ArcLight

>Bridge Demographics -> poor short term and long term Ad revenue -> money loser But it already exists, just dont add more, but why kill it. What does it cost to keep running?

I just read that the MSN Gamin Zone Bridge site is closing. Im surprised. Does anyone know why?

#1 - pass You showed your hand with your bid. Terence Reese would be harshly critical (in his nasty way) of a further bid. He would say "Is there anything I haven't shown partner by my first bid? Do I have any extras? NO, so pass" #2 - Pard bid a Reverse. (1♣ then 2♦). What does it take for slam to make? How about a Grand Slam? RKCBW tells you exactly what you need. I don't want to cue bid 4♠, I want to know how many aces pard has, and if (s)/he has the trump Q. If pard had bid 1♦ then 2♣, then there would be no guarantee of extra values. In that case you have to ask yourself what pard needs for slam to make. A Spade lead would be likely, and unless there is a running minor you will be down. Also, its unlikely pard has 3 hearts, in which case you need him to have Qx. [Note: later edit - I dont consider (Jx Qx AKxx KQJxx is a down-the-middle reverse). to be a Reverse, its not good enough, with the potentially wasted Q and J. After reconsidering, I can see the merits of 4♠ in that pard can place the contract, based on my response to RKCBW. 3 Key cards, obviously A♠ and AK♥.] #3 - Pass. I sure hope pard has a ♦ stopper! Why not bid 2♠ instead of 2NT, which implies the balanced hand with the stoppers? Also, you are a bit strong for teh 2NT bid which (by the Mike Lawrence 2/1 notes) implies 12-14 or 18-19. Pard needs something for his 2/1, so I'll reluctantly pass. The Spades are so good that a 5-2 fit could be fine. #4 - My Clubs are over Declarers. no way I lead them. Lead the Q♥ #5 - Cross Ruff, dispose of a heart from each hand, make sure you cash any needed winners (Aces) first, becaus eof the length difference in trumps you want to ruff with Dummy first.

Frances are you going to post the hand?

Dynamic Defense by Mike Lawrence 1985 I tried reading this when I had been playing Bridge for 5 months and it was way over my head. So now with a couple of years of additional experience I tried it again. What a world of difference experience and study makes when reading a book on defense. B) The problems are generally not difficult ones. They involve counting and deduction. Also listening to the auction. - what are pards and declarers shapes? - what are pards and declarers HCP? - why did/n't pard make such and such a lead? - why is declarer playing in this fashion? - what do I need to set this? - what opening lead should I make? What helps this time around (compared to when I just started playing) was based on the carding (Count signals, low from touching honors, Suit preference) it was reasonable to come up with the solution. A very good book for Intermediate (plus) level players.

So what was the hand Frances?

>Opponents are not playing a weak two in diamonds I think E has 3-4 Clubs and W 2-3, so the odds are slightly in favor of East having the Q. - I don't think the heart Q discard is of much value. - I dont think W needed the Club Q for the 3♦ bid, given the vulnerability. However, both opps had a chance to bid, so its preemption value is lessened.

East made a take out double, presumably showing shortness in Spades. Doesn't that imply that West has 3-4 Spades? So playing a spade to the K and then backwards into Wests hand doesn't seem like a good way to play the Spades.

Francis, Do the opponents use 2♦ as a weak 2 bid? OR does it have a different meaning, such as Flannery, Multi, etc. The reason I ask is for West to hold KJQxxx in Diamonds, White on Red, (Not Vul vs Vul opps) and not open the bidding at 2♦ seems unusual to me. Some players wont open a weak 2 with a void, but from the carding you have described, West has 1 Spade, and at least 3 Hearts. Some players also will not bid a weak 2 with a 4 card major. Does that fit your opponents bidding style? Because then it implies that west has what they consider a flawed 2♦ bid, they have 4 hearts. West is: 1=4=6=2 Therefore the percentage play is to place East with the missing ♣Q. In any case, West doesn't need anything more than the diamond suit we've seen to bid 2♦, and having the club Q wouldnt cause them to bid 3. I place the Q with East and will also go down when West has it. :rolleyes: Its the percentage play, which works in the long run.

