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Funny, that this topic arose right now, it is exactly a current problem for me, too. I had a discussion about that issue with 2 leading German players and they always lead the A against a small slam (it MAY differ, I am not sure, but when we talked it was like a rule). When playing with one of them, I did so with Qxx in trumps and a K in a 3. suit, and it turned out that it gave opps the contract, a passive lead in the 4th suit would have worked fine. I asked if I overlooked something and p said he would have been also leading the A on my place. Perhaps it was unlucky in this case. Yesterday in a local club (weak field, MP), we had the auction (3♦) 4♦! (p) 5♦! (p) 6♥ (p) 6♠. The lady, who opened 3♦ -she held Jxx, Ax, QJxxxxx, x- lead her single ♣ instead of ♥A: 1 down (leading the A would have been giving us the contract. She said that the A doesn't run away after this auction).

Carol King "You've got a friend": --> When you're down and doubled, and you need another hand, and nothing, nothing is going right..... Rolling Stones "Criss Cross man":-->Baby. Ooh! Baby- Save me. Ooh! Save me. Ah! Jimi Hendrix "Stepping Stone": --> I sure got the blues this morning, baby Yeah! and I'm here to tell you about it So you might as well pick up on it! I'm a man.... (Richard, but who cares ;) ) Blackwood, looking for a partner: "Someone There For Me" --> Could you be the only one for me, Take good care and see that all I need is someone to be there for me. Would you stay around if times got bad?... Ringo Starr "Puppet", and Sandie Shaw "Puppet on a String" ...... :lol:

I sit it out and pass. In my partnerships this DBL is defined as penalty. Weak players in our club tend to be very excited when they play a dbled contract which often gains us extra tricks... *ehem... Caren

Good morning! First of all I want to express that jillybean2's idea is great! But I must admit that I am a bit scared because of: Skill level: it depends on the context and the field you usually play in. I rated myself advanced, using the BBO definition. I would rate myself intermediate in a field of experts and beginner to idiot when I am tired. There is no definition what an intermediate+ / advanced player must know, some others mentioned that point earlier in this topic. On the way to become perfect I have the picture of a tree in mind. For the early basics you have the trunk, and with improvement the branches grow, one tree has many small branches 1m from the ground, another some bigger 1m from the ground and many smaller above 2,50m. What I want to say is that advanced player A must not necessarily have exactly the same knowledge as well as abilities as player B although they are both able to win even bigger tournaments. The intention for visiting lectures for advanced has a very big variety: one player wants to practise on defence, one on counting, one on psychology at the table, one on squeezes, whatsoever. But this is easily solved by every participant himself who decides which lesson to join and which not, to stay or to leave. Theory and practice: one might have read many, many books and know a lot about the theory of the game and therefore think that he/she is advanced or better (the books for intermediate/advanced players are already far too easy). All that does not necessarily imply that this person is an "advanced" player also at the table. "Human nature": a.) student: let's say you rate yourself advanced. You sit down at a practising table with 100 kibs. You start to play and make an error (or take a different line to what others think is correct) which is commentated immediately by the expert or at least 60 kibs. Isn't that mental stress for the players at the table? I've seen already many, many comments during vugraph or kibbing like "how did he/she get a star?" "Expert???" "And this person rates him-/herself advanced??" etc. Imo it is easier to "undress" oneself as beginner or intermediate. b.) teacher: there is a nearly 100% guarantee that at least some of the visitors / students want to show the teacher that and where he errs and where the hammer hangs. It is a vision that people are just thankful for the service and listen and learn in modesty, taking what they need and declining silently what they don't. Look what happens to the most TDs who spend their time and knowledge for others. I don't want to say that the idea is a dead born child, by no means!! I just want to express that all persons involved should carefully plan the format for the lessons to avoid disappointment. So this are my suggestions: -The expert who offers a lesson should not allow everybody to talk at the table because that distracts the concentration for all. Perhaps a co-moderator, who collects and filters questions and decides which are interesting for the whole audience, would be an idea? - The players who sit down to participate as students could get an anonymous nick like the vugraph operators. I don't know if that is possible by the software...? - I personally like Mauro's idea of 4 experts playing and expressing their thoughts during bidding and play very much. My personal experience with watching vugraph is that seeing all 4 hands is not good for improvement. So perhaps the students kibitz only 1 expert who thinks aloud, experts rotate seats. That has the advantage that there is no overwhelming information by 4 persons at the same time, and 3 experts can rest :P - I remember that I watched some time ago a lesson where someone prepared hands for a specific topic. It worked like Fred's learning programs. Great, but A LOT of work for the teacher. Have a nice day, folks :( Caren

