thepossum

Hi all My title is fairly self-explanatory and not requiring of an article. However since the introduction of the EU Cookie Law and the requirement to constantly click on "Accept Cookie" messages (or for web developers to add unnecessary warning code to thwir sites) I am now a strong supporter of Brexit. Is there really a human left on the planet who doesn't know about cookies regards P

Dear Sassan Many thanks for your detailed reply Regards P

Thx Hrothgar

Thx Barmar

Thx Barmar

Are you really incapable of basic comprehension. Why do some of you have the need to travel threads to find something to have a go at me over. Clearly I bid the forcing bids in whatever system I play, all of which use a game force 2C. Obviously in a different system my comment means to force to game in whatever way is appropriate for that system. What is you people's problem. I don't notice anyone else unnecessarily specifying systems to be excluded from their sentence. They would be long and boring sentences wouldn't they It's a case of let's have a go at The Possum whatever he says. You only make yourselves look stupid

Thanks for the comments on how to evaluate the hand Tramticket. That is why I put it up. My initial decision on a pass was a good one/ at least would have worked out well - I don't know what the averages are. Then I went wrong. I thought it was a good example :) PS I just (crudely) simmed it (before or after the double and 4C bid) and my (basic) double dummy sims (2000 deals using bdeal) clearly show that of all those contracts approx. inclusive probabilities (mean tricks - there is huge variance on most) before the double are 2C (81%), 2H (76%), 3D (84 %); 3C (53%), 3H (48%), 4D (49%); 4C (24%), 4H (21%); 5D (14%); 2NT (26%), 3NT (19%) etc. So the initial pass may be backed up by Sim (full choices are more complicated). Choices seem even clearer after double and 4C. It's a shame you don't have access to sim results during an auction :( Interestingly nobody doubled EW

Thx. I considered a 4D bid (I didn't feel we had enough for a 5D) bid; however I passed then came in later and foolishly competed past 4 to 5D (-500) when defending gets +100 in 4C or 4H. Those who risked the 3NT went -100 I don't know if anyone would have considered doubling 4H or 4C but clearly I took the worst option I don't know if anyone has tips on identifying that as a better defensive hand but ... (for example I can see at least 3 or 4 defensive tricks hopefully) [hv=pc=n&s=sak932hq52d984ckj&w=sq84hak764d2ca942&n=s76h98daqjt753cq5&e=sjt5hjt3dk6ct8763&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=3d(7%2B%20D%206-9%20pts)ppd(Takeout)p4c(4%2B%20C)4d4h(5%2BH%20)pp5d(Bad%20bid)ppdppp]399|300[/hv]

I know I'm a fairly ordinary intermediate level player but if any partner didn't open that with a game force (in any system) I may be rather upset.

Hi Akwoo Thanks, I missed that as an option. So used to deciding on pass/raise/NT when I have opener's suit P

Hi all This hand caused me a few problems at IMPs. What would you do here. I chose the worst of several options. Note that EW will compete to 4C/4H [hv=pc=n&s=sak932hq52d984ckj&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=3d(7+ D, 6-9 HCP, Q+ D)p]133|200[/hv] Please comment in relation to assessment of number of tricks, vulnerabiity, whether to compete/how high etc Note North is a Bot so probably doesnt have very sophisticated jusgement of pre-empts in relation to vulnerability and tricks, but maybe assume North is more sophisticated. I judged North's bid as having approximately 6 tricks (as an average, based on PAvlicek's preempt page and assuming equal vulnerability :) ) regards P

