joshs

I howl like a wookie when partner makes a mistake. That way I get my frusteration off my chest and I make partner laugh at the same time. :P

3H. Not even a close decision. I am not pushing the opps into game when I have so few high cards. A 3H bid takes away a jump to 3S, and does invite partner to bid 4H with a good 2H bid (in which case we might be able to beat 4S if they decide to bid it).

OK. Now suppose the auction continues: 1N-P-P-2C(C and Higher) P-P-? Or (What actually happened): 1N-P-P-2C P-2S-?

All in favour of leving a special tax on micky, say aye.

I actually don't like the structure since its geared entirely to finding 3N despite a 5-4 fit. More or less 2N shows HHxx in trumps and some number of suits stopped and other bids show that suit stopped but only Hxxx in trumps. I don't remember the exact details since I never play that part of the structure.

The "isn't in the neighboorhood" comment wasn't for the 2♣ bid, it is the responder reverse holding that horrible hand (for a reverse (2C followed by 2S). I have no qualms forcing to game within a 2/1 context with this hand. I do have problems reversing then supporting heart or cue-bdding diamonds or "retreating" to 3NT after partner support clubs. The reason is he will have QUITE A DIFFERENT view of my values. I suspect he will bid on with all but the most minimum values. So you can bid 2C and give up on spades if partner rebid 2H, that is fine, but I can not see 2C followed by a reverse. If partner is 0544 and rebids 2D (better diamonds), then I suspect you will still do ok with either a 2NT (not GF) or 3NT rebid. Over 2NT, opener with a void will surely pattern out, and over 3NT where you didn't check back, proabably patterns out as well. Ahh I see. In Ben's Lexicon The Cheapist Bid is called a reverse and shows a huge hand, while a space consuming bid shows a lessor hand....

I have a strong opinion on this hand. You want to suggest 3N without committing yourself to playing 3N (4H might be right instead. In fact 4S or 5C might even be right.). The way you do that is you bid 3D and then 3N if you are still not sure that something else is better. This sequence shows something in diamonds, but doubt about 3N. Here, do to your sharp values in the pointed suits, if partner bids 3H over 3D you probably should just raise (he usually will have 6 hearts, or 5 very strong hearts and no help in diamonds). If partner bids 3S, you can bid 3N next expecting partner to probably pull this (If he bids 4C next I will bid 4H keeping all 3 strains in play). If partner bids 4C over 3D you can bid 4H and offer partner a choice.

I would have made a fit jump in clubs with this hand at my first bid despite having one less card there than promised. Having not done that, this is only worth 3S now.

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sxxhxxdqjt9xxxxcx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Partner opens 1C(15+ unbalanced, 16+ balanced) RHO bids 1H In your methods: 2D would be 5-8ish, 5+ diamonds and non-forcing 3D would be 9+, and a strong 6+ card suit 4D and 5D are undiscussed, but presumably some kind of pre-empt Pass is Pass What is your bid and your plan.

You Hold A8x Jxxxx Kxx QJ All White. Imps. Partner in first seat opens a 10-bad13 NT RHO passes. Do you x-fer to 2H or pass?

He has seen josh's WJOs before :lol: :D :) If he had, he would have raised.... :) Actually he learned his lesson from the other day where it went P by him, 1H on his left, 2C by me, P on his right and he raised on xxx KJxx xx Qxx. Its not the fact that he had a 6 count, its the fact that his values were poorly placed heart honors, and I mistakenly saved in 5C on AX XX XX AKJTxxx later expecting 1 side trick in partner's hand. Here, his hand is good enough to raise but the xxx in my suit and the QJxx in the suit that they bid and raised both scream defense....

I arrive thursday night and will be there until my spingold team exits...

I was a diplomacy nut in college (I ran a 3 move a week game where we left the official board in my publically accessable living room). Its a great game when not played over the board. When played over the board: a. you never finish b. you can tell who is talking to who, so people do not break deals enough c. because you never finish people make up rules like whomever has the most pieces at a certain point wins, and the defeats the point of the game. The point of the game is to obtain over half the cities. Most of the strategy involves the various stalemate lines which are mulually re-inforcing positions that you can't break through. If one alliance has control over a stalemate line, they can only tie, they can't lose, unless the alliance falls apart... If all the players remaining agree, a n-way tie is declared. Having 1 city is just as good as having 15 for purposes of an n-way tie... I once played over the judge server (university of washington), which wasn't quite as fun. Although at that time it was easy to hack the international mail server and send e-mails to opponents supposidely from other opponents, and stir up trouble that way... :P

Partner has a bad hand on this auction. The most I can hope for is about a K and a J and thats pretty optimisitic. There are 2 things I can play for: Kxxxx of diamonds and the suit breaking. This requires a diamond lead. 2 or 3 hearts from partner, and the suit 3-2 or 3-3 in the opps hands. In addition to this the opps have 5 clubs, 2 hearts and 2 diamonds for 9 tricks, unless partner has a trick in the minors. So a heart lead requires hearts breaking and partner having a valuable card in Either minor. And the Diamond lead just requires diamonds, but partner has to have A or K 5'th or J 5'th and a club trick. These seem about equally likely. I don't think the Spade ace is a reasonable alternative (partner needs KJxxx and the suit 3-3 or the T or a 6'th card).

