Dwayne

Those who are interested in reading more about the four-handed game and its place in, particularly, in US and Italian bridge should read "Fair Play or Foul? - Cheating Scandals in Bridge" by Cathy Chua (Pioneer Books, 1997) assuming its still in print. Dwayne-oh

Free.... what happened, man? I thought you were a bidder. This hand has 3 Aces.... 6 controls... Passing is a crime in all systems except FP. Reminds me of the apocryphal (?) story of the American expert who passed with 3 Aces. His sneaky partner also passed with ten solid, hoping to walk the dog. After the hand was passed out one said to the other, "What did you have?". To which the expert replied, "Not much, just three Aces". I'm cancelling my trip to Antwerp now. Dwayne-erama.

Pass? No thanks. I think you have to make a serious game try on this hand. In a pick-up partnership this is implausible, so I suppose 3S is is the least or best of all evils. Dwayne-erino.

I think this hand is the wrong strength for a 2-suited overcall. If you Michaels and partner bids 2 of wither Major, you've to make a game try - however, a rebid by the Michaels biider usually indicated some sort of 16+ or thereabouts. I overcall 1S. However, I note you passed with this hand. I think you have to open these hands. If you havent a 2-level two-suited gadget then open 1S. Imagine if you pass and LHO opens 5C? You could easily make 5M or a slam opposite not much. Dwayne-da-rat.

Eric, when I was young I took tennis lessons and had fantasy tennis matches against Rod Laver in my backyard - of course I almost always won and dreamed of the days when I would be winning Wimbledon. Similarly, in my backyard cricket games I was always the star bowler and batsman. Don't be too disappointed that you'll never be world championship material but I guess this only reinforces my opinion that bridge is an incredibly ego-driven past-time. Dwayne Freud

2S anywhere, anytime, any place. And twice on Sundays. You can't worry about your partner overcompeting - you have to bid your hand. Dwayne - honourary LoTT club member since 1992.

I adopt the same principles playing with a novice in a BBO tourney as I would with a client. You have to bid and play soundly, lest you put confusing thoughts in their head. But at the same time business is business and sometimes you have to engineer the auction so the stronger hand is declarer. Some might call it hand-hogging, other might call it maximising your chances for a good board. I think a good ethos is never offer advise at the table after a hand unless it's solicited. Then I'd wait until the end of the round or perhaps p.m. the partner at the end of the event. Dwayne-e-poos (lacking the social graces for anything above a 72 today)

what's the problem? Why was the tournament director called ? As long as either you or your partner don't have a history of such actions then I can't see that your opponents should feel as though they are entitled to any redress. I believe the result on the hand is irrelevant too. Seems like just another case of a successful psyche getting up the nose of someone. Dwayne-a-rama.

sorry folks...couldn't help myself. I had to track down the hand. Yes, helium's partner had the mother of all penalty doubles of 4C and 4Hx had four toppies. AKQ Q6 93 QJ9742 Is there a lesson is this hand? Well, there's probably enough to fill a large tome. You know, I once played an indy and deliberately changed my rating to Novice to see how my partners and oppos would treat me. Much like helium, they treated a novice like a fool. It was interesting experiment that I wont hurry to repeat. Dwayne (73 and rising)

The auction is so ridiculous that it hardly warrants discussion. It took me three reads and a pair of double-takes to realise it was your hand that doubled 4C. They send it back and now you want to chicken out? Come on now. Tell us the real story, you never once looked at your cards, did you? Dwayne (+71).

excellent suggestion Hog, or alternatively: - Switch to 'invisible' when a 1-25 logs on. Dwayne - relucantly downgraded to a 67

I agree. I'd like to be able to differentiate between: - really good friends : I must know when they are loggin in - people I call friends but I don't know them that well - ambivalent about when they log in - people I have flagged as friends because we once twelve months ago had a good set together in a pick-up game.- not that interested really that they are in the lobby - acquaintances from my country/ local club but to be honest I can't really stand - not that interested really that they are in the lobby - good players I like to spec when I am bored - good to know they are in the lobby but they wouldnt know me from a bar of soap. Perhaps we should have the facility to grade friends on a scale of say 1 to 100, where if an 85+ friend logs on, the computer will emit a really high pitched squeal so I can hear it in the ktichen and come running in. If a 60-84 friend logs on then the PC will emit a friendly whistle But if anyone graded under say 25 logs the systems plays a groan like sound. I think I've covered all the bases there. Dwayne (usually a 73).

