the saint

Although we have TWO short suits here. So possible they could have twelve tricks outside! Yes, I know I gave you this problem previously!

These were my thoughts - I just wanted to see what the consensus was out there in the bridge universe. I was the doubler. I held: J10x AQ109xxx x Jx I doubled gambling that the heart king was more likely underneath the AQ (given the 12-14NT) and that it would alert partner that something was up. He tanked and led... A spade... -1880. A heart would have defeated the contract. He mumbled something about double asking for a spade lead. I was just wondering how common an agreement that was.

You hold: xxxx x 109xxxx xx Playing a county league match in England against moderate oppositon. RHO opens 1NT(12-14), you pass, LHO bids 6NT and partner doubles which ends the auction. You haven't specifically agreed anything here about the meaning of the double. 1) What do you lead a) If there where no double b) Now there has been one 2) Sensible thoughts for agreements in this position. There's 28 or so IMPs on this one!

Hi, I'm using BBO to help coach my Junior squads, but I clearly can't supervise every single session. Most of them use the web client, but I can't see a way to export/log deals to a .LIN file (like you can automatically do using the old executable) especially using the bidding tables. If they can do that then I can review those files later at my leisure. Would having some kind of export/logging function be viable? Thanks Alan

I've coached two sides that made World U20 finals. In both we outbid the opponents. In both we lost because our cardplay was worse. Specifically defence. Bidding starts a hand. Cardplay ends it. Get that wrong and it is definitely all over.

This strikes me as being somewhat short sighted. Let's be serious here - Bridge is facing an age-related time bomb. Players numbers are declining - certainly in the West and as people die they aren't being replenished. VG is one high profile way of promoting the game so the aim should surely be to expose as many people as possible to it rather than restrict the potential audience. PPV will do that and in doing so will reduce the viewer base. Now this may mean that the WBF gets a short term income boost, but longer term? If they want to make cash then perhaps sell advertising, but to kill your audience is to kill the value of the product.

Simple reason why there aren't more younger people playing. Lack of exposure. What proportion of the kids today actually get exposed to the game in any form through parents, schools, universities, friends, the media? Here in the UK it is in a handful of schools thanks to one or two teachers - there is no formal teaching program and schools aren't generally keen on cards as they fear it promotes gambling (an issue to be addressed). There is next to no media exposure. Some learn through parents, but again, no more than a handful. There was one man who had the ability to get the game across to a mass audience - Bill Gates. If Windows had bundled with it a free cheap Bridge game (like the crappy solitaire thing), it would solve the exposure issue at a stroke. It wouldn't have to be good, it would just have to pique the interest. People have talked about pyramids and the drop off you get at every level. Well if we are starting with hundreds or thousands of people being exposed, it is only natural we will end up with only a handful of players actually playing at the sharp end. We need to expose MILLIONS to it.

Glad we lost it too actually. Would have divided the team ahead of the one that matters. Sending the Convicts back home with their tails behind their legs. We have the better bowling attack. They have the better batting line up. Whichever one prevails will win the series.

I would love to be able to track my 'career stats' on BBO. The hand records can only be selected over a period of a month. Is there any way/is it convenient/is the data kept to allow this to happen? Thanks Alan

Very good idea. That was what I did when someone dropped the ♥10 prematurely.

Such a comment would find the perpetrator on my enemy list (and enemy chat is ignored). Though I understand it is frustrating to receive the message in the first place. I don't think it is rude not to reply. I sometimes send a comment that I expect a commentator to consider, but do not expect a reply. And, if the commentator is overwhelmed with private messages, I understand that he might not have time to even consider my comment, let alone reply. I have made some very good friends by replying to comments and questions!

I'm coming over for my first US Nationals. Will be missing the first few days, but definitely playing the Blue Riband Pairs. I'm coming over with my first choice English partner and we are on the lookout for decent teammates for either the Reisinger or North American Swiss - we haven't decided which we will play in. Anybody interested or know anyone decent looking for a game then let me know. Apart from that, I'm really looking forward to it and San Francisco is a city I have always wanted to visit. And, I am well up for a few side games in some of the minor events if any of you fancy a few boards or even if you just want to say hello to a fellow BBOer! Alan

The plain and simple fact is that Cycling looks bad because it is now doing more to clear itself of this than any other sport. The drug taking was systematic 10-15 years ago and even sponsored and protected by national federations who saw it in their own interest to cover it all up. There has been a dramatic wind of change blowing through the sport, and while there will always be the odd rotten apple, this will be the cathartic experience the sport needs to grow again free from the dead wood. I absolutely guarantee you that Football or American Football for example are much worse as they don't have anywhere near the same degree of drug testing or control and there is no incentive for them to do it. It has been conveniently forgotten that Barcelona and Real Madrid were mentioned in Operation Puerto and there have been other minor scandals that have been conveniently ignored because of all the money floating around.

What colour Jellybabies do you people like?

Until he suggests they crack open a few tinnies?