vbcastor

I would like to know what kind of hand you use quantative nt on when pard opens something other than 1n. I don't have any money and can't buy any bridge books so if I can't find out here, can someone give me an internet site to go look at. the sites I have bookmarked now, don't refer to quantative bids. Thanks in advance. Vicki

On the hand that Roland presented, is that how most of you would bid it?

Given some of the examples that have been posted here, I see that 4n is quantative in a lot more instances than I thought. Now my question is what do i have to have to make a 4nt quantative bid and what do I have to have to accept an invite. In the case of 1♣, 1♦, 1nt, 4nt...what do i need to have to make the 4nt call and what does the 1nt bidder have to have to take the invite. I'm not one who likes to open 1st or 2nd seat with 11 but have seen a lot who do. the opener does not have 15 or would have opened 1n I would assume. So with 13 or 14, do you accept or do you have to have 14?

I haven't read up on quantative bids for years so I need to know what the rules are now. I was under the impression they were over 1NT openings only but this may not be the case now as I've come across this a couple of times with non-regular partners. If anyone could explain when quantative bids are made, I would appreciate it. Vicki

I must admit i was in that category that was annoyed at the 'no agreement' response. I was under the impression from others that you had to explain your bid but of course now know the rules. However, I did take the situation to 2 other 'yellows' and they said that they had to explain so there does appear to be a problem with the rules. In a self-alert, self-explain system, I still think disclosure of what you mean by your bid seems more fair. If 'no agreement' is acceptable, then why not go back to the partner having to alert and explain bids. I find that more acceptable coming from the partner than the person who made and the bid and knows what he is trying to convey to his partner. I don't play in tournaments as I have not had good experiences there. So I play in the main lounge for fun and enjoyment and assume that others are there for the same reason. But of course, I know I shouldn't assume anything. It just seems to me in the main lounge where you have so many pick-up games, the right thing to do is explain your bid and since there is no damage in the main lounge, at least i don't know of way to change the results in the main lounge, then what is the reason for not explaining. I will not be annoyed with the 'no agreement' or 'ask partner' response as I am now educated on the rules. I will simply continue on. I still don't like the rule but that's of no concern to anyone. I can live with whatever the rules are. One word about ethics and morality. I think these 2 things are important and I can sleep well at night because I have them. I know at the end of the day, I have not hurt anyone feelings or made them annoyed or irritated if they have visited my table during the day. If I get a bad board because I have divulged too much...so be it. Tournaments are different beasts but the main lounge should be for fun and enjoyment and I would hope I wouldn't upset anyone over a game. for the sake of a fun and fair game, I still believe disclosure is better than 'no agreement' but I will live by the rules. Vicki

Well Sue, I played in several of these kinds of groups and they all did it differently. One would put $.25 each in the pot and winner took all. Another put $1.00 in the pot and it was divided among the first and second winners with the first place getting more than the second. Another group had the host buy a small gift that was given to the winner at the end of the night. Depending on the number of tables you have, you only had to buy a gift once in 4 or 8 or 12 weeks as the host changed each week. Sometimes it might be a jar of homemade jelly, or potholders or something the host found cute while shopping. Usually not an expensive item as we always took the financial situation of each member into consideration. At holiday times, it was usually something related to that. Still another group had a girl who kept up with the points and at the end of each 2 month period, the winner would get a free dinner by the rest of us splitting her meal. This gave us a night out every 2 months as well as our weekly game. Just a few thoughts from my past. You can be as creative as you like. But keep it on the fun side so no one is harmed by the money. Vicki

Thank you Double. That's my feelings on the subject exactly and stated very well.

I appreciate all of you who have expressed an opinion on this topic. I find them all interesting. I guess what I wanted to hear as a ruling was-- when asked, you give what your intent was whether you are holding what you say you have or not. This person made a psyche bid on the next hand giving us a low board but that's what they are designed to do. I used to play duplicate bridge but haven't for years and I don't know what rules have changed. But I thought here at bbo, when asked for an explanation, you should give one. Apparently the correct rule is that if there is not a partnership agreement, then no explanation is necessary. Knowing that now, I wish the ruling would have gone as 'no explanation is required if no agreement but due to courtesy here at bbo, an explanation should of been made.' Due to fairness it is not unlike me to pass on explanation to his/her partner even after they have bid and let them undo so as to have a fair auction. Of course, this is probably not proper either but in the main lounge where most of us are just playing to pass time, I don't think telling what you meant by your bid is wrong. I was asked yesterday what my 1 spade opening was after a fairly simple auction concluded. I was surprised but replied, 'openiing 5+ card'. A beginner should of guessed that but apparently this opponent felt it necessary to ask so I answered. It is difficult to get a game up where both partnerships are regular partners. So you usually get 2 that have never played together. At our table, we have no problem if the partner asks what his partner meant by a bid as there are so many systems out there. It's just a game and I will not lose sleep over it. But I have been fussed at for not putting the meaning of my alert in the new little box since it has appeared. I thought the opps needed to ask if they wanted an explanation but now I always put it in there. I don't have a clue what the rule is but since being scolded, I do it. Then one day I was told I shouldn't tell unless asked by an opponent---so guess I'm wrong again. What caused me to call a 'yellow' person was his statement the he did not have to disclose anything. That I had no right to know exactly what 13 cards he had in his hand. I was under the impression that you had to and have since found out what the true rules are but since I play for fun but play to play well and bid accordingly, I felt he should of disclosed more than 'ask partner' when i knew they did not know each other from the chat box. I was not host and my regular pard is very sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly or say much in case she might hurt someone's feelings, but even she said in the chat box that he should give some info other than 'ask partner'. I've put it up to experience and know that there are a few who like to make 'statements' rather than just be nice in a pick up game. Thanks all. Vicki

Well I just wanted to know the rules and I've been told before to explain my bids by bbo players since I've been playing here. But now I found out that was wrong and I'm upset...Sorry. I don't have to have what my bid meant as in the case of a psyche but I thought at BBO, people would explain their intent with the bid. When I play at my studio, my pard must explain the bid but here the rule is self alert and I thought self explain. But if this is the acceptable way, I will play with people I know and trust. I always give my intent of my bid if asked as I think the game should be fair. But I see some of the responses here think maybe fairness is not important and all have their right to their opinions.

I was just playing a person whom I was told not to name, opened 2♦ and my pard and I asked what that meant. He responded 'ask partner'. I was under the impression that here at BBO that you were supposed to explain your bid. When I called on a 'yellow' person to come answer this question after being told that he did not have to tell me anything since they did not have a partnership agreement, I was told he was right. I feel that bridge should be fair and that since you alert your own bids, you were supposed to explain. Apparently I was wrong. If I join a game and play with a stranger, then I don't have to tell anyone anything. Personally I think this stinks. My respect for the 'yellow' people have gone away completely as I thought this site was intent on fairness. It was just a pick-up game so no big deal but it upset me greatly. I did not expect him to tell me every card he had in his hand as he so stated in the chat area. I simply wanted to know if it was strong, weak, multi or whatever. He did not alert it so I assumed it was weak but still expected him to say. So maybe I was wrong about BBO. Maybe BBO does not care about fairness. I can go to a table and make totally wild bids and I have reason to explain since I would not have a partnership agreement with some stranger. If this is what BBO calls fair, then maybe I should find someplace else to play.