Echognome

I'm trying to figure out your line. You said you pick up all the 1-2-3-7's. So I gave West 1=2=3=7 (assuming that's what you meant). Won't your ending be: [hv=n=shj9xdxct&w=shdxckqxx&e=sj9htdcxx&s=sqthdkjxc]399|300|[/hv] With North on lead and South needing all the tricks. How is this a claim?

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=saj65hqtdk65ckq86&w=s9hk9653daqt9c752&e=skt87432ha2d83c93&s=sqhj874dj742cajt4]399|300|Scoring: IMP P - 1NT(14-16) - 2♦(♥ or ♠) - Dbl; P - P - 2♠ - P; P - Dbl - All Pass[/hv] Result: 2♠X making -470 NS (East played the ♠9 to the K, losing 2♠, 2♦, and 1♣) Assign the blame.

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sa5hkj932dq72cat3&s=skqt763hq7dakj54c]133|200|Scoring: IMP (3♣) - P - (3NT) - 4♠; (P) - 4NT - (P) - 6♣; (P) - 6♠ - All Pass[/hv] T1: ♥A - 2 - 4 - 7 T2: ♥5 - 3 - 8 - Q T3: ♠3 - 8 - A - 2 T4: ♠5 - 4 - ? Opponents play udca. What's your decision?

Gratis på födelsedagen!

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=saj65hqtdk65ckq86]133|100|Scoring: IMP (P) - 1NT* - (2D)^ - Dbl; (P)# - P - (2S) - P; (P) - ?[/hv] *14-16 ^Single-suited Hearts or Spades #Suggests playing 2♦X What now?

The one that says "catsup".

Would certainly be randomizing. Say the auction goes 2♦ - (2♠) - ? Where you would saw them off opposite the intermediate 2♦ call (not much of a fit in diamonds), but would want to up the preempt or pass opposite the weak 2♥ call. You would be absolutely stuck.

A little confused with your story. See my bolded excerpts. Recap: Your partner opened 1♣. The contract was 5♣. The contract went down due to your poor play. ??? Did you end up playing it the wrong way around? Or are you asking about your partner's bidding problem?

I did have all my 2 bids available as weak 2's for awhile and really enjoyed: 2♣ Weak both majors 2♦ 4+♦ + 4♥/4♠ 2♥/♠ Natural weak 2's 2NT Both minors (weak or GF) My next favorite structure is: 2♣ Weak both majors 2♦ Weak only multi 2♥/♠ Natural intermediate 2's (~9-13 hcp) 2NT Both minors I don't think you have to be that nebulous in your structure to accomplish this. I played: 1♣ Strong, ART 1♦ 4+♥, unbal 1♥ 4+♠, unbal 1♠ one or both minors, no 4cM 1NT 12-15 With full relays over any opening.

Can't see how it's any more sexist than having a mixed pairs event in the first place. 1. 2♣ 2. Pass 3. 3NT

Why did I overcall 1♦ on this meager suit rather than double 1♣ for takeout and be done with my hand?

1. I pass. Sometimes they make. 2. I wouldn't open in a standard 2/1 context, although it's close with the concentrated values. I would double at my next turn, not overcall.

Seems like another example of the BWDH.

Blockage resolved with the diamonds.

Normally when you hear one thing from party A and the opposite from party B, you try to get A and B together to resolve the problem. Is there anyone you can get a conference call together with the parties. It's a preferable option to email, where people can ignore your mails, but that may be your only recourse. I do like the suggestion made by Peter of getting someone involved that has a lot of connections. They may be able to help you with the situation. I would think it would be in the EBU's interest to also get this resolved. Maybe one of the higher ups in the EBU can reach out to EUSA and/or BUSA?

I would bid 3♠. I can't get to 3NT any easier by doubling and I think double at this level should be game forcing (i.e. I can't bail out in 4♦). It's an overbid with the likely wasted ♥Q. If I double, then I'm obviously happy if partner bids 3♠, but he's not going to do that on, say, a 3=1=5=4 hand. So the only way to find the 5-3 spade fit is to bid my spades now. If partner doesn't have spade support and was going to bid 3NT over my double, he will still bid 3NT over my 3♠ call.

<Rant> This thread and many others are one of the reasons I hate the term "help suit game try". It seems that everyone has a different opinion as to what they mean. I don't know if they are only made with xxx or with AQxx and it's annoying that when you ask some opponents they look indignant that it's "obvious" what they mean. Of course, I try to persist and ask them to clarify. </Rant>

I think defend.

Definitely upgrade to a 1♣ opening as long as you take away one of the pips.

Here's a more "natural" way to do it. You can probably change it around to be transfer oriented. The only awkward one was 5S332. As we do not know the shape of the off suits, I just put in 3 as the length for all of them. So 4=3=4=2 or 4=2=4=3 will be represented as 4=3=4=3. 3H 4+ hearts ->3N Both Majors or Hearts --->4D 4=4=3=3 --->4H 4=5=2=2 --->4S 3=5=3=3 min --->4N 3=5=3=3 max ->4C clubs --->4H 3=4=3=4 --->4S 2=4=2=5 min --->4N 2=4=2=5 max ->4D 3=4=4=3 ->4H 2=4=5=2 ->4S 4=3=3=3 min ->4N 4=3=3=3 max 3S 4+ Spades, <4 Hearts ->4C Clubs --->4H 4=3=3=4 --->4S 4=2=2=5 min --->4N 4=2=2=5 max ->4D 4=3=4=3 ->4H 4=2=5=2 ->4S 4=3=3=3 min ->4N 4=3=3=3 max 3N Both minors ->4D 3=3=4=4 ->4H 2=2=4=5 ->4S ->4N 4C Clubs ->4H 3=3=3=5 ->4S 3=3=3=4 min ->4N 3=3=3=4 max 4D 3=3=5=3 4H 3=3=4=3 4S 5=3=3=3 min 4N 5=3=3=3 max

Happy Birthday! I will get back my scoresheet one day.

I have an ACBL card I made in Excel. It's not perfect, but it's close enough. I'm sure it can be edited pretty easily. I'm happy to email it to people (with no guarantees of course) as long as I don't get too many requests. Just drop me a private message through the forums with your email address.

I don't understand the diamond "issue" at all. What makes diamonds more special than clubs given the bidding? For me, the two counter arguments against raising to game are dub heart and MP scoring (trying to protect the plus). But partner knows the form of scoring too and is suggesting we try for game. With a marginal invite, it's quite likely partner would bid 2♠ only (we haven't shown him any support). So with no apparent wastage, seems clear enough to me to raise.

Double - Meaning takeout for me.

Two is the worst number of hearts. Other than that, everything seems to be working. So seems clear to bid game here.