skorchev

1.) When you have points, good fit (and knowledge(sometimes)) for grand slam you should play it. -You have 32 hcp, 5kc, Queen of trump. -You have a GOOD fit. => Play grand slam. There are 13 easy tricks - 1♠+6♥+4♦+2♣, so you don't need knowledge to made it. The once problem is how to bid it. This bidding looks good for me except 6♣. In my club standard 5NT is invite for grand slam and the options are direct bid at 6/7 level on the trump or bid any extra values. With 4♣ South shows his control ♣ and by North's cards 4♣ means K♣ for sure (South can't has a singleton ♣ because he bid 2NT(bal hand)) => 6♣ doesn't show nothing more and that's an empty bid. If you play "my" model after 5NT you should bid 6♦(extra values) and 6♣ would means ♣KQ at least. Now when North knows South's extra values in ♦ then he can bid 7♥. Stefan

BTW I wonder what you would bid if the bidding is 1♥-(2♠)-Pass-(4♠), and how will show 5-6? Stefan

Hehe, I think that now the situation it's very easy, I will bid 4NT (2-suiter) and if my partner bid 5♣ I will correct to 5♦ and now he knows that I have ♦+♥. Stefan

I absolutely agree with this one! 1♦ opening and after repeating 2 times the ♥s. Stefan

Hi Ken, I think also that the name of this convention is "2-way checkback", but imho in the regular "2-way checkback" 2♣ isn't forcing to 2♦ - it's just a forcing. But I prefer 2♣ to be forcing to 2♦. In Bulgaria this convention is played by high-level players. Stefan

1.) Yes! 2.) 2NT. Stefan

Hi! 2NT = natural, invitational to 3NT 3m = probably to play (not agreed) 3♥ = spade raise, better than 3♠ 3♠ = spade raise, invitational in this sequence ("bid game with max") 3NT = natural, to play OK, ty Poky, Then when I have no toy to understand whether my partner has a stopper ♣ I will jump to 4♠. But I'm 90% sure that 3NT is better game than 4♠. Stefan

Hi Poky, I interested what mean these bids (2NT, 3♣,3♦,3♥,3♠) by your system. BTW I don't like East's pass too, but however ... Stefan

OK Frederick, I'm waiting to see what is it ... ;) (btw there never is 100% line, if the hearts are 9-0 you go down) :) Stefan

Yes, Frederick, if there is singleton ♣ (except single Q♣) I gonna down. But I think this percentage is much much lower than 2-2♠. And if there is a void ♣ in RHO I still made because these is squeeze ♥-♣ on LHO. If LHO is void ♣ then I still have chances - ♥-♦ squeeze on LHO or ♦-♣ squeeze on RHO. So I think the only way to go down on 6♠ is 5th Q♣ in LHO. Stefan

I think there is misunderstanding, Frederick. I will try to be more clear this time. :) 1. A♥-x♥ 2. x♣-J♣ (it will lose) 3. x♠-A♠ (I guess he will play x♠, it looks safest for the defence) 4. K♠-x♠ 5. Q♠-x♠ 6. J♠-x♦ 7. 10♠-x♥ The 6-card endshpil: ♠ - ♥ J ♦ Kx ♣ Axx ♠ x ♥ - ♦ AJx ♣ Kx 8. x♠-J♥ (I guess West will not discard Q♥, so I discard the J♥, if West discard Q♥ I made) 9. K♣-x♣ 10 x♣-A♣ The 3-card endshpil: The cards of NS: ♠ - ♥ - ♦ Kx ♣ x ♠ - ♥ - ♦ AJx ♣ - The cards of EW: 1. ♠ - ------------ ♠ - ♥ Q ----------- ♥ - ♦ Qx ---------- ♦ xx ♣ - ------------ ♣ 10 or 2. ♠ - ------------- ♠ - ♥ Q ------------ ♥ - ♦ Q ------------ ♦ xxx ♣ 10 ----------- ♣ - or 3. ♠ - ------------- ♠ - ♥ Q ------------ ♥ - ♦ x ------------- ♦ Qxx ♣ 10 ----------- ♣ - When I open the ♣A one of the defenders will discard something (they are 4-2 in ♣ and A♣ is third round ♣ which I play). If East is longer in ♣ (look variant 1.) so EW is 2-2 in ♦ and I will open K♦ and after A♦ and J♦ is a big card => I MADE. If West is longer in ♣ (look variants 2. and 3.) I will open K♦ and if West play small I will finesse the third Q♦ in East => I MADE. I hope that now I'm more clear. B) Stefan

I gonna make squeeze: First, I will play A♥, and then finesse ♣(I guess it will lose, else I made), I guess West will continue with trump, then I will open all (!) trumps, now I have to discard 3 cards, first is small ♦, second - small ♥ and on the third (the squeeze card) I'll discard J♥(if West discard Q♥ I will discard ♣ and J♥ is my 12 trick, but I guess he will not discard it :) ) now I open A♣ and K♣. 1.) If East is 4th♣, then West has ♥Q♦Qx or East has ♦Qx♣10, but never mind the Queen of diamond is SECOND so I open AK♦ and the J♦ is a big card. 2.) If West is 4th♣, then he has ♥Q♣10 and ONE diamond and East has 3 diamonds, so I will open K♦ and if West give small I will finesse the third Queen of diamonds in East. Stefan

