jahol

In fact, I was happy to play such a board and to have possibility describe it here! At least three contributions-responses made me laugh and formed interesting story, I can spread all over. Isn't this a reason, why we also play bridge?

You are right. Cruel world.... my pard had K10xx onsite in dimonds and he discarded a diamond just when he got the first chance to do that....

It might make. King of spades onside. Kx or Kxx of diamonds onside. Still needs a black suit squeeze after that? It depends on what is mentioned with "spade king onside"....

Nevím, kdo je coyot, ale můj to zazdil hláškou 4 srdce (jak sám uznal)..... já budu dražit přes flek..., důležitým faktem pro flek je, že si myslím, že mám po pikovém bloku ještě na 5 srdcí....

[hv=d=s&v=e&n=sa87hak7daqj85ca3&s=sqj52h652d932ck108]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] Individual for advanced +. What do you think about the following auction of N-S line (real example!): pass---pass---1NT---pass 3NT----pass---6NT---pass....?

Anyway, I went down, because three diamonds were in the same hand as spade suit. The winning strategy was to cash spade ace and to finesse heart king - third onside. The diamond queen is offside, but the opponents can not cash three spade tricks, because this suit is blocked - LHO has got doubleton J10! The lesson I got in this hand is - play the board in simple way, be optimistic and do not count probabilities!

Quite reasonable approach.... ...but...oops....I made a mistake in description of the bidding, there was no 2 clubs call from the left.... In summary, my LHO passed all the time, my RHO bid spades twice. Does it make any difference? I think, it does. I tried to play the board the following way (hoping for trumph king onside and 3 diamonds in LHO hand, but not needing diam Q onside): 1)spade ace 2)diamond ace 3)diamond king 4)small diamond, ruff 5)small spade, ruff 6)small club to ace 7)small spade ruffed with jack 8)diam to tripple void ruffed with ten 9)anything but trumph AQ.....10-13)two more tricks made with trumph AQ.... I knew that there could have been additional problem as soon as my RHO had ruffed third round of diamonds immediately with 8 or 9 with an attempt to promote partners trumphs. but it was quite possible that 1) he would not do that 2)some variant would appear, I still would made the contract - the situation would have been quite complicated in such case to be analyzed here. Do you think, this variant of playing the hand was reasonable?

[hv=d=n&v=b&n=sahj2dak9532c10872&s=s9754haq1073dj10ca3]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Bidding: 1D----1S----DBL--2C 2D----2S----3H----PASS 3S----PASS-4H----PASS.... First lead: spade Jack This is not about the bidding, it is about making the contract. In an eight board match, you did not have any plus in scoring table after seven boards. So, you really need to make it....

Just a couple of minutes ago, I had a very nice experience, one can get from time to time in BBO individuals....I love such...this is why I like to play indivindi... Full board: [hv=d=e&v=n&n=sk743h2dq109ckj765&w=s10952hqjdj872c1094&e=saqj6ha10963d65ca2&s=s8hk8754dak43cq83]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I was sitting west. My partner opened 1 heart, south passed, me too, North bid 2 clubs (isn't is too dangerous when vulnerable?), partner pass, south (after some hesitation) 3NT. Having good lead, which potentially can made the declarer feeling quite uncomfortable, being some IMPs below zero in the tournament, I decided to double (risky, I know, I had no idea how many tricks the declarer had hidden in club suit). The double was passed. I led HQ, who was, after some hesitation, killed with the king. Club back to jack and the ace. Then heart back, ten of spades, four tricks in this suit cashed, four three more in heart suit, down five vulnerable!!.... ....Nice dream... My partner cashed HA when on the lead, then continued with three remaining hearts (saving spade ace for better times). The declarer took the last heart, collected four more club tricks and three more diamond tricks making the contract just. The reaction of my partner? What would you expect? "I am verry, verry sorry....." Not exactly... "Sorry partner, misclick...." Still slightly different... "What that stupid ridiculous doublet?" "Unbelievable!" YES...EXACTLY...that was the reaction.... That was the story. And now the question...anything about the ethics (I simply made one more enemy comment to be prepared for the next time). The question is...setting the contract one down seems to be automatic. But is there any way...logical...to show the west that spades, not diamonds, should be played when on the lead after taking HQ?

