kgr

News opens IE and Upcoming Broadcast event opens Firefox for me.

Would that be considered as an encrypted signal? Both declarer as partner can or cannot know what is going on. BTW: we lead highest from an even number of cards an 2nd from an odd number. You could say it is encrypted, but it would never be considered as being encrypted?

I nominate Mikeh for poster of the year. (For me it is in fact jlogic, but mikeh certainly deserves a nomination)

Both in regulations of VBL and BBF: During the play period, a cell phone and any other electronic communication device has to be disabled. Use of mobile phones and electronic communications - 1st offense: 1 VP - 2nd offense: 2 VP, etc. to the team a player refuses to respect the rules. In regulations of VBL there is always reference to VBL-TD (TD appointed by VBL) and in regulations of BBF there is reference to BBF-TD (TD appointed by BBF). There is nothing in the regulations about authority of BBF-TD over VBL matches. The only related thing I found about Kibitzers is that they have to be quite and that the hometeam is responsible for the Kibitzer regulations.

This is only a theoretical question and didn't really happen, but I wondered: background: In Belgium we have yearly teams competition. We have national competition for the highest - honor and 1 to 3 - divisions and Regional competition for the lower divisions. The national one is organized by BBF (Belgian Bridge Federation) and the lower ones by VBL (Flemish Bridge Federation) and LBF. Only the team matches of honor division are played with a TD at place. For other team matches of lower division a form needs to be filled and send if a ruling is needed. The team matches for honor division are played on one central place at the location of one of the clubs. Other team matches of Lower national and of regional competition are played in the same room. Team matches of honor division start at earlier time then the other matches Phones need to be switched off during the matches. Question: What should be done by the TD that is available for honor division match when a phone rings and no-one else complains?: - Of a player of lower National division who is playing another match? - Of a player of lower National division who is already in the room, but not yet playing? - Of a player of Regional division who is playing another match? - Of a player of Regional division who is already in the room, but not yet playing? - Of a kibitzer - Someone at the bar

Thanks all for the answers. Some points as reaction to the answers; - I agree that the slam is not good, but hands were giving as example for my question. - It seems that everyone prefers to bid out shape on 3-level iso starting cue-bids. I'm not convinced if it is best. Need to discuss this with my partner. - - In the example bidding 2NT (iso 3C) could be used to give a balanced hand with slam-interest. And then cue-bids can start with 3C if unbalanced. - - Starting with cue-bids on 3-level has the advantage that D-cue can be skipped on 3-level, but can be given on 4-level with Qx(x). - - Not sure if it is important to bid out shape when partner has limited hand after bidding 1NT. It is more important to get info from him then to give info? ...Could be more important to bid shape if both hands are still unlimited. - About question what 3S iso 2S by opener would be: IMO Opener always should bid 2S with 4cS. He already limited his hand with 1NT and should not take away a level from unlimited responder. Edit: And about last post that our bidding was ok: I think that Opener should bid 3NT iso 4S because of the D Queen.

Some questions about control bidding: 1) If you have established a fit on the 2-level after bidding reverse, do you plays controls starting at 3C or do you think it is better to only bids controls from 3S and bid natural under it? 2) Do you control-bid a Q in partner 5c suit? Example hand: [hv=pc=n&s=sa432hadk95432ca2&n=skq65hk32dq76ck43&d=n&v=0&b=11&a=1c(2+)p1s(T-Walsh%20%5BD%20ot%20Transfer%20NT%5D)p1np2h(Transfer%20S%20%5B4cS%20-%204+cD%20GF%5D)p2s(S-fit%2C%20GF)p3c(control)p3h(control)p3sp4sppp]266|200|MP's[/hv] T-Walsh sequence: 2S is setting the S-fit and GF. South showed 4cS and 5+cD. - Do you bid controls after that (3C because 3D would deny a D-control) OR do you prefer to bid natural (3D to give extra length...and 3S would then show slam interest without extra length). - If you start with 3C control: do you think North should bid 3D to show control in D? - In the example: Do you agree with 4S bid of North? (3NT Non-serious was available) (Diamonds were 2-2 and 4S was not a good result)

That could well be right (same after 1x-(DBL)-RDBL). The problem with a) is that it often is difficult to DBL for penalty. F.i. if East bids 2S in my example hand then it is difficult for South to DBL and when North also has a 3cS it will also be difficult for North. ...not sure if this is easier with b or c.

Note that my question was specifically about a forcing DONT DBL by Opps. It seems like you misread that.

(This question was raised after we had this kind of situation at the table) Suppose you have a balanced hand with 10 HCP. Something like: [hv=pc=n&s=skj2ht432daq6c952&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1nd(DONT)]133|200[/hv] Partner opens 1NT: 15-17 RHO DBL's (DONT): A long suit. You can RDBL: all next DBL's will be penalty. Or otherwise system is on. ...Please indicate how scoring/vulnerability matters... Do you prefer to show your hand immediately or Will you REDBL and will you DBL for penalty if RHO bids 2C/2D/2H/2S? BTW: If you REDBL, should the bidding be forcing on all levels: Opps cannot play a contract undoubled?