When I see examples of missed slams, there is always an easy way to have bid it. -If only you cue bid this suit rather than that suit - If only you cue bid the King - If only you bid Stayman rather than Jacoby or Jacoby rather than Stayman - if only you made a 2/1 rather than a splinter or splintered ratehr than bid a suit - for pard to cooperate you had to infer he had trump supports - for pard to cooperate you had to inder he had a 2nd suit - for pard to cooperate you had to infer pard had good controls, HCP, etc. ... etc ... When I see examples of slams on 25 points and a perfect fit, it looks so easy. I just played a 4 Club contract making 12 with a combined 23 HCP. Now ask yourself, how many slams have you gone down in that were "aggressive" (i.e. stupid) and risky? I've gone down in quite a few. "But pard we had a combined 33 HCP and 2 running 6 card suits." Too bad we were off 2 at the start. Too bad we had duplicated values, no source of tricks, etc. Bridge is a percentage game. When bidding slam, frequently not everyone will reach the slam. So you probably need a success rate greater than 50%, rather than trying for some thin slam. You can have all 12 outside honors and go down because trumps are weak. You need strong trumps and a trick source. In the example presented I would certainly use Stayman (Smolen actually, but its BIL so use Stayman) and not a transfer. I like the 4♦ splinter bid after opener bids 2♥. Here is the first big question: Since opener has a min of 15 HCP, how strong does the 4♦ hand have to be? For a normal splinter you want at least 13 support points, or 11-15 HCP, or some range like that. What about in this case? Does the splinter hand have a similar strength range? I assume so, because with a weaker hand, opposite a limited partner 15-17), just bid game. Dont stretch for that 23% slam. Now what? What does it take to make slam? Opener has solid trumps, a necessary condition so what else is needed? A source of tricks. With the diamond ace, pard can ruff some diamonds. No losers there. Since we are assuming pard has a good hand (lets say 10+ - 15 HCP). Since we are declaring, the Spade Kx is protected. Assume pard has nothing in Diamonds (or has discounted those values). Whats left? Either Clubs or spade values, and maybe the trump Ace. I think the conditions are there to look for slam. What we need is a source of tricks (and the trump ace) 4NT will show us the trump ace, but not the source of tricks. Pard has not bid Spades, so 4♠ may make him think you have the Ace and confuse him. And worse, he may bid 4NT which doesnt help. What you need is a running side suit, and pard should have values in both clubs and Spades. With the trump Ace, and a wasted stiff Q in dimes, pard should still have 5+ HCP, maybe in one suit. With no wasted Q of dimes, then pard should have enough that both minors are solid if theer is a trump loser, or with the trump ace, you have enough in Spades and clubs to make all but 1. What about cue bidding 5 Clubs? By bypassing 4S and 4NT you are telling pard you aren't interested in Aces, or trump strength, you are interested in a source of tricks. At this point pard can see 3+ clubs, and probably 2 dime ruffs. Pards trumps should be good for 3, and you have spade potential as well. Since pard bid 5♣ his values should be outside diamonds. Assume the Club Ace, and solid trumps, slam looks good. After 5♣ responder can bid 6♥ 1NT - 2C 2H - 4D 5C - 6H

You already got your message across. In addition, you have been taken off the hook, so no need again. To make another double will cause pard to think, and (s)he may go wrong. In Hugh Kelseys book "Improve your opening leads" he gives examples of a player doubling twice, and this asks for a different suit. So you are likely to get a bad result doubling again. 1) pard may lead another suit 2) pard will be confused and possibly annoyed, leading to disharmony in the partnership 3) the slam may still make and you are risking an extra 230 for 50 (doubled down 1, vs undoubled down 1).

I am a professional contract killer. Can supply references. When I'm waiting for a job to come in I work in Structured Finance wearing a number of hats (programmer, project manager, business analyst). What is "Structured Finance" you ask? Basically, anytime a company lends someone money, they usually don't want their money tied up waiting for it to be repaid. They want most of their money back fast, so they package and sell the loans, and make a cut. Mortgages, Credit cards, and other types of debt.

365 Winning Bridge Tips by Danny Kleinman The book is really an assortment of various bidding problems/tips, declarer play, and defense problems. Its geared towards Match Points though many of the problems/ideas are also applicable to IMPs. Some of the bidding problems involve hand (re)evaluation, hand patterns (what the other players have), and rebid problems. The author discusses why not to open a hand NT, why certain conventions are bad, and shows some of his own. I don't necessarily agree with all of this, but its interesting reading. The defense problems involve counting, and some are a lot harder and involve asking yourself what the meaning of the spots played are and their implication for that suit. The declarer play problems are a variety of match point decisions and bad contracts. Overall I though the book was worthwhile reading, though its not organized in any specific way. Its probably Intermediate plus level.

Jacoby 2NT requires 4 card support (unless you have some agreement to the contary) so I don't agree at all with the 2NT bid. You had a perfectly good alternative 2♣ Same for Limit raises, 4 card support is expected. There may be exceptions, but its a pretty solid rule. 1♥ - 2♣ 2♥ - 3♥ 4♣ - 4♦ 4NT - 5♦ (1430 3 key cards). Off 1 key card, probably the Ace of Spades, thats ok, the lead comes up to me and Clubs will likely be a source of tricks for discards. Maybe 6 hearts + 5 Clubs + 1 Dime = 12 tricks. 6♥.

Just out of curiousity, how commonly used are the Kokish replied to 2♣? Do many experts (real ones, not self assed BBO experts) use them? I don't claim to be a theorist, but it seems that the step response/Kokish is less valuable than knowing about a suit or staying out of pards way so he can describe his hand. Shape is more important than knowing pard has an Ace or 2 kings, at least in the beginning.