The dummy was K10X--J10xxx--K8x--9x. I apologize for the mistake. Jahol

Sometimes, it happens that you think too much at bridge table....and after minutes and minutes....you still make a very bad decision (making partner cry something like "I would prefer you NOT to think at all". From point of view of your partner, the situation is trivial....from your point of view....it is not....or is it??May be yes.... You have A9xxx---Qx---AQ9---10xx. Opponents nonvulnerable, you vulnerable, your LHO opens the bidding with 1 club, your partner 1 spade, RHO double, you 4 spades (you may not agree with this bid, but I am not going to discuss it). A bit surprising 5 clubs call from LHO is passed back to you and you double. You partner leads spade Q and this is the dummy (once more, this is not discussion about the bidding) K10x---J10xxxx---K8x---9x. Spade Q is covered with K and A and ruffed. After some thinking, the declarer plays small diamond to ten, king and ace. What do you play?

Well, I asked for your opinion, because the result of my decision was pretty bad...but the question, I asked myself was whether to blame myself or my partner. There was so much excitement around the table after finishing the board that I, in fact, forgot, whether I had the first or second variant of two-suiter - that was the reason, I presented two variants. I decided to pass because: we bid Michaels with my partner so that I could possibly intervene later to describe my hand more precisely as soon as there are misfits around the table, we will loose the board with high probability (board a match!), because we will definitely go too high in the auction when the board belong to the opponents, they can misplay it not expecting such wild distribution even after my partner opening bid, I can describe the hand relatively well I was able to find the only drawback of my decision - the opponents can block the auction having huge minor fit...I would have not been able to show my hand sufficiently then. So...I passed and was waiting for the best...and got it ...my partner opened 5 clubs! When the dummy appeared for the contract 5 clubs doubled, I was said that my decision to pass the hand was non-bridge, it was the decision of a coward.... Jah

OK, let us forget the previous discussion for a moment and let us look at the other side of the problem. Third chair, both non-vulnerable, board a match, very good opponents, you are loosing heavily at the time of getting this hand. You have: x---x---Axxx---KQJxxxx. The bidding goes pass---pass. Your opening bid?

Would you open the bidding with KJ6532--KJ543--65--void? Would you open with KJ6532--AJ543--65--void? First chair, both non-vulnerable, board a match, very good opponents, you are loosing heavily at the time of getting this hand. You bid simple natural common one-suit weak two. jahol

Still playing yound skillful pair sometimes bidding and making crazy contracts (as in my previous contribution). Nobody vulnerable, IMPs, this time you have: KJ1074---A865---87--J9 Your RHO bid natural 1 diam, you pass (that was not me, I would have bid 1 spade for sure), LHO 2 diam (seminatural, without major suits, one round forcing), RHO 2 hearts (seminatural, denying spade stopper), LHO 2 spades (seminatural, spade stopper signalled), RHO 2NT (club stopper uncertain, almost denied or lower quality only), LHO 3NT. Your first lead?

First to this LTT problem. I could have bid 3H, but I think, I should keep balance in some way (in every board). Yes, I had 4 trumphs, but just small cards...partner would expect at least something like QJxx or K10xx from me, this could have led to his wrong decision later in the auction. In addition, LTT is not just about trumphs, but also about corrections.... looks like spades are 4-4-4-1 around the world...can be problem for the opponents, partner may have defensive potential in his hand...in fact, I would be happy if opponents find their spade fit. Some more negative potencial is just in my hand, there is more probability, that the opponents have some defensive trick in hearts in addition to their values. I could not bid 4H after 3H, because opponent from the right just bid 6 clubs..... Yes, I decided to lead heart (after just 5 minutes of thinking). This was found to be disaster kind of action since the board was: [hv=d=w&v=b&n=sakj5hqj643dj10c73&w=s10832hk82dakq976c&e=sq764had3cakq8542&s=s9h10975d8542cj1096]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The declarer said "Thanks a lot", took H ace, cashed three top trumphs, and discarded all four spades in a tempo. Seems that my partner was the bad guy at the table this time (since I was not absolutely sure, I made this contribution here). First, I followed exactly the reasoning of Jill in the first reaction to my contribution (my partner should not bid 3H with such type of hand following LTT). Secondly, I think, my partner should have doubled 6C to direct my first lead to spade suit.....

Playing against young skillfull players bidding and making :huh: crazy contracts from time to time. Both vulnerable, you have this nice hand: 9---10975---8542---J1096. Not surprisingly, you choose pass, LHO bids 1 diamond, partner 1 heart, RHO 2 clubs (forcing!), you 2 hearts (yes, you do :) ), LHO 3 diamonds, CHO 3 hearts, RHO six clubs pass, pass, pass. In competitive auction you follow Cohen's LTT so that you promised 3 cards in H in your hand (at least), but partner should probably have good 6 heart suit for his 3H bid, not necessary having significant extra points. What you would lead to set this slam?

