benlessard

The reason is fairly simple. Having a big big ego in poker = losing money. -- Either because you stay in the hands too long (im going to outplay him later), -- because you play at limit too high for yours skills and bankroll. -- You want to play against every players to prove yourself nstead of always looking for the worse players or the best ROI. -- Its also a part of the deception that your skill level is unrecognized. Forget poker tournament, forget poker tv show & online poker with known names. The biggest cash is mostly made into real high stakes private tables (everywhere in the world where there is oil and finances). Big winners dont want to be known like big winners and same thing for the big losers.

I disagree 80% If your relay system is well designed the last thing you want to do is to open 2Nt with a strong hand and when i hold a big balanced hand interference does not bother me at all, its almost welcomed. However there is almost always a gap that is difficult to cover. So i can accept a strong 2NT because the other uses arent wonderful. But to say that youre going to have 3 bad board for 2 good board is laughable.

Do any1 play transfer overcall setup here ? Or a unusual vs unusual setup 1C----(X)-----1S------??? X = penalty 1Nt = natural 2C = Diamonds 2D = hearts weakish or GF 2H = good H raise 2S= exception ... natural here. 1D----(X)-----1S------??? below the 2D cue everything is natural X = penalty 1Nt 2C = natural 2D = H weakish or GF 2H = Good H bid 2S= exception ... natural here. 1D----(X)-----1Nt-------??? X = penalty 2C nat 2D here is responsive. Our agreements for transfers overcall and similar stuff. Be sure to find the lowest cuebid that will cause no confusion. below the cue everything is standard. The cue is transfers weak or strong When you have an idle bid it show limit strenght. When no hope for game the limit means im willing to compete further. P----P-----P-----1C X---1D----??? X + 1M +1NT =nat 2C =H not willing to compete (would be weakish or GF by unpassed H) 2D = S not willing to compete 2M = willing to compete to 3 (would be limit by unpassed) It may seems way too complex for their own good and sometimes its give nothing but since we always these setup at the end its easier for us that way especially after they interferred over our strong C.

The example in the bridge group is highly unconvincing. My guess is that the 4D showed solids diamonds but its still a poor sequence. 2Nt----3C (no 5M) 3Nt is to play ? or they used a (dangerous) 3S to soff to 3nt ? What about 1Nt-----2Nt 3D what the point of showing a 4333 ? IMO much better to wait for the unbalanced to describe and see if the bal hand honor location mesh well. Yes of course i just meant that the primary goal is probably to show responder shape rather than a regular puppet stayman where its to defend yourself against a possible 5M by opener and to better conceal opener hand (wich they do too). It would be nice to see the frequency of their 2NT bid. It will give us an idea of how much "stuff" they put into it. Im also wondering about the range ask approach vs the regular game try with a long minor. These long minors are not that frequent but often partner fit is highly relevent. Maybe they simply blast to 3Nt and keep the 2S for balanced hnads. The idea is that if the minor can run you want to be in 3Nt (minimum or not) and if it doesnt run youll go down in 2Nt 3m anyway.

Could some1 explain to me the logic behind law 57. Its seems that compared to a regular lead out the turn forcing the high or low card penalty is extremely harsh, and im wondering why ?

I think Meckwell use 2Nt as puppet stayman as a way to differentiate 4M+5m and 4M+6m or its for the difference between (43)(51) and (41)(53). Im pretty sure their 2Nt is more a relay thing than basically asking for a 5M. You will need to check for this because i dont remeber my source. Keri need a puppet stayman because 2C isnt a stayman. since your showing all unbalanced hand the only hands is 3M and a doubleton somewhere (3244) & 3325. I play puppet and i find that with those hand its best to blast to 3Nt anyway. You give less information and you avoid lead directing. (especially if you have a delayed puppet stayman) wich is an enough compesation for the time partner will have the magical 5 card M that make 4M while 3Nt is going down. As for avoiding 4M with 4333 vs 4333 its a very small target. For 1N-2C,2M-3C and 1N-2C, 2M-3D i think just bidding the 2nd suit (when 4S) and the fragment when H inv. opener responses are 3H minimum 3S not minimum with values in the fragment/2nd suit of responder. 3Nt max but (wasted) values in the unbid suit 4C,4D,4H max with 44 in the M Partner holding 15 pts 3433 QJX of clubs will upragde if you bid 3C and downgrade if you bid 3D.

