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I seriously doubt that 2D as "non-forcing" is standard 2/1, double with this hand to establish a force would simply never occur to me as being the "right bid". Bid 2http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif(forcing) and after pd's rebid, bid 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif. That is normal 2/1 GF, and possibly still slaminterest too. Mike :P

Ok Ok I looked at hand I saw some extra cards which are taken away now hehehe. 4 Brds to go in round robin, second half. :P Mike :D

I am not familiar with any conventions that handle a problem like that. But playing 2/1 pd has to know that with bidding 2 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif pd still can have up to unbalanced 17 count. About any relay will get you to 3 level anyhow, or you ar taking away natural bids. If you have a fit, just raise. Without fit and other 2 suits bid NT if you have about 9 count. Sometimes you just have to rely on bridge instinct, cause you can't have a convention for everything :P Mike :D

I play 2/1 over Majors as 100 % GameForcing, but 2http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif over 1http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif as forcing for 1 round and if I rebid it, it shows a hand like that. Maybe a little bit better, something like AKQ10xx. Mike :P

I agree, didn't see the problem since with smolen and my 5-5 responses this bidding shows 5-4, but I do play it as GF, but am giving pd a change to go to 3 NT or 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif or possibly game in major. Mike :P

First of all don't think we don't have a problem if we open 2http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif, if they still interfere with some amount of NT we know is is based on shape. And also not getting the http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif lead is good indication of that. But I also play against people that think they need to bid on anything. Just for that reason I said in post that I would play some trumps to see what is getting pitched. And I do have enough trumps to play some :D I am not going to get suckered into thinking something, because opps bid 2 NT, normally showing 5-5 or better. Let's play some trump and see who is getting uncomfortable :P Mike :)

On both hands 2 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif shows just a 4 card suit and 10+ points, in ACOL. The 4th suit force might be based on http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif or http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif support. I agree with you totally if playing 2/1, but in ACOL I think you are better of showing that 5th http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif. Mike :P

Maybe find out about K's and/or Queens if you have the tools, if GrandSlam going why not try to find out some more :P Believe me if you bid 7 NT and http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif break 4-0 behind you or the http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif don't behave, Barry Crane would have come up with a new rule for you, never to bid Grand Slam, unless you can count 13+ tricks for sure, with him. Mike :D

First pass I agree with, second time around I will bid 1 NT, pd has something in http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif for sure and has points to. Reaching 3 NT depends soley on pd. I imagine with most of my pd's we will get there. It also can help and find out what opps style is opening with equal length minors. But it is a bidders game and I have a bid :P Mike :D

Since you said you have 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif free, I will give you a hint of maybe something you might like :P 2 NT - 3 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif (forces 3 NT) 3 NT - 4 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif singlesuited slam interest 4 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif singlesuited slam interest 4 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif singleton and both minors slam 4 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif singleton and both minors slam 4 NT both minors slam going with void in Major 5 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif very little slaminterest, singlesuited 5 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif very little slaminterest, singlesuited Mike :D

I would have XX, but after 1http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif I would bid 1 NT for sure. Mike :P

SWISS, VUL against NOT http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif void http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif AK9xx http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif AQJx http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif AK9x 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif - X - 4http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif - P - P - your bid Mike :P

* = unusual for minors ** = DBL is "lightner" asking for unusual lead. Despite this West leads the club 4 (3rd/5th best) Trick one: Club Q to 7 and ACE. Trick 2&3: top spades, both follow Trick 4: Top spade, West discards middle club (standard signals). Suggest your line of play. To get 4 tricks you have 82.78 % chance by playing the A first. To get 5 tricks you have 6.22 % chance by playing the Q first. And since you don't have the tansportation to get to dummy often to find out distribution of hand, I will play some trumps and see what is being thrown away, but the 2NT bid helped out since you know that hand has 2 spades and at most 2http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif, so playing the Ace seems to be winning play. Mike ;)

In rubberbridge you would be thinking about buying a new car, or boat depending on stakes. :D In other bridge your pd thinks they are going down a whole bunch. But I always get yelled at B) when I forget to mention the Vulnerabilty, but since none mentioned I think it is equal. But if this is your regular pd and this seems a very common auction, maybe this should have been discussed a long time ago. ;) Mike :D