I am really very sorry, if my comments could be felt like ironic ones. I am no top class player (still ;) ) and I know that my bidding and play is full of mistakes. So, I really think, that my play may be sometimes fun, sometimes not..sometimes boring for the experts. So, my contribution should be no way a kind of criticism. Just the opposite one... I like any funny comment and I am waiting for it, when following the broadcast. Besides of that, I am very happy to see any useful technical comment to my play (or the play of my opponents). That is the reason, I am asking whether I can see the comments. There is so much, I would like to improve in my game.... :lol: By the way, the broadcasts are magnificent! Jahol alias Jardaholy alias Holy

Today, a broadcast organized by BBO was made from a team tournament, I was participating in. I was lucky a bit, was playing table No.1, the broadcasted one, for most of the tournament. I am affraid, it could be "a big fun" for the experts commenting and analyzing my play. Still, it could be definitely a big fun for me to see those expert comments (I could see a small part and that was very nice experience - comments to my opponents like..."The trumph first lead is probably prohibited in Czech republic etc." Perfect! - it is not, in fact, but our players really behave like that ;) ). My question is, whether there is any possibility to see the comments - at BBO page or pages linked with it. I know that if I had been connected with my computer during the broadcast, I would have got the comments saved on my computer, but that was not the case....

IMP teams tournament, young advanced aggressive oppponents in all cases. Board 1. [hv=d=e&v=n&n=sqjxxhaqj9xdjxcjx&s=saxxhxxdkq9cak109x]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The opponents opened the auction with 3D pre passing all the time then. Your line bid (3D)---3BT---4D --------5C----6BT. Down two, 12 IMPs lost. Please, comment..... Board 2. [hv=d=e&v=n&n=sqjxxhaqj9xdjxcjx&s=saxxhxxdkq9cak109x]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] South opened with 1 club (Standard American), 2 spades pre from the west, double (negative) from north, 4spades from east, doubled from south side , passed.... Just made, 13 IMPs lost. Please, comment Board 3. You have 10x---Q109---J9xx---AKxx Your LHO opened the auction with 1 diam (SA), partner 1 spade, RHO pass, you 1NT (would you bid that?), LHO pass, partner 2H passed to you. Do you pass 2H, bid 2 spades or bid something else?

IMP competition, nonvul against vul, loosing in competition against skillful opponents, I had this treasure: QJ9863--1082--53--76. Good hand for preempt, but I was the last one and the auction was: LHO-----------CHO------------RHO------------ME 1D ad1)------2C ad2)--------2H ad3)--------2S ad4) 4C ad5)------4S ad6)--------pass ad7)------pass 5D ad8)------double ad9)----5H--------------pass pass----------double ad10)--pass------------???? ad1) playing strong club and major 5-card openings, all hands fitting with the rest ad2) natural, no four and more card in major suit ad3) natural, 5 cards at least, non-forcing ad4) should not bid that, I know....but trying to do something when loosing the match ad5) splinter, slam possibilities ad6) young and aggressive... and good ad7) forcing ad8) still trying to bid slam in hearts ad9) after some hesitation ad10) after much longer hesitation Do you think that: 1) I should bid five spades provided that my partner double was made without hesitation? 2) if yes, do you think that I am still allowed to bid five spades after long hesitation before the double my partner made?

