benlessard

If east has 11 m cards. 1s, 1H Not finessing work 100% finesse fail when ks is stiff 2S, 0H always failed 0S 2H finesse= success, playing A♠ =failure If east has 10 m cards. 3S 0H always failed 2s 1H always failed 1S 2H always succed 0S 3H finesse worked playing A first round failed If east has 12 m cards 1S, 0H both line succed unless stiff king 1H, 0S both line succeed I thikn its more likely East made a ligthner X or that hes got stiff Ks then made a X with a S void, so i play the A♠ but i don't expect to succed. Knowing the opposition will help on this deal.

Maybe the opps were playing 4cM or frequently psych. He probalby felt that the chance of going minus by reopening were low enough and the chance of having game sufficient. I would never reopen but i don't think its that crazy to reopen.

Ive got an easy solution for most of you. Lets consider that you have X shapes you want to show. You put them in frequency order and whatever numerical you want to used. after that a= +1 B= +2 C= +3 D= 1 E= 4 F =9. G= 14 Lets say you want to show hand 18 and youre in 2D. 18 = 14+1+3 so you bid 2H wich is A--partner respond 2S wich is B now you bid 2NT = C followed by 3C wich is D. and now you bid 3S for G. 2H (A = +1) 2S (B) relay 2NT (C = +3) 3C (D) relay 3S (G= 14) A+C+G = 18 You only have to memorize you exact shape list. for 2 suiter 5422 5431 5413 5440* 5521 5512 5530 5503 6421 6412 6430 6403 6511 6520 6502 7411 7420 7402 for single suiter it something like this 6331 6313 6133 7321* maybe 7222 7312 7231 7213 7132 7123 7330 7303 7033 8311 8131 8133 8??0 8?0? 80?? I don't rememebr exactly where we put the 8221 , probably with the 7321 For balanced hands 5332 5323 5233 6322 6232 6223 maybe 7222 It by far the most easy and efficient system for long list of shapes. However since no shape are showned in the first 3 spot the most common 5431 are a bit late. Also you have finish the entire sequence since the shape is encrypted. IMHO complex relay for 7+ or 65+ are unpractical with a too rare frequency. So i much prefer a simpler variation. with only 2 switch +1, and +2 A=+1 B=+2 C=1 D=3 E=6 F=9 1 = C 2= AC 3= D 4= AD 5= BD 6= E 7= AE 8= BE 9= F 10 =AF 11 = BF Note that there is no touching letters like AB or BC because the relayer has to make a bid. so AD is A (2H) B (2S relay) D (3C)

In my experience the most common expert practice is to play (over natural bids) (2C)--- X = stayman or system on over (2♦,2♥,2♠) = business at 3 level X= showcards. I really doubt that the majority of expert that play lebensohl (or a variation) use the X as primary neg. If you don`t use lebensohl then maybe X as neg is more popular but i doubt its better. PS The strenght of the opener doesnt really matter... Most weak NT players will tell you that you collect more good penalty playing weak NT instead of strong NT despite the fact that usually over a weak nt a 2 level bids shows an opening hands. Modern trend is to overcall and compete light...Why would you give up fairly safe and lucrative penalty X ? I would really like to see the BSW poll your talking about. IMHO this is false. The 1nt opener rarely reopen by a X and rarely passed the neg X since his trumps are in front of the opener. It would be fun to check what are the world top pairs do over. 1nt (2♥) X = ???

BBO need a room for already formed partnership. We are looking for some pratice so we want to play at least 20 boards against decent opps. I think its a reasonnable expectation and a common need. However its tough to get satisfaction. Most of the time it take us 25 min to find a decent pair just to see them quit when their tourney open. Sometimes the newly formed pair break up after 2-3 deals when a forcing bids is passed or the weaker player screw up the defense badly. Brdige is a partnership game and when we talk of players most of the time we mean the partnership. (Meckwell, Fantunes etc) So having a partership VS partership room is just common sense.

IMO anything else then pass is a gross mistake. 3♣ could be a game try so there is no forcing pass involved. You have a balanced 14 count with 1 ace. Partner know you have 4s. Passing is an almost perfect description of your hand. If partner has 2 small diamonds or 4 spades to the 9 you don't want to play 5♠. Let partner decide he will make a good decision most of the time.

If you play that the initial pass showed a negative then i guess a 2♦ bid is waiting with some values ? On a side note A popular system after a 2♣ opening in Canada is 2D =waiting but GF 2♥= double neg 0-2 pts 2♠ = positive with ♥ (KQxxx or better) 2NT = positive with ♠ (KQxxx or better) PS Would you pass if partner redouble ?

