TylerE

I wanted to see how the auction would develop. I'm not crazy about bidding a bad suit that I don't want led really improves things. 1♥ isn't getting passed out. Personally, if I was gonna bid I think it's close to a diamond raise than showing clubs.

Not really, but world of difference between defending 1♥ and 1NT. At IMPs going 180 instead of 90 isn't a huge tragedy, but 100 vs 500, or 150 vs 800 *is*.

Thanks for backing me up on this. Was playing with my mother (always interesting...), I was doubler, my hand was something like: ♠x ♥Txxx ♦ AKx ♣Kxxxx Hearts weren't quite as good as I would have liked, but can't have it all. Partner insisted (and still insists!) that the X here isn't penalty, so instead of chalking up 500 in 1NTx on our combined 24 count, we played 3♦ in the 3-3 'fit', drifting two off.

(p) - 1♦ - (1♥) - P (1NT) - p - p - X Takeout or penalty?

W forgot to bid 3♥. E should bid 4N (takeout), not X (Penalty)

Just want to echo wht others have said. Playing 4m as keycard, and 4♠ over 4♥ as keycard. Or, to be a bit simpler (sorta), just play 4x+1 as keycard for x.

How about this...then deposit credits cost 1 BBO. When you create a new account you get, say, 3 "free" credits. You only need to buy more if you wish to play in those tourneys and have a problem finishing.

I have a partner who's interested in playing. We don't have team mates yet. Not sure if we're going or not, but it's on the radar for sure.

Wow this is just amazingly horrible. Responder needs 13 pts to raise 1M. Grats...you lose every partscore battle ever.

BTW, if this took place in ACBL-land, the 1N opening is illegal, since they're playing conventions over it. 10-12 is the lowest you can play conventions over.

2♦. I'd feel better about it if the agreement were HELLO, so this would show specifically hearts. I'm still coming in on this.

Both are clearcut openings to me at any form of scoring and vuln.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=sajt9xxxxhakxdacx]133|100|Scoring: IMP (p) - p - (1♥) - X (2♥) - 3♦ -(p)[/hv]

Oh yea, I remember this hand. I opened 1♠, 4♥ by LHO, 4♠ by pard, 5♥ by RHO which I doubled. Partner pulled to 5♠, and I wasn't settling for that so I bid six. Making 7 on a ♥ lead.

I really don't like them. Maybe apply the filter only to titles with more than, say, 50% capital letters?

Any thoughts on a LONGER format game? 5 rounds of 4 in 1.5 hours, something like that? That's 4.5 minutes a board, but I bet it would run smoother, since there would be less time spent on introductions/announcements at the start of a round, time spent checking results, etc. Heck, in the current speedball format just turning off the barometer would probably speed things up 30-45 seconds a round.

Well, that's really the question... Lacking a specific agreement, what is P likely to have for the 2nd double?

[hv=d=w&v=b&s=st9xxhxxdxxctxxxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP (1NT) - X (Penalty) - (2D) (transfer) - p (2H) - X - p - ??[/hv]

The ACBL NT article was not esp. balanced. Anyway, my favorite defense is extended HELLO. It meets my 2 most important criteria, having a direct seat pen X, *and* being able to show major one suiters at once, with the suit known. Also often has a transfer effect. In direct seat: X = Penalty (Most likely playing strength, not 'equal hand or better', or any such rubbish) 2♣ => Relays to 2♦...diamonds or a Major/minor 2♦ => Hearts 2♥ => Majors 2♠ => Spades 2NT => Relays to 3♣. Either clubs, or a near-GF single suiter in ♦/♥/♠. Overcaller rebids the suit with a strong hand. 3♣ => Minors 3♦ => Majors, strong 3♥/3♠ => Preemptive In balancing seat: 2♣ and up retain their current meaning. X becomes a relay to 2♣, showing a 5cd Minor and a 4 card major. Over 2♣ opener bids 2♦ with ♦ + a major, and responder can scramble for the major...with clubs overcaller just bids the major over 2♣, allowing responder to run back to 3♣ if desired.

No, the Meckwell 2♥ bid is different. DONT 2♥ is the majors, where as in Meckwell it is natural, and the majors hands go into the double.

I think N has a double of 1NT, which should be penalty on this auction. Not forced, but certainly interested. Looks to be going off 3 or 4.

SImply, you get to have it both ways. What's not to like? The complexity isn't that bad.

No, it's very stupid. Partner has a very clear cut call to make if he wishes to play 3NT: 3♠, right siding the contract, and staying out of it when parter doesn't have AQ...

Hard to say, since the auction up to this point seems so...odd. Jxx isn't a good enough stopper for 1N, but is good enough for 3N? Don't think FP applis here. 3N bid is punishing partner.

The result on my hand - I bid 6♠, making 7. Partner had random trash with 3 small clubs, and *6 diamonds to AJT*. So a double leads to like 500 or 800 vs your slam. I actually made 7 when LHO pitched a club from Qxx as I was running trump.