mr1303

Well, E/W have bid like muppets, but may have got lucky due to the 4-0 trump break.Depends on their methods I suppose. I can stop in 2S on those cards and make it

Hmmm worrying: I frequently raise on 4333 shape if I have an unstopped suit and Hxx in support. Unlike Dave by the look of things. Similarly with 5332. In fact, I think I'll raise every time with Hxx in support unless I've a hand suitable to jump rebid something. To be fair, Dave did bid exclusion keycard in my first suit, so when he returned to it it wasn't clear that he meant it as exclusion. The auction was 1D 1H 2H 5D Is this clearly exclusion RKCB?

Classic Namyats for me, but if I don't play it I open 1S

Gold stars aren't given to people based on their online playing ability. You have to win a major championship to get one of those. And the ACBL masterpoints, like all masterpoints, are given to those who play frequently, not necessarily those who are good. BBO is well known for not giving out ratings

I've got length in opponents suit. My spades look worthless with them being bid on my left. Hence I pass. I want nothing to do with this auction

On the Lebensohl question: How many people play the paradox response here: i.e. would a 3D bid after the double show clubs (worth at least the 4 level) or just a hand with spades and diamonds. We got a bad score the other week when I assumed the first and partner had the second

Yes, reminds me of a match we played. We got to a cold 7S, their table had the auction 1N (3D) 3S all pass A few imps in on that one.... :P

Nope. Revolting. You have a classic inverted raise to 3D with the S hand. Unless you play that the pre-emptive raise is pure trash and not invitational under any circumstances. If NT is right, you want your partner to play it, not you. And because you hadn't shown your diamond support in part 1, you felt the need to try and catch up by bidding 5D. Raise in the first instance , then you have no difficulties

Works like this 1N 3C(diamond singleton) 3D = working max, no wasted values, seeking clarification 3H/S = 4 card suit, looking for support (3NT denies) 3NT = Diamonds well stopped, no interest in any other contracts 4H/S = 5 card suit. 4C = ropey diamond stopper, no 4 card major (but likely some wasted values) A similar method applies for higher transfers. You have to be careful with a spade singleton, since partner will frequently be endplayed into bidding 4H in the moisian fit. Hence, if this is a problem (holding 3 low hearts) then 2NT followed by 3D is recommended.

3 card support, but without an honour. 2H would promise a top honour here for me.

The danger in making Lightner doubles is that they might be able to run to a making contract, usually in NT. If S had the J of spades for example, 7NT would have play, and they might well bid it knowing that you have a diamond void.

Depends on whether I play Equal Level Conversion or not. If not, then I bid 3C after 2NT, and hope that 3C isn't a dreadful contract.

At Manchester bridge club we play for either 50p, £1, £2 or £5 a hundred. The £5 game is NOT cheap, especially when you're on a losing streak (like I am now). Discovering the hard way that partner does not play the unusual no trump, for example. Going for -1100 and seeing £55 go down the tube. Incidently, although I've asked this in another thread, are there any plans for rubber bridge to be playable on BBO? It might be possible to use bridgebase dollars for this.

I defended against 4 redoubled contracts in 6 boards, both based upon the fact that neither opponent knew that the redouble was for rescue. E.g. 1C (1S) P P X P P XX end and 1D (X) XX (1S) X (XX) end

Tongue in cheek I hope....

Yep, 2S looks mandetory. I'll pull partners first penalty double to spades at the cheapest level, showing a hand that is offensive only. After that I'll respect his decision

Lets have a look at the auction: Both opponents are bidding clubs here. Since we hold 2, the chances of partner having a club stack is approaching zero, unless LHO has psyched, which seems unlikely. So I fail to see how passing here will give us problems. I don't have any problems with double being take-out, but this isn't the hand for it. Something like: Ax Kxxx AKxxxx x would be a better bid, showing a shortage in clubs and tolerance for all other suits. It should also show extras. I also feel that double should be take-out from the other side of the table. E.g holding: Kxxxx Axxx Kxx x With the actual hand, the spade support is greatly lacking to make a take-out double here.

Unless playing NFBs to start with a negative double on this hand is very wrong. If partner has a good hand, knowing that partner is 5-4 in the majors could well be important, and playing in the right strain may well be vital. Unless of course partner will pass 3H when I bid that after 2S, in which case I want to stop playing with this partner

2H IS forcing. Just not game forcing. And a splinter promises 4 trumps, since 1S only promises 4 in Acol. Although all this goes to show what a terrible system Acol is when you have to bid 3C to manufacture a force rather than show support immediately.

What was the double there? Can't see any logical meaning other than penalties on this auction, and you don't have a penalty double. It looked as though partner thought 3H was forcing (which it is)

Yep, this is what the Lightner double is designed for. 7NT would appear to have no play, since you hold the club guard and partner can hold the spade guard, and there is no 3rd suit for a double squeeze.

If, as most people think, partner's reopening double does not promise any extras, only shows shortage in hearts, then I'm not convinced that bidding 3NT later is better than bidding it now. If anything, partner's shortage is even worse for 3NT, because this increases the likelyhood that LHO may have something of a heart fit.

Hmmm. Nope, I can't think of any. Why would I want to bid 3NT when I have: a) No source of trickw B) No fit c) Defensive values And any 1444 hand with enough to bid here has enough to extract a big penalty against 3H

The rule as I know it was that 1NT was forcing if opener has a full opening bid. If not, then he can pass. It helps if you take the fit hands out of it though. Hence play drury.

Some of us England Juniors occasionally organise small tournaments to play in amongst themselves, mostly because we can have more people playing in one of these than a teams game. Here the director is solely a host; if there are any arguments then we have a fight about it on MSN, and whoever shouts loudest about it wins. I don't see how this causes any difficulties for yellows or anyone else. And the director(s) are playing.