bluenikki

Easley Blackwood had a theory that if the declaring side had a singleton, the defending side was likely to have one. Mainly this was applied to 9-card fits. He claimed that he had researched all published world championship deals. When computer dealing was in effect, the rule failed. But he claimed that when manual dealing was employed,it worked. Carl

Recently, Chat Manager has lost the ability to scroll. This makes it useless. I've tried both Chrome and Safari. Possibly related: The window size can no longer be adjusted. Am I alone in this? Carl

and with less: [hv=pc=n&s=sxhak6432dj2ca432&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1hp1sp]133|200[/hv] If responder is forced to reply 2♥ with ♥ void, you better not rebid 2♣ with this! Carl

What do opener's continuations mean after 1♥ - 1♠ 2♣ - 3♣ ?

Even 4333 6-count, 5432? Carl

There is no law of nature that says the 4-4 major must out-score 1NT. For one thing, the opponents may break the suit for you. Carl

Seems to me the important question is not how bad the overcall might be but how good. If advancer is under pressure to keep the bidding open, there must be a variety of bids that do not suggest strength.

CCCC of 9.25 (Kaplan hated two-honors-doubleton)

Addendum to question: Would the answer be different if the spades were 65432 ?

Not an offer, but a request for clarification. "Low" should always be lowest. "High" should always be the highest you think you can afford. You certainly do not want to play following with or discarding the queen to be discouraging. What about the ten?

As this deal shows, there is a desperate need for a separate bid to show 18-19, 4-card support with no top honor, with an un-agree reply. There is no excuse for a bidding system that lands you in a suit contract on this deal. Any suit. By the way, how can this responding hand even think of asking keycards? Carl

As Marshall Miles said in a long-ago article by Eddie Kantar: "It's OK to have undefined auctions. For example, we have never assigned a meaning to 1♦ - 1NT ; 7♠ ." Carl

How about Ax AKQJx 10xxxxx _ ? Carl

Doesn't 5=0=4=4 bid 2♦ at second turn? 2♣ loses the diamond suit unconditionally. Carl

"Non-forcing" has many possible meanings. The most useful (in my opinion) for competitive auctions is that partner passes only with BOTH minimum strength AND a misfit for the suit. If that is the meaning, Jxxxx is suicidal. Carl

There are really only two questions: If I will need to encourage with Heee, what will I do. If I will need to discourage with Oooo, what will I do? In most auctions, there is ample time to decide these, other than when it is your turn to call. Note I do not say you have to find the best possible action. Carl

"I play odd/even in one partnership, and that method definitely creates issues. What if one has only odd cards in suits one doesn’t want led, and only even in the one you want played?" But when you first see your hand, such problem suits are known. So you should be planning throughout the auction what least-of-evils work-around you will use. Carl

Of course it is a game force. But it is not a game-forcing *raise*. There is no reason to commit the partnership to a strain in the first round. Carl

"old fashioned texts (and for all I know, even current texts) say one needs 6 points to respond" In old Goren, you MUST respond with 6 points INCLUDING DISTRIBUTION. So most 5 hcp hands were no-choice responses. Carl

Where is Chat Manager?

All too often, NO ONE becomes host for several hands. So persistently slow players can't be ejected. Carl

Are the opponents astute enough to lead a trump? If not, you'll make surprisingly often. Besides, that's what you budget for when you double with that shape.

1NT dod not promise a ♥ stopper. Carl

That's why 1NT was an overbid. But having bid it, it would be bizarre not to show your ♠ stops here. Carl

1♠. 1NT would be an overbid. Carl