I play cuebids mean different things in different situations. 1) shows a limitraise or better in that situation, but if I would have been a passed hand it shows a 4+ card limitraise, since my X is either negative or 3card limitraise. 2) shows a 3 card limitraise or anything GF in this situation, 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif or 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif are Bergenraises. Mike ;)

Now I know why I like 2/1 ;) 1) 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif since I play 4 th suit as GF so I am in no hurry, and I have slam interest. 2) 3http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif same as above. Mike B)

VUL, IMPS and you are 15 down at the half with 4 boards to go ;) Opps are quiet through the bidding. http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif AKJ109 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/h.gif KQJx http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif x http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif K10x 1 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif - 1 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/s.gif 2 http://mnet.bg/~mfn/c.gif - your bid Mike B)

1) I open, when I play 15-17 NT, 1 NT with a bad 5 card M or a very good 5 card M. Something like Jxxxx or AKQ10x. 2) I do use use puppetstayman over most of my NT openers, except 10-12 NT. Mike ;)

I fully agree with that. Mike ;)

Of course you can't use all the rules, because there is also not lead out of turn, dropped cards etc etc. But for the occasions were it is clear that something has happened I do use The laws of duplicate contract bridge 1997, and when I run tourneys I also put that in description, and I get much postive feedback about it. People like to see a tourney run with at least some rules. ;) People can run their tourneys any way they see fit and this is what I do B) Mike :D

I try to go a much as I can by " THE LAW OF DUPLICATE CONTRACT BRIDGE 1997 " LAW 16 - UNAUTHORISED INFORMATION Players are authorised to base their calls and plays on information from legal calls and plays and from mannerisms of opponents. To base a call or play on other extraneous information may be an infraction of law. A. Extraneous Information from Partner After a player makes available to his partner extraneous information that may suggest a call or play, as by means of a remark, a question, a reply to a question, or by unmistakable hesitation, unwonted speed, special emphasis, tone, gesture, movement, mannerism or the like, the partner may not choose from among logical alternative actions one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by the extraneous information. 1. When Such Information Is Given When a player considers that an opponent has made such information available and that damage could well result, he may, unless the regulations of the sponsoring organisation prohibit, immediately announce that he reserves the right to summon the Director later (the opponents should summon the Director immediately if they dispute the fact that unauthorised information might have been conveyed). 2. When Illegal Alternative Is Chosen When a player has substantial reason to believe that an opponent who had a logical alternative has chosen an action that could have been suggested by such information, he should summon the Director forthwith. The Director shall require the auction and play to continue, standing ready to assign an adjusted score if he considers that an infraction of law has resulted in damage. It's easier if you go by a set of rules that most are somewhat familair with, since this is used by the WBF, EBL and ACBL. And that covers most of BBO players I think. Mike B)

LAW 40 - PARTNERSHIP UNDERSTANDINGS A. Right to Choose Call or Play A player may make any call or play (including an intentionally misleading call - such as a psychic bid - or a call or play that departs from commonly accepted, or previously announced, use of a convention), without prior announcement, provided that such call or play is not based on a partnership understanding. B. Concealed Partnership Understandings Prohibited A player may not make a call or play based on a special partnership understanding unless an opposing pair may reasonably be expected to understand its meaning, or unless his side discloses the use of such call or play in accordance with the regulations of the sponsoring organisation. C. Director's Option If the Director decides that a side has been damaged through its opponents' failure to explain the full meaning of a call or play, he may award an adjusted score. D. Regulation of Conventions The sponsoring organisation may regulate the use of bidding or play conventions. Zonal organisations may, in addition, regulate partnership understandings (even if not conventional) that permit the partnership's initial actions at the one level to be made with a hand of a king or more below average strength. Zonal organisations may delegate this responsibility. This is what "The Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge" has to say about it. Which is approved by WBF, EBL and the ACBL Mike B)

I play that 2http://mnet.bg/~mfn/d.gif shows good hand very strongly invitational but not GF, since I am passed hand. Everything else stays pretty much the same. Mike B)

It took me a little bit of time to get used to, but I like it. Mike B)

ROFL Mike B)