Im beginning to get tired of these do you overcall question. Its a defensive-offensive ratio style problems. Either you allow weakish overcall or you don`t. Most average players think that you should overcall as long as it relatively safe to overcall. They just don`t see the whole equation. With today very agressive bridge I like to X my opponents and so does my partner so we play sound value all around except for preempts. Im expecting partner to have close to 1 quick trick for a 1 level overcall 1.5 for an opening and 2 for a 2 level overcall (or a strong club opening) there is nothing more to it. We don`t overcall with (but ill preempt) KQJTxx QJx Jxx x We don`t open with (its a 2♠ or 3♠ for me) KQJxxx Qxxx Qx Q etc... When the bidding goes 1♠ ---(2♣)---4♠---??? I prefer to be able to X with hand like AQ Axxxxx xxxx Qx Then to find a sacrifice that will bring me 3 imps. We miss some low HCP games we miss some sacrifice but its a "sound values" systemic choice and we live with it. If super agressive style is working nice for you then keep the pressure on your opponents by bidding as much as you can. The most important thing is that both side of the partnership are on the same wavelenght. The 2nd most is that with a new or a pickup partner play sound values its just a lot more simple. 3rd Its ok to be bold and agressive as long as your able to return to a more classical style if your ass is being kicked badly.

Im wondering why you didint showed a positive with an A + Q + 2 J. You probably shouldnt make a slam try with xxx in clubs since you know that finesse are probably off (clubs and the j of ♦ are in front of the X`s the missing H or S are likely to be LHO because of the clubs lenght in RHO you also doesnt have the H T or 9. At my table we might play 2♣ XX going down yurk. Or 6♠ making if we duck the diamonds at trick 1.

my style is fast denies trqansfer leb in all case except a balancing X (weak 2) by a passed hand (game isnt likely and scrambling 2nt is much more important) 1nt----(2♥) X = 100% business (not playing business X with today crazy overcall is dementia, you should at least play that a double show 3) 2♠ to play (i think a 4cd suit once in a while is acceptable) 2nt-----relay to 3 clubs, clubs or inv values. 3♣ diamonds to play or GF 3♦ stayman no stopp. 3♥ spades gf 3♠ to play 3nt or slammish in both minors 3nt both minors no stoppers. 2nt --- 3♣ forced followed by ... 3♦ = diamonds inv with or without stoppers. 3♥ = stayman with stoppers 3♠ = inv spades with or without. 3nt = clubs no stopper. 4♣ = keyc in clubs. what we cannot show is inv with clubs. inv stayman.

To double with off shape and minimum hand is something no expert will do unless their system allow it. As for 2♣ or pass i slightly prefer pass. Im used to play raptor wich i think is mandatory in Imps. edited --- i misread the vuln ... W vs R 2♣ is the only bid.

3nt without stoppers. If partner has stoppers in both majors then 3nt might easily be a better contract then 5♦ (esp in MP). Partner without stoppers in BOTH majors will bid 4c followed by my 5♦. Im not afraid to lets opps bids maj at 4 level since they are R against W. If we play fast show (wich is inferior to fast denies) then ill bid 2nt followed by 3nt. (in some version or transfer leb 3♠ show stops and 3nt denies stopp)

Ducking a clubs will fail only if W can ruff a dimond at trick 2 and the ♥A is offside. Taking with the A♣,ruffing a clubs and pulling trumps fill fail if the ♦Q if off side followed by a club switch and h back (losing Q♦+1♣+2♥) Taking with the A♣, ruff clubs big,trumps back to hand 2nd ♣ruff and low ♦ will fail if they get ♦Q ♦ruff + 2♥. line 1 is clearly better

If you don`t play support XX then XX is probalbly better but if ur not sure 1h is best .

Lets clarify some thing before we go further. R VS W 4 level bid show at least 8.5 tricks and a 3 loser hand is perfectly within range. Like all or most RvsW jumps these are more tacticals bids then classics preempts. This is standard. A X of 5D show at least 3 defensive tricks or ... some expert have the understanding that X after a preempt or tactical bid (when it cannot be lightner) showed the willingness to compete with exactly 2 Aces So for them X= mean im bidding 5S but just in case you have a defensive tricks i X. But this is a very specific high level not too popular agreement . So unless i have this understanding i will never X 5D with only 2 tricks its just plain wrong. Bidding 5S over 5D mean i think i have very good chance to make 5S or i think the sac will be cheap (and in don`t think we can set them). Its a close call but don`t think the hand really qualify for this. Here is why I have 2 Aces so partner can have a slow trick in D or H and they go down. Despite my 75 ive still have only 7 spades so 5S can be costly. + more importantly I don`t see nothing wrong with passing 5♦. im not afraid partner wont raise me with 2 aces nor afraid partner wont bid 5s with 3 spades and no defensive tricks of course partner could have KQ♣ and we make 6. But he can also have those in H and all 5 level contracts goes down also. Looking for specifics cards to get specifics result isnt the way to go when on these kinds of deals since anything can happen. Predicting some exact result with hands like these is an exercice in futility. The problems with a distributionnal hand is that on its own its has few losers however the chance of having useful cover cards (and ways to know when you have them) are not great. IMO sandbagging is going slow in the hope that opponents will let you buy a contract cheaper then if you you go the fast way or to hope they X you (in a contract that you expect to make). Going 1♠--3♠--4♠ when you wanted to play 4♠ all along is sandbagging. Bidding 1♠ in the hope of discouraging opponent from finding a good save is sandbagging. Bidding 1♠ because your afraid to miss 6 isnt sandbagging.

