[jillybean]

1nt (2♣*) 2♥** (P)
2♠ (P) 3NT all pass

2♣. alert. clubs and major
2♥ announced as a transfer. 2♥ bidder communicates to partner that heart bid was not actually a transfer

At the end of the hand you are called to the table, 2♣ bidder claims they have been damaged.
Convention card shows 'systems on over 2♣'

What do you do?

---

[Gerardo]

I'd say North has a logical alternative untainted by the unauthorized information.
And that is 4♠.

[pescetom]

 Gerardo, on 2026-May-12, 03:56, said:

I'd say North has a logical alternative untainted by the unauthorized information.
And that is 4♠.

I agree.

Clear penalty to South.
It's harder to evaluate a penalty to North, especially if he bid 2S after the illegal communication rather than before (not clear in OP). Had he wanted to exploit the UI it makes more sense to bid 4H than to pass 3NT. Maybe he just panicked and wanted to avoid consequences.


In any case we can adjust if necessary.

Can we have the traveller and/or diagram please?

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2026-May-12, 06:20, said:

I agree.

Clear penalty to South.
It's harder to evaluate a penalty to North, especially if he bid 2S after the illegal communication rather than before (not clear in OP). Had he wanted to exploit the UI it makes more sense to bid 4H than to pass 3NT. Maybe he just panicked and wanted to avoid consequences.


In any case we can adjust if necessary.

Can we have the traveller and/or diagram please?

"spades", 2♠ bidding card, and UI all happened simultaneously.

---

[pescetom]

Thanks.


I assume West is not very bright. Even so that is still rather odd, he would surely want to know what South is showing before deciding his call, so North should have had ample time to announce. Maybe North already knew there was no real agreement and was hoping West would ask so that South would have a chance to "innocently" explain his call.

East should have called the Director rather than passing, in any case. No saints at this table.