PhilG007

The learned comprehend,the ignorant never do...

Disagree It's vital to show the values as soon as possible before it's too late "Twice arm'd is he that knoweth his cause be just, but thrice arm'd is he that getteth his blow in first."

I would offer a silent prayer to Allah...and bid 3NT and hope partner has the gaps in my hand covered by nature of his strong bid(!) ;)

Why not set up the hands yourself? It will need precise opponent hands to make 3NT with the cards that are displayed Often that's not the case. There's a big difference between an example hand and actuality playing in a tournament. When you are declarer and dummy appears,you're on your own and have to discover the layout yourself.

Your biggest error was trying to hoodwink an android(!) ;) How do you make a robot blink(?) Answers on a postcard....(!) :D Artificial Intelligence will always triumph over natural stupidity :D

Tell me,how many times have you seen a partnership with a combined point count for game and the contract has gone down????? I have seen it happen time and again. You fail to take into account several factors such as will the suits break evenly or badly,will the finesses come off,the ability of the opposition,or most significantly,your own proneness to error?? In golf,how many times have you seen a professional player miss a short putt?? I know what I'm talking about. I've gained my experience the hard way...many years of playing high stakes rubber bridge against very formidable opponents(!) You want to try it sometime. $100 a hundred with a strange partner and see how good YOU are(!) Bidding a game or slam is one thing,trying to make it is quite another B-)

And the fact the hand has 18 HCP is irrelevant. It has been proven time and again bridge players cannot live by points alone. True,they are the caviar of the hand...but who can live on just caviar(?) Points.therefore,should be a guide...not a muzzle.

2♦ is the only sensible action on the hand. You cannot raise partner's [hearts)s on the "assumption" he holds 5. And NTs are out of the question given the dodgy black suits.

I refuse to rise to your suburbanity. Being criticised by your ilk is like being savaged by a dead sheep(!) :P

Oh Goody....can I have that in writing (?!) :P

Let's remember what we were taught as novices. When you bid a suit,you are initially proposing it as a potential trump suit and also as a lead suggestion to partner if he becomes the opening leader. It follows,therefore,you should have reasonable cards in it K1098x is quite a decent suit and may well take more than one trick. However,Kxxxx is a king heading a load of rubbish. :(

I would bid 2♠on the South hand partly to be competitive,partly to suggest a lead to partner if opps should buy the the hand.

Hand 1 Open 1 club. As partner has already passed,any change of suit response by him is no longer forcing. Game is out of the question so now the quest is on to find the best part score at the lowest level possible. Opening the cheapest suit will facilitate this.

I too,was once a novice at this game. There is no easy way to advancement at any game or sport. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a liar or a fool. In bridge,like any endeavour, you learn the tricks of the trade through the School of Hard Knocks and the College of Disappointment then graduate to the University of Humilation Those who win Olympic medals didn't get them by trading vouchers for them. They gained them through intense practice,sustained learning,total dedication and willing to accept constructive criticism. It's the last thing that people find the greatest hurdle to overcome. You must do the same if you want to play this game well.

Exchange the low ♦for a low♥ and all you can do is rebid 2♦ You have 3♥ cards but this is not enough to support partner who may only have a 4 card suit(responder is allowed to bid a 4 card major) The ♦ suit is rebiddable due to it's strength and solidity.

I would definitely favour Aces and Kings over Queens and Jacks,under undervalued or not ;) (!)

Of course it's worth a takeout double. On that hand,no other bid makes sense(!) :)

I have never,ever,been happy defending a 1 level contract,it smacks of cowardice and a lack of enterprise and I always complain to my partner if a one level suit bid is passed out when he could have taken some action. The great 60s English player,Maurice Harrison-Gray had a dictum "Contest those part scores" He was echoed by another great modern day master Ron Klinger. "Never allow the opponents to play in a low level suit contract. The penalty needed to make it worthwhile may not justify the missed game or slam that could be your way."

What is wrong with passing and defending? On opening lead I would lead A then JS to cut down the enemy's ruffing power. My high cards in the side suits will then pull their weight in defeating the contract. What IS ludicrous is declaring on this hand. It's a lost cause. A quixotic attempt on the impossible. "Enterprise is a fine thing for a man to have in his upper storey provided he has common sense on the ground floor."

The Blind leading the Blind(!) :P

I don't profess to be perfect,unlike some "pontificates" on this forum(!) I have played bridge for 30 years,mostly at an advanced level so that does not make me a wet behind the ears either(!) And a gentle word of advice in return...."Judge not,that ye be not judged" I assume this forum is democratic and open; in that case I have right to my opinion too. You are free to concur or dispute at your leisure. I may not agree with all you post here either...but I will defend to the death your right to say it(!)

Q What is the difference between an amateur and a professional? A An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they NEVER GET IT WRONG (There is also a big gulf in the way the two think)

The blind leading the blind(!) :P

If you play 5 card majors,then a rebid of the suit promises 6+ cards. There MAY be a case for rebidding a 5 Card suit if it's powerful e.g AKQJx or AKQ10x but rebidding on xxxxx is a definite no-no.

"The race may not got to the swift nor the battle to the strong,but that's the way to bet it." Disagree. Remember the fable about the tortoise and the hare and the story about David and Goliath(!) ;)