Douglas43

Thanks to mgoetze for posting links Looking back at this old post, my French is not good enough for M Levy's article. The (slightly different) style below is reasonably common in the UK. FSF is used a lot in Acol. As a general principle a new suit at the 3 level in an uncontested constructive auction is forcing to game (with specified exception for transfers out of 1NT). Consistent with that principle, FSF at the 3 level is GF. FSF at a lower level is forcing for one round only, so a minimum bid by the other partner can be passed, but the situation becomes GF if the person replying to FSF makes a non-minimum rebid orthe person who used FSF bids again.

Your are probably right about the UK style on that. Some players always bid the major. I'm a pessimist and before choosing on 4M4m32 think whether I'd want the suit led. On this hand I'd be happy with a lead in either suit, so yes I'd try and get the Spades in. On the Isle of Man, I reckon most players would double 1D as West and respond 1S as North. We have a lot of lively auctions

I'm struggling here because I'd prefer 1♠ as South (good 4cm, happy to rebid 2NT inv over 1NT or 2NT GF over a two-level response, and if it just makes it's +80 instead of +70), I'd double 1♦ as West, and I'd respond 1♠ as North. But I do agree with East's pass - on the basis of "where are the Spades"?

That would be my route too. This method works with a weak NT as long as you play 1NT rebid 15-17 and 2NT rebid 18-19.

I was a Spade bidder, but double is interesting. Assuming no penalty pass, what would be your planned follow-up Nige1? Would you bid Spades over a Lebensohl response or go with partner's choice of suit?

This is nothing to do with the OP (sorry Pilowski) but the phoney club goes back to the 1930's. The Austrians won a world championship playing Vienna Club. 1♣ was 1+ , 1♦ 1♥ and 1♠ were all 5+. And 1NT was a strong hand, any distribution. Some of the top Austrians escaped to the UK before WW2, including their captain, Paul Stern, and Rixi Marcus. That's why Vienna Club was popular in the UK in the 40's and 50's. I used to play a modernised version in the 1970s and 80's. It was OK.

I'd prefer to transfer then bid 2NT. Failing that, Stayman.

I misread the spoiler and thought that the black two suiter was partner's hand, which is what usually happens when I bid 5♦. Now feeling much happier!

I mainly play in local club events run online and an EBU event. If you can join a club event I'd recommend it

At IMPs I'd prefer to bid 5♦ because a 4-4 Spade fit might run into trouble. At matchpoints, the extra points for the major might tempt me to double and hope for the best.

IMP scoring is really designed for head-to-head matches between teams of 4 (or teams of 8) and has been since it supplanted total score in the 50's and 60's. It is good for that.

So, what was the gaffe? Did declarer play the Ace and blow an overtrick or finesse and run into a 6-1 break?

It's a bit old fashioned, but I think an immediate 5♥ over 4♦ would say "I've got good controls but poor trumps".

If the bidding has gone: (2♥) X - pass -? and you are playing Lebensohl then a direct 3♣ would show values. Do the robots play a direct bid of 3♣ without Lebensohl as forcing, by any chance?

2♠ at pairs but might stretch to 3♠ at teams.

Here's a Palooka view to start you off, looking at the diamonds in isolation: (1) ignoring situations where you are never or always making four tricks in the suit and (2) assuming West defends the position perfectly (covering the second honour with Kx) There are two stand-out positions where West must cover the first honour; West has K10 doubleton when you must play for the drop, or West has singleton King, when you must finesse. The two chances in (2) cancel each other out. Finessing works half the time. So win it and finesse the 8. [Mikeh posted while I was writing. At least I'm in good company]

Cyberyeti's answer looks good to me. It's unlikely that West has 6 clubs but not out of the question, so why take the risk?

(a) Yes (b) Personally, I would. But apologise if partner rolls in 10 tricks. They must have 5-6 in the majors or similar shape

When organising a congress it is indeed normal to have a spare pair or two for this sort of problem. Would have expected that to be easier online than at a physical venue.

Maybe just teaching them to play Acol properly might be easier?

As somebody who doesn't normally play 2/1 I've been finding a it difficult to handle the robots' intermediate jump shift to 3♣ or 3♦. I guess every system has gaps, and hands where responder has about 9+ to 11+ with a minor can be a challenge in 2/1l? (If 2♣ is not GF, then 1♦ No 2♣ [2♥] 2♠ No 3♦ looks OK) Sorry, missed Tmorris's post when I posted. Same point.

No, and having seen the hand, 3NT looks like a pretty good place to be.

I am more of a NT bidder. Play 2NT=20-22 but like smerriman might well upgrade to open 2♣. But there is probably no "right" answer except in a post-mortem when you know what partner has. My methods include 3♠ as minor suit Stayman, and a bid of 5NT on the way to 6NT checks for a minor suit fit that might be safer. Hence I am slightly less worried than DavidKok about missing a minor suit fit.

If 6♣ gave you a top board then it was the optimal contract.

This hand contains a guess that both declarers got right. Can you see why? [hv=pc=n&w=sj9hkj94dkqt5cqj2&e=skt732haq53d87ck3&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=p1np2cp2hp4hppp]266|200[/hv] South deals and passes. Sitting West you open 1NT (12-14) second in hand. After a simple Stayman sequence against silent opponents, you are playing the hand in 4♥. North leads the ten of Clubs, you play the King from dummy and South wins with the Ace, South cashes the Ace of Diamonds and leads another Club, which you win in hand. You draw trumps (which happily break 3-2) finishing in hand. You now have enough tricks, but you need to avoid two Spade losers. You lead the Jack from hand, small card from North on your left. Do you run the Jack or go up with the King. And why? Answer: Hopefully you spotted the theme of this hand, which can be summed-up by a famous quote from Silver Blaze by Arthur Conan Doyle. Gregory : Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention? Holmes: To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time. Gregory: The dog did nothing in the night-time. Holmes: That was the curious incident. South dealt and passed but has already shown up with two Aces. That means North almost certainly has the other one. Both declarers played the King from dummy and made their contract.