Orla

While I am at it - the promised whammy for Ben. (This is a message I posted over at Yahoo,) Some things have been causing me problems with No Trump bids, especially since playing Weak NT. I am asking this rather as a standard question, not as "partnership agreement". 1. Opening NT - Over Opp's interference. a. If Opp's interfere, whether it be a double or a suit, should ALL conventions be OFF? b. If Opp's bid 2C and you were planning to bid Stayman, do you double to imply Stayman? c. If you have points, 2 4-card major suits but no stoppers in Opp's suit, what do you bid? If you doubled Opp's suit, would the NT opener know it was for take-out? ======================================== 2. Stayman/Transfers: a. I have heard of different types of Stayman: Forcing/non forcing, Puppet? Could someone explain them? b. If you are playing transfers, is a 2S bid always a minor transfer? To what suit? Or is it Stayman? Gosh, I am mixing things up now, I think. c. When people talk about "Jacoby" are they talking about just plain transfers or is it more? ======================================== 3. Overcalling NT: a. Is it always so, that when P bids 1NT, as an overcall, ALL conventions are ON? Happened to me last week and I didn't "recognize" 2C as Stayman ::D ======================================== 4. Doubling NT, a. If P doubles Opp's NT is this always for penalties?(not counting NT defence conventions where a double means something in particular.) b. So, if you have a balanced hand, are weak, but no long suit, it is ok to pass? c. If you have a weak hand and a long suit , you should take out the double? BTW One fantastic new feature at BBO is that little box you get when you right click onto someone's name. With so many people and so many quirks it is great to be able to include individual bidding agreements(quirks). This includes some agreements to the above questions. Orla

I decided to bring a discussion on No-Trump bids over to this string. I have learned there are 2 criteria for opening a No-Trump hand: 1. A set number of HCP - some play 12-14, some 15-17 or 16-18. Once you have decided on your point range it should never change. 2. A balanced hand - NO voids or singletons and no more than 1 doubleton. I guess the definition of "balanced" could be stretched, but by how much? What about 5-card suits? Is there a difference between 5 cards in a major or minor? (I bid NT with 5-card minors but not majors) Bidding 1 of a suit promises anything from 12-20(ish) points, including those points in a NT range. Bidding 1NT is the most descriptive bid because of its very restrictions. If, for example, someone ignores the restrictions, and defends the bid by saying: "I wanted to show my points". I always feel let down, because I think I will not be able to trust my Partner's bids. What is the general consensus? Should one keep NT bids absolutely within their boundries, or is it ok to stretch them? I say "no" to stretching. ;D Orla

Hi PB, here is an answer from an non-expert - just giving my thoughts. ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) I was a real scaredy cat of NTs. For a long time I had written in my profile: "do not leave me in 1NT". I finally got used to it, and let myself(after considerable time) be persuaded by Draco to try Weak NT!! It took 1 day of playing it to have me hooked. I consider it the best bid in bridge (though, scary is playing against Opps who play an even weaker weak NT. Not sure I would like to try that). As to bidding Stayman. Difficult. I have asked P the same question. I usually am happy to pass though, if I am weak. P might be able to make use of my distribution, and if Opps bid, likely they will not be making a game in majors anyway. Of course I will transfer to a major with zippo. Maybe it is just me, but I don't think I have ever played a rotten 1NT hand going down that I have regretted playing weak NT. It does make Opps squirm. I luv it ;D :) However, as to playing SAYC and weak NT: There are a few people that I do play that combination with. Only yesterday, we were confronted by the same problem twice. The dreaded 4 4 4 1 - combination. This is a scourge for any player. However, in Acol you are allowed bid 4-card major suits. So you deal with this problem by bidding the suit below the singleton(can be still messy, though). Yesterday P held a 4 4 4 - hand with a singleton club (12 or 13 points). I responded by bidding clubs(to be expected!!). He bid NT and there lies the problem. By bidding NT he promises 15-17 points. He cannot reverse either. I guess, uncompetitive as it may seem, maybe he should pass in first seat?? :) :o :o :o :o :o :o Maybe someone could comment on the SAYC problem. I am killing 2 birds with 1 stone here, because I was going to ask it somewhere !! Orla

(I wrote this as a reply to a message on carding. I then saw that I was over in the "advanced/expert" sector, so I took it over to the beginner's string. ::D ) Sometimes carding/signals are difficult (for me) to read/see/implement. If someone were starting out, what would be the most basic things s/he would need to know? I (try to) play Laventhal. I think that is pretty basic.... I would be thrilled if someone could explain, in simple terms, about 3rds and 5ths. Orla

<The following hand came up in a study sessions. RKCBW was the topic. You hold J64 void AJ8 KQ9xxxx The bidding 1H p 2C p 2S p 4N was the bid suggested.> Actually, I have learned that having a void in a suit is one of the times that you may not use Blackwood. Not sure if this holds true if the void is in Partner's suit, does it? As to the solution to your problem - I am looking forward to the responses so that I can learn something, too. ::) BTW, if your partner were to bid rkbw, how do you show a void? Orla

If anyone has any words of wisdom they would like to impart, maybe post them here. Here is a start: CONVENTIONS: For conventional bids, learn and understand the responses not just the conventional bid. Orla

Hi Maureen, ;D Oooooohhh yes. A plug for my favourite book!!! When I discovered the internet, I found bridge - I started playing over at Yahoo. Living in Germany, I had to wait until Christmas before buying any bridge books. 'Till then everyone had to put up with my knowing absolutely nothing(which they all did, because I had met really super people over there.) One of the books I bought was: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bridge. It explained the basics of the game in simple terms, idiot proof. I guess you cannot build up on the game if you don't understand it. It was amazing, within a week, people were commenting on how much I had improved. I am still building. ::) :) ;D The crib sheet was a life saver for those big hands. In blasphemous moments, I have referred to it as my "Bible"!!! I also have found the book: Modern Bridge Conventions by Root and Pavlicek to be helpful. One book which I really like is: 100 Tips for Better Bridge by Paul Mendelson. Orla ;D :o (had problems with inverted commas, so I left them out >:D )

I am using my first post_ie to say a huge megga big "Thank You All" for giving this place to us. ;) ::) ;D ::) ;D :) ;D ::) :) Orla (ooooooh luv the smilies!!!)