smerriman

Yep, sorry for the lack of foresight here. I hadn't wanted to impose a strict deadline for reasons similar to what diana_eva and Phil mentioned above, but had assumed players would be able to at least make contact via the forum if they'd be temporarily unavailable rather than disappear entirely. Things don't work out like that in real life! For the second round let's make it a strict 1 week time limit - though it's likely to be a lot quicker regardless. If you know you might be away from BBO long enough to miss a 3 day challenge window, let your opponent know. If a challenge expires, the onus is on the person who did not accept to complete two matches within the week - or they will forfeit. If you can't manage to fit in two challenges in a week, this probably isn't something you should have entered. Will allow olegru + gordontd another day to complete their match - otherwise, for the purposes of getting the second round up and running quickly, I'll give the benefit of the doubt to olegru due to the large margin in the first round. ovnclymz - will just keep the draw as mentioned originally rather than change things now - that's a possibility for later events, but the difference is pretty minor.

Ah, yes, good point. My mistake.

Playing duplicate with 3 robots was never free. You're probably thinking of the Just Play Bridge option within the Solitaire menu instead (which plays with 3 robots, but without comparing scores to other tables).

jeffford76 defeated me by 38-16. http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/tview.php?t=ARDCHALLENGE:561b86d8.683d.11e6.8e99.0cc47a39aeb4-1471852332&u=smerriman http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/tview.php?t=ARDCHALLENGE:76b068a5.6b67.11e6.8e99.0cc47a39aeb4-1472200279&u=smerriman Most interesting hand - 10 of those IMPs were picked up on the first board of the second set when he opened 1♥ in third seat with four hearts to the queen and a balanced 8-count, causing wild competition. So far we have: 7 completed matches 2 half completed matches (ovncylmz vs vampyr and olegru vs gordontd) 2 other matches (dadim vs nige1 and phoenix214 vs nekthen). dadim - if nige1 still hasn't responded yet (according to profile, hasn't checked in on the forum for over a week), go ahead and start a challenge with MrAce instead. phoenix214 + nekthen - both profiles show recent forum activity - any update?

That would be a good idea; but even without that extra rule, surely there is no harm in using Blackwood before leaping straight to a slam. Though I guess if Gib thinks it is guaranteed to have all of the aces, then hears it doesn't, it will think the hand is a contradiction and not know what to do regardless.

I'm currently down by 7 IMPs after the first set with jeffford76. For those who haven't heard from their opponent yet - let's give them a while longer (the weekend may be the best time to play); if they haven't responded or at least posted on the forum within a week of the draw, I'll drop them out and re-pair people who haven't played. MrAce can join in if that is an odd number (or we have another late entry before the round finishes).

Looks like it was an old URL that wasn't really meant to exist at worldbridge.org, so I suspect it's gone. But other sites appear to have the same info, eg: http://www.bridgehands.com/Laws/ACBL/Duplicate/Contents.htm

Here is another surprisingly similar hand that just popped up. Gib's 'biddable suit' doesn't seem to show any kind of fit. [hv=nn=Robot&n=SH964DQJ9863CA742&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=PP1S(Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20!S%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)P1N(2-%20!S%3B%206-11%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points)P3H(Strong%20hand%20--%204+%20!H%3B%205+%20!S%3B%2018-21%20HCP%3B%2019-22%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203N)P3N(4-%20!H%3B%202-%20!S%3B%207-11%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points%3B%20partial%20stop%20in%20!C%3B%20partial%20stop%20in%20!D)P4S(4+%20!H%3B%2018+%20HCP%3B%20strong%20rebiddable%20!S%3B%2019-20%20total%20points)P5D(4-%20!H%3B%202-%20!S%3B%207-11%20HCP%3B%20biddable%20!D%3B%2012-%20total%20points%3B%20partial%20stop%20in%20!C)]400|300[/hv]

Unofficially around a week per round sounds reasonable I think, but we'll see what happens. You can post the results to this thread.

For what it's worth - I really had no idea what Gib was showing here, and all bids I could make seemed to show the same hand description. In the end I decided to go with 5NT - which Gib promptly passed.

