1♥-2NT-4♥-5♦
p-p-5♥ all pass. +450.
The mechanics of the bidding were as follows:
1♥ in tempo
2NT with a stop card, taken away in 10 seconds
4♥ instantly after the stop card was taken away, with a stop card of its own.
5♦ about 3 seconds after the 4♥ bid was on the table. The stop card had not been taken away. The 4♥ bidder took away the stop card after the 5♦ call had been made.
pass from opener: about 5 seconds after the 5♦ call. (no agreement whether this is forcing)
pass from 2NT: in tempo
5♥: in tempo.
Before making his opening lead, the guy with both minors said (in a friendly, slightly condescending tone): "next time try to pass in tempo."
Dummy said, in an annoyed tone "next time tell your partner to respect the stop card. My partner is also helped by it, he can prepare for his own responses to the expected 5m bids. Furthermore, passing very fast would itself be UI, usually opener needs a few seconds in this sequence."
OK dummy was me, who am I kidding. I had KQxx Jxxxxx xx Q and had no idea what my partner's "BIT" even suggests, probably trying to figure out if we have forcing pass agreements. But anyway, my main question is, is there such a rule somewhere? Stop card regulations are regional. The German law (translated by me in italics) says:
Quote
If a player makes a call before the bidding is opened again {gwnn: ie the stop card is taken away}, or when he shows a recognisable lack of interest (for example by counting seconds out loud {gwnn: lol I'd probably go crazy if someone did that to me}), the director can award an adjusted score according to Law 16.
I don't think this quite covers what happened here. I don't care what UI my LHO passed to my RHO, but I do care that she disturbed my partner and kind of forced him to commit a BIT or to make a rushed decision.
edit: Added the bold face since apparently some people misread it. The stop card had not been removed prematurely. The 5♦ call was too fast.
This post has been edited by gwnn: 2020-January-11, 14:45