Hi all Please ignore the final contract - I could have considered Blackwood but .... the cue bidding by North seems crazy to me - maybe I should have bid straight to 4H and not bid 3H (I erroenously regarded it as an invite, not strong) but....still please concetrate on the cues :) [hv=https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?lin=st||pn|thepossum,~~M25465m0,~~M11016cp,~~M11030zs|md|4SKQ832HKT4DK852CQ,SA765H9853DJ74C98,STHAJ762DAT9CAJ52,SJ94HQDQ63CKT7643|sv|n|rh||ah|Board%202|mb|P|mb|1S|an|Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20!S;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|2H|an|Forcing%20two%20over%20one%20--%205+%20!H;%2012+%20HCP;%2013+%20total%20points;%20forcing%20to%203N%20|mb|3C|an|twice%20rebiddable%20!C;%205-11%20total%20points%20|mb|3H|an|3+%20!H;%205+%20!S;%2021-%20HCP;%2015-22%20total%20points;%20forcing%20to%203N|mb|P|mb|4D|an|Cue%20bid%20--%201+%20!C;%205+%20!H;%201+%20!S;%20no%20!CA;%20!DA;%20no%20!SA;%2015+%20total%20points%20|mb|P|mb|4H|an|3+%20!H;%205+%20!S;%2015-18%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|4S|an|Cue%20bid%20--%201+%20!C;%205+%20!H;%201+%20!S;%20no%20!CA;%20!DA;%20!SK,no%20!SA;%2016+%20total%20points;%20forcing%20|mb|P|mb|5H|an|2+%20!C;%202+%20!D;%203+%20!H;%205+%20!S;%20no%20!CAK;%20no%20!DAK;%2015-16%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|S4|pc|SK|pc|SA|pc|ST|pc|S7|pc|C2|pc|SJ|pc|SQ|pc|S3|pc|S5|pc|H2|pc|S9|pc|CA|pc|C4|pc|CQ|pc|C8|pc|H7|pc|HQ|pc|HK|pc|H3|pc|H4|pc|H9|pc|HA|pc|C7|pc|H6|pc|D3|pc|HT|pc|H8|pc|D8|pc|D4|pc|DA|pc|D6|pc|HJ|pc|C3|pc|D5|pc|H5|pc|D9|pc|DQ|pc|DK|pc|D7|pc|S8|pc|S6|pc|C5|pc|C6|pc|S2|pc|C9|pc|DT|pc|CT|pc|D2|pc|DJ|pc|CJ|pc|CK|]600|400[/hv] What I don't understand, in relation to programming bids with highly specific meanings is how its possible for some uch erroneous bids to occur. Isn't it simple logic to bid 4C, not 4D etc - I know opps bid clubs - but one table got a 4C cue - go figure - then 4S with a singleton ten. Does GiB sometimes have a random bid generator? regards P

Thx Felicity I will look again at your and Cybers comments in the morning. I made a mistake trying to flip diagrams but have left the original and the flipped NS. Totally confused the thread. Good night

Hi Cyber Sorry about misleading. Its one of those where the hands are flipped when the robot declares so the human plays North. I will fix them up and make sure its the right way round always in future :) Sorry to Felicity too. I shouldn't have flipped things because her compass points are now flipped. I will put it back :( I left the original post and copied a version of it with NS slipped so declarer is South :) Apologies for any confusion. Its late and I'm going to sleep now

Maybe this something of a commentary on the state of Bridge these days. What a wonderfully entertaining thread - everyone having fun I hope :) Q "Anyone know what this is called, if it has a name?" - using a convention you dont know :) A1 Allegedly Randy, a modification of Landy I suppose - along with BANDY, CANDY, DANDY, etc A2 It looks like Astro - but there are ASPRO ASPTRO BECKER BERGEN OVER NT BROZEL CANSINO CAPPALETTI OVER NT RIPSTRA - this answer is a classic :) A3 Capelletti revision 2 is the best - how many revisions are there :) A4 I prefer HELLO A5 Three of the bids are Landy but one is like DONT - very amusing. This must be DANDY or LONT or LDONT etc. Seeing as there is now an anything goes mentality and anyone can essentially make up their own conventions on the fly, I will, from now on, be playing POSSUM over 1NT which is basically what I feel like at the time

