bid_em_up

[hv=d=e&v=e&s=sjxxhaqxdkq10xcjxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP (p) 1♦ (1♠) X (p) ?[/hv] You are South and your RHO passes in 1st seat. Do you open this hand? Now that you have (if you wouldn't open it, pretend you are filling in for someone who did), which "lie" do you pick?

1) Pass. 2) 2N. 3) Pass.

This was the movement of ACBL tournaments on the now defunct eBridge. So in essence, the ACBL has already allowed it, and would likely (imo) allow it again. The rounds there were usually 2 boards, occasionally three.

Correction: Over 4♣, partner will bid 4♦, back to you....

ummm, counting your cards would be the proper solution, no? :)

3♣ showing ♣+♥.

Please stop trying to read things that aren't there. You weren't at the table. I wasn't angry. Ask my partner, TylerE on BBO, who was at the table. Ask him if the opponent was snippy, you don't have to take my word for it. Ask him if I was "angry". And trying to read something into ME vs. Me vs. me is taking things waaaayyy too far. The only difference is that I NEVER expected to get a bunch of bullshit from someone simply because I didnt type every detail of the scenario. I was trying to relate a story, without being long and drawn out, and instead get a bunch of crap for it.

Oh geez, now I have to spell it out: Me, politely to director and RHO: "The gentleman took an excessive amount of time, both before 1C and before 5C. Now I don't know what he was considering but it was likely either 1) a systemic strong opening (before 1C) or some sort of cuebid or game try (before 5C)" RHO, quite snippishly: "I was considering nothing of the sort". ME: "Given your hand and the hesitations, I'm sorry, but I find that difficult to believe". I wasn't even "rude" about it. It was a statement of fact. Period. And just because I don't believe him, does not mean that I am calling him a liar. He may well be telling the truth from his perspective, but that does not mean I have to agree with him or believe what he says. If this violates any sort of ZT policy, then it isn't worth playing in f2f tournaments anymore. Kapiche?

Well saying "I'm sorry, but I just don't believe you" is really saying "I'm sorry, but you are an unethical liar". And while that may be what you feel, that is subject to ZT type behavior. Since you are talking about his behavior I think you could just say something along the lines of "While you may not have realized it, it was clear to us that you were acting in this manner" or something along those lines. Nonsense. I said what I meant. If I wanted to call the guy an unethical liar, that is exactly what I would have said.

Both players swore up and down vehemently that 2D was "Strictly Invitational", and that it was not "invitational or better". While I don't know the players (maybe Tyler does and can verify), the director did explain to our team later that they did tend to be on the slow side normally. Unfortunately, they had not been so for the duration of the match prior to this hand, and that was all I (we) had to base it on.

Before this gets any worse, I will just state: I was simply trying to find out if pass was a logical alternative. There was a break in tempo before the 1C opening (this was the last board of a 7 board match, so we had a reasonable feeling for the opponents normal rhythm of bidding). The gentleman thought for about 1 minute before opening. There was a break in tempo before the 2D bid, about 30 seconds. There was a break in tempo of about 1 1/2 minutes before the 5C bid, while the guy stared at his cards, consulted the ceiling, stared at his cards, checked to see if the answer had appeared on the ceiling yet, and finally bids 5C. Then the guy with this hand bid 6C in about 10 seconds, and then neither of them understood why we called the director. The director said, play the hand, call me back if we felt there was a problem. After all the BIT's and then dummy hits with this aceless wonder, we called the director back. They argued back and forth, the director went away and consulted some other directors, and eventually returned stating that pass was a logical alternative and rolled it back to 5C+1. They still wanted to appeal....but eventually changed their minds. To make matters worse, the man held: [hv=s=sakxhaqxdxxcajxxx]133|100|[/hv] and it had become clear and obvious through all of his theatrics that he held some sort of really good hand (imo). He swore up and down that he didn't act in that manner. When I said, "I'm sorry, but I just don't believe you". I get informed by the director that I could be subject to a Zero Tolerance penalty. Is it any wonder that I no longer play f2f?

