mr1303

[hv=pc=n&s=skt753hk3dkq4ckt5&n=sqj92h76djcaq9863&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1cp1s2h3hp4np5dp6hp6sppp]266|200[/hv] Not our finest hour. We had no agreement on the 3H bid. South wasn't sure if it should be showing 18-19 balanced without a heart stop, or an advanced cuebid agreeing spades, so tried 4NT as a hedge. When partner responded 5D (showing 1 or 4 key cards) South decided that this should agree spades and show 4 key cards, so tried for a grand. They cashed their three aces for 2 off (doubled sadly)

I would agree that the regulations should be aimed to please the local punters. Where I disagree is with the premise that the average bridge player would want different rules and regulations

Pass is automatic here.

Ick I guess I open 1C, hating it. Over 4S X P I guess I try 4NT. If partner bids 5D I try 5H, if 5C I raise to 6.

4S, expecting to get murdered & ready to apologise to partner..

It does seem very strange to me that different worldwide organisations have very different rules and regulations regarding permitted bidding systems etc. My local club has a fairly poor standard of player for the most part, and yet somewhere in the region of 80% of the pairs have the multi-coloured 2D on their convention card (true the majority don't have any idea how to use it effectively, but still). These same pairs go on holiday to the USA and they can't play their system any more. Which seems a bit daft to me. In most sports, teams from around the world all pretty much play the same rules. A football match in England is played under (as far as I am aware) the same rules as a football match in Germany, Brazil or anywhere else. Why not in bridge? I am aware that the WBF exists with yet another set of rules, which again seems pointless. Why is it that the major organisations can't have a discussion amongst themselves and agree on 1 set of rules that everyone plays under. How hard can it be?

Just breaking up this flame war to suggest that 4C & 4D would also be super-accepts suggesting first round controls. We would not normally bid 3nt here as it is undiscussed.

Could poor results/play lead to removal of a star?

Agree with the tuna fish. You need more to bid anything over 3D here.

Fluffy came in with 39.25% & Pooltuna 28.75%. Which in fairness wasn't last... Bear in mind you lost points for abstaining on two hands..

Even in stone age Acol, this is definitely 100% forcing.

On this hand, you are missing the ace of clubs, king of spades and queen of hearts. 6H didn't make on this hand (and wouldn't even if South held the queen of hearts). Slam here is very bad in other words. 1) Is South worth a slam try? 2) Is North worth (or even forced into) co-operation 3) Given the number of controls that North needs for slam to be good, and the obvious risk that Blackwood might get you too high, should North do something else?

You are a simple soul, because there aren't two aces missing :)

[hv=pc=n&s=skqt972hk3dt8cq63&n=sjh98dakq975cjt87&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1d1h1sp2dp2sp3dp3nd4sppdpprppp]266|200[/hv] Ace of hearts lead and another heart to my king, I lead a spade to the Jack (with West going in with his ace to play a 3rd heart). I ruffed, drew trumps (pitching clubs) , & ran the diamonds (they broke 3-2) ending with the 7 of diamonds, for + 1 and 4 beers :) As you might have guessed, this was the last hand of a particularly bad night.

[hv=pc=n&s=sj9873hqt6djct963&n=skthakj3dkt64cak5&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=pp2dp2hp2np3hp4hp4sp5cp5sp]266|200[/hv] 2D was a multi, and 2NT showed 20-22 HCP 3H was a transfer to spades (not alerted), and it now starts getting murky. South thinks 4H is a superaccept, and signs off in 4S. North thinks 4S is a cue, and cue bids 5C, to which South retreats again to 5S. At this point, North bids 5H (insufficient), which when the director is called, is accepted by East. How do you rule if a} South passes 5H b} South corrects to 5S, and North passes c} South corrects to 5S and North corrects to 6H, which South passes.

[hv=pc=n&s=saqj763ha542da3cj&n=s98hkj73dkq62ck63&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1sp2dp2hp4hp4sp]266|200[/hv] Bidding proceeds as shown (agree with 4S here by South?) If it helps, 3H by North would not be forcing, but the above sequence is not as strong as via going by 4th suit forcing.

The Volcanic one, who won with 59.75% Honourable mentions also go to Nigel_K, Phil in a tie for second on 55%, Sallyally in 4th on 53, Hanoi5 in 5th on 52.5% & Echognome in 6th on 51.75% 20 participants took part, and the maximum attainable percentage in this poll was 69.5% I should also mention that on hands 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7, over 80% of the participants selected the same options, and on 3, 6 & 7 these weren't the top scoring options. PM me if you want to know your score if I haven't mentioned it already here (or I can post all of them if a majority want me to).

What they said. I would have bid 5C rather than 5D though

P - Good start... 1H - Playing weak NT 4 card majors this is the system bid - No probs 1S - Automatic 2C - Automatic (playing Acol) 4S - A touch fruity, but at favourable maybe ok. X - If penalty, automatic (if take-out/cards, not so good) P - Automatic 5H - Not so good playing weak and 4s, as partner is likely to have a strong no trump X - Good P - Good 5S - Terrible - 2 aces and a couple of tens is plenty of defence here. P - Might as well double this one as well P - Nothing else to do X - Doubled 4S for penalty, definitely having a go at 5S

I'll put the results up over the weekend. Watch this space..

[hv=pc=n&s=sakj6h98d83cj9642&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p1d1sd3sppdp4hpp]133|200[/hv] Again, the 3S bid was somewhat controversial, but do we bid 4S here, or double, or pass (or something else?)

[hv=pc=n&s=sk95hq6dk5cq95432&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=p1d2s]133|200[/hv] 2S is a weak jump overcall, and you're under pressure. How best to proceed?

[hv=pc=n&s=st64haj43da65caj4&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=p1sppdp]133|200[/hv] You may not agree with the first pass, but there you are. What now?

I pass this one. The reason being, despite the excellent shape, we are likely to be outgunned on this hand, and partner is likely to be on lead against something. I fear a heart lead against their 4 spade/ 5 diamond contract may be fatal.

Entries seem to have died down now, so we can start some discussion on the hands (I'll post the actual results once we've discussed them a bit). [hv=pc=n&s=saqj763hk653d654c&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1sp1np]133|200[/hv]