did you check the vulnerabilty before you posted? Can partner have ♥KQT9xxxx plus a couple of other useless scattered cards for a 4♥ opener? P-A-S-S, and respect his decision to open a shut-out. next. dwayne-erino.

Dwayne wrote originally sigh. Dwayne

As far as I am aware, bridge is a recognised olympic sport - it seems to me the only reason why bridge is not being played at the olympics is dramas finding room in the hectic schedule and problems with the drug testing rules. Having played a couple of team sports at a decent level and bridge at a high level i think they are much the same thing - i have no interest in whether the word sport should encompass "mind games" but the argument that bridge or chess doesnt involve a physical element doesnt wash with me - last time i checked my head was part of my body - sports like shooting and archery are at least 95% mental and if you asked a 100 metre runner he will probably tell you the same thing about that sport. Dwayne.

alright Hideous. Some ground rules. 12-14 NT. with 4-4 in the minors open 1C. partner will rebid 2C over an (yes..expected) 1M response. 1NT rebid will not deny a major but opening a minor and raising the other minor will almost certainly deny a major unless 1444 or 4144. Your turn. delightful dwayne

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sajxxhaqdatxxcjtx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You're playing with an expert partner for the first time in about 8 years. Playing Acol, your partner opens 1C and raises your 1D response to 2D. Assume minimal gadgetry to avoid confusion. In 25 words or less, what is your plan for the hand? Cptn. Dwayne

That sounds fantastic. Oh hang on, what if I have clubs? Think I'll file this treatment next to Drury in my recycling bin. Back to the drawing board? Dwayne-da-rat.

Tough question. From what I've seen on BBO, my definition of World Class and the apparent definition of World Class by some of those who classify themselves thus arent exactly the same. In some cases, not even close. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Dwayne-ee-poo.

Septic, you should overcall 1NT. You are more likely to end up playing a partscore or game in NT or a Major than any contract in Diamonds. Novices are taught that bridge is a game of rules and while this is true to a certain extent, experience will show you that most of these rules are flexible (like having a balanced hand when bidding NTs). 1NT is by far the least of all evils you should consider. Besides, you can always say you mis-sorted your hand when you ruff or pitch on the second diamond. Dwayne-offski.

Septic, the Ace of Diamonds is an over-rated card in your hand. Honours, particularly Aces and Kings are most useful when combined with secondary honours in your partner's suit. You can be fairly sure from the 2D overcall that partner won't have much, if anything, in diamonds so this should further dissuade you from jumping to 3S. I can only presume you bid 3S because you held the DA, not in spite of it. Without the interference, ask yourself what your rebid would have been. If you still say 3S, ask yourself the same question again. And again and again until the answer is 2S. Dwayne-eroo.

Septic, that your opponents misdefended at Trick 6 by cashing the CA in no way should encourage you to bid like a novice. What on earth possessed you to make a game try opposite a partner that could only respond 1NT? Your DA is waste paper. Get a grip. Dwayne

I can think of many, many adjectives for this 5C overcall but until I get grip on international slander laws I'll just stick to the simple and probably most effective: "Bad". I'd agree with pc's comments, too. If Septic wants this forum to provide a truly objective assessment of her bidding judgement, then how about posting some of the (dare I say) dozens of examples where the play went awry after similar unilateral bidding sequences. Dwayne Porterhouse III

Speaking of which... what do you consider a fair market price for teaching? I'd say $1 USD per board, maybe more plus incentives for ACBL sanctioned masterpointed tourneys. DwAyNe PS.

$1 USD per hour? you really need to talk to your union delegate buddy. Plus please bear in mind the effect your pricing will have on the market. Dwayne