pbleighton

In the current balancing thread, jdonn just wrote: This is something I've been wondering about recently. Although in general I'm a very aggressive bidder, especially in terms of opening bids (10-13 NT all vuls, etc.), I've never been that aggressive competing for partscores vulnerable, even at matchpoints. I'll make light one level overcalls, but that's about it. I hate balancing when vulnerable. I do it sometimes, and am relieved whenever it works out. I know that a lot of posters in the Forums are aggressive balancers. Many are better players than I am. I'd like opinions perhaps with examples) on how vulnerability and scoring affect your decisions, especially in bread-and-butter *normal* situations. Thanks, Peter

Yup. Peter

Agree. Peter

Sorry, I must have misunderstood you. It won't happen again. :D Peter

I wasn't quarrelling with 1NT, and I wouldn't criticize a partner who bid it,but I think it's clear that it's *unclear* to reject the only bid that isn't a lie. But perhaps I'm simple-minded :blink: Peter

I've had some nasty comments, and a LOT of glares. Peter

4S, with confidence. Peter

In my (extensive) experience of pre-alerting, it irritates most players to be pre-alerted. In fact, the majority refuse to read a written pre-alert, telling us to alert all of our unusual stuff. The opps almost never agree on any defenses. This is real world experience, at the club, sectional, and regional levels. It may well be different at top level bridge. Peter

With a good 5 card suit and an unbalanced hand? Wow, what a concept! Peter

2C. The hand's not quite good enough for double then clubs. Interchange the DQ for a small heart then I double. Peter

Ditto. In fact, pre-alerts should be eliminated. Peter

Pass. I don' think either 5S or 6D makes. Like other posters, I would have bid 5H the previous round. Peter

If Ashley Judd can look good in this movie, she can look good anywhere. Go girl! Peter

Well, yes, that's the *other* reaction :) I can see it. It took me a bit to get into it, and it DOES have an *excremental* aura, visiting the bathroom feels like you're still in the movie... or really IN the movie. Aluminum foil forever! Peter

Weird, talky, nerve wracking, very gross at times (I had to leave once). Great movie if you like seriously weird s**t. Peter

I never said that, but You seem to have a fear of the actual. Why all the dead babies, Mike? Peter

A flat out lie. Tell that to my dead friend. Peter

I know a few French people who live here, and fly back to france for what they consider to be better care. The air ticket and hotel is far cheaper than the cost of care in the U.S. Mike's fantasies to the contrary, there are many countries in which people in the aggregate receive better health care than here, at a much lower cost. Peter

When will technology save the lives of those who are unisured, Mike? That seems to be your fantasy. You haven't addressed families making 20,000, 30,000, , 40,000 paying for this stuff. How ould technology have saved my uninsured friend? You seem to not care at all. Peter

Will you read and respond to the links I provided on comparative infant mortality and general mortality rates? Do you care about tens of thousands of dead babies, or are your techno-fantasies too compelling to worry about something so mundane? Peter

And how does this cure cancers? And, more germane to this discussion, how does this help uninsured people pay for cancer treatment. This is not academic. I know someone who died of lung cancer because she got it when she was working at a job with no health insurance, and she couldn't afford the very expensive individual policies which were her only alternative. This happens all the time. Mike, you are consistently ducking reality. Peter

Would you explain this, Mike? Perhaps give an example? The poor don't get the latest and greatest in health care now. And as for the middle class, how does a family of 4 with an annual income of $45,000 (the median) pay their own bills? Much less the family making $20,000? Peter

I don't dispute that things are better than they were, Mike. I thought I made that clear. Things will get better still. It is the comparative effective utilization of technology relative to other countries that is the real subject of this thread. See my links above, if you dare :D Peter

Mike, I find it amazing when we agree on anything, but here I agree with you. I don't understand. Did someone slip some LSD into my lunch? It's been so long... In general, I think that pulling partner's penalty double is a A Very Bad Idea, unless you have a hand which partner won't expect. Peter

Here's some data on infant mortality and life expectancy by country: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004393.html And here's some on health care expenditures per country: http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/pres...thspending.html Peter