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I was in the shop buying a dvd earlier - on the cover it said 3.141592 stars out of 5. Hang on, I said to myself, this dvd looks pirated.

Yeah, partner keeps telling me not to open on crap ...

I would just bid 7D at any form of scoring.

I don't believe it was a claim. East didn't suggest that play be curtailed, he suggested that it be accelerated. However, I do believe that it was an irregularity, it damaged the opponents, and East could well have known that this damage would occur. Hence I adjust the score to -4 in order to restore equity. Fining East seems completely over the top - it doesn't sound as though he had any malicious intent.

I agree it would be nice to know more about how this particular partnership play the 2♥ bid. But in my experience on this particular auction it is far more likely that the BIT is caused by deciding between pass and 3♠ than it is that it is caused by deciding between 3♠ and 4♠. So I'm comfortable with the rulings from the TD and AC.

I don't think they show that. I think they show that your attempt to simplify things would actually make them worse. And if you were to make exceptions for things that aguahombre thinks are obvious, then it would no longer be simpler.

1H-1N 3C-3S! Impossible and huge for clubs within the limits of the forcing notrump. I don't like the 4D Kickback instead of 3S by responder because of my silly aversion to wooding with a side XX. After the 3S, opener can use Minorwood or whateverwood available, and then make the King-ask, knowing responder cannot have any kings; it serves as an invite to the grand which responder will accept because of the extra club.

If it doesn't exist, maybe we should find a use for it. Perhaps it could show an upper end 1NT call with Hxx in clubs and pointy suit stoppers; suggesting to opener that a light 3NT may be on if the club suit is running. Perhaps KJx xx Kxxxx Qxx? Obviously I just made that up, but it was fun. edit: added a diamond spot to make 13 cards.

Thanks again ... I don't know how many times I read the reference, but I still got it wrong .... duh ( I corrected my post # 27 ). Discourage = look for a shift

I think that if you play it as takeout and the opponents know that you play it as takeout then they have an opportunity to play silly buggers and raise on a misfit. Particularly if they are 10 down going into the last 8.

Not saying we would start the sequence with the given hand, but: After the 3-bid by opener, we use 3NT as denying an Ace, but showing one or more kings. So, if we did have a hand with that AJX of Diamonds and had started the sequence, then-- 4D=asking bid over 3NT...second step (4S) would show stiff or KQ(X+) of diamonds. Re-ask would clarify which. A very old Hardy/Walsh thing.

I have had precisely the same thought myself. On the other hand, perhaps we can do even better by packing the 4♥ bid with a second hand type. For example: 4♥ = singleton in spades or clubs ... - 4♠ = to play opposite spade length ... - ... - P = single club ... - ... - 4NT = single spade ... - 4NT = ask ... - ... - 5♣ = single spade ... - ... - 5♦ = single club 4♠ = single heart 4NT = 22(27) 5♣ = single diamond I am sure this can be improved on significantly with some thought. Whether it is worth it for the frequency of this type of 3NT opening is another matter.

Did you remember to turn it on before the session's start?

As far as I can tell most people in Scotland, including the English visitors, like the pre-alert regulations. I don't come across pairs who use the alerting regulations to hide their methods although, like in every country, people make mistakes. I could live with this rule too. Now we just have to define 'sensible'. To be honest I am happiest with the ACBL alerting of doubles, far more sensible than the SBU and EBU.

Clearly you do not know what you are talking about. There are pre-alerts and it is normally done: From the SBU System Policy: 2.2.2 At the start of each round, you should exchange convention cards with your opponents and inform them of Your basic method E.g. Natural with four-/five-card majors (specify the minimum length for one of a minor if fewer than four); Strong Club (specify minimum HCP for 1♣)The range of your opening 1NT, including any variations according to position and vulnerabilityThe meaning of your two-level opening bids E.g. Strong Twos; Strong 2 , Game-forcing 2 , Weak Twos in the majors; Weak Twos in three suits; Multi 2♦ ; Two-suited Weak Twos in the MajorsAny unusual aspects of your system E.g. Canapé (opening or responding in a shorter suit before a longer one); game-forcing two-over-one responses; weak jump shifts; unusual doubles (such as low-level penalty doubles; or a double of 1NT which is not penaltyList these items in a clearly identifiable area of your convention card. I know David does not like these alerting regulations and has been damaged when a pair forgot to inform him that they played a non-penalty double of one notrump, but different regulations are all part of playing bridge in a foreign country.