Fluffy, you must be strong now: it is only 25 DAYS :P But I can assure you that there is a life after being a junior! A man has his best years in his 30s :D (I am told so, women start their real life beyond 42 :lol: )

Thx so far, useful as ever :lol: PLEASE: feel free to give advices also for other specific dbl-situations which are necessary to be discussed (the standard dbls like the good old penalty dbl, neg. dbl in several situations, support dbl and "reversed Rosenkrantz" (I don't know if it has an own name) are already on. Thx, Justin, for the hint >neg. free bids<!!!! Caren

Hi experts! Defining a system for a new longtime partnership *hope*, we are now at the point to discuss the dbl-section. How useful do you find the snapdragon dbl? I do not ask how frequently it is :) Do you and you standard partner have it as gadget in your system? Do you miss the penalty dbl? Tia, Caren

"Last X-mas" by Wham, "Santa Claus is coming to town", "Jingle Bells"ect. ect.: please hand me some earmuffs.... :)

Thx for your reply, Robert, but I am in this case only interested in Polish Club since that is the system that me and my partner will play in future major events (I hoped I made it already clear in the topic). I am sure that other systems have big advantages, that is not the point, but we decided to play Polish Club and therefore must deal with upcoming problems now. Changing some bidding sequences has always influence on the whole sytem because it is A SYSTEM. Caren

Would you choose it?

Arend, you have not yet any specific status for me, sorry, since we did not yet play TOGETHER :rolleyes: We should try and then I offer you a rating *hehe*: - friend (has very much credit and is free to play how good or bad as he likes, I will be true) - expert (respect, respect) - unlucky expert (still respect) - rueful rabbit (can be some fun but I switch off ANY chat) - futile Willie (we will play again but with a glass of wine or 2 or ..) - postmortem King - the squeezer (whatever this means :rolleyes: ) - .... to be completed.... LOL Caren

I feel in this hand above one does only want to decide which grand is best, so perhaps it doesn't really matter if we are already on level 5. Normally I hate it too to "waste" bidding space! Gerben: does opener promise stopper in all outside suits or just values in at least 1 outside suit? (I guess in this case he would open 1♦, or?)

Which is the corresponding word for stupid male players? I've seen a lot of them during my bridge life as well as really good female players! Caren

Hi PC-players! I have another question. Suppose the uncontested auction goes 1♣ 1♥ 3NT = selfsufficient minor with side values Responder holds [hv=s=saxxhaqjxxxdxxcax]133|100|[/hv]and is very interested if partner has the ♥K :rolleyes: . Can he ask which sidevalues opener has? What shall he bid if not? Caren

At least here people take money for that ;) Why I don't do it myself without money? Because I simply have too less time for my many interests. I offered lessons in a school for young people from 15 +. They found they have already too much brainwork to do for school, others simply prefered PC games with sounds and colours (and blood). Bridge must be "chic" for a big crowd but I have no idea how to transmit that IT IS...

I have some additional thoughts to that problem... - People are more and more used to be served something: music on CD, copies of whatever instead of writing down by oneself, fast food instead of cooking, listening to books on CD instead of reading, going by car instead of walking / going by bycycle, etc etc. The general interest in efforts decreases imo, it is not necessary any more, most of us are able to fulfill needs immediately. Many people think it is fun and the goal of a day to sit on the sofa and "relax" - There is a trend that more and more people live alone, avoiding the admittedly hard work on relationships in any form. Bridge as partnership game requires that work and there are enough uncomfortable (of course also many comfortable!!) situations at the table or afterwards - It became harder to focus on 1 thing at the time because the offers are so varied. Bridge takes a lot of time and brain resources, either for studying or for playing. - For me personally it is hard to go to work, take care of family and friends and then go to the club, playing a bridge tourney in the evening, I am just too tired. I think many others have that problem as well.

