TimG

When I click on a news item in the windows client, the item is page a opened in IE even though that is not my default browser. When I do the same in the Flash version, the page is opened in my default browser. This is not a complaint, just a curiosity. Is this controlled by something local, or is it BBO determined? Thanks, Tim

You're not the only one.

If I lead a heart spot, partner might reasonably expect me to have Hxx (did I have a way to make a constructive raise to the 3-level?) though that probably won't prevent me from leading a heart. Maybe the king so that partner can let me win the trick when a diamond through is right and can overtake when a club through from his side is right.

I don't think an odd or even number of teams makes much difference when you're talking about 40-something byes on the first day.

Isn't there a 100 mp minimum? Each player can have up to 50 seeding points, a maximum of ~10 of which can come from masterpoints. Right?

Another option is to return to the days of Swiss and/or round robin qualifying for the first X days before the KO stage. (I am aware that there is strong sentiment in favor of keeping the Vanderbilt and Spingold as straight KOs, but I thought I'd mention it.) As someone who would get one of the very last seeds if I entered the Vanderbilt, I would not be upset to miss the opportunity of a full day match against one of the top seeds in favor of a full day (or two) of play against a variety of good teams. It seems very strange to me to enter an even that starts on Sunday only to find that I won't be playing until Monday (as happened to over half the field in this year's Vanderbilt).

In the round of 16: 1 v 16, 2 v 15, 3 v 14,..., 7 v 10, 8 v 9. So, 7 & 10 can't both make it to the round of 8, neither can 8 & 9.

I'm still not sure what the format was.

Seems a tossup between 2H and 3H to me. Given the weak heart suit of only four cards and the fact that I'm making a free bid, I'll go conservative with 2H.

What did they do with 71 teams? Seems like spending a whole day to reduce 71 to 64 isn't ideal. And, reducing to 32 involves some of those 3-ways with one survivor things (or similar). Byes?

Maybe the US could sell one of their closed Air Force Bases to the Russians. I think there's one in Presque Isle, Maine that is mostly idle. Boost to the local economy. I think it would be great.

I think I would have fudged it. I'm not a fan of opening wild two-suiters with an artificial 1C or 2C, too easy to get preempted out of being able to show both suits.

I think I would have started with 1♥ intending to bid 5♣ on the second round.

I'll second this one. When looking through my list of friends trying to find a table to kibitz, it would be real nice to be able to see who was playing at the table.

You heard him, no need to discuss this anymore. Anyone who disagrees is being unreasonable. Move along to some other issue. All bow down to the wisdom of TimG. The Gods have spoken. If you're going to pick on me, at least have the decency to do it at a site where I am not a member.

You heard him, no need to discuss this anymore. Anyone who disagrees is being unreasonable. Move along to some other issue.

It is not clear to me from this quote whether the piece of legislation being referred to is the last of the old way or the first of the new way. Or, maybe stuck in between.

I find it hard to believe that there is a sizable or significant segment of the population that is not having babies because of the inconvenience of pregnancy.

A workaround might be to give either east or west a 1NT opener. Half the time the dealer and the 1NT opener will be the same. A portion of the rest of the time, it will go P-P-1N. The others you can skip.

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=skj86ht8daqt4cak2&s=saq5hj63dk76c9854]133|200|Scoring: IMP P-P-1♥-DBL P-?[/hv]Here is the companion hand. I'm interested in your auction (the opponents will remain silent from here on out) whether or not you would advance 1N. (I'm assuming no one has any problem with the double, but if I'm wrong, by all means, speak up.)

I agree with everything you said. Except if four tricks are needed, then the only play is leading the Queen from hand, picking up stiff jack on your right.

Is it just me, or do 50% of the interesting suit combination problems involve some A/QT or AT/Q combination? I'm guessing for this one the answer will be different depending upon whether our goal is zero losers, one loser or most tricks.

Not if you reverse into 2♦ instead of 2♥.

This is tough. I think modern practice is 3♥ and 4♣ are likely to be fit bids, but expect that some would think 3♥, 4♣ and 4♦ were splinters. Without discussion, I think they should all be natural, but expect that most good players would assume some conventional meaning. Regardless, 4♥ would be natural. If I were going to act, I would bid 4♥ to avoid potential confusion. I think it's close, but think I would bid 4♥ at the table.

I see. When I initially read the post (and responded) it seemed to me that the question was along the lines of "should we be a nice guy and let the opponent correct his mistake?" Not "might it be beneficial to our side to let him correct his mistake?" I do think it is important to present the options such that there is no pressure on east to be a "nice guy". Blackshoe's proper ruling seems to do a good job of that.