jjsb

double , that should show the minor . the problem is for sure i would prefere to be 3244 or better 4144 but i think it's the most flexible bid regards syl

C9

well for now i guess no need to buy 20 dollar a coke and go in Monaco because u'll just beeing able to see it with BBO , looks good no? still u're free to go in Monaco of course , i can tell it's nto bad place :) regards syl

everything is said about that , just to add my point wish is same than what i have read from some of u. i accept ALL undo even if it's coming after long time .Now if i notice that this undoes is ask as a kind of cheat to find a queen when can take it from both sides for exemple (that never happened) well , i'll know then what to do ... but we are entering in a totally different topic regards

at least Geofspa was telling this in a very good manner and it's nice :) , unfortunatly it's not like that all the time i was nearly "insulted" some day because of sending 3 messages in the Lobby about annoucemnt of tourney (i had a very bad day so i really didn't appreciate that at all but that's not the main point ... ). then next tourney i did, i have decided not to write anything in Lobby, i had 3 messages tellign me "how come u don't tell us about the tourney i didn't notice and didn't come to play" !!! . Anyway i understand that message can be annoying , as for now i have decided that i just put one annoucment about the tourney and one message to tell the winner , nothing more . I don't know what solution we can find about it and if there's one solution ... btu i'm waiting if someone can find one regards syl

hey everyone , thanks for answer ! so for number 1, here's partner's hand void Ax AKJxxxx (7) AQxx my opinion (wrong it seem with the comment u made) is that with 4S partner should not have a real 2 suiter . with a 2 suiter he can just continue with 4C (forcing) or 5C if h's a little more weak and after all want to play that contract. i don't like double over 1S with that hand . open 2C , well , when i can find ways not open an hand 2C ... i admit i do it ! anyway all that to say i choose a stupid bid again (5D) i was able to play it for +2 (S lead) other table 6D , vulnerable it's another 12 :) for number 2 here's the complete deal --------------Kx --------------Jx --------------KJ10xx --------------Axxx 10xx--------------------9xx 109xx-------------------Qx xxx----------------------AQ9x Q10x--------------------KJ9x --------------AQJxx --------------AKxxx --------------x --------------xx at my table i had the Diamond lead and switch Spade and i stupidely continue the play by taking in dummy with K, ruff finesse D, cross dummy with Ace of club, discard the C on the winning D (i can still recover), and play now AK of H and H ... ruff and overruff . and finish down one . on other table declarer received the Club lead, he took in dummy, play directly Ace King of H and H ruff high . for just made and so -12 . on my beginning (D lead S switch) i like that simple play of taking immedaitely in hand and play AK of H and H ruff high that win if one major in defense is 3-3 (whatever the major is) and also win if east is 4243 (108xx, Qx, AQ10x, KJ9). the line of play choosen by ben also work very well of course if one major is 3-3 and if east got (2443) has he explains he's in . there's no line of play to win in both cases (east 2443 or 4243) so i let u choose the one u like :) . regards syl

a) lead is 2 of D (3/5) whatever u play in dummy east will play and switch back S B) lead is a "middle" C plan ur play in both cases, don't go too fast like me plsss . sorry wasn't clear at all. i want to know how you'd play if lead is a) 2 of Diamond (what happened at my table), and how u'd play (if there's difference) if lead is :) "middle" C. what i mean on a D lead is if u play J east will play the Q and switch Spade and if u play K east will take with the ace and switch S. sorry wasn't clear at all , u know... the english of french :) regards syl

hey everyone :) it's been some times i haven't send u some deals . Those one come from my last "real" bridge competition played this week-end . we played very very bad and i think Sometimes it's good that happened . there's moment u play bridge often and u have the impression that "you got it" , that you're doing very well, that u can find all squeeze, and there's those day, well, u have to remember that , to be humble in bridge is one of the most important hings cause u're always miles away of the "perfection". here's one easy game i go down that just showed concretely what i have written before and one problem of bidding . 1) bidding first i don't think the vulnerability is that important, i don't remember to be honest ... you're south , u hold, QJ10x Qxxxxx Qx K W-------N---------E---------S P--------1D-------P---------1H 1S------3C--------P---------3nt p--------4S!-------P---------? u can disagree with the bid made before (3nt) and u can disagree with the bid of North when i'll show 2 hands !! but well , now u need find a bid ! what would u bid if u have : QJ10x Qxxxxx Q Kx 2) cold 4S ...... Kx Jx KJ10xx Axxx AQJxx AKxxx x xx east open 1D (first and last bid from opps) and then u go to 4S (played by south). a) lead is 2 of D (3/5) whatever u play in dummy east will play and switch back S B) lead is a "middle" C plan ur play in both cases, don't go too fast like me plsss . regards syl

