Posted 2015-September-01, 13:18
I would think that if you don't understand the E/W bidding at the table then pass is certainly an LA.
The question remains: "What does the BIT suggest?" If you look at the North hand only (that is the information that North had at the time) you need to ask yourself what South could be thinking about. Could he have a 4=4=3=2 with 9 HCP and think about a penalty double? That is highly unlikely, given that you hold Kx in spades (and the opponents would have 9 clubs together that they never mentioned in a takeout double auction). So, partner must have been thinking about bidding 4♦ (or possibly 3NT, "along the way to 4♦"). That means that the BIT demonstrably suggests bidding 4♦ over passing.
So, the BIT suggests 4♦ over pass, which is an LA, and, therefore, 4♦ is not allowed.
Rik
I want my opponents to leave my table with a smile on their face and without matchpoints on their score card - in that order.
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