keylime

"The Art of Declarer Play" by Bourke and Courfield has been my latest joy.

I recently played controls for the first time in ages, and didn't find enough merit to really want to repeat the experience. Most of the time I feel as if partner's either balanced or major oriented.

Turbo doesn't come up that much for Larry and I, but when it happens...4NT is even keycards, 4X is odd, and 5NT promises the queen with even keycards. Normally.

My view about Kickback has evolved over the years. I used to love it and used it quite a bit. These days tho, I think there are better mechanisms available.

4 trumps, and the inability to make another constructive call first, like a 2/1 on a hand that has a side five card suit (not in trumps).

Jacki, do they still have the limit in place where for each rank, no more than 1/3rd of the total master points earned online as non-pigmented count?

I had a similar hand with my student recently, and she splintered. We missed an easy slam. Afterwards I said this: "Wouldn't you like to tell pard more about your hand, instead of less?" She nodded. Then I explained that bidding her five card suit first (since we are playing 2/1) and then raising cheaply describes better her hand. I'm from the old school; splinters should deny nearly all hands with a five card side suit.

Larry and I were a relatively new partnership playing canapé club, and the auction went: 1D* (could have longer major, alerted) (1H) 1S (only promises 4 spades) (2C) <lots of bids later> .... (3D) P (3H) X by Larry, all pass. Larry somehow derives that I have a heart canapé. Still to this day I dunno how he did it. He leads the QH at 3HX vul at Swiss...and hits my AKJxx side suit of hearts. They took exactly 2 tricks for -2000. Afterwards the conversation: P1: Pard, 3H confused me. P2: 1H confused me, I thought you had five. P1: Well I had five of his diamonds (true) and 4 hearts (to the 9), what do I do? P2: Against these two guys, pass. They know the red card. They embraced the red card. And, thankfully Dwayne's O+ and knows where the nearest hospital is. P1 looks at me: Oh, are you a doctor? If so I have a question about this illness I've read about...

I have strongly preferred having cross-matchpointing instead of section-based matchpointing because it mitigates somewhat weaker versus stronger sections.

Results stand, and a private discussion with EW about the fact that you still have to play bridge.

I'm thinking: 1♦ 2♦* (inverted) 2♥ 2♠ 2NT 3♣ 3♠ 4♦* (RKC) 5♦* (2 plus Q) 5♥* (king ask) 5♠ 5NT (replacement, showing a singleton here) 7D (can now count 13 tricks)

I would say invitational but not forcing.

At indys, I try to play SAYC just to keep things as simple as possible. Get your scores from accurate defense and superior declaring.

I'm a 2D bidder here. I rather not lie about my majors.

Let me make an inquiry myself.

B2: Not a great slam at IMPs. Off a cashing Ace, KH, and the trump queen which looks like it's 3-1. 5D is the much safer contract. B6: Maybe a method question, if the direct raise to 3C shows extras. Let's say that it does; 2S makes sense, but now I bid 3H followed by some mild slam try for pard. Tough hand I think. B9: Ask why they are not in 4S, and the defense I think comes to you here. B10: AS if it does not fell the KS is ok. There should be a squeeze here somewhere. B12: It's teams. You're red. Bid game. They likely will at other table. B14: A trump. B16: 1S, knowing that you should not go overboard here. B21: NO. They are likely able to run to 6NT making. Just a gut feeling here. B24: 3NT, it's an option. B27: Pass if in direct seat. In passout seat, I hate myself and would not know what to do.

Nothing wrong with an old fashioned 2H here. If pard's trapping apologize afterwards.

Double. T/O of spades, showing this hand. Pard can now pattern out with any 2nd suit, or bid 3NT. The key is, he's a passed hand. If he holds AKK for his ten points, he likely is very square.

Larry and I played a strong diamond for the first time last week, and we have 1♥ as either 0-4 or 8+ GF (excluding certain hand types). It might help accuracy to have some sort of semipositive response into your schedule.

South can make one possible try at 5♣, but I can see a 2♥ call on xx Qxxxx KQJxx Qx playing SAYC and you'd be kicking yourself at six hearts.

South can make one possible try at 5♣, but I can see a 2♥ call on xx Qxxxx KQJxx Qx playing SAYC and you'd be kicking yourself at six hearts.

Checking in with two people; I want a 2nd crack at the opps.

Little bit of everything, but Larry and I will be back and will play better.

There will be no need for medics. We intend to win. We play one way - all out. I'll send a PM to our teammates and gsz to disclose general principles to help you guys out.

We expect to practice tomorrow and Friday, with the warmup on Saturday as well. We are taking this quite seriously.