I will open 1NT with all of these hands. There is a reason to open 1M if you play 1M-1NT forcing, then you can bid 2m and after 2NT, but still 1NT opening is better. Stefan

Hi Hannie, I don't think that if you post your BBO level is Expert more "good" players will play with you. I know many Advanced players who are better players than Experts, World Classes and than some stars. And if you "raise" your skill level to Expert but really you are Intermediate (sorry, I don't know what is your level, and I don't want to insult you, it's principally to these who "raise" his level) the "good" players will play only once or twice with you and then will put you in their enemy-lists. Stefan

Hi Frederick, I don't think that Masterpoint Symbols will increase the number of cheaters. There were, are and will be classations - weekly for ACBL and monthly for BBO LAND, and the motive to cheat are the BB$ and ACBL Masterpoints. Stefan

1.) This symbols are taken not only from ACBL, they are taken and from BBO LAND 2.) It's not an official classation. 3.)The theme of this post is "How to popularize the Masterpoint Symbols?". Stefan

OK, if North keep the heart then South should keep ♠x♥Kx♣K10x. It's possible but it's not so easy and isn't very esthetic to adjust 3NT+1 to 3NT-2, 3NT-1 is enough. This thing can't be checked when the tourney is running, it can be checked after the tourney. Stefan

I agree with Paul almost everything. 1.) You should ask EW pair what 3♣ means and why he/she bid so. But I think that EW pair have some agreement for this situation, 3♠ bid doesn't looks esthetic, I guess it means something. 2.) A=- isn't a good adjustment. I think the game is -1, because after the opening of the ♦s North should stay with 6 cards - ♠AK♣xxxx then the declarer will try to finesse the K♥ and when North discard something (I guess ♣) he will cash his ♥A for 8 tricks - 6♦+1♣+1♥. However I would adjust 3NT-1. (And think the right place for this post is the Tournament Directors Forum.) Stefan

Everything depend of the counrty where you practice. The first system which you should know is that which is most popular in your country. In Bulgaria the most played system is Precision Club(but I first was taught to play natural system :) ). Stefan

Hi Gabika, let me respond to your post: The reverse CAN be passed if first bid of the responder is underlimit that he should has or at the minimum of the limit and with a specific hand. Of course it happens very rarely. This toy is played by your mentor Ingberman (I never heard him/her) and it's a private case. Usually it's sign-off. I missed this point in my first post, it's another way to stop under game. The repeating of your suit isn't forcing, but it's not sign-off. Here you are absolutely right. :) Stefan

Hi leonidas, I'll repeat the same what I told you on BBO: Every reverse bid by the responder is GF. When the opener doing reverse bid there are only 2 possibilities to stop under game: 1st) PASS by responder. 2nd) Bid in the first suit of opening hand by responder. For example: 1♣-1♥ 2♠-3♣ - sign-off I'm from Bulgaria. My skill level now is Advanced, but after 10 years - World Class! :) Stefan

2NT surely is with fit and game invite, it's most popular in Bulgaria. 3♠ need serious agreement to be used, but as you said the hand isn't so strong to bid 3♠ never mind what it means. Stefan

I play Woolsey over strong 1NT opening: Dbl - 5+ minor, 4+ major 2♣ - both major 4+-4+ 2♦ - major unicolor 2♥ - ♥+minor 5+-4+ 2♠ - ♠+minor 5+-4+ 2NT - both minors 5+-5+ I have no penalty option in this case, so I may bid 2♠ as your partner did or to PASS. Right now I don't know what I would do. Stefan

OK, let me give you the game. I was North and my bid was very stupid and nobody of you voted for it. :P I bid 3♥(I know that it isn't a good bid, pls don't post how stuped am I :) ). But after my stupid bid I got the right game. :) The bidding: ----- P 1♦ 1♥ 2♦ 3♥ 4♦ P P 4♥ All pass When they said 4♦ and I see again my hand I understood how stupid is my bid (3♥) and I bid 4♥ with the idea that they have 130 and if we go down with double they will write 100 and +1 IMP for us. :) But they didn't double(!). My partner played very fast, it seems the game was easy and he MADE! ------------------♠A109xx ------------------♥Kxxx ------------------♦109x ------------------♣K ♠Qxx-------------------------♠Kx ♥Q10-------------------------♥xx ♦KJxxx-----------------------♦AQxx ♣xxx--------------------------♣AJxxx ------------------♠Jxx ------------------♥AJxxx ------------------♦x ------------------♣Q10xx *-* = *space* I suppose that if I bid something else I never would got this game, because they never would bid 4♦. The once way to get this game is if I bid 2♠-FNJ (but I never would, because we didn't comment this situation) and my partner should bid very aggressive to get 4♥. However we won the 8-board match with 44 IMPs! :D Tnx to everyone who comment and vote this post. :D Stefan

I voted for the first variant, it looks safety. But when I see the title I guess it isn't the right play ... or I'm beginner :) . Stefan