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It occurs to me that I didn't ever give the final disastrous result. I passed at the table..... Dummy hits with xxx Qx AKx 109xxx opposite declarer's AQx [over partner's KJ] A9xxxx Qxx x , the worst possible layout just about. I think we tossed a trick on defense for -670, it always makes 3 for plus 570.

Yes, I agree, even with the comment, that it is hard to be objective ... But I think 2S is right, the X did not promise any add. strength, and do we really wnat to defend 2H oppossite a weak NT? With kind regards Marlowe Not that I disagree with your point, but we were in fact playing a weak NT. The reopening doubler cannot have a weak balanced hand. It may not change anyone's opinion.

The consensus is to double and that is fine. Now the overcaller passes and your partner is faced with a choice when it comes back to him. You hold:[hv=d=s&v=n&s=s72hkj106dj8654cq9]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] What do you do?

Here's a catastrophe from last night that i need help with....as usual, I will give you the first problem, followed by a second one after I get a bunch of responses. You are playing a very good team. You open 1♠ holding:[hv=d=s&v=n&s=skj1065h6d73cakj73]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]. LHO overcalls 2♥, partner passes, RHO passes, now back to you. What action do you take if any?

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sq543had6ck976543]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] you are dealt this first hand. Do you open, and if so , what and why? It's early in the match and you don't know much about opponents.

I was the proximate cause of the disaster as I transferred then bid 4♠. While I knew this to be a mild slam try, i felt it was the best lie as I was loathe to bid 3NT with a void. And since Rex hadn't superaccepted, I wasn't too worried. Then of course, Rex bids 4NT and it became a full fledged disaster. So here are the follow up questions. Playing 21-22 2NT, would you upgrade with Rex's 20 count as follows: [hv=d=n&v=n&s=sa1092haj3da4cak96]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Second, assuming you open 2NT, would you superaccept with this? Third, it is my contention, which Rex doesn't believe, that there will be many more hands where 4♠ will make and 3NT will go down than the converse. So I was happy to play in the 5-2 fit. Frankly, I agree with the Texas bidders. But I didn't think of it at the time. Comments? ;)

We were playing the transfer followed by diamonds was slam interest, so that was not an option. On that front, does everything think that is the best method over 2NT? As usual, there will be more details after I get some more responses...

Rex and I must have been playing better recently as we haven't posted a disaster here for a while. Thankfully, the inevitable has occurred. Partner opens 2NT in a respectable team match. You hold: [hv=d=n&v=b&s=sqj876h654dq7654c]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Open question: What is your thinking/planning for this auction? We are not playing puppet stayman in case that is relevant. Regards to all... :(

Thanks Ben--someone should figure out why this is happening in case others are trying to register and just giving up...

One of my teammates is trying to register for the BBO forum, but keeps getting an error message that he has to use his BBO screen name [which he is in fact using.] I tried to create a new account with a second BBO id and got the same error. But obviously, this account still works. What are we doing wrong? Thanks in advance..

Rex and jay, So here is today's bridge question. You are vul, your partner opens 1D and RHO bids 1S. You have four hearts and so you double, LHO bids 2S, your partner bids 3H, and RHO bids 3S. Did 3H show extras, or did it just say partner has four hearts? Anne and Bob are our fabulous teammates who carry us always. Before you answer, they play precision so 1♦ is 11-15 with possibly 1 diamond. It will not shock you regulars that Rex and I had absolutely diametrically opposite views on this problem!! :)

Ben, thanks. I have no complaint with just upping the number to 3 or 4 which I assume is easy to change. If you think about it, 2 just allows one pair that is having a bad match to just blow everyone up--and we all know it happens too often. Also, it was my impression that the option to withdraw was created for the disconnect and reseat issue that you raised. So if you keep getting reseated, why can't you just click on a director call and just withdraw?

Thanks for the backup------ sorry to say, as we all know, it doesn't take much to make 2 bridge players mad enough to withdraw from a match. It really isn't fair to the other six.

I just had the SAME thing happen again today... just had a rude pair leave after 4 hands in a team match for no reason. I was surprised that the software closed the match [they withdrew, not disconnected.] It seemed unfair to the other 6 players, as I was actively looking for a sub for the first player at the time. Why only 2 players as the limit? At least give a few minutes to find subs. thanks JW

I just had a rude pair leave after 4 hands in a team match for no reason. I was surprised that the software closed the match [they withdrew, not disconnected.] It seemed unfair to the other 6 players, as I was actively looking for a sub for the first player at the time. Why only 2 players as the limit? thanks JW

As always, there is a part two to our misadventures. After your partner's 3NT, RHO now bids 4♥. Does that change your mind at all about what partner has? What action do you take, if any?

