undoubling

This is NOT just confusing-----it is completely erroneous as the play DOES NOT conform to the auction------with the lead coming from the WRONG hand!!

But FIRST it has to be updated TO an abacus!!

MP's (from whatever nation) are just "ego awards" designed to make players "feel good" about their accomplishments in this game. Their true value is in the EFFORT it takes to achieve them. It doesn't matter if the "effort" is due to longevity, purchase, or ANY OTHER method, it TAKES effort to gain the rank achievement. ANYTHING that "waters down" that effort is detrimental to the GAME of Bridge!!

I suspect that what you are referring to are "untimed" games, where pairings are determined by availability rather than a "regular" movement sequence. Because these are ON-LINE games, and not "live" f2f, this type movement is possible AND allows "faster" (not necessarily better) players the option of play rather than waiting for everyone to finish the current round. Usually, these games DO NOT allow for "kibitzers" to minimize the ability to provide UI to players.

Better to invert the reversion sequence!!

1) You have a "trump stack" AND an entry to partners hand for ruffs. 2) You expect partner to have values in the led suit and want to "get out of the way" early 3) You "hope" declarer will read you for KQ (?) or longer and will try to ruff losers early 1&2 are "good" ideas but better if the singleton is a low card and NOT an honor 3 is "usually" wishful thinking and can be considered a "desperation" lead that is least likely to cost a trick for your side

I'm a Bronze LM, certified teacher and director, and love to play in Regionals and Nationals, especially w/those just beginning to surface into this wonderful game!! I play SAYC (with some bells and whistles) and am available those days to play. Contact me if interested at: undoubling@gmail.com or through BBO at: undoubling

Depends on the number of SECTIONS involved in the game. Overall placement in a multi-section game is more valuable (BBO or other) points-wise than section places-----b/c the overalls are measured against ALL of the players, not just those in YOUR section.

It's better to look at your score percentage to determine how well (poorly) you did. The "rank" doesn't provide enough data to determine the "true" value of your "rank". Percentage-wise provides a better snapshot of your performance relative to ALL others who played in that event.

See "BBF Login Problem" for added data

Just in case it was missed: A notification of "root security certificate" expiration was issued BY the "root security certificate" SUPPLIER. This notification DID NOT provide ANY "work around" process. AND this certificate was (most likely) applicable to OLDER Microsoft OS's!! Specifically NON-CURRENT OS's (including NON-updated Win 10 os's). Corrective action (by user) incudes ensuring your OS IS Win-10 (or 11) AND updated to current version. Otherwise, you can try to access BBO using another browser---------WITHOUT any guarantee of success. This certificate is subject to EOL criteria.

Edge, which is standard for Windows systems, works just fine. I'm not sure what works with Apple systems

It is "just like" "regular" matchpointing, where you get one point for each pair you beat (better score than) and a 1/2 point for each pair you tie (in your direction). The only difference is that BBO calculates the matchpointing in terms of percentage.

BBO allows 6 Minutes per board in a tournament---so an 18 board event will last just shy of 2 hours. That's a good rule of thumb to follow if you want to invite someone already playing in an event. Check the start time of the current event, and the number of boards x 6, added together will approximate the end of that event.

I, as an ACBL teacher, find that on-line "teaching" of this game is best done 1 on 1, as you both have the opportunity of reviewing auctions and card plays almost immediately, or can relax and review the entire session at your leisure. This allows for the student to see the issue, and to note ALL of the probable solutions to see which one is "best". On-line "group think" sessions aren't as valuable.

I suspect that you are confusing the BBO method of dealing cards with that you face in club games. Club games are NOTORIOUS for "flat hands" with "normal" distribution---------ie: very few 4-1 or 5-0 splits. And when those splits DO arise, we tend to blame our "bad" result on that!!! BBO presents truly RANDOM deals (just like at ANY ACBL tournament), with "bad splits" occurring at the "correct" percentage of times. This "true randomness" insults our skewed sense of "rightness"!! For those of us who play (or DID PLAY) in tournaments, we are far more "comfortable" with BBO hands-------although they are STILL not "likeable" for all of the inimical "bad breaks"!!!!

In my experience, whether or not to open 1NT with a 5-card Major is dependent on the OTHER major suit holding. IF that other major is a worthless holding, then I'll open the Major suit. If the other Major has working cards, then I'll open in NT.

If you have supported partner's suit w/ 3cds-----then you need to tell partner what to expect form you. With a "reasonable" honor (A,K, Q) 3rd---------lead LOW, otherwise lead the "top of nothing", telling your pard that your values lay elsewhere. The dummy will help your pard to decide WHERE your values "probably" are. Of course, with an honor sequence of your own, by leading ONE, then shifting to partner's suit, you can take ALL of the mystery out of your partner's return!!

I note so far that only 1 responder to this topic has even mentioned Gerber as an answer. In my experience, MOST of the partnerships that I know of (yes, intermediate or lower) play Gerber over FIRST or LAST NT bid, so when the 3NT is pulled to 4C, it asks for ACES and is INTERESTED in a Club or NT slam.

The difference here is one of a persons APPROACH to ANY hand they hold. My approach is to look at the vulnerability AS WELL AS the HCP's. When I have a hand "short" in HCP's, I give MORE weight to the "Losing Trick Count" and bid accordingly. On hand 1, I would see 6 losers (based on missing A, K, Q in every suit) and would follow the "down 2 Vul down 3 Non" method and would comfortably bid 4 S's-- NOT expecting to make, but preventing the opps from gaining +140, 170, or 620 themselves. On hand 2, my ONLY question is why would you NOT bid 3 clubs?? Yes, you COULD go down, but not badly enough against their possible 140, 170, or game, AND you're providing your partner with the BEST possible lead direction. It's highly probable that your side is going to make 110, 130, 150, because of your values (offensive AND defensive) OR your opps are going to overbid and go down 1 or 2. In both cases, being timid ONLY results in YOU getting the worst of the deal, while THOUGHTFUL aggression puts you on top, or at least EVEN with the "field". On both of these hands, using LTC as a yardstick, allows you to compete, instead of just surrendering through timidity. Learning to recognize those hands that SHOULD enter an auction, and those that wisely remain on the sidelines, is difficult and time-consuming, but highly worthwhile in the long run.

The FIRST thing I note is that South is a PASSED HAND!!! Every piece of the discussion so far has IGNORED that!!!! Based on the auction, 2S by North is a reasonable effort to 1) identify the fit and 2) leave ALL options open for South to continue. It's up to SOUTH to better define the holding. NORTH, at THIS POINT, is the responder, ASKING for additional clarification------NOT "deciding" and jamming the auction. UNDER ANY SYSTEM!!!!