At a quick glance.... (41)44 are less important than (13)(45) they are a less slammish and they offer only 2 trumps suits( the M fit will always be found) the difference is that you cannot play in a 43 ruffing with the long trumps. For 44(41) its even worse the only case youre winning is if partner got no M, at least 4 in your 4 card minor and no waste in your stiff. So these hand should probably go reg or puppet stayman. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Nt----2C 2D-----3D (4S/5H GI) not that much an interesting invite. Opener already denied a 4M so the difference between this and bidding 2Nt is your hoping .... -- partner got 3H and that 3H will play better than 2NT. --that some minimum hand with H fit and S fitting honnor will make 4H while partner would pass if you bid only 2Nt. --that some medium hand (where you would bid 2Nt and partner will continue to game) that dont mesh well will stop in 3H (fit or no fit) ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Nt----2C 2H----??? Instead of playing 3C as a puppet to 3D and 3D as a size ask just play that there both show something and partner holding a dead minimum has to bid 3H. This way you gain space and partner may reavaluate your hand based on your 2 possible "game try/ slammish bid". This is clearly better than what your playing. (not close at all) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Nt----2C 2H----3S as 4315 or 4216. is a bit painful because will have 5H and a medium D holding fairly often. (unless your 3S bid is slammish in wich case game wont go down anyway) I assume that over 1NT----2C 2S its probably worse ---------------------------------------------------- 3C-transfer ......3H-diamond slam try ......3S-5/5 minors ......4L-can be used to show 6m4m21s not enough diamonds sequence to my taste. Also where are your m invite ? its ok if there in 2S range ask followed by 3m. But... 2S-size ask ......2N-weak ......3C-strong ...........P-club bust ...........3D-short club, 3+M and 4+D .................suits are bid up the line until a fit is found ...........3H-club slam try ...........3S-balanced slam try, relays for opener's shape ------------------------------------------- Also since your stayman always promise a major im 100% sure its bad to play puppet stayman. Just play a checkback over 1Nt----2C----2M. 3S would fit as a checkback. 1Nt-----2C 2M------3S (checkback showing 3 in your M) ?? 3Nt = not 5H not 4S 4C = 5H max 4D = 4S max 4H = 5H min 4S = 4S min This will free up 2Nt wich will greatly patched the holes in your minors one-suiter.

Any1 for a quick Q of D at trick 2 against weaker opposition ? Many average players will cover this (or think about it for too long) + the squeeze is a priori just a couple of % behind the H+finesse approach. After that it the black suit dont break well for the squeeze you might finesse RHO for the J of H.

Mostly agree. Opener will still be able to super accect & break relay but many times complete shape is almost necessary. IMO the difference between a 4144 and a 4135 is significant when your thinking about 5 or 6. I though about the idea for 3D short D and 43 or 44 in both majors (since i needed a kind of puppet stayman anyway) but finally discard it. Ill think about it further more. We are playing a wide ranging nt 10-14 (12-15). Its something that pay so much that its not going to change for a long time. However this need a special structure that focus on inv hands. 1Nt-----2C is almost a puppet to 2D (D any strenght or INV any shape) ??? 2H = minimum with 4-5 H 2D = the rest 2S + (not in use but could be max with D super-accept) 1Nt-----2C 2D------??? 2H inv with 5+ H 2S inv with 4+ S (could be both M) 2Nt inv with no M (or with 4H, partner doesnt have 4H or hes maxi) I really hate not having a way to differentiate between inv with 4S and inv with 5S but facing an unpassed hand you cannot keep 1Nt---2S just for an invite. My hope is that these hands make 5m better then 3Nt more often than we think. I also use the spot for mild slammish 6421. So that when i show a 6421 in the regular way its really slammish. Also I dont have a balanced (4432,4333,5332) quantitative slam try (nor range check) below 3Nt and i dont like treating 5422 as a single suiter. I would like too but since ive got no more space left and all is working. I also need a romex stayman anyway so its a bit redundant to have a way to show 53/54 not slammish and 1 way for slammish. Also if no fit in the M is found slam is unlikely anyway (6m in the 5-3 fit). Ill sometimes missed 4M in 5-2 better than 3Nt. But im giving priority to the minors because its more easy to bypass 3Nt with M and its easier to make slam tries at the 5 level. While for minors bypassing 3Nt is a crucial decision and once that is done 5m and 6m comes quickly. Anyway at this point every space is used and most thing make sense so ill let time do the job.

Agree with dellache Not vul i would just bid 2D. Since he going to super accept with 4 trumps and a minimum i dont see why we should stretch on both side. Im trying to construct hands where game is at least 75% and its tough (note that i would like to declare because if im dummy the D switch is easy to find). Im willing to accept a small gap if it compensated by playing 2M instead of 3M/4M going down.

