Douglas43

Nigel Farage has announced his retirement from politics, so that's one benefit....

Cheer up lads, Boris Johnson was born in New York and might be looking for a new job in a while...

The Mr Bridge site includes a couple of articles by Julian Pottage on the subject in which he concludes (spoiler alert) that nothing is perfect. untitled (mrbridge.co.uk) untitled (mrbridge.co.uk)

Good point about the RKCB article on Bridgebum not mentioning treating extra length in a known fit as equivalent to Q of trumps. Bridgebum seems to be pretty much a one-person operation and a labour of love. I have contributed to one or two items (I expanded the "Crowhurst" article - a form of checkback using 2C to cover both features and range) and the editor was friendly and welcomed the contribution. If you have suggestions I think he'd be probably open to contact and a bit of encouragement.

I agree with Cyberyeti that West has a reasonable double of 3H and East has enough to bid game, it's decent but not laydown contract, on the actual layout a couple of finesses are winning. If South raises 2H direct to 4H, does West have enough to double (I think probably yes?)

Used to play Vienna Club in the 1980's and couldn't stop humming (not during play) "This means nothing to me, this means nothing to me, oh Vienna...di-di di-di" A few years ago was lucky enough to see Midge Ure do the song live (just him and a guitar, doing all the fades by just turning his head away from the mic. remarkable)

Thanks for introducing me to the machines of Rube Goldberg, they look great. You might enjoy the cartoons of W Heath- Robinson which had a comparable theme and humour, although I don't know whether anyone ever built his machines (don't know whether his work ever spread beyond the UK - forgive me if he's a household name where you come from).

I agree with your big point mikeh but am afraid your illustrations about weak NT are not well chosen (at least as weak NT is played on this side of the pond): AQx x KQxxx Qxx is only 12 cards but I would raise 1D-1S-2S on AQx if the missing (x) is in clubs. If it is in hearts, I open 1NT, if it is in diamonds I probably prefer to rebid the 6 card suit. The sequence 1D-1S-2C-2D-2S would show a stronger hand with three card support. AQxx xx KQxx AJx is a 6 loser hand and an easy raise to 3S.

On hand 1, I'd agree 2S first time with the East hand, but then bid 3S over 3H. The Kx is a minus feature. Yes 4S makes as the cards sit, but both minor suit kings are right for it. The swing is just unlucky imo. On hand 2, 100% East's responsibility to bid. There are a number of routes East might choose, as highlighted by other contributors. Final note, thanks to mikeh for his comment on responsive doubles. I have an agreement with my regular partner that our responsive double either shows both majors 1m x 2m x = "I've got both majors partners, which do you prefer?" or no major: 1M x 2M x = "I can't bid the other major partner, which minor would you prefer?". If you want a more sophisticated approach than that, Sally Horton's book "Double Trouble" is good.

Local rules may vary between England and Canada and Netherlands. My position (playing 12-14 which includes 11+ nv and 15- at pairs) is almost exactly as described by Cyberyeti above. It is on my EBU convention card and explained to opponents online. That's allowed under EBU regs, but I appreciate that ACBL and NBB might differ.

For me it comes down to the maths of IMP scoring which make a less than 40% chance of success plenty to justify bidding game when vulnerable. I mainly play pairs, but the one thing I know about teams is "bid vulnerable games". Mind you, I go down a lot. Maybe that should be "bid vulnerable games and make them?"

I am very reluctant to downgrade hands when vulnerable at teams, so 1♣. At pairs I might well downgrade to 1NT.

I used to play FILMX, like FILM but double was always take-out in fourth seat. Not too bad, and kept opposing pre-empts in check especially at IMPs.

