MickyB

What about promising the trump queen on the way to a grand? If a trump isn't led, play the opening leader for it.

Interesting, I don't disagree with you often, but... On this auction [1D:1H; 2C:2D] responder has shown no more values with 2D than he did with 1S. Therefore opener will rarely need to force - only when the 2D preference has significantly improved his hand. Most of the time he will be making a game-try, in which case he can do so naturally, with three hearts, a 5th club or a 6th diamond. Therefore I think 2S shows either a 3 card fragment or a 2254 not keen to declare (if you prefer this to Johnny's suggestion of choosing between 2H, 2NT and 3D on this hand). Maybe it is just a case of terminology, but that feels fairly natural to me.

Teams is much better at working out which is the best team than pairs is at working out which is the best pair. However, I'm not quite sure why people would rather work out which is the best team, unless they think that being able to get good teammates is a skill worth measuring (I guess it is when there are sponsors around). The exception is a tournament based on regions or organisations. I'm not quite sure about IMPs vs MPs/BAM, I just instinctively prefer IMPs - that may be related to the connection between IMPs and teams, which makes IMPs feel less random.

Another hand from the White House International - this time I was filling in for Scotland, because they were having a lot of problems with illness. You are playing against the England U20s, one of the weaker teams. [hv=d=w&v=n&s=st92haj72dk98ck72]133|100|Scoring: IMP The opponents bid - P:1♠ 2♣:2N 3N 1♠ showed 5 cards, 2♣ didn't. What's your lead? How close is it?[/hv]

Not one of the minor suit aces, unfortunately :) thanks for pointing this out!

This hand is from the White House Junior tournament. What do you think of the bidding, and how are you now going to slip a trick through? You are playing against the French, who will go on to take 3rd place. [hv=d=s&v=b&n=sathqt4dj3cqj8632&s=sk2ha2dkqt542ck94]133|200|Scoring: IMP 1♦-X-XX-1♠ P-P-2♣-2♥ 3♥-3♠-P-P 3NT-P-P-X AP The ♠4 is led. I played the ♠T from dummy, which was not covered. [/hv]

I've got no idea about expert thinking, but here is mine... The traditional weak range (6-10) is too weak when vulnerable, it is too unlikely that you should be declaring so you are just telling the opponents how to bid and play the hand. I also don't consider an 11 count to be anything like enough to bid both suits when 5-5. I'm now playing the ranges as 8-12 or 16+. A continuous range is fine if it doesn't start too low. I prefer specific 2 suiters - too often you need to know partner's 2nd suit to work out if you have a (double) fit, if you know both of his suits you can preempt the opponents, if you only know one of his suits then they can preempt you.

If you open and both LHO and partner pass, when would you act over RHO's balancing action? What would be the minima for 4-5 and 4-6 shapes in the example auction? Would 2♠ show a big 5-6 hand?

I agree that Curlers are useless, but they do have cool shoes - one slides, one sticks! Genius!

After agreeing a minor suit and then making a naturalish 3-level probe towards 3NT, is returning to the agreed minor at the 4 level forcing or non-forcing? I think it should be NF, but are there exceptions? What about a 3 level cuebid of the opponents suit? You may have guessed that I am trying to write up system notes!

After the uncontested auction, 1♦:1♥, 2♣:2NT is it normal/better to play bids as forcing or NF? What does bidding the 4th suit show? What about 1♦:1♥, 1♠:2NT? Assume that 1♠ showed an unbalanced hand if it makes a difference. To me it seems that everything, with the (possible) exception of opener rebidding his lower ranking suit, must be GF. Maybe bidding the 4th suit should show extra length in the lower ranking suit with a GF hand?

I think 2♦ must be better than 3♦ - you are hoping the opponents will come in so you can complete your description. I think this hand is too strong to bid it like that, make it KKQ and I'd consider it.