In the web version, click on Challenges, Challenge a friend, and enter the other person's name. The challenge will show up on your screen as yellow; once they've accepted the challenge it will turn green and you'll have 16 boards to play. Repeat once when complete.

Round 1: gordontd vs olegru dadim vs nige1 ovncylmz vs Vampyr nullve vs frank0 eagles123 vs Wackojack diana_eva vs broze shyams vs Phil hrothgar vs barmar smerriman vs jeffford76 phoenix214 vs nekthen manudude03 vs zebutin Each pair to play two 16-board IMP non-best-hand challenges. The 11 winners, plus 5 smallest losers, will play in round 2.

[hv=sn=smerriman&s=SKQ762HAQT8DAKQTC&wn=Robot&w=SA9843HJ965D5CJ62&nn=Robot&n=S5H4DJ97632CAK973&en=Robot&e=SJTHK732D84CQT854&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1S(Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20%21S%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)P1N(Forcing%20one%20notrump%20--%203-%20%21S%3B%206+%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points)P3H(Strong%20hand%20--%204+%20%21H%3B%205+%20%21S%3B%2018-21%20HCP%3B%2019-22%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203N)P3N(4-%20%21H%3B%203-%20%21S%3B%207+%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points%3B%20partial%20stop%20in%20%21C%3B%20partial%20stop%20in%20%21D)P4D(4+%20%21D%3B%204+%20%21H%3B%205+%20%21S%3B%2018-21%20HCP%3B%2019-22%20total%20points)P5C(4-%20%21H%3B%203-%20%21S%3B%207+%20HCP%3B%20biddable%20%21C%3B%2012-%20total%20points%3B%20partial%20stop%20in%20%21D)]400|300[/hv] According to Gib, I have shown a strong 5440 hand. Gib decides now is a good time to ignore the 10 card diamond fit and show a 'biddable' club suit at the 5 level instead. Either that, or 5♣ was meant to be a cue, and the description was wrong.

Awesome - that makes an even number which avoids anyone needing a bye. I'll post the first round matchups tonight - allowing one last call for late entries.

Yep, sounds like a good idea for the final (and maybe semis) if the participants are keen.

A few people posted comments without specifically mentioning they wanted to play, but assuming they all (except 1eyedjack) do, we currently have 19 players: smerriman Phil Vampyr broze diana_eva shyams hrothgar phoenix214 nullve zebutin barmar olegru Wackojack gordontd eagles123 nekthen jeffford76 nige1 manudude03 There have been 25 poll entries but I can't see who, so if you voted but haven't posted, make sure you do so :) Will leave things open for people to join until after the weekend. It looks like the format is going to be 32-board IMPs without best hand set.

Here's the one I was referring to (was a small slam, not a grand). (Ignore the fact that I should have played the Ace on the first trick to begin with. And the bidding.). [hv=sn=smerriman&s=SAKJ632HQJTDAKCK6&wn=Robot&w=SQ7H42DJT2CAQJT73&nn=Robot&n=S954HA3DQ9873C542&en=Robot&e=ST8HK98765D654C98&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=PP2C(Strong%20two%20club%20--%2019+%20HCP%3B%2023+%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%202N)D(6+%20HCP%3B%20rebiddable%20%21C%3B%20%21CKQ)2D(2D%20bid%20waiting%20--%2011-%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%202N)P2S(Opener%20s%20suit%20--%205+%20%21S%3B%2019+%20HCP%3B%2023+%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203S)P3S(3+%20%21S%3B%2011-%20HCP%3B%205-12%20total%20points%3B%20forcing)P4D(Cue%20bid%20--%201+%20%21C%3B%205+%20%21S%3B%20no%20%21CA%3B%20%21DA%3B%2025+%20total%20points)P4H(Cue%20bid%20--%203+%20%21S%3B%2011-%20HCP%3B%20%21HA%3B%205-12%20total%20points)P4N(Blackwood%20%5BS%5D%20--%201+%20%21C%3B%205+%20%21S%3B%20no%20%21CA%3B%20%21DA%3B%2027+%20total%20points)P5D(One%20or%20four%20key%20cards%20--%203+%20%21S%3B%2011-%20HCP%3B%20%21HA%3B%205-12%20total%20points)P5H(%3F%20queen%20--%201+%20%21C%3B%205+%20%21S%3B%20no%20%21CA%3B%20%21DA%3B%2027+%20total%20points)P5S(No%20queen%20-%20S%20trump%20--%203+%20%21S%3B%2011-%20HCP%3B%20%21HA%3B%205-12%20total%20points)P6S(Signoff%20--%201+%20%21C%3B%205+%20%21S%3B%20no%20%21CA%3B%20%21DA%3B%2027+%20total%20points)PPP&p=H4H3H6HTSAS7S4S8SKSQS5STDKD2D3D4DADJD7D6HJH2HAH5DQD5C6DT&c=13]400|300[/hv]

