mr1303

If you bid 3D here, partner will hang you in 3nt. I balanced with this shape and point count but with primer suits and went for -300 in 3nt.

Again, another vote for a close 2H, with both 1S and 2S being acceptable.

I'm not prepared to lose a splinter from my bidding arsenal. These hands are only an issue when you have both a 5-3 and a 4-4 fit. If you want to be able to accurately bid these hands, I suggest you use relay methods.

I bid 3C. This hand is virtually worthless in spades or diamonds. If 3C is invitational, I change my methods.

As someone who does volunteer to operate vugraph, I feel pretty well placed to answer Jeffrey's questions. 1) I do it because I enjoy the equivalent of being on bridge TV. I enjoy being able to explain what's going on at the table using my general bridge knowledge and imparting that on to a watching audience. As a commentator, you're always a little bid in the dark as to what is actually going on. Who's thinking, what they might be thinking about etc. As an operator, you have much more information. Having said that, I enjoy this for a few hours. Doing it for 120 boards over a weekend is too much for me. I don't enjoy it *that* much. 2) The concept of introducing payment is purely to increase the number of people willing to operate vugraph. Which links in to the second part of my answer to 1. I did not like having to announce to the audience that the last match could not be shown. I received a number of questions wanting to know (not unreasonably) why the match couldn't be shown. As it was, when the e-mail came around asking for volunteers, I said I could happily do Saturday, but I was very pressed for time on the Sunday, as I had paid work of my own to go to back in Bristol, some 120 miles away. During the vugraph commentary, there was a little discussion amongst the commentators about payment for vugraph operators. A number of spectators told me (via private chat) that they pay their operators a small fee for their services, and as a result they never seem to be short for volunteers. They usually pick students from the local universities (which, if they have a bridge club, would be so much better). Around $2-3 US dollars a board seems to be the going rate. This would mean that an operator could earn about $120 a day - quite good money for a student.

Couple of questions. 1) Would BBO consider introducing BBO pounds that can be used for these tournaments? This would mean I don't have to pay (large) currency conversion fees, an issue that has stopped me buying BBO dollars on a regular basis. 2) I notice that the EBU assumes simple basic Acol in these tournaments. Can this be changed as well?

This is more interesting if it goes P P X P. I think I defend but without much conviction.

I've just spent the weekend operating the vugraph for the English Premier League. Unfortunately, due to a lack of volunteers, the last match couldn't be broadcast. It was a shame, but it appears that a lack of investment in vugraph operators was the cause. Operating the vugraph can be a very stressful job. Trying to keep up with the play, particularly close to when a player claims, or if there's a particularly fast bit of play is difficult. Add in the issues regarding connection outages etc, and the whole job can be quite difficult. Given that TDs, caddies and other ancillary staff get paid, shouldn't vugraph operators?

That is quite a significant difference.

Sorry, again I messed up the dealer. South dealt.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakjt98754h4dcajt&n=shqjt963dk98642c6&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1s(Or%202C%3F)p1n(Or%202H%20%5Bnot%202/1%5D)p3c(Or....%3F)p3hp]266|200[/hv] I gave up trying to come up with a sensible and plausable auction on these cards. What on Earth do you do with it?

I'm going with the heart. I have the entries to set up the heart suit. Unless opps are lunatics* I expect partner has not. *Yes, I have read the OP about clients & pros.

Double of 2H would suggest a desire to compete further in hearts.

Yeah, sorry, I accidentally put the wrong dealer down, and couldn't work out how to change it. Assume South opens.

[hv=pc=n&s=sa5432hkqt2da2c32&n=skqhaj543dkq43ck4&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1sp2hp3hp3s(Rabbit%204%20way)p4d(Denies%20serious%20slam%20interest)p4n(Key%20card%20for%3F)p]266|200[/hv] This hand came up during a session with my mentee last night. Afterwards I started thinking about the 3S call. This could be taken as either a spade control or spade support. If the latter, then 4NT would be key card for spades, which has a lot of potential for disaster. Thoughts?

You're incorrect with your assumption that partner holds 5+ hearts. You play strong NT and 4 card majors in a majors first style. Please refer to the OP

[hv=pc=n&s=shat93daqj8763c96&n=saq863h82dk2ckqj4]133|200[/hv] A couple of days ago with a pick-up partner I bid 6D on these cards. LHO found the Q of hearts lead, which left the contract with no play at all, and the contract duly went 1 off. Commentary: Him: You could and should have made that Me: Go on then, enlighten me as to how? Him: You call yourself an advanced player? Look at the score sheet which will tell you everything you need to know. It did. Everyone who had let 6D through had led the A of clubs at trick 1.

[hv=pc=n&s=sq962h9d9842c9752&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1h(Playing%20Strong%20%26%204s)1np2hp2sp3nppp]133|200[/hv] What do you lead here? We open 4 card majors first when holding 11-13 balanced.

[hv=pc=n&s=saqt93hak872d62ck&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=1n(12-14)2c(Majors)p2d(Which%20is%20your%20better%20major%3F)p]133|200[/hv] 2 questions. 1) Do you agree with bidding 2C? Or do you prefer double? Partner's 2D bid doesn't promise anything. It is a question by partnership agreement. What do you call here?

Partner did hold S AQxx H Qxx D x C Kxxxx

@Gnasher, yes.

The hand with QJxx Qxx Q KJxxx is an opening hand in our style. We rarely pass with 10 HCP.

[hv=pc=n&s=sk32hkda953caqt32&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=2c(Precision)p2d(Enquiry)p2s(Min%2C%205+C%2C%204S)p2n(enquiry)p3d(Shortage)p3h(Perhaps%20an%20error%3F)dpp4c(Forcing)p5cp]133|200[/hv] 3H was a prod. Swiss Pairs, MPs converted to VPs. What do you call here?

If partner had 3 hearts and some potential for playing in hearts, he could bid 3D. He did not, so therefore he has not. I put down the dummy.

I start with double. 3NT is too much of a position here. Partner will usually pass 3NT, and I really need 9 toppers to make on a shovel lead. If partner bids 4 of a minor, I raise. If partner bids 4H, I put down the dummy.