kgr

I just read 6 Dutch books "Bridge Spel en Tegenspel" of Cees Sint / Ton Schipperheyn based on idees of Terence Reese and Roger Trezel (names of the original books between brackets) - Veilige speelwijzen (Safety Plays in bridge) - Blokkerende speelwijzen (Blocking and unblocking plays in bridge) - Eliminerende speelwijzen (Elimination play in bridge) - Listige speelwijzen (Snares and swindles) - De kunst van het uitspelen (when to duck, when to win & Those extra chances) - De kunst van het tegenspelen (The art of defence) The authors of the Dutch books mention that in contrary to the original books the problems are presented in Q & A form. Every chapter has a short introduction followed by the games in Q & A. (So it is possible that the Dutch books are more interesting then the original books...maybe a good opportunity for all bridge players to learn Dutch B) ). I found these books very interesting and would rate them A+. It's more difficult for me to give them a level. For BBO level I would say expert+, for BBF level intermediate/advanced. Anyway an interesting read for all playes below expert level. Grtz, Koen PS: These books were purchased by my sister in law on a flee market for less then 1 EUR. She doens't know anything about bridge, but it turned out to be the best investment I have ever made. :)

Is it normal that support DBL shows 3 card here. I would think you rasie to 2S with 3 card?

I would always open this 1♣ and I don't understand why this is opened 1♠ in 3th or 4th hand. If I open 1♠ then I expect partner to bid 1NT (also not forcing in 2/1?) and I will not be happy about loosing the ♥ fit.

I was thinking the opposite

seeems like your memory is better then mine. slam 10x :)

4♣ would be 4 card fit, a ♣ splinter with 12-14 HCP Probably best is either good ♦ to help partner if opps bid 4♠ ; or slem-interest and control?

I'll have to discuss this 5♠ bid with my partner. Our system description says: Jump to 5-level asks for an extra value. eg: J of trump; Q in side suit, ... (We play this system - from the good player mentioned in other post - for fun. Didn't discuss it to this detail/point).

Probably right that the risk is higher, because it will not always be clear if we are in a forcing pass or not (certainly not for my partnership). But at the other hand: We play mostly take-out DBL's (..ok not at higher levels..). Absolute DBL is more similar to takeout DBL's as they both ask partner to bid more.

A good player advised me to play absolute DBL's (not 100% this is the name) in a forcing pass situation: DBL invites partner to bid one more and pass invites partner to DBL. He considers this as one of the best tools of their system. What is the advantage of this compared to more normal bids (DBL shows no desire to go higher and pass inviting to bid more)?

What is the advantage of 5♠ compared to 4NT RKC? Yes

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=sxhakqxxxdakxcaxx]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] Opps Pass, partner deals and opens 3♥ 3♥!-? 3♥=preempt ♠ or GF ♠&minor - 3NT, 4♥ to play - 4♣ asks singleton - 4♦ is cue - 4NT RKC In 2nd hand my preempts are good, In 3th hand they are wild, In 1st hand vulnerable they should be ok, but if I see a 7-card then it is difficult to resist the preempt (sometimes I can :) ).What do you bid? (my partner did bid 3NT)

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sjxhaxxxdxxcakjxx&s=sqhkqjtxdajtxxxcx]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] 1♥-(1♠)-2NT!-(3♠) 4♦-(4♠)-5♣-(Pass) 5♦-(Pass)-5♥-(Pass) 6♥-All Pass == 2NT = 10 HCP and 4card ♥ - What do you think about this bidding? - How do you play 4♦ here (good ♦ or can it also be good hand with ♦ control?) - Should North bid 5♣ without ♦ honour? - How would you bid this? == Bidding should have started 1♥-(3♠)-??-(4♠)... How do you bid then? Thanks, Koen

1S in following denies a 4+ card S. What is 1NT and 3NT by opener in following bids: 1C-(1H)-1S!-(DBL) 1NT and 1C-(1H)-1S!-(DBL) Pass-(2H)-3H-(Pass) 3NT I wonder if you bid 1NT with minimum and a stop and 2nd sequence shows half a stop? ..I had something like AQx-Qx-Kxx-Jxxxx and choose 2nd sequence. (partner had ♥xx and opps did lead ♠, but 3NT was still hopeless)

Do all experts play this as penalty or do some play it as negative (bit too weak or off shape to DBL first time)?

Why is this different?

I play Muiderberg, in 3th hand not alerted as Muiderberg but as "most of the time 5card ♠ and 4c minor and weak, but can be different..eg only 3c minor, 4c major, a bit stronger, very weak)." (we got too much difficulty by calling it muiderberg and adding the same comment) I would open 2♠. (If playing normal weak and having agreed with partner that this can deviate in this position, I also open 2♠). Note that where I play only a couple of opps are experts. I'll be more reluctant to open 2♠ against them, but I still do it.

What is the advantage of ducking the first ♥? Is playing ♥A followed by a small ♥ not the same?

If not playing inv min then I would bid 2♣ iso 1♠... Seems very wrong looking at the other answers :P

bidding 2♣ and ♥'s later shows GF, 5+card ♣ and 4 card ♥.

RHO takes the C, returns S, you cross to hand with H A and ruff C. RHO wins you H or D and plays a 4th Club and you A is ruffed by LHO? True, 1 down, but only if you play carelessly. Must you win the spade return in the dummy? Roland Would be a petty if RHO has 0=4=4=5... Probably best to return ♣Q to avoid that LHO can win and return a ♠?

RHO takes the C, returns S, you cross to hand with H A and ruff C. RHO wins you H or D and plays a 4th Club and you A is ruffed by LHO? True, 1 down, but only if you play carelessly. Must you win the spade return in the dummy? Roland right, blind spot.

RHO takes the C, returns S, you cross to hand with H A and ruff C. RHO wins you H or D and plays a 4th Club and you A is ruffed by LHO?

If RHO has ♥Qxxx ♦AKxxx and wins the first ♦ and returns a small ♥ then it wins to let it go the ♥A.

I'd like to start playing 2/1 on BBO. I mostly play with pick up partner (because of the flexibility). I wonder: - Is Walsh, inverted minors included in 2/1? - Is 1M-2m-2M-3m always forcing? - Do 1H-2D-2S/3C/3D promise extra's; making 2NT minimum balanced (or 18-19) or 2H catch all if not appropriate for 2NT? ... From what I have read I understand that there is no real standard for these. Is there an easy way to agree this? Thanks, Koen

Theo, I was thinking to use ♠Q as the squeeze card: ♠Q ♥x ♦T ♣ vs ♠x ♥KT ♦ ♣