GijsH

Because of health issues I cannot play in clubs anymore, but I would like to form a partnership on BBO. I can play most systems, but I would like to try out Ron Klinger's "Power System", a short description as a start-up can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1LQuSLOU7iJAzLjIY_ZjHSXLHyBLVeltaRMYcFJk6s5E Please drop me a message if interested, I can play every day in GMT+1 timezone.

There is a lot of reason to play this double weaker as compared with the direct seat: for the same reason that 1♥-pas-pas-dbl is weaker: it is the last chance to compete a part score. So the double in 4th seat is about 11-16 points and it is by no means certain you will have game on this hand. I would double 2♦ (penalty) showing "cards" and I trust partner to bid again with 16-17 HCP. Even then a game is not certain as opps strong hand is sitting over your strong hand: always a big disadvantage, worth 3 or 4 points.

BBO nick: GijsH Time zone: UTC+2 Available: afternoons and evenings System: Power system by Ron Klinger Simple version: https://docs.google.com/a/vanhaarlem.eu/document/pub?id=1LQuSLOU7iJAzLjIY_ZjHSXLHyBLVeltaRMYcFJk6s5E Contact: email me please

It would have helped if you put in your location / playing times. But I am looking to try out the Power System, a simple version is here: https://docs.google.com/a/vanhaarlem.eu/document/pub?id=1LQuSLOU7iJAzLjIY_ZjHSXLHyBLVeltaRMYcFJk6s5E My time zone is EST (= UTC+2) and I can play most afternoons and evenings. Send me an email when you are interested.

I left you an email, to which you are not responding. Guess you are not looking anymore?

When looking for partner, it helps if you mention which time zone you are in!

I think mr Martens wants you to buy his books :)

Who wants to study and try out the Martens system? I am an expert player, available evenings CET and weekends.

Certainly! Give West: ♠Kxx ♥10xx ♦Qxx ♣xxxx and he will be in a simple pointed suits squeeze. This hand is about right for bidding 5♥. With 3 small ♦ W might throw a ♦ as a show-up squeeze. Either way, as long as the ♠K does not show up, declarer plays the ♦ from the top (starting with the K) and will prevail in most situations, even if W has 4card ♦. Got it? :)

On the bidding: I think 5NT must be "natural". It cannot be "pick a slam" as you were happy to play in 5♣ before. I would simply bid a practical 6♣ myself over 5♥. On the play: I would ruff the ♥ lead, cash trump A and lead ♠ 10. RHO will win and might return a ♦, reluctant for the ♥ ruff and discard? If he does play the ♥, I ruff and start playing all trumps. I am not convinced RHO has both ♠ honnours (esp. when RHO wins ♠ ace). Maybe there is a show-up squeeze or a real squeeze in the making. Failing any squeeze I play for the ♦ 's to drop, unless I see RHO discarding many ♠ 's and can count him as 4-8-1-0. He might well be 3-8-2-0 and that is more likely.

I sent you an email about this, please respond by email?

I think I said I would provide it: to anyone taking the trouble to email me. :rolleyes:

Thanks for your responses, but that Python prgram is also Windows-only ;) As nothing seems available to run under Linux, I have written my own program to convert a .lin movie file (is 1 record only) to a pretty ASCII text layout, I have told my browser to use that in an xterm and I can now click on a movie and get the complete layout on the screen. If anyone is interested: send me an email.

Yes, but that seems only available under Windows, I am looking for a Linux implementation.

Does anyone have a specification of the format of the .lin files, so I can write my own viewer under Linux?

Thanks for your replies. The hand is very intriguing: I suspect it actualy makes on a H lead and H continuation! 1: H to ace 2: H ruffed in dummy 3: D ace 4: C queen 5: C jack, king, ace 6: C 10 7: D king (South cannot ruff) 8: D jack, ruffed by N 9: H back (best) ruffed in dummy 10: S queen whatever South does, declarer always scores 3S, 2H ruffs, 2D and 3C Note that S98 drop so declarer's 7 becomes a trick. What a hand! Maybe I am missing something?

