With regards to the BOOT (if South's actions did constitute a bid), ideally the TD should have been called at that point rather than later, and North would have to pass giving EW the wonderful 4SXX+2. But nobody did call the TD... I would apply Law 11A and deny EW the right to rectification - this seems a sensible approach given that North has now bid where he was otherwise supposed to have passed ("making a bit of a mess of things" one might say).
Whether or not South's actions did constitute a bid, North has UI. Still, I think North should be allowed to pull this after the XX. What's more likely, that opps have decided to play 4SXX in a 7-card fit knowing of a minimum 5-1 split plus other bad breaks, or that there's been a system mixup? Compare the classic "unauthorized panic" situation, where the offending side are meant to keep bidding on until it's clear something's wrong, which would normally be when opponents start producing red (or here, blue) cards.
sfi said:
But it could easily be E-W in trouble (maybe 3S was meant as a stopper ask for 3NT or similar) and the only reason North knows who stuffed up is the UI.
3S was not alerted, so North has no reason to assume it's anything other than natural. Also, aside from the fact that pass of XX doesn't necessarily insist that partner passes too, consider that South may be reluctant to bid 5D due to UI considerations - he has UI from the explanation.
There is a bit of a question mark over the long pause before North's eventual pull. It might be worth asking him why he thought so long. It could be to consider UI implications as Cyber suggested, or it could be to consider whether there's any chance the auction could be real / whether to play it safe anyway, and so on, where his remark that he would have always ran simply means he would have reached the same conclusion eventually (but still thought for a similar time without the UI). Indeed given the long pause one might argue that North did give the matter some bridge thought and not simply use South's attempted bid as the reason to bid 5D.
If this feels too generous to NS, feel free to give everyone at the table a PP for failure to call the TD after the BOOT.
ahydra
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I have two questions:
1) Is North allowed to "change his mind" and, after the XX, remove to 5♦ (assuming no UI available) ?
2) In reality, North thought for several minutes in the diagrammed situation. So much so, that South got confused and thought it was his turn, and he reached in his bidding box (clearly visible to everyone) and removed the 5♦ card - having passed the XX previously. South was told that it was not his turn, whereupon North eventually bids 5♦. EW call the director who asks the players to proceed, and EW reach 5♥, and collect an overtrick once NS don't cash their two aces. EW ask if the 5♦ call is acceptable, arguing that the UI of the attempted bid-out-of-turn clearly suggests to bid on. North claims he would have never passed out the redoubled contract and that the UI was irrelevant.
Your opinion would be much appreciated!