PhilG007

I don't like leading away from honours and tenaces. The opponents bidding has been robust. My choice of lead is the 10♣. It is safe,non-committal and doesn't give anything away as a lead from either major would..

I would bid 5♦ setting the suit and inviting partner to go to slam if he has anything extra in reserve for his bid. The spade pre-empt is bothersome but that is the nature of the game. The opponents are there to obstruct you.

I would pass regardless of the vulnerability and the seat. Unless partner opens the bidding. I am staying shtum. With only 8 hcp and no biddable suit ,it's a no brainer

I'm suggesting caution. I 'm suggesting not putting your head on the block and maybe suffering a whacking penalty.. "Fools rush in........"

♥ I pass without a second thought. There is no sensible action with this hand..and the vulnerability is against you. Best to pass and await developments. Bidding 2 ♥with that suit is just tempting Fate.. North hasn't yet bid and could be sitting with the balance of the heart suit over you ready tp pounce..Play safe and pass.

I'm keen to know how a top pair would bid this hand particularly how South would open in the circumstances.

The late Iajn MacLeod(and following him Peter Donovan) wrote a book entitled "Bridge is an Easy Game" and "Bridge is Still an Easy Game" They were both correct even though that might be doubted in the preliminary stages(!) As in any game or sport,the basic principles are all important. A mathematician had to start by learning 2 +2 =4 a musician had to learn the scales,a golfer had to know how to stance and how. to grip the club. Learn the fundamentals and practicing and the sky's the limit

Its been said that pre-empts are a double edged sword. While it hinders the opponents,it also shuts out partner. Nonetheless,on the South hand I would definitely open 4♥. Why? Well a few reasons.Firstly the bid presents a huge barrier to the opponents who have been robbed of 3 levels of bidding,Secondly the vulnerability is in my favour Thirdly I've got the hand off my chest in one fell swoop and it tells partner exactly the type of hand I have. I've learned through bitter experience that you cannot pussyfoot holding a long powerful suit especially if its a Major There is an old saying "Twice armed is he that knows his cause is just,but thrice armed is he that gets his blow in first" By opening 4♥ on the South hand I steal a march on the opposition by being a confounded nuisance.

Since the Coronavirus lock down started in March there has been a proliferation of private clubs appearing on the free tournaments page. These clubs are only allowing a select number of players to participate in their events. Anyone who tries to enter these tournaments gets blocked if they're not a "member" It's become really frustrating to try to enter a tournament only to get the bar put up.because you are not one of the chosen. There really ought to be a separate section for these "closed shop" events on the website. What about it BBO administrators(?) what do others here think?

With the West hand I go straight to 4♠ No dilly dallying I want to be in game and also to make it as difficult as possible for North the doublers partner I also want to spare my own partner the decision whether to bid Game or not. If 4♠ does fail then it wont cost much as the majority of the field will be in the same contract. So all bases are covered ;)

I'm a creature of moods concerning the Gambling 3NT At favourable vulnerability I prefer to bid 5 of the minor suit as its much more obstructive. At Game All I would use it as the minor suit makes for a good escape route if I'm doubled :)

Another thing which might confuse novices are these tournaments which are designated as "Human Declares" In these contests the human player is partnered by a robot. If the robot becomes declarer,the human must play the hand and this always means doing so from a "reversed" (upside down) viewpoint. I've often found this challenging and I'm an advanced player so I can only imagine what it must be like for an beginner or an intermediate.

The simplest way to identify the dummy is the opening leader appears on your right hand when you are dummy/ When you are a defender.dummy's hand is the only one visible. In a real time game dummy can only see his own cards whereas on here declarers hand is also visible to him which kinda spoils the fun somewhat :(

Indeed When North rebids his hearts the singleton heart in South's hand should ring alarm bells that the hands are a misfit. He should resist the temptation of the picture gallery in the diamond suit and pass. Misfits should be played at as low as level as possible before the bidding escalates from the dangerous to the diabolical .

I would love to know how an expert bidding panel or a top pair would approach this hand. The results could prove interesting (!)

Absolutely 1NT is the correct response. When you hold a weak hand,as is the case here,its imperative to convey this information to partner as quickly as possible. While showing the major suit is tempting, it gives no indication of the point range held. Responding 1NT tells partner "I am very limited. 9 HCP maximum. Do not get ambitious unless you are very strong" . If partner now bids a second suit asking for preference,you can now safely bid your diamonds which,in view of your previous limit bid can only mean a weak takeout

The idea that you need x number of points to use Stayman is a mythical fallacy. Stayman is an excellent convention but,like all conventions,it has to be used sensibly. I well remember reading about a hand thus ♠xxxx ♥xxxx ♦xxxx ♣x Your partner opens 1NT (any strength strong weak or variable.) what (if any) action do you take?. A novice would simply regard the hand above as a yarborough and pass without any hesitation. A expert would immediately see that 1NT left to play would be utterly hopeless and partner would be,in effect,playing one handed. He would therefore bid 2♣ Stayman and PASS ANY RESPONSE including the 2♦ negative. The presence of a trump suit makes a profound difference as declarer can now enter dummy by ruffing clubs.. Of course,he may still go down but not by as much as in No Trumps. The lesson is HCP are not the be all and end all in hand assessment. They are the cavier of the game but who can live on just caviar alone (?!)

I hope as a result of this unfortunate incident,Hikertrash has learned from his bitter experience and if playing in future tournaments, he will summon the Aribiter when a dispute arises. For many players,The Laws of Bridge are an arcane mystery and it makes sense, if there is a referee to place the matter in their experienced hands.for an unbiased ruling..

The "Madness" tourney is one of the most popular events here on BBO.. Until it returns(which I hope will be sooner rather than later),a huge hole exists in the evening schedule on the site,

If this deal occurred during a tournament.then why wasn't't the TD called (?!) That's what he/shed is there for......to settle disputes(!)

Its now common practice to open a strong NT which could contain a 5 card major suit. I prefer the No Trump opening simply because it gets the hand off your chest in 1 bid. Partner knows you are 15-i7 with a balanced hand. Opening 1♥ however tells a different story 12-19 hcps with at least 5 cards in hearts. I believe in the adage "Stand up Speak up Shut up"

Many of the adages attached to Bridge have come down through the ages from its 18th Century ancestor Whist. Some of the more popular ones are:- 1. "Lead through strength and up to weakness" 2.. "Return your partner's lead." 3. "Never underlead unsupported Aces defending trump contracts" 4. "Never finesse against your partner" 5. "Don't send a boy to do a man's job". 6."Second hand plays low,third hand plays high" 7." Cover an honour with an honour." While all of the above are sound advice,they must not be followed blindly. They should be remembered as a guide,not a muzzle. Only practice and experience will tell you when to break these rules.

It should here be remembered that the GIBs like any AI are programmed by humans and humans are imperfect. Its best to approach them with a healthy scepticism and appreciate they are as fallible as their human creators.

From the information you have given,I would rebid 3♠ on the hand you gave. Your opening bid denied four spades but the jump rebid shows a very good 3 card suit. In addition,the knowledge that you have a spade fit means you can add points for your singleton club,bringing the total to 17 hcps. So a jump response inviting game in spades is justified. If partner is bare minimum for his bid,he will pass and the hand will be played in a spade part score..

Endplays and squeezes are advanced plays As you are still a novice,.my advice to you is learn to walk before you run. Master the basics first then as your experience grows, over the passage of time,,only then apply yourself to learning these techniques No player ever became great without first learning their ABCs