Posted 2017-April-03, 17:13
If the bid was unintentional then it can be changed without penalty, no matter how your partner becomes aware of it - provided the change is done without 'pause for thought' (that phrase is vanishing under the new rules when it is made clear that the reasons for an allowed change are a slip of the tongue or a mechanical error (no time limit)
If your partner meant to open 1 Diamond and then bids 2 Diamonds then CURRENTLY
(a) if the insufficient bid is corrected by the lowest sufficient bid in the same denomination and in the Director’s opinion both the insufficient bid and the substituted bid are incontrovertibly not artificial the auction proceeds without further rectification. Law 16D does not apply but see D following.
So are IMSRs 'incontrovertibly not artificial'? - It specifically denies a 4-card major so I would say NO!
So we move on to:-
(b) if, except as in (a), the insufficient bid is corrected with a legal call that in the Director’s opinion has the same meaning9 as, or a more precise meaning9 than, the insufficient bid (such meaning being fully contained within the possible meanings of the insufficient bid) the auction proceeds without further rectification, but see D following.
Now you have a problem - would all hands that would respond 2♦ over 1♦ actually open 1♦? The answer is probably no - since few people would open 1♦ with 10 points. Thus, although a 'liberal interpretation' is allowed, a TD is probably within his rights to disallow the call.
If so then:-
2. except as provided in B1 above, if the insufficient bid is corrected by a sufficient bid or by a pass, the offender’s partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call. The lead restrictions in Law 26 may apply, and see Law 23.
HOWEVER - when the new laws come out (by September 30th) things change slightly
1. (a) if the insufficient bid is corrected by the lowest sufficient bid which specifies the same denomination(s) as that specified by the withdrawn call, the auction proceeds without further rectification. Laws 26B and 16C do not apply but see D following.
So under the new laws , there is no requirement for the 1♦ and 2♦ calls to be natural - and you (or your partner) will be OK (subject to the opponents right of redress if they are damaged due to the insufficient bid having been made - which is 'D')
No matter how well you know the laws, there is always something that you'll forget. That is why we have a book.
Get the facts. No matter what people say, get the facts from both sides BEFORE you make a ruling or leave the table.
Remember - just because a TD is called for one possible infraction, it does not mean that there are no others.
In a judgement case - always refer to other TDs and discuss the situation until they agree your decision is correct.
The hardest rulings are inevitably as a result of failure of being called at the correct time. ALWAYS penalize both sides if this happens.