Robert

Hi Everyone "Nonsense." The upsurge in violence was NOT due to the war in Iraq. Battle of Tours(Oct. 10, 732 A.D.) "A Muslim Army, in a crusading search for land and the end of Christianity, after the conquest of Syria, Egypt, and North Africa..." Attacked the Franks(modern day France) from Spain. America and the British Empire were not around to take the blame for the Muslim conquest of numerous nations and the attack against what is now modern day France. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone I use double as a 'stolen bid' double. It shows a 'limit' raise type hand. With the standards for overcalls being pushed downwards, the 'stolen bid' double meaning appears to me to be well worth the lost of another meaning. I overcall with 8+HCP and even if your limit is higher, do you really want to play 3S with this hand opposite say a 10HCP hand? Regards, Robert

Hi everyone I played these bids over a 18-19 2D opening many years ago. 2D-2M(bid better major to 'sign off' in 2NT) 2D-2NT=pick a minor 2D-3C=Stayman(if 5-4 shape Smolen style follow up) 2D-3D=5-5 majors 2D-3H=Confit(Control/fit asking bid) After 2D-2M responder used transfer bids. Bidding one major and a transfer to the other major was Jacoby style. Bidding one major and a transfer to the same major showed a minor single suited hand. Hearts-hearts=clubs and spades-spades=diamonds. I play a Big club system now so the 18-20HCP hands open 1C and rebid 1NT. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone I use a 16+ 1C, however, your 15+ might be able to use the method. 1C-1D-1H*=either natural with hearts(Kokish two way type style) or shows a club suit. Responder bids a semi auto 1S and opener bids 1NT* with a club hand and any other bid shows hearts and the suit bid. 1C-1D-1S* 1 round force showing 4+ spades. Responder bids 1NT with 0-5HCP, 2C* with 6-7HCP, 2D*=3 card raise, 2H=natural or bids 2S with 4 card support. 1C-1D-1NT* shows 18-20HCP balanced. You might want to 'switch' your NT opening range to a medium 14-16 or 15-17 or you will be 'jumping' to 2NT with 18HCP opposite a known 0-7(8?)HCP. You could also use the 1C-1D-1H as a 18+ relay, however, that causes other problems with the higher rebids. 1C-1D-2C* shows diamonds. 1C-1D-2D* shows 4441 types with 19+ HCP. My testing suggested that the minimum 4441 types should try to stay low opposite a 1D reply. Changing the range to 19+ also allows very accurate bidding opposite weak hand types. 1C-1D-2H*(Kokish style) strong two hearts or 25+HCP(if 2NT rebid) I also use a multi 2D opening to show either 6M or 27-28HCP. 1C-1D-2S* minors at least 5-5 1C-1D-2NT=23-24 1C-1D-3C natural force with 5+ clubs 1C-1D-3D natural force with 5+ diamonds 1C-1D-3M= 1 round force with 4(+)M and 6(+) diamonds with a very strong hand. 1C-1D-3NT=to play with long minor and hope for nine tricks. 1C-1D-4C(5503) and 1C-1D-4D(5530) Regards, Robert