it's just a problem of system to discuss before with my partner (and i think with mostly all french i can play with ) to show 5-5 we bid : * 1nt 2D 2H pass with a very weak 5-5 * 1nt 4C or 4D to show a 5-5 of game nothing more with H better or S better (4C for S better ) as u notice france don't know about 4C for ace asking * 1nt 2H 2S 4H for a 5-5 that can go to a slam if opener got really topcards . * 1nt 2H 2S 3H to show a 5-5 of slam i play it without telling it's good but well it's just one possible way regards syl

so here's the 4 hands for that deal : -------------Q54 -------------96 -------------AKQ765 -------------K8 AK10876--------------932 43----------------------KJ752 842--------------------J1093 AJ----------------------7 -------------J -------------AQ108 -------------void -------------Q10965432 i let u think about the best auction seeing 4 hands , i'll not write mine :P , just that we didn't reach the "good" contract of 5C. I have decided to pass but i'm pretty sure after a deep thougth that hand don't deserve not beeing open . i think it's a nice things with your partner u have a clear things about ur opening choice. it should be a good idea to decide a rules (there's many) and that when u have an hand u use it . This way there will be no surprise in the pair . also one other important with your partner is to decide what about preempt ? are u disciplined ? not disciplined? in what vulnerability ? when ?what is the few things u would accept ? etc. regards syl

ok so we may continue now whatever u choose (pass or 1C ) the auction is same , 1S LHO opp bid 2D RHO 2S , to you regards syl

yes that is the question . i think there's different option on that following deal . IMP all vulnerable you hold : J AQ108 ----- Q10965432 (8 hope i count well) RHO dealer pass , to you . regards syl

maybe i don't see it correctly but i must admit i don't see the squeeze here it looks to me the count is not reduce yet ... anyway i'm nto yet awake completely :) regards syl

J9653 5 AK942 95 AK2 QJ42 753 AKQ thanks for answering that "problem" and thanks yzerman to play like me (i wish u are other declarer in that contract cause i wouldn't have lost alone ... 3.5 Imps :P . yes i did that i duck the 10 of H defense clear the H i make the avoidance play in D and make the contract just done to finally... loose 3.5 Imps . everyone in the same contract , received the same lead . and don't duck , thed defense duck the J (most of the case or overtake to play again) . declarer then play AK of Spade to see Q10 falls B) for 11 tricks . i like the bridge for that reason :). if someone want the 4 hands i'll send them but i'm a bit busy and gotta run it's why it took lot's of time to write that and it's why i don't send a complete "PM" of this hand (in theory u don't need to duck to win , even you play J u'll always win as long as u trust the bid ) but i'll not enter into all that . regards syl

I've got some good answer for this one thansk for those to answer me :o . so what's wrong with this hand !! the C are coming i have 21 top tricks (i counted 20 before lol ) well yes and what if C are 4-0 ?? mmmhhh well ... Diamond are block so i'm in trouble ... well maybe before playing those C i can add a "tiny" little chance . and that chance is the 10 of D singleton . yes i swear it's true !! . see how u can play for adding that "tiny" little chance. U like to throw high cards? it's the hand for that , u'll throw 11 points there !! . first trick you take with the As of S play Q of S discard that Ace of heart bothering you so now you're ready to play your KQJ in H discarding ... AKQ in D and now... u're ready to play that that J of D . the 10 fall?? good things for your very nice play . It doesn't ? well as long as u don't have sure count to finesse in C , u play now your Top club hoping they are not 4-0 , they are 4-0 , you stop bridge for some days :( regards syl

looks like it when i received it the hand as been rotated to make south declare ... IMP , you're vulnerable they are not . the auction goes E--------------S------------W-----------N 1NT(*) --------X------------P-----------P 2C (**)--------P------------2H--------2S P---------------3NT(***) all pass (*) weak 10-13 (**) natural (***) i don't play with a regular partner i haven't discussed so i just bid what can make life easier (is 3S forcing or should i bid 4S directly. the 2 hands J9653 5 AK942 95 AK2 QJ42 753 AKQ WEst lead 7 of Heart (4th best) and East take with the Ace to play 10 of H. to you regards syl

