jdulmage

Nobody takes ranking seriously online anyway. People rank themselves experts, but are no better than my local newcomers.

Well, fact of the matter is that a TD should only become a TD if: 1) They are an ACBL (or some other major organization) certified director. 2) They are given access to a "quick study" guide of how to do adjustments, subs, make games, etc. 3) Given a brief online exam covering "quick study" guide. If they choose to cheat, let them, they will be caught eventually when they don't know what the hell to do in a heated situation. We should not just allow anyone and everyone to be a TD. This is why I stopped being one.

Easy. The major in matchpoints The minor in imps.

Play the 9 and let it ride through

There is no penalty. Law 75 - Partnership Agreements. The partnership agreement is as explained - 2 ♦ is less than an opener with 6 diamonds; the mistake was in North's bid. Here there is no infraction of law, since East-West did receive an accurate description of the North-South agreement; they have no claim to an accurate description of the North-South hands. (Regardless of damage, the Director shall allow the result to stand; but the Director is to presume Mistaken Explanation, rather than Mistaken Bid, in the absence of evidence to the contrary.) North must not correct South's explanation (or notify the Director) immediately, and he has no responsibility to do so subsequently. As the director, I would see no point in calling over another director. I would have referred to Law 75 as it is written. If they had any dispute, they can get a committee. On a side note, I'd refer the East-West to Law 74 Code and Etiquette. Because if West went "ballistic", he deserves a warning. Especially since they received a good board (3NT is cold N-S) and still had the nerve to rip out a newcomer.

Thanks for the reply. This was a hand that I played. I was west, my partner was east. Yes, 140 was the limit, there wasn't any more tricks to be had unless the defense decided to mess up. I figured 3NT was stumbled upon as well after looking at the situation. I like the 1♥ opener, I would have done the same thing. However, I was not east :-)

[hv=d=w&v=b&w=sthq742dkj53ckj73&e=skq52hak95dt86cq6]266|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] That's it, here's the hand. it goes: Pass-(Pass)-1♦ by East-(Pass)-1♥ by West-(Pass)-2♥ by East-All Pass. Making 3 for +140. The opponents are in 3NT making for +600. Loss of 10 imps. Was the auction right to stop in 2 hearts or was there any reason to push to 3NT with these hands?

That's statement is so blantantly false, it isn't even funny.

You have a 4 loser hand, you have 8.5 quick tricks and need half a trick from your partner to make 3NT. Open 2♣ all day. If you and your partner don't have a partnership agreement for 3NT (you don't play it 25-27 and you don't play it gambling, you just don't play it period like my partner and I), then you could open 3NT and watch it pass out - this prevents the opponents from having any sort of chance to find a lead by doubling or bidding. 3NT is almost a given anyways, you have 2 sure clubs and either a heart or a spade for 3 tricks and 6 diamonds for 9 total tricks. If partner has 1 diamond for you, it is 35% that they will split and if he has 2 diamonds for you, it is 67% that it will break. The odds are good enough in IMPs. Any other bid would be suicide.

4♦ as a normal bid 4♣ to make the opponents have to guess leads =D

I will only open 14 point NT hands in 3rd seat and generally with no major support, say 3-3 or 3-2 in the majors. My reasoning behind this is that most of the field will open 1 of a minor and if their partner has a 4 card major to accompany your 4 card major, the field will play 2 of a major for 110 or 140 while I play 1NT passed out for 90 or 120, RARELY the great 150. I will also want to play in 1NT - say a hand with suits of KJx or AQx. If I have a couple of aces and garbage outside. Say Axx AJ Qxxx QJxx, I will open 1 of a minor.

What's sad is that you are THAT paranoid about revealing it. This game is meant to be friendly. If you knew that, you wouldn't have posted this rant.

Simply put, if I'm in 3rd seat, I want to cram the bidding room as much as possible, so I'll open 3♥. Otherwise, it is 1♥ in all other seats.

Exactly.

Except if you plan to play in any real event (ie. not online and not at a club or sectional) and one sanctioned by the ACBL, you NEED a defense for your made up systems.

LOL thanks, entertaining and informative.

Small spade, if I catch partner with a stiff club and 3 spades to the A♠, he wins it, fires me the club and a ruff, we may have this one set. If I just lead the ace of clubs off the hop, I may be setting up an entire suit for declarer to pitch away loses in the red suits. Alternatively, if I lead one of the red suits, I am asking myself to be finessed.

fourth best ♣

Good spade spots, I'll try 3♠.

Flawed auction. 1♦-1♠ 2♥-3♣ 4♣-5♣ 1 Diamond - Generally 12+, 3+ diamonds 1 Spade - 4+ spades, 6+ points 2 Hearts - Reverse, 16+, 4+ hearts 3 Clubs - 4th Suit Forcing, could be natural clubs 4 Clubs - I hate NT, but I have clubs if you have clubs 5 Clubs - I have nothing more to say except that yes, I do have clubs. No reason to get excited about slam, you have told your partner what you have, it is up to the weaker hand with the long clubs to decide. With no quick tricks, he won't push on past 4 clubs. If I wanted to crash Ace and King, I would play 10♣ off of the board.

Thanks! Appreciate that

I'm looking for a write up explaining minorwood convention. Anyone have?

mini-roman only good way to play it in my opinion.

generally 3 spades, could be 2 if he expects misfit is coming up.

1NT forcing.