KamalK

Many thanks all for your comments, very useful to me. Regards Kamal

Hello friends, The following hand was dealt in a tourney that I played yesterday : [hv=d=s&v=e&n=sht943djt76532cq6&w=skj983hqj865d9c95&e=sq752h7dq84cjt732&s=sat64hak2dakcak84]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - - - 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♥ Pass 4NT Pass 5♣ Pass 5♦ Pass Pass Pass Please note the following : 1. I was playing at East 2. Opps got top 5♦, very surpising 3. They communicated openly at table during bidding in Turkish 4. They made the following alerts : *2♣ strong * 2♦ waiting * 2♥ Suit !!!!! * 4NT Ace ask * 5♣ Natural !!!!!!!!!! And then 5♦ is bid and passed. NO alert for 5♦! I called TD and explained everything, she also saw for herself but refused to take any action. She accused me of being rude lol. After tourney she apologised and "adjusted" the Board from 5♦+1 to 5♦ My questions are : 1. Am I right in assuming that from the bidding, there is no logical way for them to reach a ♦ contract? That they have surely communicated this to each other?? 2. The fact that they communicated in Turkish, wasnt that enough for TD to understand and take appropriate action? 3. What, if any, action should/could TD take? 4. What are the remedies available to us Intermediates, who are not regular tourney players, DURING the tourney, not after it has been completed. If I did not continue playing, BBO and/or TD "bans" me. Thanks for all your help in advance. Regards Kamal

Hello Playing SAYC, had a bidding problem on this hand in a tourney. [hv=d=s&v=e&n=sa93ht92d5ckjt732&w=skqt84hd942cq9864&e=sj76hakq654dkq83c&s=s52hj873dajt76ca5]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I was East and this is how the bidding went. We ended up in 4♦. Partner was a sub. West North East South - - - Pass Pass 1♣ 1♥ 1NT Pass 2♣ 2♦ Pass Pass 3♣ 3♥ Pass 4♦ Pass Pass Pass Should I have bid 3♠ instead of 3♥ or shd partner have showed ♠ instead of 4♦. Pls advise Thanks and Regards to all Kamal

Hello Friends, Playing SAYC. I was East at the Table. North opened 2♣ strong and they went -1. Lead was small♥ All 4 at table had no pship agreements. (They play 2NT as regular 20-21 and so North was right in a way.) I am always in a quandary with such borderline hands. 1. Should open 2♣ strong with 22 HCP as a rule? 2. Or downgrade to 2NT because of the ♣ doubleton when the J may be worthless? 3. Should 2♣ be either a specific number of sure tricks and/or 23+ HCP with such a balanced hand? [hv=d=w&v=a&n=sakt8hajtdaj83caj&w=sj4h98742d762cq96&e=sq76h653dt94ct753&s=s9532hkqdkq5ck842]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South Pass 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2NT Pass 4NT Pass 5♣ Pass 5NT Pass 6♦ Pass 7NT Pass Pass Pass All suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance. Warm regards Kamal

Hello, I am learning UDCA. I have some notes from http://homepage.mac.com/bridgeguys/UGlossary/UCDA.html Can anyone suggest any other site/notes please. Thanks & Regards Kamal

Many thanks all who responded. Very useful info. Thats why I always prefer to bounce off my queries at this very nice Forum, rather than asking around randomly at BBO. Incidentally I also forwarded the topic of this link to the concerned player of this hand and she is also joining the Forum as a member. Thanks again and with warm regards to all Kamal

Hello friends, I was kibbing when this hand was dealt. N-S are a regular partnership, play SAYC (with Jacoby2NT). Am trying to understand J2NT bidding and responses, all help welcome on this one. Questions : 1. Can an Ace be shown as "shortage"? 2. Can North break J2NT sequence and bid 4H direct? 3. What should South have rebid ? Should be 4C to show shortness? (Again an honour card J♣) [hv=d=n&v=n&n=s632hqj9875dacaq3&w=sq4h6dk852ck87654&e=skjt8hk3dj764ct92&s=sa975hat42dqt93cj]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - 1♥ Pass 2NT Pass 3♦ Pass 4♥ Pass Pass Pass Luckily, lead was ♣10 which helped N-S to get to 4♥+2. Thanks & Warm regards Kamal

Many thanks to all for the valuable inputs. Regards Kamal

[hv=d=e&v=e&n=sa852hada642caqj6&w=s96hk6djt87ckt832&e=s73hqjt87dq953c54&s=skqjt4h95432dkc97]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - - Pass Pass Pass 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 4♠ Pass Pass Pass Hello Friends, I am an Intermediate level player. I was South and we were dealt this hand in an ACBL tourney. I passed because I discounted points for the singleton K♦. Could not even open weak weak 2♠ because of my ♥ holding. We made 4♠+3 on a ♦lead. Please advise : 1. Was my Pass correct by discounting value for K♦? 2. It was suggested I should "open something maybe even weak2". Is that correct? 3. After I showed ♠ should my partner have bid 4NT for RKC? 4. Any other suggestions please? Thanks in advance. Warm regards Kamal