the_hog said already a lot and i bet Inquiry will maybe add some little things if he has time . As for me well just to add, and it's very important, that a signalisation (whatever u choose , u must agree with your partner and play same things that's all ) IS NOT AN OBLIGATION . What i mean there , is when u discard , u give information to partner , defense is really that , declrer see both hand , defenders don't , it's why they must find ways to give information but it's not because ur partner show u have better cards in one colour that u must play there . I know so many players even good one (at least there where i play) that , when see a discard a 2 a 3 a 6 ... will play immediately something explainign to partner when it wasn't good "u play this card , u ask me to play this colour" . No defense it's not that (or else there will be no problem :D ) it's much more complicated and it's a combination of many factor , how declarer play , what card my pd play , what are my options , count points etc... it's , for far , the most difficult things in Bridge . I bet u can find quite a lot of excellent declarer , u'll find very few excellent defender ... regards syl

this deal is not really there to learn something (eventhhougth u'll see...) it's just some kind of "puzzle" funny to solve . Most of the time "puzzle" are extrememy hard to solve this one is , if not easy , "makeable " and suitable in my opinion for intermediate. contract 7nt South (the auction is really not a necessity) lead J of S AQ KQJ J987654 5 K A AKQ AKQ109876 funny deal rigth . oh and yes don't tell me you have "20 tricks" ok :o ;D regards syl (jjsb)

sorry for the time i took to give the "correction" , i was a bit busy that past days . so let's go now :) . defense : so first as usual let's take the information we can . The lead of ur partner come from a "sequence" KQ or KQJ in H u can also imagine that ur partner cant have now more than 2 or 3 points outside H , those 2 or 3 points can come from KQ of D or K of C so to sum up u can hope one of this card is in partner's hand but definitely no more. Second things , what u think when u see the dummy ? well to that question, answer is easy there's "frigthening" C and weaker D ... so it looks like if we can take tricks it's now or never and that will be done in D. now that we know D MUST be played we need to think if there's importance on the card we choose.... remember partner may have the Q or the K but not both . If declarer got the K it looks like you can say well done to him ... what now if partner got this cards (and declarer the Q) ? can u see now the card to play ? yes that is rigth, it's the J ? if your not sure that works see the entire deals and test . to end up u need that the D situation is 4333 to realise ur 3 tricks there. the idea of rainy is good but the problem is to do that (play H) u will not really prevent declarer of entry even if he doesn't have the K of C (if he has he doesn't need entry :) ) your partner got this card and as u can see the finesse will work . Yes i agree the play will not be easy thougth here is the deal KJ104 A 1084 AQJ74 65 A72 KQ1084 J752 K53 AJ96 1062 83 Q983 963 Q72 K95 declarer play i guess , on this one , i'm pretty sure than some think "hey syl u must be wrong giving the problem, it's an easy one" :) well let's see ... again and again first things when the lead is done don't play immediately and sum up some information . how many sure tricks do we have ? 2 in S, 1 in H , 3 in D (yes we count that 3) , and 1 in C , that is 7 . there's 2 colour that can give those tricks, D and C . in C it's easy if Finesse work it's one more , if not well u don't do 1 more . now in D there's some who will say "if D 2-2 or 3-1 i have 2 more tricks if D 4-0 i have just one (after giving one D)". let's stop here and imagine the play . D 2-2 it's true no problem , D 3-1 (with Jxx , J singleton everything is ok) "i play AKQ , J finally fall and... huh gosh i'm blocked :) " . ok so now u can see the problem . how to unblock ? that can be done if i can throw one of my 4 D in hand on a H in D? so maybe now u have an idea rigth ? let see the play together . K of H duck , why duck? because if u need to unblock , playing H, u need to be sure not to be down 1 immediately so that means u need to know H are not 6-1 . you take second round east follow . u play AK of D . * D are 4-0? u play a small D hoping that H are 4-3 or the person who have 4D don't have a H. and then the 9th tricks may come on the finesse in C * D are 2-2? everything ok for 9 tricks (u don't need the finesse in C) * D are 3-1 and the J didn't come? u play a H discard a D. your D are magically unblock :) here is the 4 hands 75 8543 AKQ42 63 J62 Q10843 KQJ96 72 7 J63 KJ94 1085 AK9 A10 10985 AD72 see u in other adventure :) regards syl

