benlessard

I like the X flip the M and i would bid 4M. Easy pass of 3Cx. Defending is often a safe compromise its not the best result but its a reasonable the +EV result. Sometimes we must not be too greedy and just take a fair/good result even if its not the best.

Why the sarcasm ? I know my explanation could be clearer I admit i was a bit lazy. Do me a favor instead and tell me what are your specific kings agreements if you ask for keycard a couple steps before game. Lets say you bid 4C for keycard in clubs and partner respond 4D 1/4, 4H is Q ask what are your responses ? Thanks

Q trumps /side king ask --vs scan If S are trumps and your asking for the QS at 4C. Some like to play return to trumps = no Q for them its something like 4D = Q but no KH (may have KD) ----4H is asking for that card----4S is soff 4H= Q+KH (denies KD) ---- 4S is soff and 4Nt is asking for K clubs 4S = no Q but may have 1 or 2 red K. 4Nt = Q+2K (no k of clubs) let say rest is Q+3K scanning method 4D= no Q (4H ask for KH) 4H = Q but no KH 4S = Q +KH but no KD 4Nt = Q + KH +KD no KC rest is Q+3K If Q+KKK = same thing Q+KH+KD =same thing Q+KH = same thing The difference come when Q+KD or without the Q trumps its these sequences that are different 4C-4D 4H-?? Q+KD method 1 4D-4H ask KD 4S = no KD ---4Nt is asking for KC 4Nt KD but no K of clubs it allow you to stop at 4S if Q but no red K vs 4C--4H here 4S soff 4NT asking for KD so your not able to stop at 4S if Q+no red kings The advantage of scanning come each time opener doesnt have the Q you can ask for the K of H and sign off at 4S. scanning allow you to safely ask for the KH when missing the trumps Q. It seems return to 4S when no Q 1 is best for frequency reasons anything wrong with my analysis ? --------------------------------------------------------------------- If your one or 2 bid below the trumps suits 4D/4H askign for Q trumps both method give same results If your 4 or + steps below (only happen for efficient relay structure with some suits) then scan is superior.

Our 1H opening is always unbalanced with 5 and 12-14 or 18-22 our 1S relay is 6+ almost any shapes. All gf we are starting with 1S (we used to have some exception (voids) but they dont come enough. Almost all hands with 2H we can relay since 2H should be a decent spot. All 5431 give us a 7 card fit (partner side suit or hes got 6H). So the problems hands are 6m with a stiff H (5-10) here we would like to play 2m vs 12-14 and want to reach game vs 18-22 if partner H are great and hes short in my minor he can pull to 2H. 5m+5 elsewhere. If you are 5125 for example and you relay partner 2nd suit will probably D forcing you to play 51/42 fit. any hand with 5S/1H and 11 pts. GF forcing these hands will lead you too high, relaying in the hope partner got 4S is possible but most of the time hes going to have 6H or a side minor. If hes 3514/3541 4S will be great. What we play is 1Nt = 5S+5m or 5S 11 pts or 6S 6-9 2C 6C or 5C+5D 6-10 2D = 6D 6-10 2H a weakish raise 2S+ preempts transfers are possible but I dont think the gain of space is useful. In practice the preemption effect of Nf bids seems to outweight rightsiding but im not 100% sure. Any ideas ?

So what happened im curious for this 1.

I agree its pretty good. This will miss 4/4 S fit when opener has both M If you do not want to miss 4/4 S fit when opener has both M You can use 3D no M or 5S 3H exactly 4H 3S exactly 4 3Nt 5H So after a 3H response you can bid 3S to show/deny 4S. Instead of using for asking for 5H. The big drawback is taht that on 3Nt signoff hand you have to bid 3H 2Nt--3C 3D--- you have to bid 3H if you want to play 3Nt/ask for 5S. Since 3S/3NT are smolen. This right side and find almost every fit (only when responder is 53?? and opener is 34?? that you miss the 5/3 S fit). But it give a lot of lead directing X.

Sometimes you have to X with only 2 spades but you must always have extras, this one has no extras when you compute the flaws. You have the Jx in H and no spots + you are ruffing with a master trump this hand really has no extras. If Lho open 2H and I X partner bid 3S i would easily pass.

if 3H is a splinter and 4H is a void i expect to reach 6. No way im in game for this 1 especially with those modern light limit raise.

