hesitation could be pinpointed to one particular hand. The TD therefore let the score stand.

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Appellants
E/W
   
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Players'
Comments
East maintained that the hesitation was more than 6-8 seconds, more like 10-12 seconds. In a demonstration of the felt length of the pause, West demonstrated a pause of about 20 seconds. South categorically denied having paused at all. She stated that she did not even think about bidding on that hand.

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Committee's
Comments
East did the right thing when he called the TD when he believed North to have acted on South's change in tempo. The Committee believed South's hand to be the classic hand for a deliberation in this bidding sequence. The Committee believed there may have been a hesitation, but since this was not substantiated in any way, the Commitee allowed the score to stand.
   
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Committee's
Decision
Score stands
   
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Relevant
Laws
—
   
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Deposit
Returned X
Forfeited  

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