TimG

You mean like the way table information, player profile, cards played to the last trick, tournament information, etc. just pop up when the pointer happens over a certain part of the screen? Whether the user wanted the information or not. :-) Tim

If 2♠ is natural, is there a hand west can have that would not overcall 1♠ where game in spades would be good? Lots of them. ♠Jxxxx ♥xxxx ♦x ♣Qxx. One might question whether advancer should bid at all with this hand, yet game is darn good. So, it is certainly possible that west used UI when he passed 2♠. The director ought to be called after the auction is over, right after east explains that there has been an incorrect explanation (if he believes there is no Michaels agreement). If he believes they are playing Michaels, but that he misbid, he has no obligation to say anything, but when dummy hits I would expect NS to call the director and explain what happened. It is not clear that NS have been damaged by East's use of the misinformation (didn't I read somewhere that EW made 5♦ at the other table). But, that's for the director to sort out after the situation has been explained to her. Tim

Pass quickly.

I don't think Super Chart methods are allowed in the Blue Ribbon Pairs. Spingold, Vanderbilt and Team Trials, yes. But, I wonder whether the riskof using unfamiliar methods in those events doesn't outweigh the possible advantage. If the advantage is only slight, it takes a long time to overcome a few mistakes. 4)Ekeblad used to always play a more strong club, canape style rather than full relay, perhaps he has changed. I think he has played relay within the strong club structure, maybe while playing with Rubin. But, I could be wrong. And, it could be that he onlyplays some relays, rather than a full relay system. Tim

I think North plain mis-evaluated his hand when he jumped to 4H. He's got controls everywhere, an extra heart, heart intermediates. True, the club void is a negative, but there's plenty good about the hand. Given the start, I can't imagine why north didn't bid 5♠ over 5♦. Even so, I'm not sure what hand south expected that would make a slam a bad propostition. Maybe xx KJxxx Axxx Ax? Tim

Relay system are not allowed under the ACBL's GCC. They are allowed under the mid-chart, with the provision that relays must promise game forcing values. But, I don't think the over-regulation is what keeps the very top players from playing relay systems. Ekeblad and Rubin play a relay system (I think). My experience against top pairs is limited, but from my play and reading, this is the only top pair I can think of that plays a full blown relay system (in ACBL).

The vote was even between a heart and a club until Fred weighed in. Then the next 7 votes went to a heart!

An IMP is an IMP. Some matches are lost by single IMPs. About a year ago, I was on a KO team that won a match by a single IMP. My partner and I missed a vulnerable slam that I knew would be bid at the other table. So, I played a little loose and was able to take all 13 tricks (yes, our bidding was pretty bad). They played safe at the other table and took 12 tricks. The 3rd overtrick held the loss on the board to 12 instead of 13. This may be just the sort of thing you are talking about: why should the 13th trick in either contract have any significance in the outcome of the match? I did know what I was doing when I tried for 13 tricks. Tim

I would expect the luck to be (from lowest to highest): BAM teams IMP teams MP pairs IMP pairs That is teams vs pairs is a bigger luck factor than IMPs vs MP. I don't think BAM almost killed bridge. But, when Swiss teams came on to the sceen, they quickly replaced BAM. I expect that BAM events in the 60's were just as popular, maybe more so since more people were playing, as today's Swisses. Tim

It matters how often the new bridge player plays. Only a very few. I think there are either 2 or 3 Life Matser Pairs at NABCs in a year. but maybe only one. Bracketed KOs are a different story, very often it is impossible to play up in a bracketed KO.

ACBL already offers this: Open events and Senior events. [ducks for cover] I do not believe IMP pairs involves any less luck than MP pairs. In fact, I'll bet that most experts consider IMP pairs to involve more luck than MP pairs. There is a lot of luck involved in any pair event because your score is dependent upon results at tables where you have no influence on the outcome. In a MP event, each board caries the same weight, there are the same number of MP available on each board; in an IMP event the value of each varies, some boards are worth lots of IMPs, some are worth next to nothing. So, not only do you have the randomness (lucky or unlucky) of results at tables you have no control over, those random fluctiation will be worth lots sometimes and little others.

I don't think it has anything to do with "need" or "deserve", but rather with what they want. If they want a sanctuary, those who run the tournaments ought to provide one. Expecially if not providing one means these players won't show up. What purpose does it serve to offer events which people don't want to play in? The difference between the typical player with 100 masterpoints and the typical player with 500 masterpoints is not as great as the difference between the typical player with 500 masterpoints and an expert. Tim

The original intent of flighted events may have been to create a stronger field. (I think the first restricted events were "master" events where you had to have a minimum number of masterpoints to enter. There are still a few of these -- the Life Msster Pairs at the Fall NABC is one.) But, I think flights have evolved to be a tool to protect the non-experts. I suspect strongly that Flight B players are more attached to their events than the Flight A players are to their events. That is, a larger percentage of flight B players would choose not to show up if events were de-flighted. Tim

Why don't you want to play against the 199ers?

Most low end (skill wise) B players have lots more than 199 masterpoints. Let's refocus the discussion: What would be the benefit of eliminating flighted events (ignoring the newcomer/199er game)?

1) I'd pass and not be the least bit concerned. 2) An Ace would probably be enough. Not two Queens or a King and a Jack.

Most (if not all) of the Pro-Ams in New England are run by EMBA (Eastern Massachusetts Bridge Association) in conjuction with their sectionals (local tournaments). (Just trying to give credit where credit is due.) Tim Goodwin President, New England Bridge Conference

I don't think it's a matter of the best players having their nose in the air, but rather a desire from the best players to be able to play in a high quality game. As Richard has pointed out, when the field is weakened, the reliability of the results is lessened. This will also lessen the enjoyment of the best players. Tim (still a member of the <2000 crowd)

So, what you want is an open event that is random enough that you have a chance of placing?

I don't think it's an obligation, but it sure is good for the game. Two different things are being discussed here: playing with lesser players; and playing in lesser fields.

Sounds like you should try the Bermuda Regional (just finished). They even have an award ceremony banquet on the last day of the tournament -- a black tie optional affair.

I suspect you are wrong! Put me down for 3♥.

If this is a typical, though minimum, opening bid, I am happy to defend 2♥ doubled. I have two trumps, the AK of my suit, and some slow defensive tricks in the minors. I'm quite happy to defend with this hand. In fact, I can't think of a start to the auction I'd be happier with. (Well, maybe 2♠-DBL-RDBL-3♥.) Tim

In BridgeBase Online "advanced" lebehnshol over reverse is "standard". But, this ain't no stinkin' reverse.

In my document (not given by Ron, but derived from Ron's document), 1N-2♣-2♦-2♥-3♦ shows a maximum with two hearts and four or five spades. I think one of our documents is outdated. Yes i guess you are right, in mine it say max 5S2H33, maybe ron can tell us something about this. We've touched on just about all these already, but just to get it all out there, after 1N-2♣-2♦-2♥, I have these rebids for opener's maximums: 3♦ = 2 hearts & 4 or 5 spades 3♥ = 3 hearts & fewer than 5 spades 3♠ = 3 hearts & 5 spades 3N = 2 hearts & fewer than 4 spades I suspect my version is the most recent because it takes care of the glitch you pointed out. Tim PS Yes, where is Ron?