IMO There is 2 style for the double of 3D 1-show at least some desire to play 3Hx (my pov) In wich case its pointless to double 3D with a H void its also pointless to X just based on diamonds. Or you can play it as a safe take out X of 3H (with a strong take out and most GF hands he can bid 3H). I prefer option 1 so with 4 trumps and no desire for 3Nt I X, its possible we can make 5C but its possible it goes AD D ruff too. Partner will lead a trump 100% of the time. A lot of hands where 5C is best partner will bid 3H and not wasted his time by a pointless doublle of 3D. The good point about 5C is that lho will probably not resist leading a S if 1651/1552 shape

the best i can come with is 1s--2d--2h!--2s With one of my king surely wasted i think 2S is clear i dont like to go to 3 level when i can avoid it and still invite.

Unless east find the impossible lead of S 5C should come in as finessing east in both suit is the correct play (but yes i would prefer to be in 4S). Any1 have a good def over the art 3Nt here ?

3Nt/pass 3Nt can be bid quite heavy so i have extras but nothing to get excited. Partner bid is really not foward going. Hes mostly saying taht from his side 5C look better tahn 3Nt thats all.

Bridge is a closed circle activity. You can put any game in any public room and people will start looking and be curious. IMO playing games are inherent to human nature. Any game that is mostly played in isolated placed will simply not get the exposure necessary to reach mainstream. Go and shogi are the best examples there are Imo in the top 3 of greatest games and there is almost no Shogi players outside Japan and Go is nowhere near popular as it should be in north America and in Europe. The rest is mostly irrelevent.

3S-- followed by 6C with S and clubs or S+D just looking for the best 6, I would bid 5Nt PAS so 6 clubs is looking for 7. With 2A i expect him to bid 7.

completly misread.

Rules like an playing an honor show the 1 below do not trump common sense and good bridge, it has nothing to do with signalling methods. Playing UDCA Partner has no reason for wanting to keep a J here so he should play the J from Jxx and from J98x especially if he want a ruff a H. So K of D hoping partner doesnt have 986 If you play that dropping a honor is an "alarm" its a different story. Its just simpler if you tell what are your carding agreement rather than what you expect partner has.

Passing here doesnt make any sense. Double of 5C shouldnt be 100% penalty Another way to see this is when it goes 1H-2C-??? you have plenty of ways to show different hands from pass,X all the way to at least 4S so your "ensemble" of hands can be divided in many categories and you expect some precision and result accordingly to your number of options. 1C-1H-5C Here you will get a different universe of hands (less clubs, more spades probably slightly more pts in average) But you have far less option for your hands "ensemble" will mean that you will need to pass hands to you would never pass if you had more options. It mean that you will raise to 5H hands that you would only raise to 4 or even make just make a limit raise. It also mean you will need to double with a lot of offbeat shapes. Hand that you would have bid 2S/2D. Pure penalty X when you dont have a lot of options is something you cannot afford unless your partner hand is well known or limited. Im probably playing penalty/semi pen X way more than most players but here it obvious you cannot afford to have penalty X. Ps Just to make sure when partner make a non-penalty X and you have a void you dont pass.

Yep ive been playing those weak or GF transfer for a couple of years and i think they are superior. What i hate about limit or better bid is when you have better but dont know if the extras are worth another move. While if you make a single raise and partner bid game you are sure you are worth another move. Also when they compete over you its less problems. You have to have some agreement about not making non-vul presacrifice bids. 1S-(2Nt)-3D(S fit 5-9 or GF)-(X) here opener cannot bid 4S as a sacrifice/preemptive bid. Since responder with the bid GF hand will always make another move. Also there is more competitive bid since you are going to be 5-9 more often that limit you aare losign some of the preemptive effect or raising directly with 5-9. Also i think its superior to play low= low and high = high rather than low = fit (wich is more common). It allow for game try bids vs the larger raise rather tahn vs the limit raise. It sometimes allow for partner refusal and a good suit. 1D-(2D)- if 2H show clubs it allow for responder to bid 2S as i dont like clubs but my D are nice and 2Nt as a game try. 1S-(2Nt)-3C(hearts)- 3D game try vs 5-9 1S-(2Nt)-3D (Spades) 3H = game try. While if you play lower cue= fit 1S-(2Nt)-3D (hearts) you dont have a game try available. Also X and pull is neg. 1S--(2Nt)-- with 2551,2542,2451 i will X and bid 3H when partner X 3C. Pass and X is weak takeout