First hand. [hv=d=e&v=n&n=shqj103dj107542c832&w=sj8h8764dkq9caq54&e=saq97532hk2d863ck&s=sk1064ha95dacj10976]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] As you can see, the only potentially winning action is PASS. The aggressive bid from east side hit the point. After penalty double, the declarer will made the contract - either directly discarding hearts when HA is not cashed, or just "guessing" spades. After pass, there is a good chance, he will misguess trumphs. In my opinion, the double should just to show points, it is neither penalty nor purely propositional. Unfortunately, my partner decided to play it as clear penalty. "Board six" is the same hand as board one, from my perspective. I think, I am in good agreement with most of you bidding 5 diamonds. After this bid, doubled from the west, my partner lost nerves completely and we finished in 6 hearts doubled down four. Second hand. [hv=d=e&v=n&n=shqj103dj107542c832&w=sj8h8764dkq9caq54&e=saq97532hk2d863ck&s=sk1064ha95dacj10976]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I agree with a couple of opinions here that my hand has got some potential to be bid (indeed, I CAN find cases when similar hands are bid with world class players). So, I doubled and very soon found myself playing two diamonds doubled. The first lead was HK followed with SJ(!) "ducked" with RHO and taken with my SK. I played DA and small diam, because, very often in similar situations, the trumph distribution is not that bad, as it looks on the first sight (the bidding was pass-1H-Dbl-Rdbl-pass-pass-2diam-Dbl-pass...). However, this was not the case. The opponent taking diam trick trumphed for the third time. Now, if I had played spade to the queen (believing that SA is to the right from me), I would have gone down four times for 1100 (opponents trumphing last time and cashing spade tricks then). After a while, I played H allowing east to make his H ruff, but keeping control of the board. Since my opponents made mistake, I escaped with two down and -500, what was not that bad result, since many pairs bid and made four hearts on the opposite line. Still, I will definitely pass next time..... Third hand [hv=d=e&v=n&n=shqj103dj107542c832&w=sj8h8764dkq9caq54&e=saq97532hk2d863ck&s=sk1064ha95dacj10976]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] My partner bid 4S immediately - he agreed that it was mistake during the discussion after the competition. So, the bidding was: 1club-1spade-2clubs-4spades-??? Now, west, the mother of my partner (!) by chance, made educational cruel penalty double (!). Down two, -500 and 11IMPs lost. Furth hand [hv=d=e&v=n&n=shqj103dj107542c832&w=sj8h8764dkq9caq54&e=saq97532hk2d863ck&s=sk1064ha95dacj10976]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] (1D-1H-Dbl-2H-pass-4H-???) With couple of potential defensive tricks, I doubled (my double was not to show spades, my partner would have bid spades after 2H having spade suit). This was passed and found a very bad action, because the declared (mother of my partner) guessed spades correctly and made the contract! Fifth hand [hv=d=s&v=e&n=s107haq9754dkqcaq3&s=sak9862hkjd964ck4]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] After 1S-3H (explained in my first contribution), my partner bid 3 spades only. Having some support for spades and not seeing any support for H from his side, I bid 4spades, the contract we played and made +1. In my opinion, 4clubs should be cue and confirmation of H suit, because the 3H jump should be (logically) strong indication of one suit colour. A relatively big criticism of strong jumps can be found in the contributions. In my opinion, such criticism is not fair, provided that the jump shows both big strength and explicitely defined very good suit at the same time. Such information may be very useful for slam bidding. By the way - which way would you reach slam contract (6H, not 6S, which is one down!) bidding American Standard?

This is just a couple of hands, not necessarily problems for you, but definitely problems for me or my partner (leading to disasters in some cases). 1) (clear?) (you are vulnerable) You have K1064--A95--A--J10976. Your partner started with pass and RHO opened the auction with 4 spades. Your reaction? 2) (still simple?) (both vulnerable) You have KQ3--Q76--AQ106--752. Your patner started with pass again and RHO opened with one heart. Dou you pass or not? 3) (Are there ways...?) (both vulnerable) You have AQ8--Q108--KQ753--74. The bidding was 1 club(LHO, natural, 4+)---1 spade(CHO)---2clubs(RHO,natural, 6+PC)---???. What is your bid? 4) You have A976--4--Q952--K1084 (nobody vulnerable) and the bidding was 1D(CHO, 5+diam)--1H(RHO)--double(you, 1spade would be 5+in sp)--2H(LHO) pass(CHO)--4H(RHO)--??? What is your bid? 5) You have AK9862--KJ--964--K4 (opponents vulnerable) and opened the auction with 1 spade (5+, 12-17PC). Your partner bid 3H, what is game forcing and at least 6 hearts with at least two top-figures (A,K,Q) in hearts. What is your bid? 6) You have void--QJ103--J107542--832 (only you vulnerable) and, after your pass, LHO opened 4 spades doubled with your partner and passed back to you. What now? Thank you in advance for all comments. Jahol

In fact, I am not sure, whether this contribution belongs to the beginner/intermediate forum, but let us see.... MP competition, vulnerable against not, you have 1042--A754--K10942--9, starting with LHO, the bidding is simple (the opponents bid, your line just has to pass): 1 club (Acol, 12-21, natural, 4+) - 1H(5+PC, 4+) 1NT(15-18PC, balanced) - 3NT. Your partner leads spade 6 (fourth highest) and the dummy is ...............A95 ...............K1086 ...............J875 ...............J4 (1042--A754--K10942--9) Do you play small spade or ten of spades?

Yes, I agree, that the defence is not that difficult. I cashed spade ace getting the lowest spade from my partner as preference signal. I continued with small club to the ace and partner played small spade back, ruffed and overruffed. We were able to cash one more diamond trick and the contract was one down. (With another defence, the contract would have been made, as the declarer would have discarded one diam on spade king eventually) Jah