Hello, What is/are the situation/s that calls for opening lead of trumps? I have often been advised at tables during play but have never really understood. Thanks in advance. Regards Kamal

Thanks all for your valued inputs Regards Kamal

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=st865hk72d864cqj9&w=sa943ha854dq93c75&e=s2hq6dakj752ct863&s=skqj7hjt93dtcak42]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - Pass Pass 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass Pass Pass Hello All, Was this bid right? I was South and we made 4♠. Was told at table that I should have bid 4♠ or at least invite with a 3♠ bid. But my pd was a passed hand and I have only 14 HCP. Please advise. Thanks & Regards Kamal

Generally when we Intermediates play on BBO its almost always with pick up partners. In such cases our thumb rule in such sequences is to pass when partner takes us back to our first suit. Not sure if this is right, but it works out fine. Any suggestions of course welcome. Warm regards to all Kamal

Many thanks to all who took the time and effort to respond to my query. The discussion was indeed very useful and all inputs have helped me for my future bidding. But for the discussions here, I would never ever be convinced to open 1♣ and would probably have continued towing my line of (wrong) thought. So much to learn for me by regularly visiting the Forum :rolleyes: With warm regards Kamal

Hi Marlowe, thanks but I didnt quite understand this. Can you explain again pls? Thanks and regards Kamal

Many thanks all for your valued inputs. I do have a much clearer picture. Warm regards Kamal

[hv=d=e&v=a&n=saq8hat843djt54ct&s=sjt632h95dcakq975]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - - Pass 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 3♣ Pass 3♦ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Pass Pass Pass Hi I was sitting South and was dealt this hand with 5 card M and 6 card minor. We made the contract +1 but was later 'advised' to open 1♣ and not 1♠. I always open 5 cards Major first. Is that correct? Also, was bidding correct? Especially 3♠? Should it have been 4♣ instead? Is either 3♠ or 4♣ forcing? Suggestions please? (We play SAYC) Thanks and regards Kamal

Hello, I have started playing the DONT convention against strong NT (SAYC 15-17) and have found it quite useful. I have a few queries : 1. What is the ideal HCP count that one must have to bid in direct seat? Generally what is the HCP range to bid DONT? 2. If the auction goes 1NT-pass-pass-? can I bid DONT in balancing seat? 3. If I have a strong hand with 2 suits, say 5♣ cards and 4 ♠ cards, is it still OK to play the convention? 4. Whats the bid if I have 4♥ cards and 5♠ cards? I learnt that 2♥ bid shows 5-4 ♥ and ♠. So is it ok to bid DONT with 4♥ and 5♠ to show BOTH Majors? 5. Also its been suggested that with a weak ♠ suit its better to bid 2♠ and with a strong hand to bid Double and then rebid ♠. But may not get a chance to bid again maybe? Any other tips on the DONT convention will be very useful. Thanks in advance and regards Kamal

Yes ok... many thanks :)

Hi All, Nice discussion for Intermediates like me. Have I understood the discussion correctly? Is it being (generally) suggested that my level players should bid slams in MPs only if 100% certain of making? And that if its a 50-50 chance, better to bid game and try for those 2-3 overtricks? Thanks all. Regards Kamal

Thanks very much all. Apologies, yes W on lead not E :) Your suggestions are perfect. I played that badly. Ducked ♥ and then also ducked ♠ which was taken with the 9 And yes i suppose 3♦ was where I shd have been. Just for the record, am giving the whole hand. [hv=d=e&v=n&n=s54hq52dkt8764ct4&w=sakt972ht86dq5cj6&e=s8hkj93dj2ck97532&s=sqj63ha74da93caq8]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv] West North East South - - Pass 1NT 2♠ 3♦ Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass Thanks again to all. Regards Kamal

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=s54hq52dkt8764ct4&s=sqj63ha74da93caq8]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] West North East South - - Pass 1NT 2♠ 3♦ Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass Hello I was South and am still wondering if this could make. East led ♥8 (I presumed E held 5 ♠ cards) We went 3NT-1 only 5 MPs :( This 1 board killed our chances in the tourney Thanks, Regards Kamal

Many thanks all for your very useful comments, much appreciated Warm regards Kamal

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=skxxxxhkjxxxdxxcx]133|100|Scoring: IMP My partner at North opened 1NT showing 15-17 balanced, no 5 card Major. What should I have responded? Stayman or Jacoby Transfer? I bid Stayman, he rebid 2DI and I rebid 2SP, unfortunately ending up in 3NT-2. (We dont play Smolen) Thanks[/hv]

I am an Intermediate. If 2C is not Drury, it could even be showing 10-11 HCP. In that case passing would not be correct? And is it OK to leave partner in 2C? Regards Kamal