Indeed Chamaco, the ♦ are blocked. I also thought declarer should not play a 3rd round, but play ♦ instead. However: does S not score ♣ K, ♠ A, ♥ and a ruff? Declarer cannot get rid of his small ♥ on the diamonds! S is left with: A6 98 - Kx After the diamonds, declarer has to play ♣ A and ♣ to K, S cashes the ♠ A, and exits with ♥, still scoring his small trump. An other variation I thought of is: Take 2nd round of ♠, play small ♥ to invite ♥ return. But now declarer can throw a small ♦! on the 2nd ♥ round and ruff in dummy, ruff dummy's last ♦ and take the ♣ finesse. Intriguing hand isn't it? :)

Ducking the ♠ a 2nd time is the right start, on this hand from BBO: [hv=d=n&v=n&n=s98hakqjt3dq7c763&w=sqj5h5dkjt98cat54&e=skt73h4da6432cqj2&s=sa642h98762d5ck98]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The play: ♦ lead to Q and A, ♠ to J, ♠ Q ducked. Now that you see all hands, plan the rest of the defense assuming declarer continues with a 3rd round of spades? Double dummy it is not "advanced" anymore :)

[hv=d=n&v=n&w=sqj5h5dkjt98cat54&s=sa642h98762d5ck98]266|200|Scoring: IMPs[/hv] Bidding: 1♥ p 3♥ dbl 4♥ 4♠ dbl a.p. You lead your singleton ♦, to the ten, queen and ace. Declarer leads a ♠ to the jack and continues with the queen. How do you plan the defense?

This hand enforces my theory that controls are the key to better bidding. South's hand is huge, because it contains so many controls. MIDMAC is a bidding system taking controls into account and our sequence would go: 1NT* (2♣) 2♠* 3♦ 3♥ 4♣ 4♦ 4♥ 4♠ 4NT* 5♣* 6♦ 1NT: 20+ points, any distribution and 5+ controls 2♠: 4+card, 8+ points, 2+ controls, GF 4♣: with so many controls (11) I try slam and can stop in 4NT when no fit 4NT: trump asking bid 5♣: no top honour For more info on MIDMAC: see http://www.midmac.tk Cascade: Talking about MIDMAC, you still owe me a contact with Jon Drabble?

I think this is a non-problem: there is nothing better than the ♣ finesse. Squeezes don't work because the communication is insufficient.

After 5♦ your pass is certainly forcing as the hand belongs to us. You are not interested in defending a ♦ contract. So your options are: 5♠: weak 5♥: mild slam try with ♥ control pass, then 5♠: good slam try, no ♥ control pass, then 5♥: good slam try, ♥ control I think 5♥ over 5♦ is just right: mild slam invite with ♥ control. North's pass over your actual pull to 5♠ is very poor.

Reflecting on this hand: it is a 2-suited hand (AKQJ equals a 5card) and has 3 losers. Therefore a GF is in order. Notice also opponents are weaker, this means a) they are less likely to bid over our GF and :( they get excited by this hand and will bid game at the other table too. So, I open a 2D and rebid 3D. with as little as ♥J109xx in dummy, 3NT will make. Or with ♦Kxx in dummy 5♦ has 50%.

I think we have a chance with MIDMAC: E S W N 1C 1D 1S p 2C p 2D p 2H p p p 1C: 1 or both 4card major, 9-19 HCP, 3+ controls 1S: natural 2C: no S support, 4H, 4/5C (E has only 12 points now, because of sin in partner's suit), 11-16 points. 2D: W could force to game with 2S, but with only 3 controls, total controls looks to be 6 which is not enough for 10 tricks. 2D is 4th suit 2H: no D stop, short S, minimum for more info on MIDMAC: http://www.midmac.tk

I am willing to try, please send me email to agree a date.