Gerben47

Open all 17-19 balanced with 1C (yes even 5M332) is a simple effective solution. Another solution is to reserve a 2-bid for 19-20 balanced, or to play a Multi 2♦ including a strong NT.

I'll give partner's hand in hidden text now. Don't peek if you have not voted!

I just did a simulation and what I got scared me a bit. They have a mean opening of 2.15 which is much higher than standard systems (which have about 1.6). A mean opening of 2 means on average your opponents take away 2 bids if they are in 1st seat (i.e. open 1D). Most standard systems have an average below this but as I said, 2.15 is very high!

Of course you all know of the <add nation here>-3NT opening bid. This shows stoppers in 3 suits and asks partner to pass in case he has a solid minor. Anyway, having just discussed this very topic 10 minutes before I pick up ♦ AKQxxxx and out. Guess what: Partner opened 3NT. RHO passed and I thought about the situation and decided to pass just to have a good laugh afterwards (was an informal tournament). When asked why I pass I said: "I thought we were playing that you show stoppers in the other suits and I have to pass with a solid minor".

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=saq5hdt763ca87432]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] This always happens at unfavorable of course. 3♦ pass pass double pass ? Now what? 3♦ is middle-of-the-road type preempt, 1st favorable so 7-card suit or very good 6-card suit (KQJxxx or better).

2♠. Partner rates to have one more spade than heart and I do too.

Agree with inquiry that if you play Raptor this is invitational not forcing (probably with 3 spades). If not playing Raptor I think it still is the same, or do you overcall 1NT with this although a TO double is available? I think not. KQx Axxx Qxxx Ax

If you open 1♣ partner will need a lot of convincing to play 4♠ in the alleged 4-3 fit. Since 3♣ shows extra's I don't rebid that with a minimum but I rebid 2♠. If 6♣ is right partner will probably bid 3♣ next or 2NT and then I bid 3♣. I will consider opening 1♣ only on good 6-card ♣ with 5♠ and a strong hand.

I vote both semi-finals one table. Many people will be rooting for one team and if only one match is shown (the other match) that's not so good. Comparisons are quite easy to do. A director or caddy should copy the scores from the official sheet when they become available and give them to the operator.

I've been using ICQ for almost 10 years and have not had troubles with it. I'm still using my ancient account <_<

Is it psycho to overcall here? Yes. But don't argue with success :) Is it a psyche bid? No.

Isn't this a plain 2♠ rebid? This shows extra values but I have them. With an unbalanced minimum I rebid 2♥. The way I was tought this even playing 2/1 not GF this is a 2♠ bid but it seems this is not standard?

Yes, thank goodness. Directors make mistakes, alas appeal committee is needed. Naturally in a club this is not used very often as the atmosphere is more relaxed. This is especially important if you have club tournaments that have some kind of prize, monetary or otherwise.

Anyway, if partner is balanced it might not be so important not to find your fit, but overcalling 12-15 balanced means is just soliciting for double by third hand regardless of who is balanced or not.

Yes it does. So it's OPEN: Netherlands - Russia China - Italy WOMEN: China - USA Russia - England The official site is still not giving anything.

Bid it with this hand if you like. I am not ready for such high tech bids perhaps my rubber opponents are. I will stick to old-fashioned Polish NT overcall in the meantime.

I had a look at this and the numbers are dazzling me. No point count can make up for judgement. Not ZAR points, not Milton Work count, not Binky Points or the points on this website. My suggestion is not to read this so that you won't be confused.

You have to read it as relative aggressiveness between two partners. Either the more aggressive opener or the not so aggressive opener should be in first seat. I can see the more aggressive one opening more in 1st seat but also if he is in 3rd seat he can use his aggressiveness for weak 3rd-seaters.

If you could choose the seating in an unequal partnership, who should be the dealer more often? This is especially interesting when playing 2-board rounds where only one player of the partnership will be dealer. From players of different strength: a) The stronger as he will get more decisions :D The weaker because he can be trusted to get his very first bid right but afterwards the tougher decisions go to the stronger player From players of different aggressiveness: a) The more conservative so the aggressive partner can raise his partner to the limit ;) The more aggressive so there will be more opening bids and overcalls My guess would be the more aggressive and the weaker player. Any thoughts? (This arose when playing an incomplete Mitchell with 8 rounds and 11 tables, 2-board rounds, several sessions. Those EW pairs starting with for example boards 1&2 had East as a dealer more often than West)

I'm for: 2♣ 4♥ + other 2♦ 4♠ + minor 2M natural

Okay of those you gave I like Option 1 modified: 2♦: Multi: Weak in a major or strong 3-suiter (hands that are tough to bid after 1♣, strong 1-suiters are not so complicated) 2♥: 3-suiter with 0-1 ♦ 2♠: Spades and another 2NT: Minors weak

How about: 2♦ Multi (weak or some hands otherwise tough to bid with 1♣) 2♥ Weak 5♥ + 4+ minor 2♠ Weak 5♠ + 4+ minor 2NT Weak both minors 1♦ can be short but after 1♦ 1M 2♣ the ♦ will be always real. You can pass the ♦ in a misfit if you think it is the opponent's hand.

I'm not sure what a 175 is but the first auction seems the craziest. Double on general principles would be the right punishment I guess. Luckily someone similar to your partner was at the table (or did your partner KNOW opps would bid again?)

Honor location is not measured by either method. Zar says 'discount honors in short suits in the usual way'. If you read my comments to the examples you see that I take this into account. I think in Zar's method you get to open hands that are not worth an opening bid because they are distributional but with little defensive strength. This makes it more difficuilt for partner to know what is enough to force to game. And "forcing to game unless you have that misfitting distributional minimum" is much tougher. If you really want a number that tells you open if it is more than a certain value you would need something like the K-R evaluation.

Mikestar: Tell me why it was outrageous to pass partner's limited opening bid with 8 HCP and no fit. True, you could miss 4♥ which makes it dangerous but still I don't see anything the director should do at your table, nor why you should pre-alert passing limited bids. Jlall: I tried that too! 2NT pass 3NT pass pass pass down 6 (-300). Other tables: 4H+1 by the other side (-650). Life is good :D Also outrageous: From a long time ago: Asking the wrong question and then gambling a grand slam vulnerable in team. x - AQxx AKQJxxxx 1♠ - 2♣ 2♠ - 5♥ (XRKC for ♠) 5NT (1) - 7♣ Not the best auction which I realized when partner tabled KQTxxx AJx KTx x Luckily the lead was a trump and not a spade. At the other table our teammates led a ♠ against 7♣ which resulted in a 2240-point swing.