mr1303

4NT. Hope partner shows up with the ace of hearts rather than the ace of diamonds. If he does I'll blast 7, and hope he has another trick somewhere.

I'm not sure what Mee Pok is, but it sounds meaty, and being a Vegan and all...... Change it to Sweet and sour stir fried Tofu, washed down with a glass of soya milk, and I'm more than happy.

Guilty as charged, m'lud 1) Def1 has a clear opening bid. If I'm forced to rebid 2S after 2H then so be it. YOu have 5 cashing tricks in any contract that you're declaring or dummying. 2) Def2 has a clear 2S response to 1S. NOT 1NT NO NO NO NO NO NEVER 1NT!!!! 3) Def1 should rebid like he holds an opening bid, not an 8 count. 4) What kind of hand would open in 4th seat that wouldn't have some kind of play for game opposite Def1's hand. 5) I'd deal 'em both Yarborough's for as long as it takes for them to repent their sins.

I agree completely. Most top class players are quite happy to play on Vugraph but the fact that a few don't feel comfortable with it should be tough luck on them. If you represent your country in a national competition you should have to play in public. If you don't want to, then don't play in the trials etc to be selected for these events. PErsonally I would love to appear on Vugraph, although it looks like it'll be a while off. However, I have noticed that the commentators can occasionally be quite scathing in their comments about poor play by the players. Maybe this might have something to do with it? Mark

2H is completely right. I play that a raise to 3C shows a better hand than this. Either a stronger hand generally or better club support. Taking a delayed raise to 3C is a much better way of doing it. In addition, I play that 1S 2C 2H 3C is still 100% GF. But then I still play old-school style invitational jump shifts. If opener holds: Ax Qxx Qxx AKJxx he shouldn't jump to 3NT after 2H. A simple (forcing) 2NT is ample here. 1) Opener could be 5-5 in the majors, in which case 4H looks best, 2) partner could hold Qxx in clubs, in which case 6 C looks best, 3) partner might have a 6th spade, in which case 4S looks best. The whole idea behind playing 2/1 GF is not to jump to 3NT unless you're certain it's the best contract. With this hand, auction should go: 1S 2C 2H 2NT 3C 3S 4D 5C, might try 4S at matchpoints.

The idea is that you still have a shape not completely unsuitable for a take-out double. For example, with 2 small spades and 4 hearts, if RHO opens 1H it would be poor to make a take-out double. However, a hand like this below: E.g. AKx KJx QJxx Kxx after 1H, you'd make a take-out double. However, after 2C you'd tend to pass though, since if partner can't make an encouraging noise after the double, it looks as though game is very unlikely, and 2NT would show a better hand. To bid 2NT here will get you to a lot of bad scores. With a slightly stronger hand, e.g. AKx AJx KJxx Kxx you'd be entitled to bid 2NT, since give partner Axxxx of clubs and out, 3NT has good play.

1. I'll try 3NT. THe chances of landing in 2NT are remote. 2. 5C. Showing my second suit and a good hand 3. Automatic take-out double. I'll bid 3D over 3C. 4. Yes, 1S looks right. I'll make a forcing pass over 5D, and pass partner's double.

3S should never be made on a singleton or void when your partner has bid the suit naturally. Give partner KQJxx in the suit, and he'll be delighted by your ace of spades, but disgusted by a shortage. If a 3S cue could be either, how is he meant to know when to look for slam, and when to sign off?

No, I don't think either of you did anything wrong. North has nowhere near enough to come in at the 4 level vul with his hand, which is effectively a 10 count. If South had a 7th spade and some shape he might take insurance with a 4S bid, but with 6322 shape, a ratty suit and mostly defensive values it's suicide. I'll let the odd one go when opponents pre-empt us.

I'll pass and pass again if partner reopens. Partner shouldn't have a strong 5/6 card major on this bidding. I'm not bidding a 4 card minor at the 4 level here, with such good defense to 3D.

There was one hand that came up where we scored a bottom. I held: Axxx KQTx Qxxx x And the bidding went (dealer on my right) 1H P 2H 3C ANd I condsidered my hand an automatic pass of 3C. 3NT and 5C were ice cold.

