Foxx

After winning ♦A, I'll go on with a diamond ruff, the ♥K, and another diamond ruff. At this point I'll know whether the diamonds are breaking, and if not, who is guarding them. If diamonds are breaking 4-3, I'm home: ♥A-Q-J, dummy throwing two clubs; ♠A; diamond ten ruffed; ♠K; ♣K-A; diamond ---- making seven, AND the beer. Could East be guarding the diamonds? I don't know if passing at favorable vulnerability over (1♦)-(1♥) with 11 black cards is in West's repertoire of "proper, technical defensive maneuvers", but in that case West is a prohibitive favorite to hold the ♣Q anyway (I can also guard against an East singleton ♣Q). So give West the long diamonds. Now I pull trump and run the majors, leaving ♥x ♣K102 in hand and ♦10 ♣AJ5 in dummy. When I lead my last trump West has to keep his diamond, so he makes a forced club discard (from three) and dummy lets go the diamond. Now I cross to the ♣A and lead the ♣J. If East, who is NOT the "true Expert," doesn't bite on it (I'm counting huddles and hitches here), I play for the DROP against West by rising with the ♣K.

So 4♣ was the big winner, huh? Congrats Cascade. But still, I would want to be in 5♣, there are only two obvious losers and at worst it looks like it has play.

My goodness, I didn't expect the commentary to run the table. I acknowledge that 3♠ is the right call to make and now I will give the reasons why I didn't bid 3♠. Our session had featured, among other things, the following: * A hand where the bidding went 3♣-3♥-4♠ to me and I had an automatic bid of 5♥. We had an 11-card heart fit and there were 19 total tricks. However, 5♥ was down one, and 4♠ was also down because the opponents' hearts were 1-1 and their diamonds 4-3 (a 31% chance). * A hand where I opened 3♠ and partner pushed to 5♠ over the opponents' 5♣ which was doubled and I went down three (on the defense I received, I could have held it to down two). We were white versus red, and their 5♣ only went down because their diamonds split 3-3. * A hand where partner opened 1♠ on ♠Q10xxx ♥KJ ♦x ♣A9xxx (funny, I think someone in this thread mentioned the Rule of 20) and I responded with a game-forcing 2♦ on ♠x ♥AQxxx ♦KJxxxx ♣x. We settled in 4♥, a decent resting place given the horrendous misfit. I ended up down two (with best play, I could get out for down one). Needless to say, at the time of the last hand I was in the mindset of making sure we went plus. I was also afraid of bidding 3♠ mainly because of the likelihood partner would rebid 3NT and I would be put on the slick. Opposite ♠Qx ♥KJxx ♦Axxx ♣Q9x, East could lead a heart to put 3NT down four, but if partner had ♠Qx ♥KJ9x ♦A10xx ♣KJx, 3NT is cold while even 4♦ goes down. But the majority of the time, I would indeed bid 3♠ and I was simply affected by the past of the session influencing my perception of the odds. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Matchpoints, E/W vul, North dealer. You're South and you pick up: [hv=d=n&v=e&s=saj9xxhxdkqxxxc10x]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] Partner opens 1♦ and you're thinking of all sorts of fun things you can bid with this hand, when RHO jumps to 3♣. What do you do? Scroll down after you pick your call. . . . . . . . . . . . This was the last board of an evening club duplicate last night in which we had gotten dinged up. At the table, I went into a huddle for a while before raising to 3♦. LHO passed and partner, evidently conflicted, went into the tank for what seemed like all night before she finally passed. When RHO led a top club and I put my dummy down, she showed a strong expression of displeasure before proceeding to take eleven tricks, turning up with four spades along the way. This deal put the capper on a subpar session. This was the hand: [hv=d=n&v=e&n=skqxxhk10xxdajxxcq&w=sxxhaqjxxd10xxcxxx&e=s10xhxxxdxcakjxxxx&s=saj9xxhxdkqxxxc10x]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv] Partner stated that I should have gone ahead and bid 3♠ to show my major suit with the diamond fit available as a fallback. I agreed, but maintained that I feared 3♠ could get us too high, and I didn't think I could make a negative double with a singleton heart. Even after the post-mortem, I'm still not convinced that 3♠ is clear-cut. LHO is unpassed, and 3♠ could conceivably put us out on a limb opposite a 2-4-4-3 minimum.

A couple of people have hinted at it, but this question cannot be answered absolutely without knowing the key detail - - - - how many trumps came down in the dummy. Of course, if it was any respectable number (like, more than two) then I would expect suit preference applies, similar to the most well known case where a singleton is in dummy and opening leader's high honor holds the trick.