Hi there Bridgebase I know there would be reasons why somme of the data is not available but is there any way to access personal hand history for all tournament types. I know I can access general play and some individual tourneys, but not daylongs. Ive been trying to track my scores and statistics for the last year or so but found it too tedious to track all the hands individually and just analyse tournament statistics - which of course loses hand variances Quite understand if its not available for any reason regards Possum

Hi all I don't know if this is a good example of planning play, something that often seems neglected and assumed by me and also many forum discussions, but is clearly an important beginner thing that I still fall down on. I tend to have a few basic strategies and then be somewhat reactive when unusual occurrences take place - without always taking the safest line (eg bad breaks) Any thoughts about this one please. Suffice to say I went down 1 trick at Matchpoints. WOuld you have ended up in a different contract. How would you bid. How would you plan play etc. I didnt like NT but it probably makes on many plays :) But assuming you ended in 4H....... [hv=pc=n&s=st632hk9dkqjt87ck&n=skjhat8742dca8652&d=E&v=b&b=10&a=p1dp1hp1sp2c(4th%20suit%20forcing)p2d(No%20stoppers%20etc)p3c(4%2BC%204%2BH)p3h(4%2BD%202H%204%2BS)p4hppp]266|200[/hv] You get a small heart from East The way I played was to win the heart in hand (W played J), then lead to KC, then knock out Ace diamonds (E), lose a spade to the Ace (E), then you get another Spade lead to the King :) I was here with lead in North. Any thoughts? [hv=pc=n&s=s63hkdqjt87c&n=sht8742dca86&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=p1dp1hp1sp2c(4th%20suit%20forcing)p2d(No%20stoppers%20etc)p3c(4%2BC%204%2BH)p3h(4%2BD%202H%204%2BS)p4hppp]266|200[/hv] Thanks P ************************************************************************************************ EDITED below to help Cyber. Tring to flip diagrams. Did it work :) [hv=pc=n&s=skjhat8742dca8652&n=st632hk9dkqjt87ck&d=w&v=b&b=10&a=p1dp1hp1sp2c(4th%20suit%20forcing)p2d(No%20stoppers%20etc)p3c(4%2BC%204%2BH)p3h(4%2BD%202H%204%2BS)p4hppp]266|200[/hv] EDIT. Sorry, I'm totally confused myself now flipping the text :( You get a small heart from West The way I played was to win the heart in hand (E played J), then lead to KC, then knock out Ace diamonds (W), lose a spade to the Ace (W), then you get another Spade lead to the King :) I was here with lead in South. Any thoughts? [hv=pc=n&s=sht8742dca86&n=s63hkdqjt87c&d=w&v=b&b=10&a=p1dp1hp1sp2c(4th%20suit%20forcing)p2d(No%20stoppers%20etc)p3c(4%2BC%204%2BH)p3h(4%2BD%202H%204%2BS)p4hppp]266|200[/hv]

Thx everyone :) I do have a tendency towards wild optimism from time to time and cant always think how best to cautiously and slowly progress 2/1 towards cue bids - although 4 losers wasnt that optimistic In this case the wild optimism was not misplaced despite not making the correct call and ending up in 7S instead of 7NT I considered a 2NT opening which North takes straight to 7NT Thanks for all the tips. :)

Isn't "if you get the spades right" a big if :) As I mentioned to hrothgar the squeeze isnt really a squeeze on the hands I looked at since they kept unmakeable diamonds nd exposed the Queen. I will have another look :) EDIT I misread the squeeze I think, sorry :) - but then again I regard squeezes a bit beyond this forum and me most of the time :( But my assessment of 6S was ok yes (assuming I wasnt in 7NT)? What is a good way to find NT. Only 3 tables found it by opening 2NT. Any other pathways

I was basing it on looking at the three hands that made 7NT and they only made through bad defence - ie exposing the Queen of spades and hanging on to useless diamonds - EDIT I think you are right and I'm wrong - more review required :) . Isn't a hook a finesse - for me that isnt a good 7 I will revisit my analysis/review of the hands :)