[hv=d=n&v=b&n=s9xxhqjxxdxxcaqxx&w=sqxhxxxdkj9xcjxxx&e=skthakt9xdaqxxxcx&s=saj8xxxhxdtxckt9x]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Now what card do you wish you led? Luckily I led the DT without thought, and declarer couldn't afford to safety play trumps for fear of a diamond ruff. I still have no idea if this lead is right....

1'st board of the 2 boards....

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=saj8xxxhxdtxckt9x]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Partner passes, RHO bids 1H, you bid 2S, LHO bids 3H and RHO bids 4H. What is your opening lead, and why? p.s. If it matters, you are playing a 2 board playoff to decide a regional compact KO.

Hmm. Your takeout x is a pretty tightly defined hand in terms of strength. The main variable is the number of spades you have. I usually play a second x as less spades not more spades, but after the x of 2C I think x should be a maximum with good defense. If I was 2443 11, I would x here. As it is, I am just passing. Its white vs white, and you don't get rich xing low level contracts in that situation. (Down 1 xed is still worse than 3C making 3) If partner x's 2S holding an 11 count, I will be thrilled....

There are two different standard agreements for 3'rd hand when its not possible to take anymore tricks (near term) in the suit in a suit contract. (e.g. singleton in dummy, or the situation you describe): Method 1: (the more common) 3'rd hand gives suit preference, a middle card requests a continuation Method 2: (Obvious Shift) 3'rd hand encourages or discourages based on if they have a high honor in the obvious shift suit (there are rules to determine what that suit is). In this case its clubs. Further Unusually high Honor cards in other situations would be informative (showing a sequence) but when you can't take any more tricks in the suit they would be suit preference is method 1, or alarm cards (asking for an unusual shift) in method 2. Of course, if your partnerships gives no suit preference ever then they would be just informative, but I think most pairs play the Q in described sequence as showing a exceptionally strong heart holding. I had one partner who made the alarm clock signal as a generic do something unusual signal, so in a similar situation to this he has a stiff club. I was suppossed to work out that the signal didn't show heart values... Note: If partner on this hand signaled for hearts I would just continue diamonds...

Hand 1: 4C was an overbid, and 4S was an underbid of galactic proportions. Over 4C, responder has a slam force. I would just bid key card to symplyfy the auction, since the only other choice is 5S and thats non-forcing. Hand 2: You said you don't play structured reverses, but somehow 2S was forcing? I guess I don't understand your structure. (Structured reverses means, more or less, that a reverse promises a 3'rd bid unless responder bids game). Rersponder just has to do at least 1 of the following 2 things: a. show his strength (3S jump) or b. show his club support or preferably both. I think 2S then 4C is a good sequence...

Yeah I have been playing this way for ten years. I first saw the treatment in a Romex book. This way: 2C-2D-3C- 3D("stayman") 3M 5 cards 2C-2D-3D(denies a major) 3M 5 cards 2C-2D-3M 4 in M, 5+ in D On a similar theme, when I play 2C-2H as either a. a scattered positive (like a 2N bid) or b. a double negative I play the auction 2C-2H-3S as flannary shape: 4S, 5+H

Ooh, who opened for REM? They had many different great opening acts over the years... Did anyone see the Metallica/GNR tour in the early 90's? I am still waiting to see Aimee Mann at Largo's. I missed her there a few months ago but she plays there frequently.... (I am actually trying to get Bic Runga tickets at Largo for August for her only stop in the US, but Largo is closed for the next 2 weeks...) I am psyched for Belle and Sebastian with the LA Philomonic next week. And the Shins are opening! Now if only I had managed to get tickets to the Radiohead show for tonight also...

Speaking of great covers, Ryan Adam's cover of Oasis's Wonderwall just came on my IPOD.... (I think much better than the original!)

1. Elton John- Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 1989 2. Over The Rhine- The Knitting Factory (Hollywood), 2006 3. Suzanne Vega - The Birchmere, 2001 4. Soul Asylum, Screaming Trees, Spin Doctors- Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 1993 5. Tribe - MIT, 1994 I saw Floyd at Giants Stadium in 1986. Twas a great show even though it was rainging hard...

Its not better than the original but Frente did a great cover of New Order's Bizzare Love Triangle.... And speaking of great covers of Beatles songs: Fiona Apple - Across The Universe Got to get you into my Life - Earth, Wind, Fire Arrowsmith- Come Together And then there is classic semi-self cover: Run DMC with Arrowsmith- Walk This Way Peter Paul and Mary and The Byrds both made a living out of Cover Songs- Leaving on a Jet Plane - John Denver covered by PPM Mr. Tamberine Man- Dylan covered by The Byrds Nirvana had a few in their unplugged album, but the best is: The Man Who Sold the World-Bowie Now has anyone mentioned Aretha's cover of Otis Reddings Respect? And I can't believe I forgot about: Everything But he Girl's cover of Bruce Springstein's "Tougher than the Rest." (They also did good covers of Alison, and Time after Time)