PhilG007

Excuse Me? My profile is NOT blank Maybe something wrong with your PC? As for the other 'unknowns' My birthday 13th May My Age 58 About me ? Just Ask! (As long as its not too personal)

You didn't say what the vulnerability was on the deal. If non vul then definitely 4♠ If,however you are vul, then 3♠is quite sufficent on this hand. Either way,the intention is to make life as difficult as possible for the doubler's partner.

That's as maybe but I guess I'm set in my ways :)

If you open 1♠and partner responds in a red suit(highly likely)what are you going to rebid?. You don't have enough points to rebid 3♣ 1♣ is the correct choice as you can then bid 1♠ over any red suit reply. More importantly,by opening clubs first,you can show both your suits and ask partner for preference while the bidding is kept at a low level.

To answer your first question....curiosity about the opinions of others. To answer your second question...the LTC because it's best by test...

I looked up your profile. It makes VERY interesting reading.....(not) You"only play with friends.If you don't know me,don't ask me" That's hardly the remarks of a sociable person(!) I wonder what he gets up to in his leisure hours(?) I wonder if he has even HAS any "friends"(?!) :rolleyes: I've also noticed he's decided to make his talent at the game "Private" If you ARE an expert,then why not declare it openly???.... why all the smoke and mirrors? Why be the shy guy(?!) At least in my profile,I'm open,honest and forthright... with me ,you get what you see....unlike a couple here I could mention(!) If my postings here are indeed,"the classic illustration of the troll",then his must surely be the classic illustration of the DROLL(!) <_< "Any fool can criticise,condemn and complain. And most fools do" - Ben Franklin

I don't need it...I use the Losing Trick Count :)

Although Larry Cohen wrote about this in his best selling book "To Bid or Not to Bid",it actually goes much further back than that. The system(if one can call it that) first appeared in an article by Jules-Rene Vernes in 1969 in the June issue of the "Bridge World" magazine. At the time,Vernes espousal caused barely a ripple. However,when Cohen's book was published in 1993,it was hailed as a major advancement in bidding theory. However,several top experts began to doubt the accuracy of the system,claiming it had several serious flaws. These were highlighted by top U.S. expert Mike Lawrence in his book "I fought the Law" (1998) Has anyone here ever used this device? Can they testify as to whether it brought them improved results. or was Lawrence correct in saying it's more of a liability than an asset?

And the point of this video is.....?! Choose your words carefully,my attorneys are watching(!)

Soooo....you've just admitted to all and sundry that you have a self confessed "sick sense of humor"(?!) Says it all.really(!) http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif But why are you baring your soul to me(?) If that IS a confession,I'm not a priest(!) If you want to block me,that's OK if you want to put me on 'ignore',that's OK and if you want to continue to be likened to a hypodermic(get under the skin)that's SURELY OK. FYI these forums are democratic...everyone has the right to air their opinion...you can either agree or disagree.. disagreement is good...the world would be a sad place if only one opinion counted(!) But there is a right way and wrong way to criticise without constantly turning it into a diatribe like Mr Deuce does.Politeness costs nothing. The rudeness of this guy is breath taking...all he's done is to reveal his primitive breeding and that's he's a mega bore. All I was doing was expressing a point of view. As these forms are,open,surely I have the right to give my contribution??. I stand by every word of my previous post.. [*** edited] like Mr Deuce give bridge a bad name and compel decent people to abandon the game...it's not right,it's not fair..IT SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!!!!

See ya.... wouldn't want to be ya... -_-

If you are attempting to sell yourself as the bridge equivilant of Moses.....sorry I ain't buying it,Buddo. I warn my students that,when they embark on this strange game,they will not always find the path suffused with sweetness and light. Bridge players,I tell them, are heir to all the faults of the flesh and exhibit them more than most. They come in every guise...the merry,the sad,the chatty,the taciturn,the ladies and the gentlemen,the bitches and the bastards. It's hard to believe that they are all playing to enjoy themselves yet,why else are they there? It always amazes me how a pack of 52 bits of cardboard can turn people into Jekyll/Hydes. I've seen stand up rows,broken marriages,people reduced to tears and other shocking scenes all as a result of what is supposed to be a recreational pastime. I,too,have been the victim of a touch of the Ghenghis Khans across the table,but 30 years of playing has toughened my hide and I can give as good as I get. I've met unlikeable human beings like Mr Deuce in real life. Sadly,they are that sad part of the human race that will never win it(!) I've learned to live with them being comforted in the knowledge that,in this wonderous game of ours,there are far more angels than demons :) Oh and btw,if you want a verbal punch up,let's do it in private...I'm more than capable of dealing with your kind,Bud :angry:

Since the 2♦response wasn't alerted or if no prior agreement was reached,I would be entitled to think it was negative.

As I recall it,that hand came from a goulash tournament. I was -2 which was a very good result as opponents had 5♣ stiff. Some players with my hand didn't even bid(!) :rolleyes: That's the answer,what's the question(?!)

"I would guess that all of them(constructed hands) would have one or no hearts in the diamond bidder's hand" Exactly the reason why 3♥ is such a ludicrous bid. Who's to say that the remaining ♥ could be bunched together in an opponents hand? Then the next thing you will hear is "DOUBLE" (maybe or maybe not in a voice of thunder,impossible in 'silent bidding') After the dust settles,you had better have a good excuse for a furious partner.

This convention(like all conventions) is dependent upon partnership agreement. It doesn't float everyone's boat(me included) :wacko:

After his negative 2♦response,I don't think partner will be even remotely interested in a slam(if he was,he would have made a positive response on the previous round ) so bidding 4NT will achieve nothing except to make an already potentially difficult contract even more challenging to fulfil. :(

If partner is following the rule of 2 and 3 his pre-emept should be showing 7 playing tricks. You have 4 quick tricks with the two AKs so you are justified in raising to 5♦ It must be remembered that when a player pre-empts,he is saying loudly and clearly that he is interested in one suit only...the one he pre-empted in...so bidding 3♥is just a waste of time....partner is more than likely to have a singleton in the suit. Bidding 5♦ will also make it almost impossible for the other opponent to enter the auction...even if he holds a rock crusher...which is very likely given the bidding so far(!) :P

There is also such a thing as 'giant killers' producing shock results..where is the luck or skill there(?!) One harsh lesson I learned in my time in this game,respect the enemy,whatever their level. Even LOLs can be tricky(!) ;)

After the 2♦negative, a direct jump to 3NT shows a balanced 25-26 hcp Game has been reached,you've done your bit,now the rest is up to partner.It's best that you bid the game and become declarer so the strong hand remains concealed and the opening lead comes up to it.

Still wouldn't recommend it.... GIBs can be tricky opponents as well as tricky partners(!) :P

There is also an art to swindling at bridge although one has to be careful regarding the ethics. False carding is legitimate if partner is deceived as well as the opponents. But deliberate hesitation when there was no real reason to is a totally different matter. I didn't think it was possible to cheat at bridge until I read about the 1965 Buenos Aires affair involving the British pair Reese and Schapiro or the Bermuda Bowl 1975 incident where two members of the Italian Blue Team were seen giving foot signals and were subsequently suspended and later banned following a protest from the American team. This resulted in screens being extended to the floor.

That has had to be shelved for the time being....I won't partner a robot.. I prefer flesh and blood to nut and bolts.... btw I understood your mesaage perfectly... even though I had to pick up my jaw off the floor after reading it(!) ;)

Anyone who opens NTs on the example hand will seldom or never make a fortune(!) :(

Can I believe my eyes(?!) Praise from Mr Deuce...(?!) Are you SURE this isn't a left handed compliment(?!) <_<