Mechanical error?
After an auction by N/S with no bids by E/W, West doubles 4 diamonds by South. All pass..
As north is putting the score into the Bridgemates, but before the opening lead is faced, West says “I didn’t mean to double, I meant to pass. The double card was at the front of the box”
Do you allow a change of call to a pass?
Comments
If East has passed after the double, then No.
(25A4)
And when they defend West's comments are UI to East making a bad day possibly worse!
It does look like a mechanical error, since presumably not much has prompted West to change their mind, and it's a slightly unusual bid to begin with from the description. As Mitch points out, if their partner has subsequently bid it's too late to change.
If their partner hasn't bid then they'd still be allowed to change their bid until the opening lead is faced - 17D specifies that the auction period continues until the lead is faced. Although since the auction has ended their partner must have passed subsequently.
Maybe if East and South just assumed the double was a pass and picked up the bidding cards? As I recall something like that's been known to happen with screens. Hard to imagine face to face.