Here is a quick sample. How to understand the system. Highly recommended to read this before reading the rest unless you have a photographic memory. 2 suiter with a M and a m Its a symmetric setup. for RR (responder) 2S is always a reverser showing 5 or 6 m and only 4M 2Nt is always a clubs transfers (however sometimes its not available and youll need to bid 3H/3S/3Nt to show clubs) 3C is always a D transfers 3D is never a 5431, its 55 or 64 ----- (if no minor transfer has been done its show primary clubs) 3H is always stiff in the lower unbid suit 3S is always stiff in the higher unbid suit. 3Nt is often 5422 or stiff in the lower unbid suit examples 1453 you will need reverser (only 4M), D transfers and show the stiff in the higher unbid suit. 1N --- 2D H transfer 2H --- 2S reverser 2Nt --- 3C D transfer 3D --- 3S High shortage = 1453 5341 1Nt --- 2H S transfers 2S --- 3C D tranfers (no reverser has been done the 2S bid was bid by OO) 3D --- 3H low shortage = 5341 4225,4315,4135 1Nt --- 2S reverser with spades (here you cannot transfer to S and bid 2S so you have to bid 2S directly) 2Nt --- ??? here 3C is a D transfers, 3D is always 55 or 64. So the clubs transfers is bypassed and you bid 3 level directly 3H low shortage 4315 3S H shortage 4135 3Nt 4225 5215,5512 no reverser, Spades, 5-5 , high or low shortage 1Nt --- 2H Spades no reverser 2S --- 2Nt clubs transfer 3C --- 3D 55 note that if you bypass 3D its would show a 5431,6421. 3H --- 3S high stiff = 5125 --- 3Nt low stiff = 5215 4216,4126 1Nt --- 2S spades REV 2Nt --- 3D 64 because of the REV its 64 and not 5/5 3H --- 3S high stiff = 4126 --- 3Nt low stiff = 4216 2416,1426 1NT --- 2D H transfer 2H --- 2S REV 2Nt --- 3D 64 because of the REV its 6/4 and not 5/5 3H --- 3S high stiff = 4126 --- 3Nt low stiff = 4216 Hands that doesnt fit below 3Nt (they will be in 4C,4D) 6421 with 6M (because 3D will show a 55 not a 6-4) 6421 with 6D+4M. (because after the D transfer you cannot bid 3D) Hands with voids. 5530,6430, 5440, 6520 --------------------------------------------- Single suiter with long M are transfers followed by 3H+ ive decided that single suiter M + a Stiff are too valuable and i show the 3 stiff and the blanced 6322 slammish at 3H/3S/3NT/4C. Because of that i can no longer show all the 54 in M. But since i needed a romex stayman stayman plus showing M+M hands was a bit redundant anyway. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hands with both majors are in modified romex stayman 1Nt-----3C im not showing any shapes here just 5S+4H+?? , 5H+4S+ ?? 55??. --------------------------------------------------------------- hands with D + C are in 1Nt-----2C 2R------3d+ 3D= ??64 3H = 3154 3S = 1354 3Nt = 2254 hands with clubs and D are direct after 1Nt----??? 3D= ??55 3H = 3145 3S = 1345 3Nt = to play not 2245 (a hand that i cant describe) single suiter in clubs (inv or better) and exception hands 4D+6C is in 1NT---2Nt single suiter in D inv or better is 1NT-----2C 2R------3C Note that if opener make a super accept/relay break at one point most hand will be "exited" at 3S/3NT/4C

I think the canape possibility here is too annoying and i would pass. The only hands that will make game are 2 suiters and the majority of them will be in canape for wich 2S might go down and if partner make a canape invite move (showing only 4S) you ll be disapointed. My hope is that opener is less likely to have a real 5-5 /6-5 since opps didnt bid.