Ps its a good slam without a c leads and slightly above 50% with a club leads without C lead. AK of heart and low H. IF hearts are 3-3 or 4-2 with LHO having 2 im ok (unless LHO has ♠KTxx♠ or a bare ♠K♠. Otherwise i have to ruff with the 8 and hope LHO has Tx or KT in spades. If the Q of H drop early its complicated... On a likely club lead i have to pitch my club right away so ill miss transportation to deal if north has 2♥. example club lead ♦A, ♦K pitch my club loser ♥A ♥K ♥x LHO discard ruffed small, come back to my hand with a club ruff. H ruff again (doesnt help north to ruff with K at any time) J of H hold or lose and its not obvious i will make it.

Its kind of a reverse 3nt serious. If partner bid 4♣,4♦,4♥ hes showing extras + the A (without control problems) i guess. So in that case your 4♥ is real extras not just a courtesy cue-bids so after partner 4S i think you should pass. Interesting methods however i don`t like the fact that 3nt could show extras (without an available A cue-bids) Maybe a direct 4♠ showing extras but no -minors A and no need to know cuebids) 3S as worried about cue any strenght cuebids and 3nt as always weakish is better ? Also do you pick hands where youre unsure if partner if either minimum or maximum without a cuebids ...probably not but maybe. So basically the 3nt confirm partner values are in minors (otherwise he would bid 3S) so .. passing seems easy.

Seem like a slighty over 50% slam to me. If the K of ♦ is onside + without 5-0 or 5-1 break in the majors im ok. If the ♦ k is offside ive still have chances (3-3 spades + h finesse). anyway partner hand could easily be better so passing was ugly IMO. I play sound opening bids and i would open his hand without hesitation.

I had a few of "impossible" 4th hand with 3 passes and fairly often an opponent miscounted his hands. So I would check the table these board started. If I know its a table where they would likely reshuffle the board (if its all pass) then i guess 1 of my weak opps miscounted his hand and ill pass. Otherwise i bid 1 club. The next question is what i do if partner bid 1d ?. My bid is 1s but im not convinced.

4♠ we might not stop them from bidding 5♦ but at least im giving myself good odds for stopping them from finding 5♥. Ill pass over 5♦ without regrets. Its a R vs W 4level preempt. Partner will better placed then myself over 5♦ (he can X pass or bid 5♠) Sandbagging is showing no respect for the opponents.

6D showing a void for me with no side suit control problems. (If i forcing pass ... what will i do if partner bid 6♠ ?) My follow up is if partner bid 6♠ or 6♥ i will stop in 6♠. I can`t find no word strong enough to tell you how much i disagree with the 2nt bid. Bypassing a suit like AJTxx (when playing 2/1 or similar) is something ive stop doing the first year ive learned bridge Congrats on your tournament win !

Passing is sick... AK762 AQ106 A76 3 There is almost no danger to go down in 5H... and slam is certainly possible. You cannot win IMPs if you stay out of 80%+ slams just because your afraid of the 5 level. The worst hand partner could have is something like Jx xxxx KQJ KQxx and still 5♥ isnt a disaster partner could have AKQ in clubs with no D controls and 6 will be almost cold contract if partner has the ♥J or K. Partner can have so many bad hand that give slam a play that my score for passing is 2/10.

No clubs control = no slam as simple as that. Partner could have bid a club control instead he bid 3nt... so hes searching for something in clubs or in diamonds and you don`t have it. I don`t like the problem because you have to better understand what are the option over your 3♥ bid. Does 3nt tend to show that partner inst afraid of 2 quick looser ?

4♣ what else ? I just dont understand what is the problem ? any bid other then 4♣ deserve 0pts IMO

i don`t think partner 4nt is showing a limited slam interest (maybe he looking for 6 or 7 all along) so i bid 5♦ keeping grand in the picture. If 4nt is for 5 or 6 then i bid 6♣. I don`think my 5♦ compromise me too much. Ps when i bid 7 i like them to be icy and cold.