SteveMoe

That makes 2 of us LOL. THe pass was speculative. Say partner has KQJxxxx in a minor and and an outside A in a minor...(not a good chance really)...

As others have said bidding is more attractive than doubling or passing. 5♦ leaves maximum room for partner so let's start there. Would not fault 6♠. 5♥ might miss a partner loaded in ♦.

Help me bid a 17-19 Hearts hand (or 18-20 etc...) Not sure how to make the strong hand auctions work here.

Swiss Team IMPS vs strong team. (7 boards) You hold ♠10842 ♥J87542 ♦63 ♣10 LHO opens the bidding 1NT (15-17) and partner doubles = Brozel Penalty or equal or better. You choose rightly or wrongly to pass. To your delight partner leads the ♥Q asking count or unblock the J. Your count signals are upside down. You play the ♥2 first. Partner slowly plays the ♥A next. It's looking like partner might hold the ♥AKQ10... Declarer played the ♥9 to the first trick. How do you get partner to continue a 3rd round???? I chose the ♥4 - the stiff 6 was in dummy. Partner pauses then switches to a black suit for minus 980. Minus 180 would have saved the match.

Back from a full week in Columbus/Dayton. Good results to report. To the "reveal" on this hand, here it is: [hv=pc=n&s=s953hqt9da7caq963&w=skjt4h754dj98ckj8&n=sa82ha83dkqt6c542&e=sq76hkj62d5432ct7&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1cp3nppp]399|300|MPs - WNE Advanced S Beginning[/hv] I led the ♠6 hoping to find partner's length and avoid giving declarer an unwanted trick in ♥ the strategy paifd off handsomely this time. Judging from the responses here, playing with the field seems common. I wonder if this is simply luck with a touch of resulting or if there is indeed a good strategy that says when majors are indicated and partner is weak or equal, lead the shorter major (or, avoid giving away a positional trick)? What are your thoughts?? Play went ♠, {spades], ♠ won by Ace, ♣hook, 4th ♠ East signalling ♥, ♥ switch. Declarer lost 3♠, 2♣ and 1♥. Here are the results: ...........Scores.......Matchpoints BD 15...N-S.....E-W.....N-S.....E-W 3.NT.N..630.............6.5.....0.5 3.NT.N..630.............6.5.....0.5 3.NT.N..600.............5.......2 3.NT.S..........100.....3.......4 3.NT.N..........100.....3.......4 3.NT.N..........100.....3.......4 3.NT.N..........200.....1.......6 3.NT.N..........400.....0.......7 2.♣.S...........110.....3.......0 1.♦.N............90.....1.5.....1.5 2.♣.S............90..... 1.5.....1.5 3.NT.S..........100.....0.......3

This hand is right in between 3♣ and 3♠. I think 3♠ is enough as partner will expect 15-17 and 6 spade cards with a semi solid suit. 6 controls is only slightly rich. Can't count on 5 losers yet. I recall we play 3N hoere as solid spades usually 7 cards long. 2N is either 18-19 balanced or Mekstroth Extension (Articifial 18+ GF). Do not like 2N with this hand. (Usually when I bid 3C with this hand partner has his A and out 1NT flyer, while when I bid 3♠ partner has a ♠void for me with 2 red queen/jacks and 3 small clubs..... :blink: )

We use Dealmaster Pro in Cincinnati and have good results for random deals, hand records, and connections with Duplimate. Do not know about ability to configre deals for specific purposes (claimed by software but no personal experience). Here's the URL: Dealmaster

Heading out to Dayton/Columbus Flying Buckeye Regional - will be off bBo until Monday Aug 6 - will post hand and results then. Hint: Average plus result was NS down 1. Top board was NS down 2. Two pairs made 3N.

