LukeG

I play Meckwell Lite and am always trying to pick up some pointers by watching the system in action on VuGraph, so the recent USBC trials were great viewing for me. On board 118 of the finals, the Greco-Hampson auction started 1C-1S-2C-2S. Opener's 2C was alerted as showing hearts (his shape was 0=6=2=5) and responder's 2S was alerted as showing 0/1 heart (his shape was 6=0=3=4). The 2C rebid, showing hearts, is the way Meckstroth and Rodwell show suits in strong club auctions and is a familiar technique. I have two questions: 1) Does anyone know how Greco and Hampson define responder's other bids on this auction? 2) Do they use the Meckstroth-Rodwell suit showing technique in other auctions? Thanks for any info you can provide ... Luke

Why are using the Windows client instead of the Web interface? I'm also using Ubuntu 10.10 and just love the Web version. The Web version does need Flash support, which can be a hassle to get working. If you need help then contact me. Luke

If you want a pretty complete but complicated method then check out pages 209-213 of the ETM Gold system notes at Glen Ashton's "Everything That Matters" website. The URL for the notes is: http://www.bridgematters.com/etmgold.pdf.

I like to play that transferring to a major and then showing a minor indicates slam interest. So I would just bid 4♥ Texas, or whatever method you use to sign off in 4♠.

Playing strong jump shifts, I like to use the 2♥ response to 1♦ as a two way bid - either a "normal" SJS or balanced 10-11. Opener normally relays with 2♠ after which 2nt by responder is the balanced invite and anything else is the SJS. Any other rebid by opener is game-forcing opposite the balanced invite. If opener wants to signoff in a minor he must first relay with 2♠.

If you want to play in your own major suit at the three level then bid that suit at the two level, which is pass/correct. Partner will correct and you then rebid your own suit at the three level.

At trick two, third hand would not play the 7 of hearts from 87x so he must have a doubleton. The opening leader should read declarer for 6-2-1-4 shape and play another heart at trick three, after which there is no need for guesswork.

My word, what do people need to pass the double! I expect to get 800 or more at least 60% of the time. I'll apply one of the first lessons I learned at the rubber bridge tables many years ago: When in doubt, carry them out.

I usually don't listen to music wnen playing. If I do I like something soothing such as Strauss Waltzes or Rhapsode in Blue.

Bid 4♠ asking for trump queen and side kings. If partner bids 5♦ I'll pass. If partner has the queen I'll bid 6NT if he has the ♥K, 6♦ otherwise.

In my experience, many people who play "help suit" game tries use the bid only to discourage a lead in the "help" suit, sort of a mini-psyche. So put me down for a ♥ lead.

Peter Weichsel has a good set of agreements for handling 2NT jump rebids. For Bridge Today subscribers, see the October 2004 issue. His basic suggestion when responder has bid 1H or 1S is that 3C is a Wolff signoff and that 3D is checkback Stayman. The sequence 1C-1S-2NT-3C-any-3NT shows a mild slam try in clubs. If responder bids 4C instead of 3NT that's a serious slam try in clubs.

Yes, I'm interested but will need some time to absorb it all.

[hv=n=sxxxxhqxxxdjxxxcx&s=sjxxxxhdcakqj10xxx]133|200|[/hv] This hand occurred about 30 years ago at the old Boston Chess Club which, in spite of its name, was almost exclusively a bridge and backgammon club. South was one of my contemporaries, and North was far and away the best rubber bridge player I had ever seen, a man who represented the country twice in World Championships. NS were vulnerable and South opened 1♠! I have forgotten the exact bidding sequence, but EW bid strongly and South, at his second turn, bid 4♣ and North naturally returned to 4♠, which was doubled quite firmly by East. South now decided that his spades were a little thin to play opposite a somewhat forced preference and retreated to 5♣ which was doubled by West. North agonized and finally bid 5♠ which was DOUBLED by East, ending the auction. West led a red card and declarer ruffed. At trick two our intrepid hero played a low ♠ from his hand and West showed out! Fortunately for him, West did not realize that East, with ♠AKQ10, was about to draw trumps and claim for down 10 and 2900. West "signalled" with red cards on the first two rounds of trumps before realizing what was happening, so the defense collected "only" 2300. North, meanwhile, was quietly seething but said nothing. Until, that is, South asked "Well, at least I bid it right, huh"?

I think that 2♠ should show a strong hand with 5 spades and 6 clubs, in which case responder should raise to 4♠ since there is a nine card fit.