keylime

I reject an invite - I'm 4333 and it's a very soft hand. Even if pard is short in diamonds, you need a lot of tricks.

Merry Christmas from Pittsburgh, where we are celebrating the Steelers winning the AFC North this weekend. Additionally, my one wish for 2008 is that there's more "incorrectness" and franker discourse, with joy and cheer spread across the world. On a personal note, I wish all the brave servicemembers a safe holiday, and most importantly, a rapid trip home after the job is done. You are my hope and our nation's most shining example of that which is good and just. Hurry home.

I have great sympathy here and I think the TD really dropped the ball on this one.

Chuck, I should get that on my iPod.

Uday, That's an interesting spread of numbers. I'd be curious to see how the large populations (like US, Canada, Australia, etc et al) dispersed versus this baseline.

Adam, I also like your ratings because there's some tightly defined criteria that helps provide definition to the rating system. It also gives benchmarks to achieve for those who are improving.

I like the concepts of xfers in this situation while reserving the 2M bids as the forcing calls but balanced. It allows you to get out of their 2M fit and shows your hand. If I had a working queen extra I'd bid 2M (whichever flavor of u/u you use) to show this hand. Under this concept, I could bid 2Nt, to force 3♣.

For me, this song has such tremendous meaning for me that it will be a permanent fixture of my life. It constantly reminds me that not anyone by myself am responsible for my actions, and that freedom is a price worth being paid. Redemption Song by Bob Marley Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds. Have no fear for atomic energy, cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? ooh! Some say its just a part of it: Weve got to fulfil de book. Wont you help to sing These songs of freedom? - cause all I ever have: Redemption songs; Redemption songs; Redemption songs.

Sabine's book has a textbook example of this auction, and the hand involved was a flat 4333 NT overcall with a very strong suit of opener's.

I'm the detour of Larry's, it's my fault - but hey, the end result turned out all right! :)

Phil, You forgot the installments man! What about the gift that you get to keep if the system doesn't work for you, like a LED convention card holder or a bidding box that is solar-powered or something like that.

If on 4 diamonds, pard should have some shortage somewhere - I wouldn't expect pard to do so at any colors, but this is a style thing. I don't trust LOTT as far as I can throw the book.

I calmly pass - I got a bad feeling that this is 800-ville coming if I take the push. The heart suit is a minus for us, and we have 2 dead clubs and 2 dead spades. Not enough shape to act, and pard can be bidding 3D on any five card diamond suit trying to bury them.

3NT. We're 4333, and we're likely getting a major suit lead with that auction. I like my chances.

I agree with Fred - I got that book as a surprise gift and it was a gripping read. On topic, I think that there is some correlation in terms of "bridge intelligence" from the study to BBO's ratings. I've never rated myself as expert, because I knew early on that the ceiling was quite high, and thusly, the law of averages of sorts would sort out the group. I think many who rank themselves as expert are either unaware of this proverbial glass ceiling or are themselves trying to improve by rating inflation. I find on average that most intermediates are much closer to their expected "par" than experts, and that advanced players have the largest variance of skill, for they encompass a large group from intermediates trying to improve to truly advanced players that are close to expert status. Experts it seems for me, are either really bad, or really good, and there isn't a lot in between.

1. I definitely open. If I don't pard is not going to play me for what I have. 1A. Pass is ideal. Once pard doubles, he's saying that it's easier to take three tricks versus 11 tricks. Frankly, he's on bad crack and need to pull it to take insurance (it's IMPs). 2. 3♥ is plenty and it doesn't hang partner. I do smack 5 of minor tho, and smack it as if life depended on it. 3. Your pard is an idiot. Many playing UDCA around here use standard honor lead of H from H-x and not low-high (which is pre-alertable). Blacklist today's village idiot and move on.

I liked 1NT here because the club suit is anemic and it gives pard a chance to correct to 2♦ if needed. Granted it's offshape, but I don't want to play 2♣ on a 6-1/6-0 fit.

Without a regular multi defense, I bid a natural 2♠. With my regular multi defense, I double to show a better multi hand of at least intermediate strength. With the ACBL standard defense, I hate doubling - lots of problems if it comes back around to you. And if RHO has the spade preempt, at least you'll have half of a chance of saving a good score.

Naturalish bidding: 1H - 2C* (I normally play sound openings) 3C* (extras, support) - 3H* (weaker than 4H - use slow arrival) 3S* (serious slam try) - 3NT* (spade control) 4C - 4S 5D - 5NT* (pick-a-slam) 6C Ultra (more fandangled) 1C* (strong) - 1NT* (balanced, forcing, 11-14) 2H* (fit ask) - 3H* (5 controls, 3-4 hearts) 3S* (start denial cuebidding please) - 4C* (I have spade control, no club control) 4NT* (odd keycards, spade control too) - 5D* (diamond issues too pard, not signing off) 6H So, natural bidding gets to the potentially better spot versus a complex system.

I definitely am of strong view that the 29th of December is excellent, because, in addition to the event, it will also be my 32nd birthday.

I've been reading a lot of sci-fi and post-Armageddon books lately.

I've had to bid a major as 3+ as a tactical call to then make a preemptive raise to 3m to bury the opps. I've also seen others alert it over Precision 1♦ openings (Weichsel-Sontag a few years ago had 1D-1H as 3+). Thusly, I fail to see what is so utterly wrong about something which when reading directly states that it is infrequent and tactical.

Ring of Fire, covered by Social Distortion (original by Johnny Cash). One Love, covered by Gipsy Kings (original by Bob Marley and the Wailers). GnR's Live and Let Die is pretty sweet admittedly. The Police's King of Pain covered by Alanis Morissette is interesting. Al Green did a cover of the Bee Gees' How Can You Mean a Broken Heart that is soulful and rich. Finally, the Ramones' I Wanna Be Sedated covered by the Offspring.

Somebody's short in hearts, and pard didn't double. I'm passing, and wondering why I didn't open initially.

Matt, That's correct - I was attempting (and failed!) to go for the global view.