Hi! I am learning Polish Club and have some questions: a.) 1♣ - 1♥/♠ - jump shift* --> KCB for 6 Aces = 4 Aces + the 2 Kings in {M + jumpsuit} *2♠ after1♥/3♦/(3♥ after 1♠) With which kind of hand do I do it? Is a double fit implied? We have also the sequence 1♣ - 1♥/♠ - 2♦ = strong, at least Hxx to partner's suit, asking for length + quality in bid major. So there must be a good reason for distinguishing.... I guess that opener has a real rock when jumpshifting, or? b.) OMEGA = reverse rebid or jump-shift in minor after positive response --> asks for fit in opener's suit and controls (A = 2, K = 1): 1♣ - 1♠ - 2♦/♥ or 1♣ - 1NT - 2♦/♥/♠ c.) 1♣ - 1♥/♠/1NT - 3♣ what does this sequence show? Is this a jump-shift? d.) Has opener after 1♣ - 1♥/♠ - 2NT the balanced 18-20 hand? e.) What is 1♣ - 1♥/♠ - 3NT ? Thx!! Caren

"25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know" by Barbara Seagram & David Bird (2003, Master Point Press, ISBN 1-894154-65-7), recommended for the intermediate player, but the advanced will perhaps find some interesting thoughts or completions, too. Whenever I heard about a convention which I didn't know, my only dwell (if so) for knowledge was the Bridge-Encyclopedia. Or, when agreeing to play a new convention, I played what my partner explained in short form (sometimes hoping that it will not come up :) ). In this book one can look up the pros and contras for the described convention and its consequences as well as how to use it with examples and a short quiz at the end of the chapter. You find conventions like Bergen Raises, Gambling 3NT, Namyats, Ingberman, Snapdragon Doubles, Inverted Minors, Leaping Michael's, Exclusion Blackwood and -let me count....- 17 others in it. I also like the layout. I did not yet read the first book "25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know", but I am sure it will be fine as well.

"Improve your bridge- fast!" by Sontag-Steinberg, 1982 I agree completely on ArcLight's posting, I was really disappointed. Although I understand Mauro's arguments: it is perhaps a fine book for beginners. Caren

Hi Flame! I like very much "Bridge for Dummies" by Eddie Kantar for this purpose: # Paperback: 348 pages # Publisher: For Dummies (June 23, 1997) # Language: English # ISBN: 0764550152 Caren

Yes, we also do, but when you get the count, let's say an even number of cards: how do you know it is 4 or 6?? Let us assume you have no clue from the bidding (because it was highly competitive for example). In my example, where you have AKQ and dummy has xxx: - when p has 4 cards we can collect 3 tricks, - when p has 6 cards a switch is (or might be) necessary. Is this problem so rare and can therefore be neglected?

Sorry, when I was not precise: I need to know length from partner which tells me how many times I can play this specific suit (I want to cash out) before I must switch to another suit and I think I have a problem when I cannot differ beween 4 and 6 cards in partners hand (or 3 and 5). I am interested in signal methods here. B)

Hi experts! I don't know if there is a solution for the following problem in the above mentioned book by Granovetter, but the title sounds really promising :) : Opps play a trump contract and you are on lead with AKD (not trumps B) ), dummy has xxx, UDCA. Is there a possibility to differ in signalling between 4 or 6 cards / 3 or 5 cards in the cashout situation (you want to know how many rounds run in the suit)? Did you and your partner discuss what and how you signal here? If so, how? Thx! Caren

Hi Mike, I have some trouble with working out what all the abbreviations are: LTC (I think-> loser trick count), FTL=?? (we have also LOTT, LTTC etc. ect.), and I think other beginners / intermediates might have, too. Could you please write one time the whole word(s)? It saves some time and guesswork for the reader. Thank you! :) Caren PS: did you have a question or is it a statement or do you want to collect opinions and arguments? Perhaps I stand on the wire this morning :)

I hope your partner has still some students left after your naughty bid.... Do you wear also your hair long?? Always astonished that people are so equal everywhere, Caren :D