Because its face to face and you heard it. Standard operating procedure is post the hand without us knowing partner's alert (just tell us what we thought the agreement was when we bid.) Then ask us what we would do. Then divulge sneakily at a later point that we had UI and that our poll has suggested passing is/isn't a logical alternative. Anyway as you stated the problem (knowing I heard the alert) I pass. There are clearly a number of hands that won't make slam (at least I think it's clear, but who the heck knows what a 5♣ bid is opposite an unlimited limit raise + responder), so I don't see how pass can fail to be a logical alternative. Without the UI I suspect I would have bid 6. The problem is.... this was our opponents bidding. I have no clue what the 2D bidder thought it meant, only what the explanation was. And the 2D bidder heard the explanation. If I didn't post the explanation, I would get berated for not explaining what 2D was...... (It gets better than this, btw).

Because its face to face and you heard it.

[hv=d=s&s=sxhxdkq109xckq109xx]133|100|[/hv] Opponents are silent. 1♣-2♦* 5♣-? Your partner duly alerts and explains that your 2D bid shows an invitational (only) hand in clubs. Inquiry is made by the opponents as to whether or not it can be invitational plus, or is it strictly invitational, and the answer given is strictly invitational. Your call?

My worldview is that over time page 1 evolves into a page 2, then a page 3, etc. Pages 4, 5, and 6 feel discriminated against for being called an "etc."

The cap itself will probably survive. They will just figure out a different way to compensate them.

Did I make 7? Maybe, its all a blur now. :)

My partner chose to pass. Making six on the J♣ lead, as it picked up the trump loser that I would ordinarily have. I suggested that with all the working cards (AK♦, the ♥Q, and 4 trumps), that either 2♥ or 3♣ would be more appropriate. (I prefer 3C at either form of scoring). I chose not to make a jump shift (would you?) on: [hv=s=shakjxxdj109xcak10x]133|100|[/hv] under the assumption that 2C will not be passed unless partner has a very weak hand that also contains a heart singleton or void. Otherwise, I expected to hear a return to 2H, at a minimum.

Or the club king is onside and your opponent isn't quick enough to see he needs to play the club K when you lead a small club from hand (it will block the club suit, leaving you an entry short of being able to establish and enjoy the diamonds). Very few opponents would find this play, imo. If your opponent does, its probably time to find an easier game. :P

[hv=d=p&s=sjxxxhqxdakxc98xx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Opponents silent throughout. Partner opens 1H, you respond 1S, Partner rebids 2C, and you?

SEE OTHER THREAD MODERATOR, PLEASE DELETE THIS ONE. THANKS.

FWIW, we were not playing responsive doubles. I don't think Tyler is questioning what to bid, IF you take a bid. I think he is trying to determine whether or not this hand is worth taking a call over the 2H call. He passed at the table. I know he has some values (from my hand and the auction) and I then completely misdefend the hand based on the fact that he cannot have 4 spades or else he would have bid 2♠ over 2♥. After the hand was over, I questioned his decision to pass. I think 2♠ is clearcut. Partner has doubled and you have a semi-fit or better in all three of the other suits. Partner is never going to be aware of this fact if you don't bid something. Given that 2♥ for some people can be anything (0-9) that includes three or more hearts, you have to bid now, otherwise, good opponents will steal from you on every hand. jmoo.

Promise? (off to store....and I hate beer).

Assuming you are in the folder where your hands are stored on your PC, you may click on View, then select Details in the drop down menu. This will show you what date the file was saved (look under DATE MODIFIED). By clicking on that column heading, the hands will be sorted by date played. Is this what you are looking for?

Against strong opposition, I would bid 7D. Versus weak opponents, I would consider stopping in 6D, as they may well not even be in game at the other table. :) (but will probably end up bidding 7D anyway).