I'd make 2D:2H and 2H:2S artificial forcing, and use 2D:2N to show hearts and 2H:2N to show spades. I think it makes sense for a new suit to be forcing, particularly 2M:3D, as you won't usually be able to bid them in a forcing manner otherwise. What do F-N do?

Pearl Jam Franz Ferdinand Arctic Monkeys Kaiser Chiefs Muse There are also a few bands I like who *won't* be at Reading Festival this year...

1♦. 5♦ is a distant 2nd choice. 1♥ is nowhere.

An animation - Ultimate Showdown and a mime to Natalie Imbruglia's Torn

Matt, how dare you assume that I would take this as an opportunity to plug Siege :ph34r: I've played (at least) 3 different meanings for completing the transfer, and my preference is for it to show a minimum, either balanced/5422 with 2-3 card support, or unbalanced with 3 card support. I think the only differences between my rebids and Matt's is that I will rebid 2C with 6 clubs and 2 cards in partner's suit, and my completion of the transfer is more limited. After 1♣:1♦, 1♥ - Pass = 5♥332 1♠ = enquiry, are you the bal or unbal hand type? -----1N = bal ----------Normal checkback structure applies, with 2♥ showing 5♥4♠ NF -----2♣ = unbal with 3♥ ----------2♦ enquiry 1N = 4-4 majors, NF 2♣ = 5♥4-5♣, NF 2♦ = 5♥4-5♦, NF 2♥ = 5+♥, usually 6. Prepared to hear a raise from a max hand with 3 card support (especially if unbal). After 1♣:1♥, 1♠ - Pass = 5♠, not suitable for a 2♠ bid 1N = to play opposite balanced hand, unbalanced hand will pull to 2♣ 2♠ = 5+♠, prepared to hear a raise from a max hand with 3 card support (especially if unbal) Others = normal structure over a 1NT rebid Siege opens 1♣ on all balanced hands. This allows you to put hands with 4♦5♣ into the 1♦ opening, which makes 1♣:1♦, 2♣ promise 6 cards and the only "problem shape" after 1♣:1♥ is 1=4=3=5. You can show both suits on nearly all unbalanced hands and have 1♣:1red, 2♦ free for artificial purposes - I use it as a good/bad raise, which means we can distinguish between balanced and unbalanced raises and stay at a low level opposite what could be a very light responding hand. Click the link below for more.

I think all of Arend's points were convincing. If I could show my two suits immediately, that would arguably leave pard better placed to decide whether to bid 4S over 4H than a 2S WJO would. We will always have to make at least a trick more in spades than in clubs to achieve the same result; often landing in a 6-1 spade fit instead of a 5-3 club fit won't matter. With 6 hearts 5 diamonds over a 1S opening, there is much more reason to show a 2 suiter.

Roland, is that because you have a way to show a long minor with invitational values immediately opposite a major suit opening? Both minors, weak, seems reasonable I think.

i was weaned on cricket. but what i really love about it that australia is to cricket what the squadra azzura were to bridge. Surely that should say "Australia *were* to cricket what the squadra azzura were to bridge"? Motorsport and badminton are my favourites, both for watching and participating. Formula One looks to be in for an exciting year.

2♠ for me. If I could show both of my suits at once it would be closer. I think it was actually love all, Matt. Not that it really matters, still an interesting question.

Wine isn't a bad mixer.

None - Cider (Merrydown and Weston's) and spirits all the way :) Actually, I once found a Russian Beer that didn't taste like...well, beer. That was ok.

Yeah, we could have used another player for next year!

1♦:1♠; 2♦:2♥ I think this is F1R, could be a strong 3 card fragment. A 3♥ raise would show 4 cards and be GF. 1♦:2♣; 2♦:2♥ I quite like responder to be able to bid out his shape on an invitational 4-5, although there is obviously a case for it to be GF. I'm not sure if there is a standard in the UK, I know of people who play it both ways. Again, I think 2♥ only promises 3.