Hello everyone Light weapons infantry, radar mechanic, History teacher(high school), Almost three decades worked for the U.S. Post Office. Retired several years now. :) Currently trying to get a game company going starting with a WWI/WWII naval game for the PC(hopefully finished by end of this year or early next year) Next project is Barbarossa 'if' the first game sells. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone CRO Wonder=Color, Rank and Other (1C)-X=two 'matching' colored suits Zero+ HCP(could be 4-4) 1D=two 'matching' ranking suits Zero+ HCP 1H=two 'opposite' suits(C/H or D/S) Zero+ HCP 1S=three suited 'short' in any suit Partner will 'correct' once. (1C)-1NT='any' one suited hand -2C=two 'matching' colored suits Zero+HCP(5-5+ suits) -2D=two 'ranking' colored suits. -2H=two 'opposite' suits(C/H or D/S again) -2S='natural' shows spades! -2NT='any' one suiter that is not asking for the lead. -3C+=natural lead directing long suit Pass tends to be either strong or 4333 hands. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone I read about Turbo in Ambra. That appears to be everything. Even number of Aces bids 4NT and odd numbers just keep cuebidding. You have to decide on what you do when the other side bids, but using your standard agreements should cope there. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone I pass. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone 4NT is often played as two places to play. Partner 'first' takes a pick from the lower two suits and 'if' partner corrects to the 'middle' suit, he is now offering a choice between the two higher suits. Double is 'card showing', I have 'two way' values. We should be able to beat the contract of our combined values. If you have extreme shape, my values should also help you make your high level contract. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone I have been playing negative doubles 'from both sides' of the table for a long while. It seems to get me more rather than less penalty doubles. It also prevents me from defending a two level contract when they hold 8-9 trumps. The crazy bidders do escape once in a while, however, they also furnish a steady stream of 'numbers' so I hope that their numbers continue to thrive and multiply. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone Picture Bidding is his latest book. Very good book. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone This 7D contract(missing the Qxxx of diamonds) did have a 2S overcall 'in front' of the 2C opener. If that doesn't shift the odds away from the 'normal' 2-2, 3-1 and 4-0 breaks, I would be very surprised. Even a 3-1 break(picking up a stiff Q) would require some delicate handing unless the club queen fell early in the play. I would guess the odds are something about 4-1 or 5-1(75-80% maybe?) against a 2-2 trump split 'after' the overcall' the suit cannot be very good so it should be "long." Even a 6331 shape suggests that the '1' might be in diamonds. A player that wants to know how to bid 7Ds on this hand might not know how to pick up the club suit by ruffing it out. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone Grand Slams should be bid with about 70+% odds in their favor. This Grand Slam is less than 20%. 4D was not a great bid. No voidwood with a pick up partner, that is just looking for trouble. If you are going to make a pick up partner guess, they would normally guess that 3D-4S is a splinter raise. Regards, Robert

Hi barmar When you get to a certain age the eyes are sometimes not nearly as good as they once were. Trying to read single spaced messages is not all that easy for some people. That might help explain why I didn't read luke warm's outline of 2/1 system notes at my first attempt. I do not handle reading single spaced notes nearly as well as double spaced notes. I also tend to do my writing in double spaced format to allow space for all of the many corrections that I tend to add to my system notes. Happy holidays to everyone. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone Assuming partner is cold sober, 2H is automatic. If partner bids on crud, pass is in order. The conditions were listed as IMPs. Note to self, find another partner ASAP 'if' they overcall 2Cs on crud. Rubens advances are not standard. I do think that playing Precision type 2C methods is possible but not the best method to respond to a 2C overcall at IMPs. A 2C overcall should have slightly better values than a Precision type 2C opening as a minimum and something like a King more as a possible top holding. I play a Big Club system with a 2C Precision type(promises 6+ Cs) opening. Regards, Robert

Hi everyone I use the xyz convention in any three suit auction ending in 1M. I also use it after 1z-1y-1NT My version uses 2C as a semi puppet to 2D to allow for a possible 2D contract. If partner continues after the 2C-2D bidding, the auction does invite. Using the xyz convention allows two ways to bid to 2NT with as an invite. I use the longer way to show max. values. Jumping to 2NT invites with 'less' interest. 1C-1D-1M also applies xyz methods in standard type auctions. I use a 1C* forcing system so xyz does not apply in my 1C auctions. Regards, Robert

Hi luke warm Bidding the minor at the 4 level does not define whether you hold 4 or 5+ in the minor. This makes slam bidding more difficult. Opener cannot cooperate without 4 card support for the bid minor. If you hold two four card minors(1444 or 4144) the problems 'double.' Which minor do you show and would 2NT-3C-3D-3NT-4C-4D 'agree' clubs or 'show' diamonds by opener? 4135 and 1453 types would like to try for slam in the 5 card minor, but 'if' the suit could be 'only' 4 cards? Partner cannot cooperate without 4 card support. Best regards, Robert

