ArcLight

I know Cohen and Bergen claim this - but I don't know anyone that follows this in practice. I think they are frequently quoted out of context. While Larry Cohen has written that he hates to double with a void at the 2 level, that doesn't mean he would not do so ever, and this is the 3 level.

Depends on partner, opps, field, etc, but yes I would often do this. Justin, I assume you would also bid 1♠ on a much better hand? Doesn't such a wide ranging overcall range cause problems for your pard? I don't know much about what is used outside the USA. I see mention of the Italian style where an overcall shows 3-13 HCP. Do all 3 pairs on the Italian team use this?

More Killing Defense by Hugh Kelsey I think I liked this even more than the first one. Its still has some outdated bidding (such as 1NT - 2D being natural) that will cause you to miss a few problems, but other than that is excellent. - A few chapters of discarding (a very important subject) - A few chapters on removing declarers options (i.e. forcing him to commit to one like of play before being able to first try another) - anticipating partners problems Like all advanced books on defense the emphasis is on more than just counting HCP, its on visualization and figuring out how the play will go. I think there were more problems (especially in the later chapters) where you had to break up potential squeezes, or if you play in such a way you will allow declarer to squeze someone. In Killing Defense Kelsey thought defending against squeezes was not just advanced but of less importance to study, compared to all the other defense related topics. The book has "Intermediate" listed on the cover but I think thats rather ambitious. Not that an Intermediate wouldn't get any of the problems, rather they should work their way up to this level first. I rate it an A, though probably Arend will rate it an A+ :)

This is going to take some luck B) A cross ruff wont work. Neither will setting up the dimes Lets hope for the following lucky layout ♠ 4 - 5 ♥ 2-3 ♦ 3/4 - 4/3 ♣ 3-2 or 4-1 with East having an honor Ruff H Ace H Q club to 9, west wins Win return H King (trumps were 2-3 ;) Club Ace dropping Easts honor making 5 hearts, 1 spade, spade ruff, 3 clubs If east plays an honor, win ace, pull trump and lead clubs, same result

Under what circumstances does one need 6 cards to make an overcall at the 2 level, as opposed to 5 cards? In other words, when would an overcall on a 5 card suit be ill advised. Beyond the obvious like a bad suit and a weak hand :lol: In general, for an overcall at the 2 level in a minor, is 5 cards enough? I thought you needed more for a minor or is that not true? (I realize in this case you have a good hand and suit.)

Richard, in #2, if you pass, you are converting LHOs 1♠ to penalty, with him over you, and pard and RHO probably holding 1 spade each (or could be 2-0 or 0-2), allowing LHO to make his small trumps via ruffs. Maybe he's ruffing hearts?

>is 4 hearts the best bid? Playing Mike Lawrence style 2/1 the 4♥ jump shows hearts and diamonds with no values outside and no slam interest. In this case you do have the Club Q and that could help set up pards club suit as a source of tricks. In addition you have a stiff spade. If pard has no wasted spade values, its possible to make a slam ♠ x x x ♥ A Q x ♦ K x ♣ A K x x x This is a big hand, with precisely fitting values and wouldnt be typical. But its not impossible. Or How about ♠ x x x ♥ A Q x ♦ x ♣ A K J x x x Or even ♠ x x x ♥ A Q x ♦ K ♣ A J x x x Slam on a club fineese So I think the corrcet bid is 3♥ not 4♥ >is 3 diamonds showing 5/5? You can use 2 treatments (make sure you an dpard know which one you are using) a) Two GOOD suits. 8 – AQJ87 – Q8 – KQJT5, but NOT AK – Q9763-J-AKQ87 (hearts are weak, even with 19 HCP). Bid 2D with the later, despite the HCP. :lol: Splinter. Keeps the bidding lower than a double jump to the 4 level. You can play that a double jump then shows a void. >is 4NT a bit pushy? Given the existing auction, with the 4♥ bid, the 4NT is a terrible bid. I don't like the 2 club response because it distorts the picture pard has of the hand. Its not necessary to make a 2/1. 1 Spade would work, then force to game.

