Insufficient bid mistakenly accepted by LHO passing

Europa · July 28

Hi,
No bidding from E/W. (N) 1S (S) 2H (N) 3D (S) 2NT but (W) passed immediately so accepting the insufficient 2NT bid by (S) and (N) also passed. Then (E) noticed the insufficient bid and the director was called.
The Director made the table play the contract in 3D by (N) because it “it was the highest bid made”.
I think that Law 27 A (1) states that the 2NT bid has been legalised by (W) passing so the contract should have been played in 2NT (S) not 3D.
FYI 3NT (S) made +1 but 3D went off 3.
Thanks for any guidance you can offer.

Senior_Kibitzer · July 28

You are absolutely correct. The actual ruling gives the impression that the TD did not look at the Law Book at all.

Europa · July 28

Thanks Senior_Kibitzer for your response. Much appreciated.

Robin_BarkerTD · July 29

To add some support.

In the definitions (in the Law Book)

Contract : the undertaking by declarer’s side to win, at the denomination named, the number of odd tricks specified in the final bid, [my emphasis]

and Law 22

LAW 22 – END OF AUCTION
The auction ends when:
A. one or more players having bid, there are three consecutive passes in rotation subsequent to the last bid. The last bid [again, my emphasis] becomes the contract ...

ManchesterRambler · July 29

Strictly speaking, the auction hasn't finished as East hadn't passed. East could in theory bid 3C, but assuming they pass 2N will be the contract.

Europa · July 29

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond and your advice.

Insufficient bid mistakenly accepted by LHO passing

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