Dinarius

Ok, thanks. D.

Many thanks for prompt response. Having both click Casual usen't be necessary. Is that something that will have to be done from now on? Thanks. D.

Windows x64 Firefox I am trying to setup a table with a friend. When I login, I can see her in my People list. As soon as I click on Casual (intending to click on Start a Table) my entire People/Friends list goes blank! :unsure: So, when I set up the table and click Reserve, a popup says that she is not logged in. She clearly is, I just can't see her. Also, when I click Casual, I also disappear from her People/Friends list. Same problem with various browsers. Help, please. Thanks.

Ok. So , those who play UDCA... 1. What do you signal in first discard in suit contracts? 2. What do you signal in first discard against NT? Thanks. D.

Thanks for the reply. Yet, in the BB example in my link above, East conveniently has 5 diamonds and can afford to signal a switch with ♦️2 when discarding, not following. So, what happens if ♦️ suit is four card? Now you want to show it via suit preference, right? Thanks. D.

Does UDCA remove the need for suit preference discards? D.

At Matchpoints, any ♣️ contract will score well, I would have thought. Making 3♣️+2 or +3 is beaten only by game (very few I’d expect) or the even less likely slam. I like East’s bidding and passing 3♣️ should have scored ok, I expect. Otherwise, with West values working in ❤️/♣️, maybe 4♣️ from West. 3NT is terrible. I think I take it out to 4♣️ and partner should wake up now. D.

One of my partners is trying to persuade me to switch to UDCA. 1. Who uses it? 2. If you don’t like, what do you prefer, and why? 3. Can someone point me to a good online UDCA primer? This is the only one I’ve found. https://www.bridgebum.com/upside_down_count_attitude.php Thanks. D.

Still waiting for Suitplay download email. D.

SuitPlay is new to me. Many thanks! D.

Ok. With AKJx opposite xx.... So, cashing a top Club and then finessing J is a shade over 50%. While cashing AK and ruffing the x is always less than 50%. What I would have thought. Thanks. D.

Yes. And I also asked about that actual 4/2 holding, which you replied to three posts above. But, you mustn't have noticed I'd changed it to 4/2. Thanks. D.

Ok. I thought you were referring to 4/2 fit, which was the case in the actual hand. Thanks. D.

But, even if you can afford to lose a ♣️, playing small/small is the same a A,K, small ruff, right? Anyway, I was only in 4♠️. The other team were in 6♠️. The ♣️ holding was A,K,J,x opposite x,x. He didn’t finesse. He played A,K, ruff and the Q♣️ fell to the right of the A,K. I.e. the finesse would have lost. Such is life. D.

Thanks. One last thing... Let’s say the suit is 8,7, opposite A,K,J,2. I.e. the long hand has one ♣️ less. Which is favourite now, ruff out Q or finesse? D.

Should have said you have total access to both hands and can ruff all you like. So, I presume that A, K, and two ruffs, if necessary, are overwhelming favourite to playing the finesse. Which is what I would have thought. Thanks. D.

In 6♠️ you hold 8,3 opposite A,K,J,7,2, ♣️. You must make 3 ♣️ tricks to make the slam. Do you play for the drop or finesse? You have no clues whatsoever. D.

[hv=pc=n&s=s2hakqj87dak7ct75&n=sa65ht62d65caq862]133|200[/hv] You are in 6♥. West leads Q♦ You draw trumps in two and ruff a ♦ So, you have 11 tricks. What is the best way to play the ♣ suit to guarantee the second ♣ trick that you need? Finesse? Or A♣ and return to hand and play towards Q♣? Thanks. D.

I took the view of vacant places. So, with a 3/2 ❤️ split, N is marginally more likely to hold only 2 hearts and S 3. Therefore, if N has ♠️A, I can guarantee 10 tricks by ❤️A and another, which is what I played. I would only lose ❤️K, ♠️A, ♦️A. Is this better than the 50% finesse? Anyway, I was wrong. N had the third ❤️ and I lost 4 tricks. Declarer at the other table won ♣️ lead on table and ran ❤️J making 11 tricks. He said he wanted to protect his ♦️K and took the finesse. I don’t think ♦️K is relevant to analysis. Interesting hand. D.

[hv=pc=n&w=s65haq3dkt86caqt9&e=skjhjt864d2ckj542&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p1np2dp2h2s3cp4hppp]266|200[/hv] IMPS North leads ♣3 Almost certainly a singleton. Presumably, two lines... 1. Win on the table and run ♥J. I assume that this is 50%. This loses only when North has ♥K and South has an entry in ♠ or ♦. You lose 4 tricks. 2. Win ♣ and play Ace and another ♥. Assuming that N has ♠A for his bid, this wins in all situations except where N, has the third ♥ and S has ♥K,x. Unless I'm missing something they are the only lines. Is 2. better or worse than 50%? Thanks. D.

Bidding is an imperfect science. That’s why we continue to play the game - because we have differences of opinion about many aspects of it. If there was a perfect system, the game would be boring. The three card ❤️ suit above is a pure accident on my part. I simply wanted to discuss how people play *any* 5,3,3,2, 15-17 count. (Ditto the ♣️ suit.) The only stipulation is that the ❤️♠️ suits are not rebiddble. People seem to think the above hand was a specific deal - sorry for the confusion. That was not my intention. The question revolves around readers approaches to the generic nature of these hands. As I see it, when the major is not rebiddable, the hand is worth one bid, not two. So, what happens next? Is there a case for playing Puppet all the time, not just opposite 2NT? Thanks. D.

Thanks. I know so many pairs playing 5c/Strong NT who don’t play Puppet all the time. I think it makes sense to do so. D.

[hv=pc=n&n=sk8632hk97da5ckqj&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1np]133|200[/hv] Considering the dreaded 5,3,3,2 distribution and 15-17 points. Would you open 1♠ with the above hand? Reverse the major suits... Would you then open 1♥? In both cases I open 1NT, because I consider the major suit not re-biddable. If you agree with me, and you have such an agreement with your regular partner(s), which form of Stayman do you play? If you agree with me, do any of you feel that this is a case for playing Puppet Stayman all the time? If you disagree, what do you suggest instead? Thanks. D.

Just curious... If West’s bid was 3❤️, do any of you play Stolen Bids in this auction and Double to show transfer to ♠️? D.

What do you bid now as North? Is 3♠ over 3♦ always forcing for you? Would 4NT be simply asking for Aces? (If so, when you hear three Aces from Partner, assuming she is guaranteeing a doubleton ♠, you can now count 13 tricks.) Thanks. D. [hv=pc=n&s=s62hak72dat42caj5&w=shqt8dkq98653ct74&n=sakqt9754h4d7ckq6&e=sj83hj9653djc9832&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=p1n3d]399|300[/hv]