kuhchung

I've always felt it more normal to try and reach normal contracts and swing in the play, but without barometer I never know what is happening so just try to do my usual substandard stuff

i have always played every 3 level suit here as NF, 3S is "i was goofing around with a terrible hand and 3-4 spades", good hands just bash 3N or 4S. you probably don't have slam with a 5-3 fit 18 opp 11 anyway.

i gave away a trick on the lead and then i was afraid since i had slipped an overtrick as well, but i could just as well have thrown all my honors out the window and gotten the same result :P

i can't stop dropping tricks

I think this hand is much easier to spot than the dummy reversal, but my comment mostly applies to some of the other ones where I think you definitely underestimated how hard it is to endplay and/or squeeze Don't get me wrong. I love your threads, and I love seeing play problems on the forum. Thanks for all of these.

I think Ben's sense of difficulty is way off :)

pass :(

thanks nige1

Thanks for the play problems.

ace and a trump, if declarer is KQxxx x Kxx Kxxx he'll come to 4 spade tricks, 1 heart, 1 diamond, 1 ruff, 2 clubs for 9 tricks, losing 2C 1D 1S in the ending. If we exit HJ, declarer ruffs in hand, DK (club pitch), D ruff, CA CK C ruff, spade off dummy, and I think we get 2S 1C. I can't really come up with a hand for declarer that would bid 2N, but if declarer has the CQ as well then I don't see a beat so whatever

balanced hands defend

agree with manudude, I am NOT showing the limit raise and maybe partner will tank a little and then hey I'll bid game now! if the plan is to show a 4 card raise and then ignore opener's decision, at least we can start with the mixed raise and then bid game over it. now we have no LA.

Stolen bid!

help.

pass at all forms of scoring no matter what gadgets we play edit: oh sorry it's weak. i guess i double but this is a total minimum

You are not known for being timid :)

cool

Sheesh, it seems like a simple harmless question

6D asks for the DK. If opener shows a 5-5 hand (which guarantees a shortness!) instead of showing a stiff, you'll get there.

Are you guys counting cards? Isn't that like, cheating?

Thanks Mike and gnasher.

maybe you really should just go read the chapter instead of accusing sontag of cheating and then retracting and then wondering how it all happened :P

Mostly curious as to what "standard" is after 1D p 1S p 1N x. From what I understand, standard (old fashioned?) was penalty with diamonds.

I always feel like doubles of balances are penalty, and this one certainly doesn't feel any different

I have never understood this system sans Rusinow for precisely this reason. I do it at the 5 level only since we are more likely to bang dry ace.