keylime

Even tho I did not have the fortune or joy of playing against Mr. Baze, the one item that always resonated from people, was both his grace and practicality at that table. That alone is for me, a lasting legacy.

I wonder who was the pi poster (314159) and the e poster (2718...)?

Consider how the play will be, if you do NOT ruff the first spade. I think is a more subtle hand than what it appears.

I confess, I like 1♣ as my opener here, but it's a style thing.

I'm passing. Pard likely has a no-fit hand and I'm going to enjoy defending with my four defensive tricks - I can imagine this defense.... <in a dreamy state of bliss> ...pard leads me a spade, ooh, dummy is 4-3-4-2 with a doubleton club. I'll win the A♠, it holds. Nice. Pard didn't do the redouble with fit trick again for a change. Let me try to cash three hearts - excellent. How can I help partner now who's dying to pound something other than Red Stripe beer over there...there, do I give him a ruff, or play a diamond through...why not, let me play a diamond through; pard will finally understand how good they are to me and vice versa, and peace and understanding with flow with effortless grace and ease finally..... <exiting bliss to reality> In real world, I'm expecting 500 so passing.

4♠, and almost inclined to bid 4NT followed by 5♠.

1♠-2♥ auctions are a challenge just due to the space limitations one has if there's a raise. On this hand, once a raise to 3♥ and rebid of 4♦ is tendered, with both black aces, and K♣ helping me, I'm taking a stab at slam, but not through RKC. I will cuebid 4S to listen to whether pard has a shortage in clubs (if 2-5-4-2 I have thoughts about getting too high).

1Nt. Awaiting further developments.

3♠, down the middle bid.

Chuck, My understanding as of now, is that Larry and I are doing the entire thing - we find out Wednesday if the baptism of Larry's grandson gets in the way.

Lo-lo as in, cheapest cue is LR or better in opener's suit, more expensive cue is the 4th suit forcing raise.

Frances, Thank you for your gracious insight tendered. We play xfers frequently in and out of competition, and also in our strong club structure, so conceptually, it would be normal running for us. We document often in our method, but we wanted to have a look around with this area of our system. We play xfer Lebensohl over our 1C interfered auctions already; we wanted to see if we could build a more logical mousetrap.

Larry and I are practicing diligently for our first outing in three weeks' time for Raleigh, NC's sectional. One of the four areas that we are reworking to enhance playability, is how we handle 2 suited interference after we open one of a suit (FYI: we play a strong club, and our diamond opening is often 4 cards, along with 4 card majors and canape). We currently use lo-lo versus michaels and unusual NT overcalls, but wanted to ask if there were some other variants to consider.

I can handle if it's for special occasions; if it's a standard tho, I have a fundamental problem with chucking and such.

Happy New Year to all. May 2009 be blessed.

Fred, I decided to give it a stab, for the sake of science. :D I used RDP to remote into the machine from my iPhone, the standard resolution needed adjustment downward to 800 by 600, and the BBO windows client itself was rather plain. I was able to chat, I was able to view tourney listing, and I could watch the JEC team game as one of the pairs bid to slam, with relatively decent refresh rates. I used my wireless connection for this. In theory, I think you can use this mechanism to play BBO. It's bulky and cumbersome, but feasible.

As slam happy as I get, I bailed - I'm sensing we're off the KH and a club honor that's critical.

I might set this up via Terminal Services - there's a rudimentary client for the iPhone that does this.

I think I'd start with 3♦ and then spades so that I can give pard a chance to bid spade tolerance. This way I can deny heart tolerance. FWIW, I play 3♠ jump rebid here as highly invitational.

Keylimes are always good regardless of the time of year! I posted some pics on my Facebook about the day. I think there are still the pictures of me trying to reason with a panda to post.

I use 1M-2C in a 4 card majors, canape setup, and love it. I can also see how this would help the 2/1 GF's by allowing opener to slow down the auction. You could with a little work play the Gazzilli (someone check my spelling - it's my birthday and writing a bridge post with cake and wine, be afraid) method with this.

Thanks everyone. My birthday this year was the most special one I have had, outside of my 21st when I came out of hospital. I am truly loved and cherished. I got a whole lotta loot too!

I like Steve's writeup on 2/1 that is common around here (Washington Standard). There are a few minor things I'd change but conceptually, I feel it's has been ahead of the curve.

Reno in Spring 2010? Hmmm I need to make some Canadian calls then....

I think you are being a bit hard on yourself here. Consider that Larry and I still find things out that need agreement... On this hand when you don't know, don't make a bid that will definitely get more confusing. In essence don't try to recover.. I would have passed or bid 3NT. Bid what you think you can make.