TimG

I think the question is: does H98 constitute an interior sequence? The Ten would be "textbook" from HT9, right? The Seven would be "textbook" from H87. I think the Eight is "textbook" from H98 -- that is, this is not an interior sequence -- but have been confused by this holding in the past.

You have an instant convert!

The ACBL in error? Shocking.

That method worked for me. Required one of those capture confirmations and a validation key sent via e-mail.

I would suggest you say something like "Let's call the director and let him sort it out." And then call the director.

Did you call the director to the table and then speak to him away from the table, or did you talk to the director between rounds? It seems to me that in an ideal world, you could wait until after the round and then tell the director: "I noticed an opponent who was mouthing numbers as she counted her points; I don't mean to make an accusations, but wonder if you might watch and see if it is a habit and speak to her if you notice something." The director would then handle it in a tactful manner and your involvement would end. But, the reality is that you will not remain anonymous in such a situation and the player who is spoken to almost invariably feels like you have gone behind her back to tattle on her. So, I think the best course, if you decide to do anything, is to call the director to the table and tell him of your concerns in front of all involved. Things are less likely to turn nasty when there is no perception of behind the back activity. In answer to your question about whether it is your job to call the director back if you think there has been damage, I believe the answer is "yes".

I don't think you're going to have much success in generating interest in an online event that will last more than 12-15 boards. Or, that will require advance coordination from a team of four. On the other hand, I think it would be great if there were some sort of "league night" where teams could show up any Monday at 8:00 to play a match or two against opponents that could be considered reliable. I just don't think that online play is much of a priority for most. If a co-worker invited you out for drinks or your kid needed help with homework, you wouldn't decline because you had an online bridge date. Well, maybe you would if your team was counting on you, but you probably wouldn't agree to play in a format that did not allow for such flexibility.

If he has 109x then false carding gives you a losing option of playing small to the 8 on the second round when the standard safety play of small to the jack would win. But, on the 3rd round declarer will have no choice but to play the other high honor form dummy, right? So, still one loser in the suit (since the suit is 33).

I would vote for the elimination of all mouse over messages. I'd much rather a click be required in order to bring up a player's profile, a list of kibitzers, the cards played to the last trick, etc. I find inadvertent popup messages rather annoying.

Last night, Richard tried exclusionary blackwood. The person who was to be on lead doubled the exclusionary bid. Undeterred, Richard bid slam. Equally undeterred, the opponent who doubled led the suit...and cashed the first three tricks.

If you give a little effort to selecting the games, you should be able to get 35 in well under 40 sessions; there seem to be all sorts of special games clubs can run that increase the awards considerable.

The original poster asked for optional rated rooms. Nothing saying you would have to play in the rated room.

I thought the old Laws allowed SOs to regulate conventions, but not natural bids (except for initial actions that could be a King or more below average). This is why the ACBL can't ban 8-10 NTs, but they can bar any conventional responses to an 8-10 NT. "Natural" is not the opposite of "conventional". - "Conventional" is a term defined in the 1997 Laws. - "Natural" is a term defined by the EBU (or ACBL, or other authority). A sponsoring organisation can ban any conventions. Some of these banned conventions might well be "natural", depending on how "natural" is defined. Well, is a 1♦ opening that promises three or more diamonds, but could also contain a longer suit, conventional? What about a 1♦ opening that promises four or more diamonds, but could also contain a longer suit?

How about completing a shape picture? I see that Han doesn't think a later spade bid will show 3-card support, but wouldn't you expect 3415 from: 1♠-2♣ 2♦-2♥ 2N-3♠? I recognize that this probably isn't the expert approach these days; I'm not professing to be right. But, I am curious why this would be a bad approach. Tim

I think that the reason people put XLM or Y BRQs in their profile is not so much because they are proud of or bragging about their achievements*, but because these things are something that potential pick up partners can relate to. We all know that self-ratings are essentially meaningless. People could lie about their masterpoint total just as easily as their skill level, but I think people view the two differently. * They may well be proud of their achievement, but I don't think that's why they put it in their profile.

I thought the old Laws allowed SOs to regulate conventions, but not natural bids (except for initial actions that could be a King or more below average). This is why the ACBL can't ban 8-10 NTs, but they can bar any conventional responses to an 8-10 NT. But, as I suggested, and has been confirmed by Frances, it doesn't really matter anymore since the new Laws broaden the SO's scope for regulation.

I care about masterpoints, but I don't care about how many I "win".

That's interesting. In the ACBL a three-card minor suit opening is considered natural (and thus has been exempt from most regulation). I seem to think that the Laws have recently changed in regards to whether SOs can regulate natural calls. But, I'm curious, does the EBU consider a three-card minor suit opening natural? If so, how is it that the 6-3 canape types are made illegal?

Compare these two non-competitive auctions: 1♣-1♦; 1♠-3N and 1♣-1♦; 1♠-2♥; 3m-3N. Playing 4th suit forcing (to game), do you play that responder is showing different strength hands for these two sequences, or just that responder wanted to get a final bit of information before deciding where to place the contract? Would your answer change if the auctions were: 1♣-1♥; 1♠-3N and 1♣-1♥; 1♠-2♦; 2♥/3♣-3N?

There are official ways of saying the year? Made official by whom? I guess Norsk Språkråd (Norwegian Language Council) decided this some years ago. Which does make it official. Is that a government agency? Or, something along the lines of Fowler or Strunk & White for English language?

There are official ways of saying the year? Made official by whom?

The reasons for why you cannot find are that there is no weaknesses and there are many kind of canape' systems. No weaknesses must be an overbid. In my experience playing canape, one weakness is that opener may have a tough decision about whether to introduce his second (primary) suit at a high level in a competitive auction. Suppose opener is 2641, opens 1♦ intending to canape into hearts and sees: 1♦-1♠-P-2/3♠. Introducing the heart suit at the three or four level is dangerous, but not bidding it at all could be a disaster.

I agree with Richard: this is a social type event, to remove chat capability is counter to that.

I never said I would always pause appropriately, I simply said that would be the simplest solution. I like to think that I am good about pausing appropriately, but no one is perfect all the time. How is it that the person using the stop card can always decide what is appropriate, but the next player cannot?

There is a letter to the editor in this month's Bulletin that suggests an Online Life Master (or some such) designation. I've recently played in a number of ACBL tourneys. As $1 per 12 board speedball, which lasts less than one hour and pays many pairs 2.00 points, I can see how it is easy to pile up online points. (But, I don't think these count towards life master, at least I am quite sure they are un-pigmented, so really has o affect on life master requirements.)