ochinko

I think that most of the times when underleading a King is right, leading the King itself is even better. That assumes that you lead the suit you felt unguarded, and found the partner with the Ace. It serves two purposes: first, you get to see the dummy before playing for the second trick, and second - you save your partner from the dilemma of whether to return that suit or not.

It looks like you lose your internet connection, and that is why you get disconnected from the BBO. When that happens, the DNS entry in your local resolver in the router has expired, so when you try to reconnect, the OS tries to resolve the name again, but fails. As TylerE said, you only need the DNS on connecting, so it can't be at fault. And you discovered that yourself when you changed the DNS server settings to Google. Take a look at the LEDs on the cable modem before and after you get disconnected, and talk to your ISP. They monitor the connection on a lower level, and know when you are disconnected. Once they establish that happens, they should be able to get to the root cause, and possibly fix it. If they can't or won't, change your ISP.

When a director is called, both North and and South will have a lot to explain about the way they reached 3NT.

It could still be quite useful for writing a bot :)

I thought the explanation on the 2S says 2-5 spades. Wouldn't I promise 5 hearts if I pass the double? How does the number of spades go up when I raise diamonds?

http://tinyurl.com/o465pbu You may find the opening too light, but there were 11 3D contracts in the traveller, only one 5D, and no 6D.

South is still unlimited at that point, so I wouldn't dare. Plus, our diamonds are nothing to write home about, we could still belong in clubs. All in all I pass, even though I know I very rarely make miracles in defending.

I may feel like a coward afterwards, but at least pass won't be a complete zero because of the field protection. When cards tell me to something heroic, the signs are usually more clear.

When partner opens any kind of tightly defined and limited hand (1, 2, 3NT; weak 2, 3, etc.), and opps intervene, a double is for penalties. Wasn't there ever a point in time when that was standard? When I mention it people are usually surprised. Or was it meant only for weaker players that can't remember too many rules? :)

I must admit, I transfer to a 4 card major almost always when I have a void or a singleton in the other major, and a hand that is so weak that wouldn't consider inviting. I can't really complain of the outcome. With a doubleton in the other major was always disastrous, though.

I've had some some bitter complaints about GIB's bidding, but not this time, when we scored 14.5 imps in a robot tourney :) All_hands I don't know about GIB, but I wasn't completely sure what I was doing. Results aside, do you approve of the bidding, and what do you think the thought process should be from both sides?

http://tinyurl.com/pyz4qbl And at level three at that. Lead by a 10. Will someone ever teach GIB NT and the benefits of right-siding a contract?

Well, I understand that my style is somewhat controversial, and surely not everyone would agree with my bids. But this wasn't about the actual hands that I had, more for the hands that I advertised to have. Both of my hands stated that I had no void or singleton, and defined my strength very tightly. Of all the bids that the bot could here, it heard the least exciting ones, yet it got excited beyond any reason.

Seriously, why do I bring the worst in the bot? Whenever it has some number of clubs, and sees me accross the table, it has to go for the grand. It doesn't matter to it that my hand is limited, nor does it matter what its own strength is. http://tinyurl.com/k892y46 http://tinyurl.com/mj7pl5f

On the first one, what is East doing on 4♠? Obeing the law? He has 9 losers in his hand, and being a passed hand, West bid with East's points in mind. If East feels wildly optimistic, he could invite with 3♠, but 4♠ could only be a misclick. West is a trick better than 1♠ in a balancing position so 2♠ is a better bid that 1♠. How could the votes be 8:0 against West? Ok, maybe a 1NT from West would be cleverer, but I still don't see how he overbid his hand.

Ding ding ding! It is much more fun to cast aspersions without knowing the facts. The facts often ruin a perfectly good rant. You are missing the fact that the thread is interesting per se, even if we can only speculate what actually happened at the table. Basically, there is the camp that says that you can harass opponents over every technicality that fits the purpose (and some even go as far as to say that you *should*). The other camp is on the opinion that the rules are not there to help you intimidate your opps, and break their concentration, and even if your income depends on winning you should consider first what is morally right before you consider what is legally right.

Imps, all red. Partner deals, and opens 1♦. RHO overcalls 1♥. This is your hand: [hv=d=n&v=b&s=sjxha987xda9cj10xx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Let's say that you pass hoping partner will reopen with a double. LHO passes but partner bids 2♦ instead. What do you do now? Would your answer be different if parner has reopened with 1♠? 1♦ - (1♥) - Pass - (Pass) 2♦ - (Pass) - ?

I am not afraid that we could miss a slam. I am more afraid that both sides can play at the 4th level, so I preempt early with 5♦.

1♠ - 2♠ 4NT - ? When this happens to me I just pass. You can't have a balanced hand if you didn't open 2♣ so if my simple raise excites you so much that you suddenly want to play a slam I expect to see a new suit at the table (with or without a jump), not RKCB.

Imps, red on white. RHO deals. [hv=d=e&v=n&s=sj987hj8xxdq9c109x]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] (Pass) - Pass - (1♣) - Dbl (Pass) - 1♥ - (Pass) - 2♣ (Pass) - ?

6♠ seems like a proper opening. I don't have the science so 2♣ serves no purpose. If I decide to play clever I'll open 1♣ as it guarantees that someone is going to bid. Admittedly it only shows 3 so if don't hear partner giving a ♣ fit, I'll have to settle for 6♠. Partner can still show preference with 7♣. B)

Assuming 2♥ means four, I am torn apart between 3♥ and 4♥, but I think I'll settle for 3. Opps are less likely to balance when they could push us to a makeable game. Pass is out of the question as opps are going to wake up, and balance with their ♠. This makes any number of ♦ even worse, as opps will then know both their fits. If partner promised only 3 hearts I curse our system, and pass.

I don't have a single Ace, partner has at most two. Slam requires both a perfect hand from partner and a bad defense. Why then give a chance for opps to get in the bidding? Just open 4♥, and be done with it.

I play 5 cM so 1♦, then pass 1NT hiding my disappointment for not hearing 1M. Even though the hand is not strong enough for a reverse, doesn't mean it isn't excellent. Not opening it is losing in the long run. Most of the time partner partner will have something like 3325 so I wouldn't consider rebidding ♦ even at imps.

2♥. Passing seems wronger than playing a Moysian.