Hi everyone I do not know what I would have opened with your hand. I also can open 1NT with a five card major. With the good hearts, I might also open 1H as a lead directing bid. If you post this hand as a lead problem, the majority will lead a heart after a one heart opening. If you open 1NT, the lead problem would suddenly attract a much larger variety of answers. Your partner made a double without the needed values for the level of bidding. You still should have passed, what additional values do you hold after opening 1H? You do have seven losers and a 5332 shape. Your partner also denied 3 card support(after the 1H opening) so you had an easy pass. There is no question of 'breaking' discipline involved in passing 3SXed, at higher levels balanced hands often pass the double. Regards, Robert

Hi luke warm Me bad. Sorry. I reread the system notes and now 'see' that 2NT-3C-3D=1 or 2 four card majors. The 2NT-3C-3D-4m methods makes much more sense now. If you hold both majors and partner has 1 or 2 majors, it appears to work. What happens when you hold 1 major and a 1435 or 4153 or 1444 or 4144 type shape? I am still concerned that the bidding room is being used up at a very fast rate. How do you show shortness 'opposite' a possible major fit? You hold either major and partner has 1 or both majors for his 3D call. How is a 4/5+ minor that does not have a major fit bid the hand?(Opener has hearts and you have spades or the reverse holdings?) 1435 or 4153 etc. etc. Woolsey played in my bridge area for many years. He might play that 1NT-2NT shows 9+ minor cards, but it still looks like a bad bid. Woolsey is a many times national champion, I rather doubt that he would take bidding advice from me. :o I appreciate the work that you did. It certainly appears to be very complete. A few of the details concerned me. Overall a very fine job. Thanks for the good work. Regards, Robert

My dear, dear Kalvan14 How many posts do you put up on this forum? The pot calling the kettle black? I quoted the 'more' recent Max Hardy Book. I do believe that I also have the 'older' thin red covered paperback. I will check to see if Mr. Hardy 'changed his mind.' Why do you suppose that Mr. Hardy 'changed' his mind in the 1989 version of 2/1 bidding. He changed to the normal meaning of FA? Who jumped to the first definition? I quoted from his "more" recent work. You feel that a writers older work is his current thinking? Explain that if you can. Dear, dear Kalvan14 Max Hardy has at least two versions of 2/1 the red cover and the yellow cover. I suspect that he also has a more recent version than his 1989 'yellow' covered book. Who is cherry picking his examples? You ignore his more recent example hands and definition from his 'more' recent booK? Why is that? You appear to be still confused since the auction we are talking about is your suggestion that 1S-2H-3H opener has not limited his hand. Playing FA(according to Max Hardy) he has 'shown' extra values. You also failed to explain why you bid 2H with a 4 card suit and your source(Max Hardy) promises 5+ hearts for the 1S-2H auction. hrothgar is not someone to trifle with. Just my guess. Good luck with his reply. I will check my "older" red covered Max Hardy. The last time I was a teenager, South Vietnam was still fighting against North Vietnam. Anyone who quotes from a more recent source that disagrees with you is a spoiled teenager? Would you like to buy a lovely bridge in Brooklyn? I can offer you the bridge for a really a good price? Consider it a post Christmas sale price. It is Christmas night. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. Best regards, Robert

Hi Kalvan14 What hrothgar said does describe FA as shown in Max Hardy's book. You cited Max Hardy and were so 'informed' by not one but two members. Now you claim that the source that you cited for your FA style might not be accurate? Why cite a source for a method, 'if' you do not play the methods? Picture jumps might describe 'some' of your bidding. FA does not. Why is it childish to 'inform' someone that their 'quoted' source does not agree with their stated version of the 'facts?' Admitting that you made a mistake when you are wrong is an adult trait. Again let me state that you may play any method that you like. But calling it FA is not accurate. I play a lot of modified conventions, but I do list 'z' modified. Happy holidays to everyone. Best regards, Robert