4S Edit: I've seen now that it is MP's R/w. That makes me doubt...still 4S.

These were both hands: void=KQx=AQx=AQJxxxx Kxxxx=x=xxxx=Kxx At the table my partner did bid 2NT iso 2D, but we agreed that it was not a good idea to bid 2NT with a void. And 3NT would promise a 4cS in our system. Therefor we agreed that 2D was the best bid and wondered if it was good to play 2NT after the intervention and reverse still as Lebensohl. Placing 3NT in the wrong hand.

It was MP's and I had: Kxxxx=x=xxxx=Kxx

Suppose you have the agreement: 1C-1S 2D-2NT : 2NT is weak (Lebensohl) What is: 1C-(1H)-1S-(Pass) 2D-2NT : Is 2NT still weak?

I did bid 3♦ and that did go -1. I wondered if pass was better with this balanced hand. Note: This is maybe an advantage of playing transfers over 3C in pass out. Partner knows then that DBLer probably has no strong hand with 5cM.

I DBLed and partner did bid 4NT (he had 2155) and I did bid 5H. DBled by LHO. (4S)-DBL-(P)-4NT (P)-5H-(DBL)-AP 5Hx did go -4, 4S would probably go -1.

(3C)-? We play transfers over (3C)-? Do you think it is bad/good to play the same in balancing?: (3C)-P-(P)-? Remark: We play a system of a good pair at our club and they say: "In balancing Natural because partner already passed and transfer would orient to wrong hand." ...but I don't understand these points. In direct: DBL=TO 3D=xfer H 3H=xfer S 3S=xfer 3NT 3NT=To play 4C=H&S 4D=Natural 4H/4S=Nat constructive

MP's[hv=pc=n&s=s532h432daqjtcq32&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=3cppdp]133|200[/hv] What do you bid? (would you do the same at IMP's?)

MP's[hv=pc=n&s=saq2haqjt32dq2c32&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=4s]133|200[/hv] What is your bid?

Hi,Thanks for the answer. - I think you missed #3 and answers for 3 to 6 are then 4 to 7 - I don't really understand what you mean with Optional / Penalty: Do you mean that both are playable OR that it is a little bit penalty, but can be removed. - I discussed this with my partner yesterday and we came at about the same agreement as given by you with following notes: A) Most DBL's are competitive: 1H-(Pass)-2H-(3C) DBL => Invite with at least a reasonable 3c♣. 1H-(Pass)-2C!-(Pass) (2C=natural OR 3cH limit+) 2D!-(Pass)-2H!-(2S) (2D=min; 2H showing a 3c Limit raise) DBL => Invite with at least a reasonable 3c♠ (Not sure if it is best to define these DBL's as 3+card) B) When Opps have a fit then all DBL's are Take-out C) In front of the bidder, DBL is Take-out: 1H-(Pass)-2H-(3C) Pass-(Pass)-DBL => Take-out (Wanting to bid 3H, but giving the Opener the chance to pass 3CX). We think that this is more useful then a penalty DBL. ...Not sure if this is all best.

...trying to get more opinions: - I'm also interested if you are not playing constructive raises. - If you play Penalty DBL what is the minimum you need for it. - If you play Competitive DBL what is the min/max in the suit you need?

The range for constructive raises (8-10) is maybe a bit smaller then for SA-raise (6-9), but that doesn't seem to make that much difference? Aren't game invites simply done with weaker hands and therefor they are not more often accepted then with the non-constructive raise?

Hi, Is maximal = invite? What is competitive DBL? Are you doing that with extra's and 4c, 3c, 2c, .. in opps suit; when is partner supposed to pass this?

I wonder if it is best to play following DBL's as Take-out, Penalty or Optional (and if optional how have you defined them). 1H-(Pass)-2H-(3D) DBL 1H-(Pass)-2H-(3C) DBL 1H-(1S)-2D!-(2S) (2D!=3cH and 8+) DBL 1H-(Pass)-2C!-(Pass) (2C=natural OR 3cH limit+) 2D!-(Pass)-2H!-(2S) (2D=min; 2H showing a 3c Limit raise) DBL ...and what if opener passes and responder DBL's. 1H-(Pass)-2H-(3C) Pass-(Pass)-DBL ...And if no constructive raise was available 1H-(2D)-2H-(3D) DBL 1H-(2C)-2H-(3C) DBL

Jack 2.04 (old version) seems to always Pass iso bid 3NT in balancing. But some additional notes: - This was a Pairs Tournament I loaded, but if I look at the scoring options in Jack then I see: - - Total Points - - Rubber - - Chicago : What is Chicago? (So I'm not sure it knows MP's, or is that Chicago?) - After the 3NT: Jack in North Passes when Opps are N-Vul and bids 4S when opps are Vuln. It seems that Jack assumes a better D-hand for 3D when West is Vuln and therefor bids 4S when opps are Vuln?