pbleighton

"Pass. I dont think 2H is a good idea, partner will never buy, that you are 6-5." Well, yes, but how will you communicate 6-5 if you pass? Peter

I would have bid 1S originally - I am too weak for a direct seat double, and I don't do Michaels on a 5-4 when vulnerable. "Pard thought I should have passed the opponents Dbl of his 3D bid and let him choose the contract. He said the jump to 4♠ showed a bigger hand." This is especially true since you were light for your double to begin with. Peter

Misfit, schmisfit, I don't care. I have 11 hcp, and the singleton honors are in pd's suits. I invite with 2C, then 3C. This could be wrong, but I've been wrong before :D Peter

4C. If I had a singleton heart, it would be 5C. Sounds like we play similar systems :) Peter

"I would have bid 2!d actually. The hand was given to me after the auction had begun 1!d 1!h 3!d. But i disagree with it. so 1!d 1!h 2!d 3!c 3!d and then ?" I have to confess 3NT. Singleton 8 in pd's 7 card suit doesn't look so good. I would bid 4NT as quantitative, except that I don't play it that way in any partnership. Peter

I think a 3D rebid is pretty aggressive on 13 hcp with a void in pd's suit. Are you sure you would do this at the table? My auction would go 1D-1H-2D-3C-3S-3NT. Boo hoo. Peter

"2♥ michaels. I really fail to see wtp" The problem is the sixth spade. I think all of the alternatives are bad. I would bid 2S at this vulnerability, but I wouldn't argue strongly against any of the other choices (including 2H). Peter

Double and 4H could both be right. Peter

"Minority view. I don't see anything wrong with the number of "BBO experts." Who cares? The goal is to have fun and play some bridge, and in their eyes theyre experts. I don't think a rating system where these people get offended because their peers think theyre intermediate (which they likely are) is good for BBO or for the goal of having fun. If you are an expert you figure out who the real experts are pretty quickly. If you enjoy playing with randoms, just leave if you're playing with a partner who sucks yet has expert written and move on to another table." Agree. "I do think the ACBL and WBF need rating systems, but I don't think they're for online bridge." Disagree. The rating system for the ACBL is a fundraising mechanism. As far as the top players go, people know who won and placed in the big events. I don't fell strongly about this, however. If people like it, they can have it. Peter

"I have yet to see anyone alert their two bids that they may open on xxxxx of a suit.." I do, but you are right, it's rare. Peter

"The auction started out well with 1S-2C-2H-3H-4H. It is unbelievable that east went to a grand slam after this. So even though most bids were quite reasonable, I voted for "poor" and give east all the blame." I agree (though North is the culprit, if I read the diagram correctly). If they were playing natural, I wouldn't be so harsh, but North knows South has a max of 15 hcp, and showed no slam interest opposite what I presume to be a slam-interested slow arrival bid of 3H. Peter

"Very close! Part of this issue may be how you play 2♠. If its 12-15, then I think you should move. If its 11-13, I think its a pass." Agree. I assumed 11-bad 13 because of the description of the bid as "constructive and invitational". Peter

You betcha. Peter

"This has always puzzled me about truly gifted players - when it comes to close calls such as this it seems the options are either 2 or 4: what about 3? Seems to me that the 7 imp loss is more likely to be avoided if we invite partner's participation in the auction rather than making a unilater decision - 3 rates to make almost as often as exacly 2 and keeps 4 in place. Or would 3S bid a better hand?" I would pass too. 3S would be invitational for me, and opposite a not strong hand, this hand isn't good enough for an invite - although it is close. Red at IMPs I would invite. Peter

Just my opinion, I don't know if there is a consensus: I wouldn't bid 3NT on this hand in the direct seat. I'd want another queen. This is a minimum for a balancing seat 3NT. Peter

Thanks. Peter

Someone who was not playing at my table messaged me. The button on the bottom of the screen only has This Room, Lobby, and Kibitzers as choices. The button on the right does nothing. I have Ignore Chat from Lobby and Enemies checked, but not Ignore All Chat. How can I respond? Peter

I agree with Ben - North should bid 2H first, then show his spades. This hand is borderline invitational/GF in an uncontested auction. In competition, you have to go for it. South doesn't escape blame, however - assuming X, South should have rebid 3D immediately - he has an over-minimum hand, though not by much. North can then bid 3H. Both players undervalued their hands. To be fair, it wasn't by much. Peter

Given that your 1NT rebid shows 11-13, I would certainly open it. Peter

Close. 2H. Not quite good enough for 3. 2D is out - hearts is where I live. There are days I would bid 3, but I'm having the other kind of day :P Peter

"If E were to raise H rather than bid 1NT I think sensible biddindg would allow you to reach 6 without much struggle." I think they were playing 2/1, and planned a jump raise in hearts. A raise to 2H is an underbid. Peter

This is kind of tough, neither is totally to blame or entirely off the hook. 3D is better than 4H, but not by much. I might have bid 4H at the table. After 4H, North has an ace more than minimum. Show the hand by bidding 4S. Then 5C-5D-6H in the magical kingdom of double dummy bidding. If my teammates did this auction, I would be somewhat disappointed but not too much - on some days I would do it too. Peter

Pass. The hand is good enough to make pd odds-on to make 1NT. If it was weaker, I would bid 2C. Peter P.S. 4 point NT ranges are fine. I'm QUITE happy with 10-13.

"3D has distinct underbid potential" Yes, but you have the wrong void, making you too weak for 3C IMO. You are also pretty strong for 2C. 3D by default. It's only KJ, but there are 7 of them. Any of these could be right. Peter

"I bet Jlall would rather have a girlfriend like Gavin Wolperts" Justin thinks Gavin is cute? Peter