Playing 2/1, IMPs Unfavorable 1. LHO opens 1♦, pass, RHO bids 1♥, ?? You hold: ♠ J x x ♥ A K x x ♦ x ♣ A K 9 8 x Do you bid, if so, what? Any worries? What if the auction goes: 1♦, pass, RHO bids 1♥, pass 2♦, pass, pass, ??? -------------- 2. What do you do with this? [hv=d=w&v=e&s=skj8742hqt9643d5c]133|100|Scoring: IMP West deals and opens 1♠ , pard doubles, RHO passes, what do you bid?[/hv] Any worries? ------------- 3. IMPS, unfavorable - opps silent Pard opens 1♠, you bid 1NT (forcing) Pard rebids 3♦ (game force) 1♠ - 1NT 3♦ -? What do you bid holding: ♠Q 7 ♥J x x ♦Q T x x ♣J T x x What would it take for you to look for a diamond game, instead of a spades game?

Why not rebid 1NT on question #1, since you have the stoppers, and can probably make 7 tricks on a heart lead? How many HCP does a 1NT rebid show? A 2NT rebid? Doesnt 2NT show 18-19? If a heart is not lead, 3NT needs 3 tricks assuming you have 6, from 5 clubs and the heart ace.

If I won the megabux lottery, and hired those guys I would say to them: I want to become a good bridge player, as opposed to winning events because you played great and carried me. I want you to help me improve all aspects of my card play and bidding judgment. Currently I only know 2/1. I will use whatever system you want. I think my card play needs huge improvement and any gains from system or conventions would be miniscule compared to that. I'd like to do something the Dallas Aces did, namely play some hands then have you critique my bidding and play. I would also pay Fred to add some features to BBO. :o

They were down 2. Pard had a good hand. >Silence is golden. I pass and lie in wait. Unless declarer is very competent or cautious, the 5-0 split will get them to do the "oh crap!" routine. Yup - they were unhappy with the 5-0 split :) At that point the dummy decided to leave.

* It worked at home (as opposed to work - so its likely a firewall problem) - but it was very slow , maybe BBO ws slow at that time - Looks nice * =================================================== I tried running the Demo but all I got was a blue screen after "logging in" and looking at "Connecting to BBO" for a while It just sat there Then the login screen came up again. Is there more to the demo? (I tried all 3 methods) I am running this from Work, I'll try at home later.

IMPS, all white, decent pard, not a random pick up you are West andhold: ♠ T x x x x ♥ x x x ♣ x x x ♦ x x bidding goes: E N W S - 1♣ p 1♠ 2NT* 3♠ p 4NT p 5♦ p 6♠ p p ? *2NT = 2 suited take out Do you double because of the 5-0 trump split, knowing pard probably has a red suit winner? Or just pass and likely set them 1 or 2.

IMPS all white Pard is a decent player, not some random pick up LHO opens 2♦ (weak 2) - pass - pass - ? ♠Q x x x ♥ Q x ♦Q x x ♣ K Q x x In the balancing seat do you: 1. pass 2. bid 2NT 3. bid 2 Spades 4. double 5. other In the balancing seat, what would it take for you to bid or pass in this auction?

http://www.bridgeclues.com/ http://www.prairienet.org/bridge/ http://www.greatbridgelinks.com/gblCLASS/ http://inquiry2over1.blogspot.com/ http://homepage.mac.com/bridgeguys//glossbridgemain.html http://www.annam.co.uk/sayc.htm http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/def_1nt01.htm http://eastontario.com/conventions/signalling2.htm http://www.eastontario.com/conventions/count2.htm http://www.eastontario.com/conventions/count.htm

>The best way to get to slam on this hand without overbidding it from the get go is to open 1D And get passed out?

Why is LHO leading a trump? I assume its not from a holding like Kxx as that could blow a trick. Also, why not a ♦ lead? I assume LHO doesnt have AK or KQ, thus RHO should have the K, or more. Why not lead a ♠? With Q J xxx it would be ok. Maybe they have the unsupported ace? I think LHO has a hand with tenaces and wants to avoid breaking a suit. I go up with the heart ace, in the hopes of dropping RHOs stiff king. This isn't a percentage play, just based on my impression of the opening lead. If you had more trumps, you could eliminate Dimes, and have one in each hand to end play someone. I don't see that working here.