For me, the one time I opened it was in a Goulash tournament, holding a 10 card suit I decided that 4H wasn't enough. Anyway, bidding went like this: 5H 6D P 7D all pass and it went one off.

4H. Partner shouldn't take this as a strong bid on the auction. I'll now leave the last move up to him. I'd be very surprised to get doubled here and it be a bad score

I would say penalties, but only holding at most 4 cards. I guess opener with a 6-5 or something similar would be in a position to pull. 1354 hands (for opener) should sit for it without any problems.

I can name 2 of them for certain. Hackett, Jason Hackett, Justin There are several others in Manchester who get paid for playing bridge (e.g John Holland, Michelle Brunner) but I'm not sure if this is their main income source or if they have other jobs. I know Michelle runs a bridge school somewhere. By the way, what do people consider high stakes? At Manchester bridge club we play frequently for £5 a hundred Chicago style, and whilst it's a bit rich for me I play the £1 game 2/3 nights a week.

In Acol (which I try to refuse to play whenever possible) 1) Forcing 2) Not forcing (which is why I refust to play it) 3) Forcing if playing weak NT, NF if not 4) Not forcing (see 2) 5) Not forcing 6) Not forcing (see 2 again) 7) Not forcing 8) Forcing (although I've had it passed with 9 tricks in 3NT cold) 9) Forcing (see 8)

Surprised no-one has mentioned the vulnerability here. If I'm at red, I'll bid 2S now, since I have nothing over and above what I promised. At favourable or love all I'll bid 2H, showing something there, and if partner blasts 4H after this I'll correct to 4S. At game all, it depends what mood I'm in. Probably bid a slow 2S ;)

Is no-one worried that the bidding may go 1C P 1H (2D) 3D 5D P P Or if you cue-bid 3D, partner holding 5 of em will bid 3NT.

I didn't think checkback would apply here if you play Walsh style since 1C 1D denies a 4 card major without game forcing values? Therefore 1C 1D 1NT 2H/S is natural and game forcing.

The idea seems to be that only ultra simple systems are allowed, so there aren't misunderstandings on conventions. Whether partner will pass what to you is a 100% forcing auction however, is the luck of the draw. Things like negative doubles aren't allowed, apparantly they're too complicated. So you end up saying at the start of the rubber something like "Strong, stayman twice and double" Which means Strong (15-17) NT, stayman 2C and 3C after 1 or 2NT, and double as take-out to pre-empts. You can use Baron instead, but thats it. You can also play Fishbien or however it's spelt to pre-empts, but absolutely no-one wants to. Acol 2s are the only 2 level bids allowed (at least in the UK), and we're forced to play 4 card majors (yuck) as well.

Last time I made a strong jump shift was in a £1 rubber bridge game. I held: KJx Kx A AKQxxxx and partner opened 1H. The auction continued 1H 3C 3D 4C P I threw my cards at him. When I picked them up again I claimed 13 tricks at trick 3 (won opening lead, all followed to 2 rounds of trumps)

Yeah, I'll send this one back as well. Over 5D, if partner doubles I'll sit for it, if partner passes (forcing) I'll try 5H and see where that leads to.

Our opps had a muisunderstanding in defence to our strong club system. Auction went: 1C (1NT) P (3S) P (4C) P (4D) X (4H) P (4S) X 1NT was alerted as hearts and clubs, his partner thought it was spades and diamonds. The other table it went: 2NT P 3C P 3S P 4S all pass

No, anyone can play a teams match. IT is done like this: Go to teams matches and click start new teams match. You'll need 8 players who are willing to play, if you're short you can usually ask in the lobby. Fill in the screen that comes up. YOu might as well put your name down as director, nothing of interest that requires an adjustment will come up. Put the 4 players on each team down in the 4 seats, and give each team a team name (team 1 and team 2 will suffice). Anyone who claims that they are an expert quite clearly isn't, so ignore the skill level completely.

I thought it was the other way around, with 1NT 2H 2S 3H being 5-4 or 5-5 GF, and 1NT 2D 2H 3S being 4-5