Missing assets: ♠AQJ10987532 7 HCP ♥KQ862 5 HCP ♦A10986 4 HCP ♣Q10862 2 HCP Lack of overcall by LHO suggests 5233 shape. With 5242 or 5134 a bid is almost automatic. If LHO is 5233 then RHO is 5242. Can LHO hold all HCP? Can’t tell without more info on their competitive agreements. A double on 16-18 could be likely. RHO should be balanced or semi balanced. With any singleton I would expect a balancing bid. If RHO has many Honors, they are not well placed for their side and would prompt a pass. East’s small spade lead suggests no interior sequence. When the ♠K wins either the ♠A is with LHO or RHO is keeping communications open with LHO holding 6 spades. We can’t make the hand if ♠split 6-4. Yes, blockage might hinder cashing tricks immediately but there are enough missing high honors that transportation exists. There are no clear entries to dummy after the ♠K. The ♦10 and ♣J are potential delayed entries. Both the ♦ and ♣ suits are blocked. Suspect ♦A and ♠A are not in the same hand. Playing on ♦s puts us at the mercy of East’s switch. A spade switch while likely will not be as painful as a ♣ switch from East. We will either have to guess or cash ♦then play our last spade. Assume we play on ♦s and they win he Ace and run 4 spades. We come down to (as Chris suggests): North - -9- 1075- J95-- South -- A10--- -QJ AK7 Now ♦♦, ♣♣♣ offers no extra tricks in ♥s (they keep ♥H=Hx). Therefore we are tightroped into ♦♦ ♥♥, hoping for a useful ♣ or ♦ return. ♣s remain ambiguous. Starting with the ♥J at trick 2, let’s assume no cover (since that obviates the hand). Assume LHO wins since if ♥J wins we can switch to a ♦ and make 7 tricks by force. After losing the ♥H and 4 spades we retain the same cards. The net difference is leaving one ♥ and one ♥ honor instead of 2♥ honors at bay. Now when we cash our remaining ♦, East will win or not. If not, we can clear ♣s, confident that West must return a ♥ when in with the ♣Q if it does not drop. If East is in with the ♦A we will either finesse a ♥ return, decide whether to cash or duck a ♣ or win the ♦ return in Dummy and finesse ♥s. If the ♣Q is doubleton, we still have the ♥ finesse available, and can cash the ♦10. If not, then we create a true stepper to the ♦10 by leading ♥s. East is endplayed. I sense the two lines are roughly equivalent, but think leading the ♥J leads to a more transparent ending (easier to judge) and offers the chance of a defensive mistake. My luck? We chose one of these 2 paths when the ♣Qx was there all along! :blink: Steve

Frances, I agree partner's ♠4 is NOT suit preference but is attitude. If standard, this suggests no interest in ♠. Partner won't be holding a doubleton ♠ here because I would not expect a 1-2-4 auction with opener holding 5=6=x=y. So a switch is indicated, and my lead is suit preference. Even were partner's card an upsidedown signal, the ♣ switch is indicated. In this case the inference that my A is a singleton is much greater.

Chris, after you win the ♦A there are 11 tricks to play. After 4 spades, we have to come down to 7 not 8 cards. Since ♥ affords a ~75% chance honors split (plus adds that RHO covers) can we take the same line starting with ♥s? This needs more thought than I can give it here but i intend to study the missing honors and expected lengths after the run of the ♠s in either scenario. Steve

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Ed, great add! Thanks! Steve

Corrected above - MPs Dummy is weakest player. 3N = 13-15 HCP Balanced, no 4-card Major.

Agree 4♠ seems best an obvious. Partner's double strongly implies ♠s and you hold an 8-loser hand. Giving partner 5-6 losers on a minimum, let's try for the 10 trick game first instead of the 11 trick one. I would hope partner would find 4N instead with a 2-suiter.

Chris, I'd certainly like to hear what seemd to work with schools for you. I like your approach of having I/N coordinators to help transition in newer players. Will discuss wiht or committe here. Any tips, please let me know. Regards, Steve

Larry, District 7 did a great job at the Gatlinburg Regional creating the 2-day workshop about approaches to growing youth bridge programs. We have 3 binders from that event. Thanks millions! Talked with Chris Compton in Toledo about how to get and keep hhigh schools involved. His opinion is to cultivate a teacher/sponsor who can be passionate about starting and maintaining a club program. His experience in Dallas area taught him that short of helping schools with labor costs (offering a coaching stipend rivaling what schools spend on sports, say) we might not get much attention. Out pockets are not that deep in Cincinnati. Regards, Steve

Agree 2N is an overbid. Would consider 1N, 2♣and 2♠ as live possibilities (yes, a limit raise on 4♣s). I would consider this a rich 1N but would make that choice as 2♠ would imply less in ♠. My normal 1N range here is 8-11. We like 2N = 12-13 given "light" initial actions and wanting to avoid being at 2N or above on less than 23. 2♣ seems wrong on strength and pattern. Note: If playing inverted minors, 2♣ here is not inverted.

[Disclaimer - I have not played with robots] 1) The real questions here might start with what 2♥ and your 3♠ bids mean. Some play 2♥ as natural GF in this auction. If so then 3♠ might be assigned a splinter in support of ♥s. 5♠ here might then say "I've got a strong 6-4" and can play 6 with 2 minor suit cover cards. (As and Ks). 2) If however 2♥ was non-forcing, then 3♠ would show a 3-card raise inviting/forcing game. 5♠ should then be asking about controlling the unbid suit. The only alternative would be some kind of trump quality ask, but that's not common. Of these 2 I think the latter is more likely without more information.