ok here is number still coming from my favourite learning book "pas à pas" (step by step). this time u'll have 2 problem for the price of one :) one defense and one declarer play . All IMP first one , defense N S 1C 1S 2S 4S KJ104 A 1084 AQJ74 A72 J752 AJ96 83 your partner lead K of H , declarer take in dummy with the Ace play J of S that you duck and u take the second S with A (partner follow the 2 times in S) . to you now. number 2 declarer play 3nt by south , (opps don't enter into the auction ) 75 8542 AKQ42 63 AK9 A10 10985 AQ72 lead K of H good luck , my email are waiting for your thougth :) regards syl

very nice hand notice that the way the deal is given i cant answer cause there's 2 "7 of Spade" and no 8 . And strangely enough give 1073 to east and so AK854 in South contract will be made . you give 1083 to east and so AK754 to south and contract is now .... down !!! (pitching a C on the 3rd round of H and unblocking S as inquiry suggest) ... in fact , to finish on that very nice hand in the last position i give (1083 to east) when declarer ruff with the K and play S , west MUST PLAY 9 . astonishing hand to say the least nice find regards syl

thanks to all of those who sent their answers to me by instant message, and congrats to those who got it right (given earlier). so first let me remind you the 2 hands K74 7532 J54 864 AQJ AK8 K92 AQJ2 and "inquiry" was right that u play low in dummy. i should have stated that. i think that Inquiry plans to explain why it's far from obvious that playing low is the much better than playing the JACK to trick one (thank you in advance ) so again as i already said (good idea #!) , when u play a contract NEVER play to the first trick immediately. you should take 10 seconds to consider all the available information. first is the number of your "sure tricks". This time, 3 in Spades, 2 in Heart, 1 in club and 1 in Diamond (after the lead) . that is 7 so you need 2 more to succeed. second, what information can you obtain from the choice of the opening lead? assuming the 7 is a 4th best u can use the "rule of 11" meaning that you substract from 11 the denomination of the card (here 7) and that operation give u the number of cards higher than card lead shared between your hand, dummy and the partner of the one who lead. to sum up (my english is unfortunatly not great, sorry) in this particular case 11-7=4. so you know that there's 4 cards higher than the 7 in North , south and east hand. u have in your two hands (north and south) 3 cards higher than the 7 (9 J K) so u know now that East as ONE card only higher than the 7 in his hand... (don't forget that ...) so now to continue in the way to find your line of play, you need 2 tricks to win your contract so u must ask yourself what colour(s) can give you that opportunity ... well obviously not Spade, and D looks too weak for that ... so u have 2 possible colours Club and Heart. in some case it's not easy to guess which one is better . here it looks like Club is the best opportunity by far . notice that if H are 3-3 yes that gives u opportunity for one more tricks but remember you have 7 tricks only for now so one more is 8 didn't give the contract and u still need the club finesse for 9 ... so now part of your plan is done you have 7 tricks need 2 more u will try to find them in Club . now that u know that other questions is coming . in the actual layout of the deal how many communication do we have in dummy to make the finesse? well One only, the K of spade. so yes, if K of Club is second or third in east's hand everything will work just fine BUT it will not be enough if K of Club is fourth or more (the 4-2 is the most frequent combination with 6 cards). so another problem point out, is there any possibility to create one more entry apart that K of Spade?? . hhhmmm wait, "ace of Diamond is played by east and we know now it's the only card higher than the 7 east must have (rules of 11 , remember) . so that means Q of Diamond is in west's hand for sure... Yes !!! i get it now i can throw my K of Diamond on that ace ... and tha J in dummy will give me a second communication to finesse again !!!" so u do that and the situation above show that u did very well... 4 hands K74 7532 J54 864 83 109652 J964 Q10 Q10876 A3 53 K1097 AQJ AK8 K92 AQJ2 see u in other adventure PS : i have to say i was wrong in the explanation of the auction , obviously the rebid of 2nt show balanced 24+ no higher limit (37 is the limit ) sorry about that