You might look what i called multi inv approach with paradox responses. Ive played a wide ranging Nt 10-14 NV with surprising result, the range is so frequent that you learn quickly what are the best responses scheme. 1st option 1Nt---??? 2C puppet to 2D 2D asking for supperaccet in H (in with a long suit or no M) 2M = to play rest is GF so with a long suit or no M responder go via 2D 1Nt---2D ??? 2H i refuse a H accept 2S i super accept a H inv but refuse a S inv 2Nt min but i like both M with a 4M hes goes 2C--2D---2M This is geared toward inv hands and is poor for slam. You need to get some compensation for having a wide ranging Nt. the 2nd option is with transfers, is 2C- asking for 4H min (with 4H minimum OO bid 2H otherwise he bid 2D) 2D transfer (weak or GF could be 4 card if GF) 2H transfer (weak or GF can be 4 card is GF) 2S inv with 5/6S (OO pass or go on with a maxi) 1Nt---2C 2D----??? 2H inv with 5H (partner pass or go on) 2S inv with 4S (need 3+ruffing power to pass)

I bid 4D here planning to X 4S for a unusual lead. 5D is -1 and 4S make despite the H lead, (LHO has a D void so i cannot get to partner hand a 2nd time + im ruffing a slow H trick). But our disagreement is should 4D always show a H tol (is it forcing ?) Vul or by a passed hand 4D should be a lead directing raise but NV 4D as and invite to sacrifice has to be more important no ?

1-ask if its not ligthner type X, (very unlikely) but it cost nothing to ask. 2- good or bad opps are they respecting us or not ? It look like Qtxx,qJxx behind and partner having xxx,jxx. in wich case pulling to 4C/4D via xx or not lower the losses significantly.

This hand is a counter example, it easier to reach 5D after 2C than after 1H. It could also be a a clear example of 1H all pass cold for 3nt/5D.

Keeping best minor approach if 1Nt = no M 1D--1H 1Nt = 15-17 1C--1red--1Nt = 15-17 So one of the problem is 1C--1S---1Nt ??? 1D--1S---1Nt ??? with a S fit you can play 1C--1S 2H = min S raise or GF /reverse 2S = good raise (15-17 bal) or shape if you play that 1D--1NT (8-10) 1C--1Nt (8-10) With 6-7 pts responder bid a 3card M. responder will pass with 12-14 and go on with 15-17. so the hands with no M or with 4S are never a problems. The only problem hands are 12-14 with 4H without 4S. With 3442,3424, you can/should raise to 2S weak or good ruffing with the doubleton will mean 2s will be as good as 1Nt. So all is left is 3433,2443,2434 (if you play that 1C--1S show 5 you can bid 1Nt min/stiff S and make a 2 card raise with a max 1C--1S(showing 5) 2S become 17 with 2 trumps or good 14 with 3/4 trumps with shape. 1C--1S(showing5) 2H-- 15-16 with 2 trumps 12-4 with fit. 1C---1S 1Nt = stiff in S or 12-14 bal with 2 trumps so only 2443 12-14 cause problems, the possible lies is to open this specific shape 1C and make a 2 card raise if 15-17 and 1nt if 12-14 (or to open 1Nt even with 4H). If you dont need to keep best minor than there is switch range solution 1C-is range 1 and 1D is range 2) or 1C is bal and 1D is unbal.

For the pros hold em is great since there is more betting/per hour, its a more positionnal game (more opponents behind you) less split pots (vs hi-low games) its simply the best form for making money against amateurs. As a side bonus hold em is the easiest to multi table on the net.

all white (1S)-2H-(3H)-??? Axx --- KJ98xxx xxx What is your plan ? Does playing lead directing raise is more important than natural " potential sacrifice" bids ?