Hi all, I was a bit disappointed to be overruled into 7 here and only makes on a finesse if you choose the right direction. Or are there alternatives. I felt very lucky and almost went for the drop. I couldn't explain my decision process. Is there a better way to make or was my assessment of 6 ok. [HV=https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?lin=st||pn|thepossum,~Mwest,~Mnorth,~Meast|md|1SKT32HAQ2DKQT86CA,SQ96H4DJ9432C9874,SAJ87HK65DA5CKQJT,S54HJT9873D7C6532|sv|b|rh||ah|Board%207|mb|1D|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!D;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|1S|an|One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20!S;%206+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|4N|an|Blackwood%20(S)%20--%203+%20!D;%204+%20!S;%2021%20HCP;%2022%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|5H|an|Two%20or%20five%20key%20cards;%20no%20queen%20--%204+%20!S;%206+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|5N|an|Query%20kings.%20Have%20all%20keycards.%20Does%20not%20promise%20extras%20--%203+%20!D;%204+%20!S;%2021%20HCP;%20!SQ;%2022%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|6C|an|King%20of%20C%20--%204+%20!S;%20!CK;%206+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|6S|an|3+%20!D;%204+%20!S;%2021%20HCP;%20!SQ;%2022%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|7S|an|4+%20!S;%20!CK;%2014+%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|D7|pc|D6|pc|D2|pc|DA|pc|S7|pc|S5|pc|SK|pc|S9|pc|S2|pc|S6|pc|SJ|pc|S4|mc|13|]600|400[/HV] Others found 7S or a risky/unmakeable on good defence 7NT. 6 seemed right. Any thoughts on good ways to play or work out best finesse options Regards P

So I misread that I was South and not East and made a total fool of myself. So what :) I was just getting excited about grand and having fun. I think imagining myself as responder to a very strong opening 2D is more exciting than having to overcall :) What a waste of time. However my rant about the meaning of the 2D still applies :) I will try and alter my post to deal with each of those possible 2D openings - anyone care to clarify which 2D it is So all those discussing 2NT overcalls assumed a weak 2D, sorry :( I don't know what my overall would be at this stage. If its weak I guess 2NT otherwise pass but what would I know. I still dont know which seat I am :( I'm assuming my partner has not yet had a chance to bid Romano 2D (17-20) - double or pass or 2NT depending on meaning of 2NT Ekren 2D (weak) - 2NT overcall Fighting Irish 2D (weak): 2NT overcall Flannery 2D (majors) - double, pass or 2NT I think Multi 2D (strong) - either pass or double or something else, not sure Precisión 2D (11-15): no idea but either pass, double or 2NT depending on how you feel 2D Weak(4-10) - 2NT or something else Strong 2D - pass I think :) Note I have no idea how to defend most of those openings :) PS I wasnt swearing at anyone. I was trying to be polite in what I assumed was Cencio's language and just showing a bit of attitude. I read there is a restarant in Rome where stupid tourists pay a lot of money to be abused by the staff. I thought maye Italians could also take a bit of attitude in response. I was also, unlike most on this site, not assuming that everyone around the world plays the same American system - and did some research on the history of Italian Bridge and tried to address some of the systems they may play, along with others :) Mi scuso completamente con Cencio per aver cercato di essere rispettoso della storia, dei sistemi e dei ponti di Italian Bridge e di aver parlato nella sua lingua

