mr1303

I can't think of any reason why not to agree with the SB here. I might have a word with the SB and tell him that if he objects to a claim he has to call me rather than give rulings at the table.

I might be in favour. I just don't really understand what you're trying to propose. Firstly, if you want to control who sits down at your table when you're the host, click in the permission to play checkbox. Therefore, if you don't want to play against opponents who have no information in their profile, you don't have to. Secondly, there's nothing wrong with clicking on a bid to discover the meaning of it. Because BBO self-alerts, there is no UI transferred to the table when a player explains their bid.

As long as the queen of hearts wasn't covered :)

Just a quick question, how often does new suit natural and forcing come up usefully? The last time I used it, I held: AQ10xxx Qx AKJxx void after partner opened 3C, vulnerable against not. I tried 3S (natural and forcing) which caught a raise to a no-play game. Partner had AQJxxxx in her club suit as well as a small doubleton spade. Natural and encouraging but not forcing seems a lot more useful than natural and forcing to me.

On this whole cheating thing, sometimes, when playing in the main bridge club, if I'm playing with a new parter I sometimes have a convention card open in front of me. Whilst it is technically against the rules, I'm not hugely bothered. 1) I don't care if opponents discuss their system during the bidding and play of a hand (and freely invite this if I'm playing something complicated). If I'm playing a semi-formal teams match, or in a tournament (I don't play in pay tournaments since the bank charges associated with paying in dollars makes this too expensive for my liking), then I don't. But then I don't care one way or other about the score that I get online.

Completely 100% agree with this. But if you've been collecting them for years, how do you feel about their devaluation?

I pass. Whilst it is just about conceivable that slam makes on this hand, the 5 level is definitely not safe.

I come in at 62. something % (but strangely only if I search for myself, rather than search down the list of top players). This is strange, since apart from my last two games which I've played down in Cornwall after I moved here, 99% of all my games in the last 3 years have been with the same partner in a rather low ability club near Bristol. And when I search for her ranking, I'm an ace of clubs, whereas she's an 8. I think that it needs a little work before it becomes particularly meaningful, but it's a nice idea.

The best way to illustrate this is with an example Imagine you are South in this position here: [hv=pc=n&s=s2h2dca&w=skqhadc&n=sajhkdc&e=shdc]399|300[/hv] When South cashes the A of clubs, West is squeezed in the majors, and must concede a trick. Notice that South has precisely 1 loser in this position. Compare with this position: [hv=pc=n&s=s32h2dca&w=skq6hadc&n=saj5hkdc&e=shdc]399|300[/hv] Now when South cashes the A of clubs, West simply pitches his low spade, and there is no squeeze. This is because South has 2 losers. To rectify the count means to lose a trick you must lose, in order to produce the squeeze position. If South had been able to safely duck a round of spades earlier, that would be an example of rectifying the count.

I used to play congresses when I was a junior. Now as a student aged 29, I just can't afford them any more, so I don't.

2C, then it depends on what partner does and whether or not we're playing SAYC or 2/1

No way do I bid here in a month of Sundays.

[hv=pc=n&s=s3h842dak75cqjt63&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1s2h4s]133|200[/hv] What say you here? Double would be cards, and partner would pass it more often than not.

I must admit, I have to look very deeply to find a call other than 4H. Opposite the vast majority of dummies, 4H is going to be the spot. What I do if RHO now bids 4S may be a more interesting question.

Pass looks fairly clear to me, we know partner has a singleton or void diamond, and as a result he will want to bid on any excuse. I have nothing extra for my bidding so far anyway.

Welcome to University bridge, where 2 1/2 table movements are standard :)

My opponents always seem to find the heart lead when I bid these sort of slams :(

2H is just terrible. I'd like some way of mentioning the clubs to help partner judge how high to bid when the [infinitely more likely] 4S bid comes in from LHO. However, I'm a bit concerned that a fit jump here may overstate the clubs somewhat, especially since LHO bid the suit.

[hv=pc=n&s=st53h983d72caq963&w=s7ht75dakjt63cj52&n=sak2hkj62dq4ckt74&e=sqj9864haq4d985c8&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1n2s2np3nppp]399|300[/hv] 2NT was intended as Lebensohl, and was marked as such on the card. North forgot and assumed it was natural, and as a result bid 3NT. Opening lead was a low spade. NS made 8 tricks, -100. EW claim they were damaged, and say that West would bid 3D after 2NT. How do you rule?

In fairness, they said they weren't particularly damaged in the play, just thought that only bidding 3C with the North cards was "odd"

[hv=pc=n&s=st976haqjt8dqt43c&w=skj2h7432dkjcqt63&n=s543h9d976ca98754&e=saq8hk65da852ckj2&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=pp1d2dd3c3nppp]399|300[/hv] 2D was alerted and explained as both black suits as per the convention card. EW are relatively inexperienced and call you to the table asking for a ruling on this hand. What do you say? Any other information required?

If this is teams, not sure I agree with the final double, I think that's hanging partner a bit for balancing.

No, I would do the same. Ah well...

A lot of hearts on that list that I don't have, but no option for a club. I want to lead a club...