Hi everyone You do know that your 2NT-3C-3D-4C showing 4-4 majors is forcing to 4NT. Your Puppet Stayman bidding with 4-4 majors and 5(+)-8(-)HCP is forcing to 4NT. Even using 2NT-3C-3D-4C with 8-10/11 HCP is still forcing to 4NT rather than 3NT. The bidding room to show unbalanced hands with 4/5+ minors over 2NT is mostly used up by the Puppet Stayman bidding thru 4D. Assuming that the same system is used over 2C-2D-2NT, the problems get worse since dummy may now be @3-5HCP and just getting to dummy might be a problem. Are you really playing (1NT)-2NT showing 9+ minors? This offers a fielders choice to the other pair. They can use 'unusual unusual' to find their major contract 'or' 'X' to offer to defend a 3m contract. How do you even find the longer minor in a 5-4 hand? Don't you end up playing 4-2, 4-3 and 5-2 'fits' at the three level. This is a likely road to disaster. Happy holidays, Robert

Hi everyone I think that HCP values 'according to any measure' are simply a matter of style. I tend to 'know' what to bid in any system based on 'looking' at a hand. For some close cases, I use A=4.3, K=3.1, Q=1.7 and J=.9 as my tie breaker. Most hands you do not have to add any fractions up. Aces and Queen balance each other and Kings and Jacks also balance each other out. If you have a lot of Aces and Kings, the hand is 'upgraded.' With a lot of Queens and Jacks, the hand is downgraded. The auction tends to give even greater meaning to how the hands 'fit' If partner shows 5-5 majors and you hold QJxx and QJxx in the minors, hit the brakes. The K10x A109x x AQ10xx hand I would raise to 2Ss with almost any partner. My partner 'knows' that I raise on suitable three trump hands. I am somewhat old fashioned, in that my NT openings promise at least two cards in each and every suit. I do open NT with 5332 majors and 6322 minors 'if' the hands seems to fit that 1NT description. Bidding is often best an estimate of how many tricks you 'think' declarer will take. One partner of mine often had a shocked look on his face as he 'thanked' me for dummy. He was the best card player that I have ever played with, so my rule with him was to accept any invitation that he made. His card play more than made up for any lack of values in dummy. I often double the declarer rather than the contract when playing bridge. A doubtful double of a bad card player will tend to reward you. Doubling a good card player carries a built in warning. The warning 'double' may allow them to make an unmakeable contract. Happy Holidays everyone. Regards, Robert

Hi Kalvan14 5NT might be a sign off after prior agreement, however, your partnership would likely be the only pair on this planet to have that agreement. ;) I am impressed. I did not think that you would know what a strip squeeze was. Do you always 'read' the end position correctly? Some of us come down to the diamond King and Ace(?) of spades in the three card ending. Hi pclayton Wow indeed. Kalvan14's partnerships are not known for underbidding. Regards, Robert

Hi Kalvan14 What bias? Everyone posting wrong information about Max Hardy's methods would draw a correction from me. You posted misinformation and I posted two quotes from his book to 'correct' the wrong information that you had posted. That is a fact. :) You addressed a question to me by my 'name' and I responded with the answer that I had played responsive doubles for several decades. :) That is another fact. :) I did offer my opinion that your leaping to bid RKC on many hands was premature. If your numerous posts containing a jump to 4NT does not suggest that idea... We would never become a partnership unless I had a loaded gun pointed at my head. I would likely still think seriously about my options even then... ;) You confuse your opinion with fact. You may play whatever methods you decide. I have played responsive doubles in this type auction for several decades. :) You may repeat your 'opinion', but that still does not make it a fact. Some play responsive doubles and your opinion would not cause me to stop playing one of my chosen methods. :) I encourage your choice of any meaning for your bids. Why wouldn't you allow me the same choice? Trust partner is listed on my CC. I have been lucky to have a number of talented partners over the decades, why wouldn't I trust a talented partner to bid properly? Straw man arguments just weaken your case. :( I have nothing against you. Why you would think so is a mystery to me. A number of your bridge ideas I do not agree with and I post my different opinion. Gentlemen and gentlewomen may agree to disagree. dcvetkov uses a perfectly good method of playing penalty doubles here. I do not. We do not have any problem. Why should you have a problem with my 'opinion?' civill posted, "I don't think that the dbl is suitlable here." I have no problem with a different opinion. Do you consider a different opinion as a personal attack on Kalvan14? Why would you? Best regards, Robert