EDIT Note I have been advised that I made a total fool of myself by thinking I was South not East. However most of the point of my post still applies :) Ciao Cencio Per favore, puoi dirmi quale sistema stai giocando. Quindi potrei essere in grado di rispondere Como no conozco tu sistema, he confiado en el Bridgebum para que me ayude, generalmente juego 2NT débil Aquí están mis sugerencias / BridgeBum. Ci scusiamo con BridgeBum per eventuali errori nella mia interpretazione e utilizzo Romano 2D (17-20) - 2NT artificial - mirando slam Ekren 2D (débil) - Fuerte respuesta de consulta 2NT (posible juego) Fighting Irish 2D (débil): la consulta es en 3D Flannery 2D (mayores) - 2NT fuerte investigación artificial y forzada - juego / posible golpe Multi 2D (fuerte) - 2NT fuerte y artificial, etc. - golpe definitivo - ¿hay alguna pregunta de golpe? No lo sé Precisión 2D (11-15): forzamiento de juego 2NT (juego, probablemente no slam pero tal vez) 2D débil (4-10) - Fuerza fuerte 2NT - juego posible Fuerte 2D - 3D Soporte natural, forzando Creo que mi favorito es el Fighting Irish. Eso encaja con mis viejos prejuicios ingleses. Paz a Irlanda. Beo fada an phoblacht Es muy posible que con una de esas opciones fuertes ofrezca 6NT y espere que mi socio vaya a 7NT con una mano superior, pero no sé cuáles son nuestros acuerdos. Si tuviéramos algún acuerdo especial de slam, consideraría usarlos. Con una qualsiasi delle forti aperture vorrei essere preventiva in risposta. Speriamo che ci siano opzioni di prova disponibili. 5NT, 6NT o anche un gioco d'azzardo 7NT (per multi 2D) ¿Qué mierda le preguntas, Cencio? ¿Cómo se supone que debemos responder una pregunta estúpida como esa sin conocer los acuerdos? Come puoi chiederlo senza sapere in quale posizione ci troviamo Tutti i migliori Cencio e grazie per aver perso il mio tempo prezioso Il Possum PS Ci scusiamo per eventuali errori nella traduzione. Io uso Google Traduttore. Sperando di non aver causato offesa o guerra mondiale 3. PPS Che cazzo è una domanda come questa nel forum dei principianti

As someone returning to the game after 30+ years I think that maybe part of the issue is the loss (to most) of rubber bridge which is, from my point of view, a far superior way of learning the game compared to jumping straight into duplicate. I would also add the trend towards unnecessarily complex systems/coventions, the tendency to tell people that they need classes when they dont even learn the basics, philosophy and ethics. It seems to me that a huge self-interested industry has grown up, mystifying the game, intimidating newcomers, and over-complicating the game. There is an obsession with the technicalities of conventions and the mechanics of the game when greater emphasis could be placed on the ultimate goals (eg part scores, games, and slams; and defence) and encouraging hand evaluation, creativity, risk taking and fun (and the social). Very sad really. Unfortunately sites such as BridgeBase contribute somewhat to the intimidation when everyone is expected to play an unnecessarily complex convention card - albeit with tooltips (FunBridge at least acknolwedges three different levels). Also those who ask questions on novice/beginner forums are intimidated by more advanced players who seem to have a very strange view of what beginner, noveice, intermediae, advanced and expert (even world class) mean. I suspect most dont have a clue :)

As someone returning to the game after 30+ years I think maybe part of the issue is the loss (to most) of rubber bridge which is, from my point of view, a far superior way of learning the game compared to jumping straight into duplicate. I would also add the trend towards unnecessarily complex systems/coventions, the tendency to tell people that they need classes when they dont even learn the basics, philosophy and ethics. It seems to me that a huge self-interested industry has grown up, mystifying the game, intimidating newcomers, and over-complicating the game. There is an obsession with the technicalities of conventions and the mechanics of the game when greater emphasis could be placed on the ultimate goals (eg part scores, games, and slams; and defence) and encouraging hand evaluation, creativity, risk taking and fun. Many have also lost sight of the social aspect Very sad really. Unfortunately sites such as BridgeBase contribute somewhat to the intimidation when everyone is expected to play an unnecessarily complex convention card - albeit with tooltips (FunBridge at least acknolwedges three different levels, and the existence of alternative systems). Also those who ask questions on novice/beginner forums are intimidated by more advanced players who seem to have a very strange view of what beginner, noveice, intermediae, advanced and expert (even world class) mean. I suspect most dont have a clue :)