MickyB

Agree with Alan. Part of me was wondering if Sven told Beckham to go out and pretend to get injured so he could be subbed without loss of pride :P Don't know if Lennon would have looked as good if he was on from the start, but at least I'd have liked to get him on 10 minutes before half-time. Crouch never looked comfortable as a lone striker, but something has to give when you are down to ten men. Shame they couldn't have shown that kind of commitment before Rooney's sending off. I don't know if the stamping was deliberate, the photo certainly makes it look far worse than it was. Oh well, all over for another few years...but wasn't Murray fantastic? ;)

If everyone on "24" followed Jack Bauer's instructions, it would be called "12". Jack Bauer could strangle you with a cordless phone. There is the right way, the wrong way, and the Jack Bauer way. It's basically the right way but faster and more deaths. Jack Bauer arm once wrestled Superman. The stipulations were the loser had to wear his underwear on the outside of his pants. Every mathematical inequality officially ends with "< Jack Bauer".

My preference is for 1♠ to be NF, but 2♠ to require a serious hand - frequently it will be a hand worthy of a 2♣ opener that wants to make sure it gets both its suits in.

South gets the blame for opening that pile, despite North's later guess to subside in game. Btw, what was your NT range? If it was weak, then opening that changes from a committable offence to a hanging offence. Shouldn't 3♦ be the splinter here? Not that you'll find 4♠ still unless you have very firm agreements.

Surely it is obvious to bid 7♥?

"Yes, I presumed you knew to lead top from a sequence."

Transfer-and-pass, looks obvious to me.

Poor performance, yes, but they were a man down for the entire game. Does that mean you would offer me 100-1, Roland? :o

Think it is 11 hcp and 12 hcp, you wouldn't want to be in 3NT with fewer than 25 points. Remember to use (this) system on over a 1NT overcall.

That sounds like Reverse Benji. 2♦:2N as a ♥ positive, perhaps? Open 2♦ when you are too strong to open 1X and rebid 3X.

If pard has 9 HCP, either the opps have overcalled in your 9 card fit or you need a new partner.

If it makes a difference to anyone, the actual auction was 1♣:1♦, 1♥, where 1♦ showed 4+hearts and 1♥ was likely to be good 11-13 balanced. If you bid 2♦ (XYZ), partner will bid 2♠ (which I think promises 4=2=3=4 shape).

I don't think our side 5-card spade suit greatly affects the chance that the auction will die here, unless it is an indication of the quality of the shuffling and dealing. For the strong clubbers, 1♠ then 3♣ also seems a pretty reasonable description of this hand.

Did you mean for it to play me Cher? ;)

House swap with someone who wants to be close to the action. Might even make some money that way.

Well, you can't expect to get 1100 if you pass it. Not that I disagree with your position.

An excellent book.

If he was using "hand diagrams" mode rather than "pictures of cards", these two would have been next to each other.

Jason, As Mike says, the pass-double inversion only applies in FP situations. My understanding is that you pass when you would have doubled and double when you would have passed, except that you still show a slam-try by passing and then pulling partner's double. The advantage of the inversion is that partner is more likely to double when you make a penalty pass than when you make a non-penalty pass. This makes it more likely that you can show a slam-try, by passing and then pulling partner's double. I've never actually played it, so hopefully someone will correct me if I've got anything wrong...

Given that Mark arrived at university at 9:45 and posted here at 10:24 and 11:18, I doubt he did better than he expects. Sorry to hear that Mark. As Arend said, "next board".

Hand 1 - Pass. 2♠ has -200 written all over it. Hand 2 - K♣, but I tend to be braver about not leading our suit away from the table Hand 3 - Need to think about this one some more. What would 3NT by you have been? Hand 4 - I need to know more about your style here, but probably pass.

Is (1NT) 2♦ as ♦ or majors permitted? I think passing 3♦ is evidence of an implicit agreement.

You lasted longer than I would have done.

Just a quick reminder about the Young Chelsea Marathon. For those who don't know, the YC is in London near Earl's Court. I am unfortunately unable to attend this year's event, but I can thoroughly recommend it. Here is what their website has to say - There are still some places available for the Young Chelsea Marathon, which is on June 3rd - 4th. This event is an institution in the bridge world, attracting entries of a high standard from all over the world - as well as a number of club stalwarts who never miss it! A maximum of 56 pairs play a total of 165 boards in 24 hours with only 30 minute breaks between sessions. First prize is £3000 and there are also prizes for the top ten pairs, as well as session prizes. Entries are limited to 56 pairs (though 3 people are allowed to play in shifts as a 'pair'), so players need to enter as soon as possible by contacting **name and phone number removed - send me a sticky if you want it**, or by sending an email to info@ycbc.co.uk. The entry fee is £50 per player, and non-members are allowed to play by joining the club first, which costs £25 for the year.

Nono, you misread - he was advertising Siege.