mr1303

Anyway who votes with abstain (or anything less polite) will automatically get zero plus a procedural penalty of 10% of their score for not making a legal bid... If you want to say that you would do something different, comment on the hand thread when they are posted.

Comments are welcome, but probably won't influence the scoring. Good point on the last one. I just wrote them out as Whereagles sent them to me. Whereagles, can you advise?

Hi all Here are the hands, courtesy of Whereagles. As usual, there's a standard system, and scoring is based on the matchpoints that were likely to result. If there is no auction present you are the dealer. 1 [hv=pc=n&s=saqj763hk653d654c&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1sp1np]133|200[/hv] 2 [hv=pc=n&s=st64haj43da65caj4&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=p1sppdp]133|200[/hv] 3 [hv=pc=n&s=sk95hq6dk5cq95432&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=p1d2s]133|200[/hv] 4 [hv=pc=n&s=sakj6h98d83cj9642&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p1d1sd3sppdp4hpp]133|200[/hv] 5 [hv=pc=n&s=sakj9hj9765da53c5&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=1h]133|200[/hv] 6 [hv=pc=n&s=sq965hat752da5c94&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=p]133|200[/hv] 7 [hv=pc=n&s=sq9hj62djt87cakt5]133|100[/hv] 8 [hv=pc=n&s=sahk92dj9865ckt72&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=4sppp]133|200[/hv] This last one is a lead problem. PM me your answers. PM your complaints to whereagles :) Regards Mark

1C (1S) 2H If 2H is natural but not forcing, is this agreement alertable?

Pp of 25% of a top to NS for wasting my time with daft director calls.

I also pass. I have no way of bidding both suits at this point, and playing in the right one is important.

Thanks. Am I posting the hands on here as well? I'll put them up tomorrow night if so.

If you want to pm me the hands etc, or better still e-mail me them (Mark.Reeve at blueyonder.co.uk)

Pass. If I double, partner will probably bid clubs, and I'm stymied. I have good defense here.

Hi all I'm thinking of organising a debating club in my home city (Brizzle, or Bristol for those who aren't natives). I was thinking of something along the lines of a fortnightly or similar group in a pub function room somewhere. Anyone have any experiences of doing anything like that? Unsure of format particularly yet, but keen to receive suggestions.

I can do the spreadsheet work. I once did a poll properly, but received lots of criticism for the way I allocated scores. This should avoid that.

What do we think 6D should show? Does this not completely reinforce the KQ of hearts and A of diamonds? I think anything that says not sure enough to bid 7 but some grand interest should do the job.

I would also like to know why North decided to make a (take-out?) double of 3H on a 9 count including the stiff K of hearts, and why South decided he was never worth any sort of bid with a 14 count with Q10xx of spades... Some sort of split score may be in order here depending on what North & South say to me.

I adjust to 5C X making not very many. I'm not very good at playing 4-1 fits out, but I might give declarer 2 tricks. Passing 5C as North is clearcut without the UI.

In order: 2C - very fruity at this vulnerability with 3 small spades. X - just about I guess with 3 card club support, but still fruity 3D - no need for this over the redouble, unless pass suggests defending 5D - WTF?!? - You are vul against not here.... X - You have 1 defensive trick and no reason to suspect bad breaks. So I guess 5D, but no bid is particularly brilliant. No offense intended by the way...

Pass is not an LA in my opinion. I don't think the hesitation suggests bidding 3D over doubling, so result stands.

I reckon 3 off sounds somewhat unlucky as well. I guess you need agreements as to what an X of 2H actually shows, whether just purely for the lead or a hand that would overcall 2H given the chance.

So, just to check, the consensus is that partner may have been interested in something else, but has now lost interest? FYI, Kxx or better support is required to bid 3C on this sequence. Is there a consensus that suggests opener is allowed to go on with a super-maximum?

http://www.bridgeguys.com/BGlossary/GlossB.html I remember you telling me about some convention you had approved at one point - I presume it was this.

What happened to the "Bell" 1 Spade convention? Did anyone ever play that at any point in time, ever? :-p

Bidding sequence goes: 1NT (15-17) 2NT (transfer to diamonds) 3D (bad hand for diamonds) 3NT? There will be a follow up question later...

What actually is 3D? a) A good hand with diamonds, supposedly too strong to overcall 3D B) Showing diamonds and hearts, 2 suited? c) Showing clubs (paradox response?)

I think I like 4H, just in case LHO bids 5D, which would leave me poorly placed. If I bid 4H and it goes 5D P P to me, I can happily double.

I bid 2S only if pre-discussed with partner. It's not that I think that bidding will go for a number here (if it does, then they'll have game), it's more that partner will likely lead a spade, and my suit isn't good enough for that if this is meant to show a normalish overcall.

I like pass a lot here. Strongly fancy my chances of +500 without breaking a sweat, and no guarantees of game my way. Even if we do have one, +600 vs +500 is no disaster.