Here is a quick summary of the form of Acol that I play it my regular partner. If you want a simple way to try 4cM without a lot of research, this should work for you: 1NT 12-14 (may be good 11). Stayman and transfers. Stayman used on any shape-suitable hand from 0 hcp upwards. System off when doubled (we use exit transfers and there are other options like wriggle but 1NT is not doubled that often). 1 plum- 1 grape -1NT 15-17. We use 2C checkback but it's optional. 1 plum - 1 grape - 2NT 18-19 1 plum - 1 grape 3NT solid suit 2C strong 2D/H/S we use weak but multi 2D and Muiderberg fit well 2NT 20-22 (or can be the minors if you use a multi) 1 suit - 1NT 6-9 nf 1 suit - 2NT is Jacoby (including over minors), or by a passed hand it shows a sound raise to three 1 suit - double jump is splinter (including over minors) 1 suit - 3NT is 16-18 no fit Jump shifts are strong Limit raises based on losing trick count Two over one shows 10 + hcp but you can get away with 9 and a good suit, 1 apple - 2 pears - 2NT is 15-19 natural, FG Choice of suits with two or more 4 card suits: With both majors, bid 1H Otherwise with two suits you can either follow principle of preparedness or just get the major in. With 4441s, red singleton open middle suit 4441s black singleton we usually open 1D, so that sequences like 1H -2C - 2D promise five hearts. But occasionally that gets a silly result. Support doubles do not work well with this structure. We use 1D - 1S [2C] Dble to show better than minimum hand but no easy bid Have fun

... Or you could just play Acol with three weak twos A 12-14 no trump is not quite as exciting as a mini no trump, but it maintains the same ranges familiar to strong no-trump players (you just flip the 1NT opening and rebid). 4 card majors. Strong jump shifts are normal...

Thanks cyberyeti, that's how I saw it too. It explains why not popular in the UK.

Thanks cyberyeti, that's how I saw it too. It explains why not popular in the UK.

Board 10, as I play a takeout double, pass. Board 18, I think 4NT would be R K C B for hearts, so that's what I would bid. Think the opening bid is ok. Last question, stick to bridge rather than find out that you're even worse at something else is my theory. 😎

Thanks mikeh for raising the principles involved. I might add some notes on that.

It can be challenging when learning bridge to work out when 4NT is Blackwood and when it is a natural ("quantitative") bid. This hand from Douglas Bridge Club (17 February board 10) provides an example of a situation where a bid of 4NT is NOT Blackwood. In fact at three of the four tables the contract was 4NT (the fourth was in 3NT). [hv=pc=n&s=st43h65dajt4c9873&w=sakj7hk8d632ct542&n=s952hqjt943d975c6&e=sq86ha72dkq8cakqj&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=2np3cp3np4nppp]399|300|3NT denied a 4 card major[/hv] 2NT was 20-22 points, the "standard" range in the UK. After East has denied a 4 card major, East-West have no agreed suit, so West can make a natural try for a slam in no-trumps by bidding 4NT. This shows about 11 points (in a flat hand like this) and asks East to bid the slam with a maximum. 21 points might be enough for slam if East had a 5 card suit, but with a completely flat hand, East passed. 11 tricks are the limit in No-trumps unless South leads the Ace of Diamonds. Six Clubs can be made, but bidding it is another matter on standard methods. With a slightly better hand, East might try bidding Five no-trumps "pick a slam" but in West's shoes I would not then bid a 4 card suit headed by the 10 at slam level.

Hi gofton, and welcome to the forums. It's the only place I use social media, as it's polite (mostly) and helpful. Pending a reply by a proper techie, you could try taking one of the standard cards and giving it a new name (and if it's for a regular partnership, adding your partner's BBO tag in the relevant box). I think that is equivalent to opening a "read only" document and doing a "save as" with a new title". You can also reopen and edit a personal card, including changing its title, so I would try making one small change, check it works by saving, then re-edit it with all the details you want. This previous post might be helpful? STEP-By-STEP with HINTS Convention Cards - BBO Discussion Forums (bridgebase.com)

As I'm not top class I try to allow myself a couple of errors per session anyway but yes, I find it harder to clear my head and focus. After years of seeing and holding cards there is an intuitive element that you lose with a screen because it's not an immersive experience. I find it harder to assimilate new information during the play of a hand.

I think the robots do not open a weak two with 4 cards in the other major?

I'm with Mycroft in terms of when to give the benefit of the doubt, at least F2F. Harder to tell online though. Using my PC I am (I hope) a cordial and polite opponent. If I am using my tablet you are lucky to get an "wpo" out of me!

Small question but why are the criteria only that North not have a 5 card major? It's rare to skip stayman with a 4cM.