[mycroft]

I didn't mean "I don't care if it's legal"; I agree with you there. I was thinking more "I was taught this from someone who plays it for years, why should I even think to check if it's legal?"

And why would you? Well, not you, nor me, nor barmar...

[barmar]

mycroft, on 2016-November-22, 17:04, said:

I didn't mean "I don't care if it's legal"; I agree with you there. I was thinking more "I was taught this from someone who plays it for years, why should I even think to check if it's legal?"

And why would you? Well, not you, nor me, nor barmar...

I'm not sure even I would bother to check.

I've been spending the past couple of weeks exchanging emails with some people I'm going to play with in Orlando, working on our convention cards. They've each taught me some new conventions and treatments that I agreed to play, and I never bothered to check the GCC to see if they're OK. I just assumed that if an experienced player passes on a method they've been playing with other partners that they know what they're doing.

I've read the GCC enough times to have a general feeling for the kinds of things it allows and prohibits, and nothing struck me as likely to be illegal.

[RMB1]

Checking the legality of systems in much easier under many other regulatory authorities where only opening bids and overcalls are subject to regulation.

[mycroft]

Yes, it is. But note that only "the first round of bidding" (counting pre-opening passes as "before") isn't much more of a problem. Sure, it doubles the regulated calls, but doesn't really double the ones that you would worry wouldn't be allowed (especially given "allowed: anything after a conventional call by opponents").

Also, if responses and advances are intended to be regulated (because "we don't want the LOLs to have to play against transfer-walsh, or 1M-1NT showing "any INV+ that can't place the contract", or "unpassed hand Drury", or...), then while it might be easier to *use*, it doesn't solve the regulators' problem. And the ACBL, for reasons it thinks are good, believes that it is in their interest to do that.

Having said that, here we have an overcall. Even if you got your wish, it doesn't help.

[blackshoe]

barmar, on 2016-November-23, 10:20, said:

I've read the GCC enough times to have a general feeling for the kinds of things it allows and prohibits, and nothing struck me as likely to be illegal.

You have an advantage, then, over those who have never read the damn thing.