pbleighton

"Sorry, this is off-topic: Peter, your posts would be a LOT easier to read if you wouldn't resist so strongly to using the "QUOTE" button. It is more readable and not more work for you. (Just my opinion of course.) " I've always wondered how to do this. Would you explain please? I can't figure it out for myself, I'm a software consultant :) Peter

"As a nonexpert player, I find what is a "standard strength" opening hand quite confusing and undefined. That is the main reason for my discussing my opening hand style so often in my posts. Playing often on BBO in pick up partnerships, I see a huge variety of "standard" opening bids. Your experience may be very different. I do hope my posts are helpful to other nonexperts and not just a waste of time and space. I think my bridge improves by trying to answer this post questions. If my posts are illogical I better stop now." Mike, what perplexes many of us is that your responses swing between a very light opening style, where you open pretty much any 11 count, and a very sound style, where you pass a lot of 13 counts. You do this without acknowledging that whatever you said in a given post is totally contrary to what you said in a post in a different post the previous day :) I think Noble's post on opening styles is a good summary. I also strongly suspect that you know it already. Please keep posting, but it might be a good idea, when discussing your openings, to specify either "playing my junky opening style" or "playing my super-sound opening style". Peter

3NT. Peter

Pass, but it's thisclose. Peter

"Not at imps." Ditto. Peter

"I think we should stop demonizing Iran. Unlike the rest of the Middle East (Israel and to some extent Lebanon notwithstanding), it's a quasi-democratic country, and it has a large Western-oriented middle class. The present government is problematic but it will probably loose the next elections, and even in the present state of affairs, Iran is more sensitive to reason than so-called U.S. allies in Middle East like Saudi Arabia. Farsi is even an Indo-European language I think Iran is a natural ally for the Western World. Just like I consider the U.S. a natural ally for Europe. You happen to have a diabolic government for the time being, but most of us have friends, family and and professional connections in the U.S. and that's more important." I agree, though "problematic" is a mild word for their present govenment. As to their acquiring nukes, I don't like it, but a lot of countries will be acquiring them over the next 50-100 years. We're going to have to live with it. We're going to have to grow up as a species. Peter

"Since I prefer very sound openings with most but not all partners, my weak 2 bids can often be pretty good hands. In fact they can often be two suited. Sure if playing junky openings I would open 1H but otherwise if playing super sound openings I think 2H is fine here. Yes, that would mean playing super sound openings 1H would show more defense." Mike, what are the best and worst hands you'd open 2H with 2nd seat not vul? Assume a 6331 shape. Peter

4H. It's close at MPs, but when in doubt I bid game. Not necessarily right, but... Peter

1H or 4H, depending on partnership style. I personally prefer 1H. Pass is inconceivable, 2H and 3H are way too much of a risk to miss game, even playing disciplined preempts. Peter

3D. I won't repeat any of mikeh's good post. Peter

"Hey..Hey I was in Grant Park in 68...where were you and peter...I bet at Harvard...getting smart." Backgammon and bongs... Peter

I've never encountered this on BBO. Peter

"I think many of the intelligent simply vote no by not showing up on election days." It is their right to do so, but they are wrong to do so. Peter

"It just seems if he is a war criminal, then the voters got what they deserve. They did not vote for impeachment with the 2006 election. They either disagree with you or are too stupid to know he is one." How does the result of an election change guilt or innocence under the Geneva Conventions? Presumably you can supply the historical parallels yourself. Peter

"The voters need to take ultimate responsiblity. If they make a mistake, no problem, we get another chance in two years with our system of checks and balances. It is not that hard to bring the government to a grinding halt if a lunatic is president in two years. In the meantime learn to live with the lunatic you elected." Why should I do this, Mike? The man's a war criminal. Peter

"Well, Sir, the answer is that we hold you to a higher standard than despotic scum because you claim to be of a higher standard - in fact, you're fighting to save the world from scum and bringing Enlightenment and that higher standard to the world. You have two choices - play the uneven playing field you have yourself wrought, or change the game. Oh, you can't change the game any more than you have because you'd show yourself to actually be Imperialistic, even to your own people? Oops. Time to either show your true colours or start walking your talk." Well said. The fact that Bush got reelected doesn't change this truth. His use of terror to fight his so-called "war on terror" is just another example of his administration's moral and intellectual bankruptcy. The fact that he got reelected doesn't change this either. Peter

No, though it is tempting. I don't like to splinter with hands this strong, and here's a reason why. Peter

"Partner went down as ♦K was off-site. After the hand he said that 5♥ did promise the ♥A and he removed me from the table." Your partner was rude and wrong. Peter

Your partner's 3D bid is probematic, though possibly the only one he had (if you're playing 2D as 0-7). Playing 2D waiting, it might go 2C-2D-3H (self-sufficient suit, better hand than 4H)-3S(cue)-4C-5C-6H. I hope this isn't double-dummy bidding ;) Peter

5H. Yes, it's close. Peter

Pass. Pd's failure to make a negative double is instructive. Peter

"I think that typically a direct jump to game denies a control, hence a single raise has to cover a lot of hands." As I said, it's a matter of agreement, but one king and no ruffing values don't do it for me. Make it an ace and I'd bid 3S, barely. Peter

This is a matter of agreement, but I wouldn't bid 3S, which should show slam interest. You are 3433 with one king and no aces. Bid 4S instead, after which partner should pass. Might get a bad result here, though :) Peter

"He was looking at you in EXACTLY the same way when you bid that 5♦ VULNERABLE.... YES Vulnerable.." IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD SAC!!!!!!!!!! Peter

"20 mins later i shake my head and i am OK....but by now we on to next hand and he still looking at me" He can't understand why you didn't bid 3 spades. Moron. Learn to bid, he'll go away. Peter