pbleighton

Welcome to the Forums. "Am I strictly limited to "natural" calls after such an opening? From what I can tell, ACBL defines "natural" as promising 3+ in a minor or 4+ in a major for openings and responses." Yes, you are limited to natural calls. "Do the rules on conventional responses and rebids refer to the first response and rebid, or the whole auction?" The whole auction. "Can I decide which "natural" bids are forcing or not, or is this decided in some other way? For example, can I play a 2NT response as either (natural and forcing) or (natural and NF) depending on which I like better?" Yes, you can choose whether a bid is forcing or not. "Can I still make common tactical psychs, like 2♥-2♠(NF) on fewer than 4♠s to try to swindle the opponents out of the 4♠ game? Obviously opener would be expected to pass holding ♠ length and not field this psych." Yes, but better be careful. "Has anyone actually be subjected to this rule in practice?" There was an NABC ruling within the last year, I believe, which dealt with a range of greater than 7 hcp, where it was ruled that you can't use conventional calls after it, and that it must be on the card. General comment as to playability - I play undisciplined twos, 9(8)-12, may be a bad 5 card suit, and I can't imagine playing them without my 2NT inquiry. I think you will have an exceedingly difficult time with your constructive bidding - which is the ACBL's motive for having this ridiculous regulation. Peter

"Wow bidding 2d on that hand seems to be a huge position even if we assume 1s may be on zero hcp." Your statement seems like a huge position to me :rolleyes: Seriously, I don't like jumping in the minors with 15 counts, unless there is a near-solid suit. The majors are a different story - with hearts with the auction 1H-1S I would probably bid 3S. Peter

"Without gadgets, 2S shows less than invitational values, ~6-9, with (usually) 6+ cards. That doesn't mean opener can't bid again (unless maybe you are playing a 15+ strong club). With AJx-KQx-AQJxxx-x, you are surely not going to pass. Peter If you hold this hand, haven't you already grossly underbid by only bidding 2♦? So, sure, if you grossly underbid then you can correct it later if you get the chance. I'd say that if you would raise with 3 card support and a singleton that it is tough to find a 12-14 pt hand with ♠ doubleton that would want to take some action. Perhaps not impossible but I would imagine such hands are rare." Oops! I was sleeping :angry: Try again. I don't raise with 3 card support and a singleton if the three card suit is worthless. A hand like xxx-AKx-AKJxxx-x is one I would rebid 2D, and then bid 3S over 2S. Not common, but not totally rare. You may raise to 2S on this, it's a matter of style. Peter

Without gadgets, 2S shows less than invitational values, ~6-9, with (usually) 6+ cards. That doesn't mean opener can't bid again (unless maybe you are playing a 15+ strong club). With AJx-KQx-AQJxxx-x, you are surely not going to pass. Peter

"What is the EHAA auction? Will you get to 4S?" My version of EHAA (10-13 NT): 1D-1S-1NT(14-17)-2C(NMF)-2S(I have 3)-4S Peter

1S is a mistake - 2H is the bid. I would pass 2H. Yes, your hand is very nice, but pd's bid showed only 2 hearts, and you are short in his suit. It is close, though, and I don't think 3D is a bad bid. Peter

Cell phones :) Peter

To me, 3C is GF in this auction in Standard American - new suit at the 3 level. Peter

"eheh.. in that case pard tables JT Kx Qxxxx AQxx and I make it " I eagerly await the news of your winning lottery ticket. Peter

"Oh yeah? And who's gonna double me? Not you, for sure.. if you don't have the guts to bid 4♠, you won't have the guts to double either" Oh, I think with Kxx-AQ10xx-AJx-Kx even a Chicken-EHAA bidder such as myself might find the red card :) Peter

Will 4NT imply hearts, or any two suits? Peter

This would be an easy 2S call, were it not for the 4 small hearts and vulnerability. 1S for me, but 2S is close. Whereeagles, how many do you think you are going down in 4SX :rolleyes: Peter

5D, because of the spade void. I don't quarrel with 1D or 1H. Peter

I am suspicious, Roland :) I don't see why pass isn't automatic, as you are wide open in diamonds. Do you hope to fake the opps out of a diamond lead? Peter

Apocalyse Now Redux - the best war (antiwar) movie ever made. Existentialist madness. And the music.. Pulp Fiction - still freaks me out. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf - Burton and Taylor at their best - beautifully vicious. Casablanca - what to say? Lord Of The Rings (all three) - as someone who's read the books >30 times, I was quite nervous. I can pick at the movies (too much magic left out, too many battles left in), but the result was just awesome. Peter

"Simple problem. Bid 2D and hog the hand in 3NT after pard's 3♣ rebid" Major suit fits are overrated, anyway :) Peter

West made two mistakes, first, by bidding 3S rather than 4, and then by passing, as mikeh says, dramatically miscommunicating his hand type. I think the pass is much worse - 3S is chicken but understandable. Peter

The point is, Ken, that you were condescending (or did an excellent impersonation of it) to someone who has won a world championship, albeit a junior, and who's a lot better than you (or I) is likely ever to be. Your "old folks" comment was idiotic. You don't have to bow and scrape to Justin, Roland, Fred, etc., and may disagree strongly with them, but don't be a jerk. Peter

"I really see no reason to overrule partner's decision." I think that's the key here. If you push forward and go down, while 3NT makes, you have inflicted some damage on the partnership. Now, I've inflicted some partnership damage in my time, but in this case the odds-against slam looks to be not worth it. Peter

One of two hands: 10-11, a decent 5 card suit 9-10(11), a 6 card suit Not forcing. Peter

"Btw of course playing very sound openings you can still pass this 13 hcp hand but then who plays that." Btw of course playing a forcing pass system you can still pass this 13 hcp hand but then who plays that. :P Peter

"geez you guys must really expect p to open and then rebid 2d on almost nothing" KQ10-AJxxx-Kxxx-x Also, pd has rejected your slam invitation. You should use this information, and trust pd. Your hand is good, but not THAT good. Peter

I think pd has shown me a 3541 minimum, with values in spades and a diamond suit which isn't that good. He has declined the slam invitation. This doesn't look so good, in spite of my club suit, and if we are not going to slam, I would rather play in 3NT than 5D. It's close, though, and I wouldn't blame someone for pushing on - I might myself if I was in a frisky mood. Peter

From my distant imbibing past... Pilsner Urquell. Peter

"Unclear what playing precision has to do with this kind of decision." Pd won't have most 11s or bad 12 hcp - more likely opps have game, making higher preempts a better decision, by a bit. Peter