PhilG007

One of the big downsides of this site,I've noticed is when you are dummy,you can see your partner's(declarer's) hand. In a real life game,however, this is not the case and from dummy's point of view,the other three hands are hidden. IMHO I feel this takes some of the shine off the game. Can't anything be done about this?

My friend here is a piece of advice. Next time you are attacked simply say to your partner "I see. What should I have done?" If they are a player worth their salt.they will explain what you did wrong.....and you get a free lesson(!) Sadly,criticism is part and parcel of this strange game. and until you reach the stage where you can defend yourself,go quietly and grow a thick skin Who knows,there could come a time when YOU can criticise THEM

When is the bid 4NT Blackwood and when is it not? I ask this question for the benefit of the novices and intermediates who read theses forums. It's an age old question and it still causes confusion and heated post mortems.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakqhkj4dqj93cakj&n=s653haq7da642cq83&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=2cp3dp3np5np7nppp]266|200[/hv] Another challenging deal from Eric Jannersten's classic book "The Only Chance" Playing a Grand Slam poses a unique challenge in that it has absolutely no room for error. It's likened to a mountaineer picking his way along a narrow ledge. One slip and.........Its the same as a declarer,one faux pas and its curtains. On this deal,you went a bit overboard with the bidding. 6NT was quite high enough but that is irrelevant now. You have to make 13 tricks on a touch and go contract West leads the J♠ Is there any hope? Take over as declarer..

I'm on Windows 10 too I've used Opera since upgrading and it works fine(so far) :) Suggest you try different browsers and see which one is the most compatible.

The initial programme of the first televised bridge tournament to air in the UK entitled "Master Bridge" which was broadcast in 1983 is now showing on YouTube.with further programmes to follow I can remember when the series was first shown when I was just a beginner at the game. It regularly attracted audiences of 3 million plus and not all bridge players. One of the participents is Pakistani legend Zia Mahmood when his hair was a lot darker than it is now(!).

An opening bid of 4NT is a rare bird. In most bidding systems,it calls on partner to cue bid any Aces he holds by bidding its suit. However,I have noticed,particularly in BBO tournaments that 4NT has been opened and on asking for an explanation got the reply "Blackwood for Aces" To me this is perplexing. I was always under the impression that Blackwood operated once a trump suit had been agreed,either directly or by inference. To do so without any suit being mentioned at all is,to me just bizarre. Am I missing something here(?)

Check your broadband speed. Find out from your service provider what the reception is in your area. If its below average consider an upgrade.Consider buying a signal booster. Windows 7 is ending next January consider upgrading to Windows 10 or better.. Hope this helps! :)

Some form of time control should be introduced as they have in chess tournaments where a set number of moves is required within a specified time limit. If the required number of moves is not met,the game is forfeited. by the tardy player.

What gender you are is defined by your birth certificate. Even if you change your name by deed poll or undergo transexual surgery or take gender transforming drugs, in the eyes of the law,you are what you were registered at birth as. Your birth certificate cannot be changed or altered and it is a criminal offence to do so.

Since no-one ventured to post a solution I give it here. West led the K♠ Declarer ducked the lead and West switched to a heart,taken by declarer's King. He then led the 10♦covered by the King and Ace. Declarer then cashed the A♠and pitched on it his A♥ The Q♦and J♦ were cashed and a club was led to dummy's King and East's Ace(ducking would have served no useful purpose). East could now cash his Q♥ but had no choice but to either concede the remaining tricks to dummy's diamonds or the clubs in the closed hand. This was the full deal :-[hv=pc=n&s=s5hakdqjtcq976532&w=skqjt9632h32dk72c&n=sa8hjt5da98543ck4&e=s74hq98764d6cajt8&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1c1s2d2hp2s3sp3nppp]399|300[/hv]

"The Opening Post is clearly a constructed problem-from a book or newspaper article" Are you seriously suggesting that i would dare risk plagiarism ???? Stupid and ridiculous

[hv=pc=n&s=s5hakdqjtcq976532&n=sa8hjt5da98543ck4&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1c1s2d2hp2s3sp3nppp]266|200[/hv] When his partner cue bid spades,South was faced with a problem 5♣ was obviously absurd with all the remaining cards in that suit bunched in the East hand. 5♦ was equally remote since East would be in a position to give his partner club ruffs The only chance was that the spade cue bid indicated that the suit was adequately guarded.. On that basis South decided to risk 3 NT on the strength of his two top hearts and the diamond fit.. West,unsurprisingly led the K ♠ ]The sight of dummy made declarer draw in his breath.. On the very first trick,declarer is facing a real challenge.What would you do to make the contract?

Did you check the board numbers?,that's a BIG clue (!)

False Its not in a TD's remit to tell a player what to bid unless there has been an infringement of some kind.. I am a former real life TD. End of story. Whoever this person was,he/she needs to brush up their knowledge of the Laws.

3♣ would be a far better contract than 1NT especially since the spade suit was found to be open to the winds

This is a time when a bid of 2♠ asking for a transfer to a minor suit comes in very handy. You say you had an agreement to play minor transfers,why didn't you utilise it(?) It was not a hard choice at all IMHO you dug your own grave

The problem with this convention is that it gives away your distribution.. If your side doesn't buy the contract,you've given valuable info to the enemy declarer. In the same way if you do gain the contract you've tipped off the defenders. This is why I don't like gadgets like these, They are a double edged sword. They do more harm than good.

It really all depends on what your hand is if its something like :- ♠ xx ♥KJ10x ♦K109 ♣Axxx I would be inclined to pass two diamonds.. You have a known 8 card diamond fit You could try a directional asking bid of 2♠ asking for a spade stop or stops.but you need a partial stop in the suit to operate this device. If partner retreats back to diamonds you've given the opposition unnecessary valuable information. Partner has signed off showing a minimal hand and you have 11 points..not enough for game and you have no other suit to show. Passing 2♦ seems to be the sensible and safest option. imho.

2♥ is more pre-emptive than 1♥ But then again 1♥ promises more than 2♥ The former is limited whereas the latter is not.

2♥ on that hand would be OK in 3rd or 4th seat. As dealer or in 2nd to speak its a shade too weak. Exchange the Q♣ for the K♣ and I would open 2♥ as dealer or 2nd seat.

Sayc requirements state for a weak two 6+ suit 5-10 hcp nv the same pointage when vul but a stronger suit is required. This would be a perfect 2♥ opener ♠xx ♥KJ109xx ♦A x ♣Qxx

I only see 12 cards in that example hand. It's a common error

Bidding 2♣ doesn't show the full value of that hand imho The redouble is stronger It shows at least an opening bid so South can tell the partnership has the balance of points.