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MP's [hv=pc=n&s=s32hk2dakq432c432&n=saj54haqj3dj5caqx]133|200[/hv] 1♦-(2♥)-DBL-(Pass) 3♦-(Pass)-3NT-AP East did lead a ♣ and North claimed 13 tricks Note: 6♦ by South would be down PS: What do you typically bid with the south hand when opps pass: 1D-1S-2/3D? Edited: Added a small club for North

I even have concentration problems on the first board of a small tournament. Like I didn't see that partner played the 2 or the 4...(Or if LHO did lead the 2 or the 4, which is important if needing to know distribution later). This is key to improve my bridge (no use to learn difficult squeezes if I cannot focus). Probably the only way to improve it is working on it: always try to find out the distribution (and points...) of the hidden hands, even if it doesn't matter. But this is contrary to the advice you asked. In a long tournament you probably want to relax when it doesn't matter.

I don't know the other hands of this one. Only that North had a void in ♣. That she would have passed an invite with an absolute DBL. Both 4♠ and 5♥ were down. (I did bid 5♥)

I really have difficulties to pass 2NT vuln at IMP's, So I did bid 3NT. The hand I gave was not exactly correct because East did lead a small ♠ for my partner's ♠K and that gave here the 9th trick if East ♦ had the ♦Q. West had the ♦Q.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakxxhakxdxxxxckj&w=sxxxxhxxdJxxxcaqx&n=shxxxxdakqxxcxxxx&e=sqjxxxhqjxxdcxxxx&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1dp1h1sd3s5dp6ddppp]399|300[/hv] I didn't make this. -2 was the result.

We have the agreement that after a 2-suited GF of partner , we only the short suit with an ace. Not sure if this should apply here as well. ....probably.

I noticed that I forgot to say that we open 5542, so yes: 4+Diamonds

Yes, it is a firefox issue. In Internet Explorer I see icons (red cross like the icon is not found) and in firefox there is nothing on the same place

That is how we refer to this DBL. (We picked this up from another pair. I don't know if the gave the name or if it is more widely use. But you are right: it is not really absolute)

Are the buttons for suit symbols removed by the forum software upgrade?

So you think the hand is too offensive to DBL? DBL also show an offensive hand and suggests partner to bid 5H.

Yes, partner would have bid 3NT with 14 pts. ...then you pass with the given hand?

IMP's [hv=pc=n&s=s32haj2dkj432cq32&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1c1s2dp2np]133|200[/hv] I don't remember the actual hand, so take it as a general question. Vulnerable at IMP's: Do you bid 3NT or do you pass?

IMP's [hv=pc=n&s=s2h432dkj2cakq432&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1cp1h1sd3s4h4s]133|200[/hv] (1H is Walsh; DBL is support) You have following options: - Bid - Absolute DBL: Tells you partner that you wanted to bid 5H, but asks her opinion. She can pass with a defensive hand. - Pass: asks partner to DBL for penalty Or bid with a very offensive hand. BTW: If you bid, what is 5C then?

IMP's: [hv=pc=n&s=sak32hak2d5432ckj&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1dp1h1sd3s5dp]133|200[/hv] DBL was Support. Do you Pass/6D...? (Would you bid be the same if LHO had bid 2S iso 3S?)

I would also take 4C as forcing, but apparently that wasn't a disagreement for OP.

Yes, And excellent book IMO

At this moment I gave both in my spreadsheet: Difficulty: 5/5 (Maybe I've to reread Kelsey's Advanced Defense Books) Rating: 3/5 (Maybe they both earn a 4)

I already borrowed this one and would rate it: Rating: 5 Difficulty: 4 Very interesting and certainly worth to buy.

Is this still for sale and different then Master Play?

I think the ratings (difficulty & rating) are most useful. It will f.i give someone new to bridge what books are interesting for him (Difficulty=1) and very experts to only look for difficulty 4 or 5. I did fill them in for the books I own, but it was difficult to give a value based on the comments I've read; If anyone wants to give input for the books (s)he owns or has read then you are very welcome. You can put your rating her, pm me, change the spreadsheet in the link above (for clarity add your rating in a separate column), ask me to send you the xls for update, or send your comments to kgrauwel at hotmail... (If I get more ratings then I will use some average)

I've added this comment. Question: Is this book a list of hands OR more like an education book with f.i. explanation of trump elopement including hands to help the explanation

My table feel told me that West was 1255 with ♠Qx. (because East probably had 2 ♦ honors and maybe a ♣ honor as well and passed initially & because West bid 3♣) ....I did go -1

Right. The best pair of our club is playing this and we tend to take over agreements without thinking too much. ;) Actually the rational is: Normally: If you think it is better to bid on then you bid. But it is possible that your partner had a very defensive hand in the context (a bad example: Maybe my partner made an overbid with a good 5521 or 5422). In the normal agreements if your partner has a very defensive hand he has no option anymore when you have bid. With absolute DBL's you tell that you want to bid more, but asks your partner if he doesn't mind.

Yes, maybe that would have been better. It would be too much work to add it now.My idea initially was to have these comments for myself and only buy books with positive comments. Now I would remove a negative (or positive) comment if I would receive all good (bad) comments for the rest. 131 lines (If I open it on-line via the link and pres PageDn then it goes very fast to then end. It looks like it is very slow for you?) It would be good to get both ratings in the list to some value. So if anyone wants to add the rating for the books he read :)