In my new structure (with transfers and relays) ive decided to put all the 2 suiters 24--[5431] 12 [5422] and 6421 with 6 in a minors. Exiting before 3nt The balanced hands, one suited minors, 5-5 and hands with voids im ok. But the only placed remaining for the Majors single suited is 3D,3H,3S (2 out of 3), and the 4 level. Facing a weak nt (10-14,12-15) should i play transfers (3D for H 3H for S) or not ? Im fairly sure the step gained is more important than the rightsiding (the long M is going to be stronger but the weak nt hand going to be undisclosed by the bidding) . Should it be always slammish or aiming at 3Nt with 6-2,6-3 fit is a target worth looking for ? l Im not sure if aiming for 3Nt when having a 6-2 fit is a small target. It seems that balanced 6 carder facing no ruffing power play better in 3Nt fairly often to my taste. Any ideas about continuations after a 3 level slammish transfers ?

i would never overcall 1nt with only 2 diamonds(1 stopper) and 3+ cards in the others suits. with xxx xxx aq akqxx i would overcall 1nt. but give me some values in the M and i would double.

im satisfied with our 2nt weak preempt in a minor (our 3m could be opening hands). Its easy to defend but the upside are there. You open 3m instead of 1m. Intermediate 3m bids is where you will win most imps You open 2Nt instead of 2D/pass (if you got clubs) You avoid some hopeless 3Nt. 1m followed by 2m show extras. 1m followed by a jump to 3m is forcing or almost forcing. a non vulnerable 2 level is often 5 cards. Anyway its hard to find an alternatives. 2nt for whatever strong hand will be a slam killer. In an ideal world you would want security, frequency, precision and preemptive effect, and being hard to defend.

I think denial is superior, but you have to play denials everywhere even for slams cuebids. 1D----(2D)-----3D----(P) 3H----(P)-------??? 3S denies a S (but implies a H stop) 3Nt denies nothing = both s stopped 1D----(2D)-----3D----(P) 3H----(P)-------??? for slammish purpose 1D----(2D)-----3D----(P) 3H----(P)-------3NT----(P) if you make a slam move here you denied a H control. Agree 100% but is it better to show a weakness somethinbg your afraid or to show something you have ? By showing something your afraid you are implying that you got something in all the bypassed suits.

I would pass 3C but I think 3H is a fair gamble at MP. They bid 3D wich IMO make no sense at all. I assume they play it forcing but how could that be forcing ? At 5D playing 3 round of H is better than ducking or playing on clubs. H were 5-1 and clubs 3-2. So they make 5D. At least 5C was making.

Maybe its possible to interpret 5H as i have no def values an im afraid they make 5Dx so im taking a saving in 5H, but for me its say i have a 9th heart and a D void and i like my chances in 5H. Not too many players will pull a high penalty double for a contract they have no hope to make. At the end its a matter of agreements. 1- Double are for penalties except when they are in a voluntary slam. 2- double are penalty except when its clear from the bidding that they have chance to make it and not likely they can go -3. 3- double is always lightner except when its clear its your deal or you need the X for something else.

5D, but over 5H i would surely double lightner to get a S lead. I play 5/6 level as all lightner except when forcing pass. But even if you dont play that style surely the fact that they X and pull should imply that they have the balance of power and wont go down 2 very often. So lightner should apply.

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=shakxxxdqxxcakxxx&s=sxxxhxxdaktxxcxxx]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] 1H-----------(P)-----------1NT-----------(2S) 3C (good)---(P)-----------??? finish the auction. If you reach 5D and get a S lead how do you play the hand.

1H-----2D 3C-----3H 3S This seems automatic. Now Do you think a 4C cuebid show AKQ of clubs or could it be a stiff ? (I prefer to play that a cuebids in 2nd suits is showing AKQ but i think that many play that in a 2nd suit/fragment any control (stiff/void) is acceptable). After the 3S bids if north overbid by making a 4C serious cue instead of a non-serious i think you will go overboard.

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=saxxhxxxdajt8xxxc&s=skjhaqtxxdxcaqj8x]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

Offender side pass all the way but the lead was done with cards from the wrong board. the lead is the J♥ case 1- declarer say "something is wrong there is 2 H jack" case 2- the partner of offender say "i have the H J". case 3- the offender noticed that he has the wrong cards before dummy hit the table case 4 -- the offender realize his mistake after the dummy is put down. What your rulings ?

You are playing penalty double here ? Why ? Partner may easily have 5D+4M and you may easily have both majors 5/4 not wanting to overcall because your suit is weak.

ATB 43 fits are a lot tougher for declarer to play than 52 fit. The DD knows the bad H/S break so he will pull exactly the good number of trumps. Also this exact hand shapes only allow for S and H to develop. So unless you have really bad trumps and good S, Hearts will rarely make less tricks than 2Nt. But for a 4432 VS 3244. At NT you can setup tricks everywhere. Here NT might easily score better (Imps) than 2S in Moys. My Nt structure allow me to play often in 43 fits at 2M and often its very difficult to make the correct decision between 2M and 2NT. In all case its a very interesting thread.