>1. Can you stop at 4m or are you always forced to 5m if 3NT turns out to be a bad spot? 5m requires more strength than 4M or 3NT so bidding on may result in many sets. Mike Lawrence discusses this in his version of 2/1 and why he feels 1♦-2♣ is not always a game force.

>I agree, but if I remember correctly BBO policy does not - leaving, even when dummy, is recorded, and if you do it too frequently you will be suspended from BBO. In BIL my mentor would let me declare both hands when our side was declaring (I had kibitz set to see pards cards so I never saw the opps), and would thus "quit" 5-6 times per session with no suspension. But when we played a second time the same week, he got the main room suspension notice. So the cut off is probably above some number. I dont think quitting once in a while will trigger it. Of course the alternative is to read your email while the hand is being played and see if the hand is over after 10 minutes or if you hear the beep. :unsure:

>opener's partener rather spoiled the hand by making a very long pause over 4D holding.... Highly unethical. >Opener subsequently re-opened with a X and the hand was played in 5C Highly unethical.

>Before the result hit, my partner typed about how he is sick of so-called experts lying about their credentials and left from dummy mid-hand. Your pard should not have made those comments, especially mid hand. However, whats wrong with the player who is dummy leaving when YOU are declaring? Why should he have to sit there if he doesn't want to play with you, waiting for you to finish the hand? I don't think its necessary for the Dummy player to stick around being bored/frustrated. Just leave quietly, or with a "GLP".

How to Read Your Opponents Cards by Mike Lawrence. I reread it after doing Mikes COUNTING AT BRIDGE 1 & 2 CDs. Great book for Intermediate and beginner level players, though the CDs are better. One thing that strikes me is some of the inferences would be harder to draw today with lighter opening bids. For instance, how would you bid this as South, Red on Red at Imps. East deals and passes, you hold: ♠ A 7 ♥ T 8 7 6 5 3 2 ♦K 5 ♣ K 2 Maybe I'm totally wrong but why not open 1♥? If pard has: x you will probably lose 3 hearts, with xx 2 or 3. With anything more 2 or fewer hearts. Unlike other books on Deductive Reasoning, this one includes a chapter on "tells". That is reading opponents hestiations, quick plays, and other non-tempo plays.

There is also a system where: 2♦ = something, non bust 2♥ = bust Its more fully described in one of Marty Bergens books or Mike Lawrences CONVENTIONS CD. I saw the Kokish system on his Modern American Bidding (2/1) CD, and I didn't like it. He is obviously very highly regarded so I wouldn't dismiss his ideas lightly. But it may be difficult to find a pard willing to use his systems.

Does East really have the kind of hand that wants to rais eto the 4 level? The double fit in diamonds worked out great, but if it was a misfit it would have been bloody. Is this type of raise common?

Advanced Bridge Defense by Eddie Kantar. What agreat book. It covers so much in a single book. The first volume (Modern Bridge Defense) covers carding and signaling. This covers things like: * Clues from the bidding - counting shape and HCP * Clues from the opening lead * Clues from the play - You lead the K from KQJT Dummy has a stiff, declarere sins, and ruffs one rund. Then pulls trumps. He has no more losers in that suit, so you can discard. * Clues from discards - signaling * technique and deception - surround plays, mandatory false cards, leading low from AKx when you need 3 tricks The reader is shown a large number of hands and taken through the thinking process on how to solve the hands, based on the clues available. Some of the hands require making an assumption, like pard has AJx Excellent Intermediate/Advanced book. I rate it an A. This was the third Bridge book I ever read, and at the time I didnt think much of it. Now reading it 2 years later, with much more experience I can really appreciate it. If you are a beginner I suggest reading Roots How to Defend a Bridge Hand. Then after you feel comfortable, try Kantars 2 volume set. The Secrets of Winning Bridge by Jeff Rubens is a great book. In addition to the Hand Evaluation it has good sections on bidding close games, and long vs short suit game tries. The only outdated part (from what I remember) is Rubens was mocking Blackwood and preferred Culbertsons ace asking system (4-5?).

Danny Kleinman discusses the effects of different NT ranges in his excellent book The No Trump Zone. Changing an NT range has an effect on the other bids in your system, and these might not be obvious at first inspection. Also, it depends on the quality of your opponents. Players may not be familiar with playing against the weak NT and may not defend/bid correctly. Using the Weak NT may give you an advantage just because its different. Players who are not advanced may think they can penalty double or bid over the Weak NT with impunity.

In general the standard lead against NT contracts with AKxxx is 4th best. If 3/5 it will be x. This suit is misisng 2 honors so an unblock doesnt help. AKJTx would be differnt. I don't think you can be sure of cashing out. I would not play K for "Unblock an honor or give count", as that doesnt help you in both cases. If its instead "unblock the Q" it still doesnt work in both cases. Playing A for Attitude works on the second but not the first. (if you play A for Unblock/Count and K for Attitude then switch what I said above) Pard (E) doesnt know you have 5 Spades if you lead the A or K.