After 2♣-2♦ 1. how many favor: 2NT (22-24 HCP) 2. how many favor: 3♦ It seems after 2NT you will stop in 3NT

MP, all white Pard is a very strong player (for real!!) You hold: ♠K J x x x ♥ Q ♦ K x x ♣Q T x x Pard deals and opens 1♦ 1♦ - p - 1♠ - (2♥) 2♠ - (3♦)* - ? * I asked what 3♦ was and was told its Natural, and shows a heart fit. What do you bid at this point? If my reasoning is faulty, please tell me. 1. I have a wasted QH. 2. The Club suit is defensive 3. I have no idea what pards ♦are. My King under the overcaller is surely good (unless its ruffed in a ♥ contract, when LHO has a stiff or void). What do you do? 3♠? 4♠? Pass? X? ***4. I forgot we were using Support doubles! :) So 2♠ should show 4. Given that pard has 4♠, how would that change your bididng. I think Bid 3♠ with a 5-4 fit. Please dont factor #4 into your first resposne, to the first section. Just pretend that you are unsure if pard has 3 or 4 spades. Then see if it changes when you know he has 4

IMPS, all RED 2/1 You hold ♠ A K Q x x ♥ x x ♦ A K x x x ♣ J p p p 1♠ p 1NT p ? What do you bid? 2♦? 3♦ p p p 1♠ p 1NT p 2♦ p 2♥ p ? What do you bid? Pass? 3♥? Other? I think I am too timid on certain types of hands, and have played some partscores making 4-6 recently. Or worse, I have to apologize to pard for dropping them in a part score, when game was on.

You need to consider something else. Are you playing Walsh responses? Bypassing ♦ to bid a major? If so, responder is denying a 4 card major, or else he has a strong hand that will bid again (a reverse into the 4 card major on the next bid) I vote for Splinter in support of pards suit.

hearts were 3-2. The result was 3♥ making 6. 2 clubs ruffed, and one lost to RHOs K. LHO had S; K x x x H x x D Q x x x x C 9 x and lead teh 9 RHO (Dealer) held S A J x x H Q x D x x C K J T x x

1. Is this forcing? Why? 1♣ - 1♥ 1NT - 2NT 3♥ I assume its forcing because with a minimum just pass. To bid 3♥ shows you are accepting the 2NT invitation. (The opp who bid it said it wasn't forcing.) 2. What do you bid? IMPS Favorable ♠Q T ♥A K Q T ♦ x x x ♣ x x x x RHO deals and passes. You pass. Pass. Pard opens 1♦. p P p 1♦ p 1♥ p 2♣ What do you bid? Why? It turns out pard held: 3. IMPS, unfavorable ♠ void ♥ A K J T 6 5 4 ♦A J ♣8 7 6 5 RHO deals and opens 1♣. What do you bid? Assume you bid 1♥. (is that terrible?) Bidding continues: 1♣ - 1♥ - DBL - 1♠ DBL - ? What do you bid? After you answer this, this is what pard had. 4. Is this forcing 2♠ p p 3♣ p 3♦ p ? Is 3 D forcing?

1♣ - 2♥ 3♥ - Now hearts is set as the trump suit. I dont see how you can find Clubs

>It's really more of an ethical question: "what should we do when the letter of the laws seems to conflict with active ethics?" I would just pre-alert. What would you do if you played agains't a pair and they made a Michaels cue bid. You bid accordingly. And later found out it wasn't Michales. You only assumed it was, because thats what everyone uses. Should you ask the see their card on certain types of bids? Does that create an ethical problem? It also slows the game down a bit. Lets say you don't alert. Won't most people assume its Michaels. Lets say they get "burned". Won't they be annoyed. I think not pre-alerting has the potential to create ill feelings. Whiel pre-alerting is a basic courtesy.