Okay then. I wanted to bid 4NT after partner's heart raise because I didn't want to get too high and go set if we were missing the ♣A and ♥K. The blast to 5♣ on my right didn't make the slam any likelier, so absent the key-card tool, I plodded on and bid what I could make. Upon receiving competition at the 6 level, I was strongly tempted to, and probably should have, gone on to 6♥ but I didn't want to jeopardize our plus-score on the hand. So I cracked it. I was peevish at the sight of the dummy that came down: [hv=d=w&v=e&n=shxxdj7xxxckj9xxx&w=sk109xhkj10xdkq8xcx&e=saqxxhaqxxxda10xc10&s=sjxxxxhxxd9caq87x]399|300|Scoring: XIMP Notice that my hand is now East, to make south declarer.[/hv] LHO was a Young Turk, who took advantage of the colors to bid on nothing whatsoever. God only knows that if I ever tried this myself, I would hit 2=5=6=0, not 0=2=5=6, and I would go for a huge number and never be able to pick up another partner again. We got three tricks and +300 against 6♣ doubled, for a loss of about seven IMPs on the deal. This should have been the par score: A spade ruff defeats a 6♥ contract. However, enough tables were in 6♥ making six, or even seven(!) that it was a very soft result. Should I have put us in there? I still don't know. However, most players here apparently would have gone on, so it appears that is the right action. Thanks for the input guys.

Oh. So in order to really be able to assign the blame, shouldn't we be privy to the record of the defensive play? Or would you rather not? ;) Anyway I think the light has finally dawned on me; 3NT is coming home on a heart lead if the ♠J is onside, which is better than an even chance on the bidding. Given that North opened that aceless 11-count (muggh), after South's 3♣ comes back across, North should probably be trying to get to 3NT, which is why I prefer 3♥ to 3♦ in that regard.

Okay..... are we supposed to assume that one of the shown hands is to blame? Or that this contract either went down, or made? Can I say East for driving vulnerable to the three level all alone? Looking at just the North South hands, on a black-suit lead I see five likely defensive tricks, sometimes more. And yes, I see that being in either 3NT or 5♣ offers fair play, but only that.

13/20, and I was fearful that I wouldn't get above single digits. Maybe not so long ago I wouldn't have. I'm getting better.

I would not be strongly opposed to this country (the USA) bringing back noon hangings in the town square.

2/1, promising pickup partnership. [hv=d=n&v=n&s=saqxxhaqxxxdaxxc10]133|100|Scoring: XIMP[/hv] West [space] North [space] East [space] South [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]1[di] [space]- [space]P [space] - [space] 1[he] [space]2[cl] [space]- [space] 2[he] - [space]5[cl] [space] - [space]5[he] [space] P [space]- [space] [space]P [space]- [space]6[cl] [space]- [space] ? You were seriously thinking about launching the Key-Card Blackwood, then your RHO blasted away your visibility. (A) Do you agree with 5♥? (B) What dost thou deau? Do we play support doubles? I have no idea, my partner's profile wasn't detailed enough.

POST of the DAY!!!!!!! LMAO!!!

I used it to write my thesis and my two papers.

Yes. I first took up bridge as a college freshman, and I had been playing Hearts for about 4 years before then. (My Mom is a deceptively good Hearts player and still whoops our butts when we play.) During that time, I did get good enough in Hearts to beat the standard computer opponents in Windoze on a semi-regular basis. I tried Spades recently for a lark, when I happened to be tromping around in ESPN's online gaming room. My immediate impression of the game was that it was like "bridge for third-graders". Just go here and select a medium difficulty and your 10-year-old will get sharp in no time.

There's a lady who's sure All that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven When she gets there she knows If the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh-ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven There's a sign on the wall But she wants to be sure 'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings In a tree by the brook There's a songbird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, it makes me wonder There's a feeling I get When I look to the west And my spirit is crying for leaving In my thoughts I have seen Rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, it really makes me wonder And it's whispered that soon If we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason And a new day will dawn For those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter Ohh-ooh ohh-ooh ohh-ooh ohh-ooh ohh hoh If there's a bustle in your hedgerow Don't be alarmed now It's just a spring clean for the May-Queen Yes, there are two paths you can go by But in the long run There's still time to change the road you're on And it makes me wonder Ahhh, hoh-hoh Your head is humming and it won't go In case you don't know The piper's calling you to join him Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow And did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind ( ( ( Guitar Solo ) ) ) And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How ev'rything still turns to gold And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one and one is all, yeah-ee-yeah To be a rock and not to roll And she's buying a stairway to heaven

I was at a table that reached a total of 300 boards recently. Of course, I wasn't around for all 300 of these boards; I arrived at the scene when the table was at board 280 or so. Still, I thought it was remarkable that someone, at any given time, was around to keep the table going, over an interval that must have added up to well over 24 hours total. Does anyone here know if there was ever a table that lasted for a higher number of boards? (If anyone here demands proof, I will be willing to post it. In case someone still isn't clear on what I'm talking about, the top left-hand corner of the screen clearly read "IMP Pairs - - Board 300" on the last hand played at the scene.)