Jillybean, I have repectfully stayed off our Unit board preferring to serve the Education Committee as a volunteer. My excuse is I'm employed full time and want to play as much tournament bridge as possible (and I'm sticking to it!!! :rolleyes: ). Our membership is about 1000. We have an active Youth Program (High Schools) that is touch and go (fine where we have internal sponsors, no traction elsewhere). We have an active bridge lesson program and 5-6 teachers who offer classes to different levels year round. We have a 0-30 program that offers a free seminar on Saturdays and a relaxed 18-21 board MP game that's coached (players can ask quetions when they are stuck and can take back mistakes). We have a 99er Newletter and a seminar series for our Tuesday Evening 99er game. All seminars are run by volunteers and we have a seminar plan with content made available on the web. We borrow heavily form other web sources. This September 8 we will be running our first "Learn Bridge in a Day?" (Patti Tucker's workshop). We hope to attract 40+ interested people new to duploicate bridge. We will offer a free lunch and no fee for the experience. We have a very active and popular Mentor/Mentee program that runs every summer. We ask experienced players to play with newer player. We offer 6-8 free games to these pairs during the summer - the program runs from June to Sept. The idea is to offer self-directed learning opportunities and capable coaches. Our membership really likes this program. I would be happy to answer any specific questions you have about what we do. Here are some website links that might help: CBA Unit 124 CBA Seminar Series CBA Newsletters CBA Youth Bridge

Do you know an expert or grand master who might help you diagnose your game? They can help with networking. Have you considered giving back to your club? Seminars, lectures, articles for the local newsletter can help you reach a larger audience and keep both you and your reputation fresh. Nothing beats winning big events. The more people see you win, the more pluses you gain. People notice you are playing in the finals more than they are. Many clubs keep MP lists and you'de be surprised how many high level players are also partnerless...they can help you improve your game and get you some recognition and connections. Finally, ask. The worst that can happen is they say no. None of this happens on the web the same way. I find it critically important to play with partners who respects balance and collaboration. No egos need apply.

FWIW, inverted minor raises trace to Kaplan Sheinwold and 5-card Majors Western Style both precursors to 2/1 GF. The link you offered is a good reference for inverted raises. The standard treatment is that inverted raises are off in competition - having a simple/constructive raise is more valuable when competing, and 2N Jordan or the popular "Flip Flop" (2N preempts and 3m Invited) take care of invitational+ hands in competition. [Flip Flop hopes to right side 3NT]. For 1♦-2♣ you choose (does NOT deny a 4-cad major). GF or Inv+ (rebidding 3♣ cancels the GF). I prefer GF. (Then 1♦ - 3♣ shows 6+♣s and 10-11 HCP). The immediate GF simplifies many auctions, particularly those that would otherwise start out 1♥-1♠ when responde holds 4 spades. I play 1♣-2♦ as Natural 5+ cards and GF with one partner. We judge no value for a weak J/S here, and this bid does NOT deny a 4-card major. However, many experts here play J/S in the om is INV+ for opener's m. This keeps the simple raise intact (weak or constructive). Over interference, we play Flip/Flop.

Several adjustments: Pass to show a (balanced) minimum with or without stop in M. Dbl = Balance of Power - 3 cards in M and 23+ HCP for our side. Invites partner to pass for penalties with 3+ M cards. 2OM = Concentration of strength, good 13+, GF, looking first for NT. Not necessarily 4 cards, but might be 5!!! Usually asking for stop in M or om. 2N = Lebensohlish - to stop in 3♦. (Bidding with bal minimum means we are at 2N on 21 HCP too often. Have 23 HCP for our side before bidding 2N). 3♣ = GF, 54+ or stop concentration for NT (M shortness implied 0-2). Explore 3N stoppers first. 3♦ = 5+ cards, 13+, with M shortness (0-2). 3M = Splinter for ♦ 3N = Stop in M, balanced hand. Remember "One Ask Two Show". There are 3 suits to scan for stoppers in NT. Opener will bid OM or om whichever is lower ranking stopper (strength fragment). Responder can show full M stopper by bidding NT, or a partial stop by cuebidding 3M. 3M as a stopper showing bid leaves 2 suits unknown and no space to find out - better assing this a short suit slammish try...

Andrew Gumperz has an article in Bridgewinners called Keep It Simple Here is an extract: "Rebid 1NT. 1NT communicates your range and shape. If you rebid 1♠ you might hold 12-18 HCP and 3-7 clubs. With such a wide range of possibilities, partner is far more likely to have a difficult decision. True, you might lose a 4-4 spade fit, but if partner's hand is worth another bid, you can use a convention like New Minor Forcing to checkback and find it. Another benefit from an immediate 1NT lies in concealing the spade suit from the opponents when partner does not have 4 spades and you declare NT." and... "Rebid 1♠. Our guideline creates an important corollary: when opener rebids in a suit instead of NT, his hand is unbalanced. This hand, with its values in the long suits, is better shown by bidding clubs and spades than by rebidding 1NT. Since you would rebid 1NT with 4-3-3-3 shape, partner can be certain that you hold 4+ clubs to bid this way. This may help him reject NT when he also holds four clubs. Finally, 1♠ is more likely to right-side the contract, as partner's red-suit holdings are more likely to be vulnerable to attack than your club holding."

Playing systems on (direct 2N is Lebensohl), the transfer is most useful as an invitation to 3N, asking partner's disposition about ♠s. If partner accepts the transfer, s/he denies a stopper. Then 2N by responder shows a full stopper. 3♠ by advancer would then show a partial stop showing a hand for 3N or 4m... This way, 2♣ Stayman then 2N can show an invite with a partial stopper.