Playing a team match against good opponents [live for once, not BBO]....[hv=d=n&v=e&s=s76hk985dj875c832]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Your partner opens 1♣. RHO overcalls 1♠. You pass. LHO bids 2♣ limit raise or better. Partner now bids 3NT. As precisely as possible, what do you think he has?

[hv=s=s96haj965dcaq10765]133|100|[/hv] First hand at any scoring or colors. Of course, partner will respond 1♠ to whatever you open, creating rebid issues. Do you a) Open 1♣ then rebid 2♣ :blink: Open1♣ then rebid 2♥ c) Open 1♥ If you think the hand isn't good enough for option b, how much more would you need either in distribution or high cards? Thanks to all!! :D

Poor Rex-- he can't even post a hand correctly! See what I have to put up with? I think Bhall's line is the best one myself B) :lol: :P

I have always been of the view that the double of 1NT is NOT necessarily for penalties, just because it shows a hand similar to the opener. If you catch partner with a decent 8 count and have a bunch of tenaces, your 22-24 count can often make 3NT--- rather than defending 1NT and endplaying yourself from the get-go.

Thanks for the input so far--- on hand one, I bid 2♣ as well as most of you. Rex held [hv=d=w&v=b&s=sj10987hq105dak43c5]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] He passed my 2 ♣, which I got lucky and made. But certainly ♥,♠, and NT are better spots. Comments? On hand 2 I bid 2 ♠ like most of you. It didn't even occur to me to pass with that garbage. Regardless of Rex's actual hand, and assuming you play double over 1NT as penalty "oriented", help me out. I tend to assume the double is balanced 15-18, and Rex always has a mostly one suited hand with an entry or 2. It has been my experience that using double for both types is a losing proposition. Comments? :lol:

NEW YEAR'S SALE 2 for one... :P LHO opens 1 ♦ , partner overcalls 1♠. RHO passes. You hold: [hv=d=w&v=b&s=s86hak85d76ca10854]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] What is your call if any? Second hand: LHO opens 1NT [15-17] Partner doubles, which is penalty oriented. RHO passes again, and you hold this lovely mess: [hv=d=w&v=b&s=s86hak85d76ca10854]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] What is your call if any? B) Happy new year to all BBO Forum regulars!

Rex and I play thrump doubles at the 3 level, as we found there are just more hands where responder is hamstrung by the preempt with a decent hand than perfect negative doubles. So double here just shows 10+ HCP--- for instance, Qxx, Qxx Ajxxx Qx. Yes I know that 3 ♠ could make on this layout, but we have found this to be a winner overall. And it takes a lot of pressure off the reopener.

I am really happy at the quantity and depth of the responses---thank you all! So here's the denouement of WHY REX DRIVES ME BONKERS! Rex knows the meaning of every book bid ever invented, so he knows that over 2♥ that neither 2♠ or 3♠ is forcing in normal 2/1. So in fact, he bid 3♦ over my 2♥ rebid. However, over my 3♥ bid, he bids 4♥!!!! But the happy ending is: Now my RHO doubles 4!♥. I pass, and now Rex bids 4♠ as he is got scared. RHO doubles again, as he is just as confused as I am. My hand was: [hv=d=s&v=n&s=sqjhak10xxxdkxc985]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]. From my perspective over 3♦, I can't support ♠ with 2 cards opposite 4 or 5, and can't bid 3NT, so it was 3♥ by default. Rex said I have an obvious 3♠ rebid over 3♦, so he bid 4♥ as I cannot have anything in spades, then got scared by the double. Anyone agree with him? I said that only one bridge player in the world could ignore a 7 card spade suit after the first round-- :( And the beauty was, we made 4 easily and picked up 5 imps as there was no double in the other room---hats off to Rex for fooling opponents! LOLL

I do want to add that to me, while 3 diamonds is an ok bid, it has the distinct disadvantage of creating an extremely vague picture of your hand. After all, how would you bid with AKxx x Akxx xxxx? And isn't 3 diamonds really screaming that you want to play 3NT if partner has clubs stopped, which you know he probably doesn't?