Well, here was the deal. [hv=d=s&v=n&n=sq82haq9xdjxcaqjx&w=s10xh8xxdkq10xxc10xx&e=s76hk10xxdxxck9xxx&s=sakj95xhjxda98xcx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Had I made this contract, my posting of this hand here would have been a lot less likely. I got drawn in too much by the idea of escaping the heart loser and trying to ruff two diamonds in dummy, more or less completely missing the better prospect of giving up the heart on the go and getting three diamond discards on dummy's round suits later. I began with the critical miscue of flying up with the ♥A at trick one, although I followed up by meritoriously getting the clubs right, continuing with the ♣A, then the ♣Q covered by RHO and ruffed low. I now had to get back to dummy to junk my heart loser on the ♣J before I could give up a diamond, and the only available entry here (without taking a cavalier finesse for the ♠10) was the ♠Q. Thus I crossed to the ♠Q, cashed the ♣J pitching the ♥J, ruffed a heart in hand (the ♥K coming down tripleton was an extra chance) then ducked a diamond. LHO won, he could have sunk me immediately with a trump return, but got out with a heart to the 9, 10, ruff. Now came the ♦A, and a diamond ruffed low in dummy ---- and overruffed with the ♠7 by East. Ouch. In the end I was able to ruff my last diamond in dummy for one down. The line I would have needed to get home (without clairvoyance with respect to the trump position) was tortuous, labyrinthine, and razor-sharp. I had to duck the opening lead to the ♥K (things become more complex if East finds the highly unlikely duck). Assume a trump return, or rather a diamond. I would have to hop with the ♦A, perhaps draw a round or two of trump with honors in hand, then cross to the ♣A and lead the ♣Q, covered and ruffed. Next, unblock the ♥J, cross to dummy with the ♠Q and run the ♥AQ and ♣J to toss the losing diamonds. Epilogue Our team would go on to win the round, and also narrowly win the semifinal against a crafty old team, who had a pair of poker experts playing against us at our table. The final was easily within our grasp, but I ran out of mental stamina and committed several elementary mistakes, as could be expected in the first four-round knockout I had ever played in. We still racked 'em up for our run through our bracket though. I did increase my masterpoint total by 50% in my five days of play in San Francisco. I had 44 going in; now I hold 66.

I would think as follows. I don't really like a bid of 2♥ since it's an overly pessimistic view to say we don't provide a trick in a heart contract. Give partner, a bare-bones minimum such as ♠KQx ♥AJxxx ♦AK8x ♣A, and we have a making game if trumps are playable for one loser (a 65% chance, when ♥KQx or ♥KQxx is not all in one hand). By the same vein, a bid of 2♠ is an overly conservative position to say we don't provide a trick for partner in spades. Opposite as little as ♠KQ10xx ♥J ♦KQJx ♣AKQ the hand is cold for 4♠ with a trump break and diamonds dividing better than 5-1. Therefore, the preferred course of action appears to be 2♦, and I would probably plan to pass 2NT. Matchpoints vs. IMP scoring could be a factor here.

Wow. I was born three weeks into the new year, on January 18, 1980. I qualify by a whisker. :P

This hand is from the second round of the knockout matches that took place over the final weekend of the nationals, sixth bracket from the top. Make this slam and you will put the match out of reach at the half, and cruise into the final four. But if you go down, you'll have to work the rest of the match for a berth to Sunday's action. [hv=d=s&v=n&n=sq82haq9xdjxcaqjx&s=sakj95xhjxda98xcx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] W [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]N [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]E [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]S [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]1[sp] P [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]2[cl] [space] [space] [space] [space] P [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]2[sp] P [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]3[sp] [space] [space] [space] [space] P [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]4[di] Dbl [space] [space] [space] [space]4[he] [space] [space] [space] [space] Dbl [space] [space] [space] [space]4[sp] P [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]4NT [space] [space] [space] [space] P [space] [space] [space] [space] 5[cl] P [space] [space] [space] [space] [space]6[sp] [space] [space] [space] All Pass West leads the ♥8. We play two-over-one, so 3♠ showed extra values, and 5♣ showed zero or three key cards (0314). Comments on, and criticisms of, the bidding are welcome, by the way.

.... are suckers.

Yeah, I noticed this yesterday but was reluctant to be the one to bring it up. Very interesting and peculiar, not only that people would register just to post in a specific thread (which I don't think has ever happened here before, but I could be wrong). More curious, however, are those who registered months, or even years ago without posting so much as once, and all of a sudden the 'sign' fervor has them springing to life. I guess we're a community of imposing, scary, intimidating bridge players and nobody wants to step in if they're afraid they'll look like they don't know what they're talking about. But brew up a political storm, and all of a sudden everyone and their mother needs to have their opinion heard, no?

Well, I for one, am glad that someone in a high place finally woke up, smelled the coffee, and saw reason. Having backed down all the way, the USBF looks a lot better than it seemed like they would. Indeed, the only one who looks at all bad in this whole stew, is The First Monkey.

Did declarer try to drop the 7 on the third round?

But that's no fun at all.... http://www.collegefanatics.com/boards/images/icons/icon9.gif