Assuming hrothgar doesn't mind me taking over, I enjoyed the first challenge event so much I feel like starting up another one already :) A couple of changes in rules: - It was mentioned the format should be the same for everyone, and I agree. Please vote in the poll (you can vote multiple options for each) - we'll play with whichever options come out with the highest number of votes. - Given the format will be consistent, we can avoid complicated three-way groupings, etc. Everyone will be paired up randomly in the first round. The winners of all first round matches will go through to the second round, plus enough losers who have the smallest margin of loss to make up a power of 2 players. From then on, it will be straight knockout, with players with the largest winning margins in the previous round playing those with the smallest winning margins, rather than randomly allocated. All ties will be broken by highest individual score. Anyone that wants to play, please sign up here (won't impose an official sign up deadline yet.)

I think he means East's duck of the opening lead. A very common occurrence in Gib (recently Gib East ducked taking a king when I played low from dummy's Ace on the opening trick, giving me a grand slam when I should have been down 3.)

[hv=sn=smerriman&s=SK2HK94DAK84CJ987&nn=Robot&n=SJ97HJ7DJ5CAKQT32&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=P1D(Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20%21D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)P2C(Forcing%20two%20over%20one%20--%2011+%20HCP%3B%20biddable%20%21C%3B%20forcing%20to%203N)P3C(Raise%20of%20minor%20--%204+%20%21C%3B%204+%20%21D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%203-card%20%21D%3B%2012-22%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203N)PPP]450|300[/hv] Perhaps 2NT would have been a better choice than 3♣, but 3♣ must be forcing regardless.

Not for expert partnerships, but the most reliable way on BBO: it's only Gerber if it's obviously Gerber, in which case a question should never be necessary. Once I opened 1♠, my partner responded 4♣, and stated 'Gerber'. I sighed.

This was my understanding too. Having considered the responses in this thread, it seems like a bit of a waste of a bid though, putting so much importance of a single point (given opener has already denied a maximum). A game force seems more useful. Do you have a reference for this one? I see several discussions saying that if a direct 3♣ is forcing, then a later 3♣ is invitational, and vice versa - but nobody suggesting an approach with *neither* forcing as you suggest. Not being able to show a weak 46 was simply what you lose by an artificial 2♣.

By this do you mean 3♣ would guarantee 5 spades and agree spades a trumps? My main concern was that it wouldn't due to the range of hands I could have for NMF. (Gib in particular describes it as simply 4+♠, 4+♣).

[hv=sn=smerriman&s=SAT8542HQJ4DACAK3&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=1D(Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20%21D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)P1S(One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20%21S%3B%206+%20total%20points)P1N(2-5%20%21C%3B%204-5%20%21D%3B%202-4%20%21H%3B%202-3%20%21S%3B%2012-14%20HCP)P2C!(New%20minor%20forcing%20--%204+%20%21S%3B%2012+%20total%20points)P2S(Secondary%20support%20--%202-5%20%21C%3B%204-5%20%21D%3B%202-4%20%21H%3B%203%20%21S%3B%2012-13%20HCP)P]400|300[/hv] What is the best continuation here? a) Bid 4NT, hear 5♦, and bid 6♠, simply hoping that partner isn't missing AK♥? b) Bid 3♣ just to force another bid out of partner.. then what? c) Something else? d) Jump shift to 2♠ instead of bidding 1♠? (Partner was GIB, but interested in answers both with/without GIB if they differ).

Huh. I have no idea what I was thinking there. Probably that Gib always seems to signal with an honour rather than a doubleton on the lead, but yeah, those rules are clearly not true then.