bid_em_up

Ummm, guess I dont pay that much attention to this type of thing, cause I can't really tell a difference. B)

Well, as I said, the hand can be made, but whether or not it is the correct/best line of play, I'll leave that to the readers. [hv=n=sk53haq73d1052ck43&w=s8xhk9xxxdqjxxcxx&e=sj10xxxhj10xdxxcxxx&s=saq2h2dak93caqj72]399|300|[/hv] If South takes the heart hook, he can play the A of hearts (pitching a diamond), ruff a heart, cash 4 rounds of clubs, and the AQ♠. On the lead of the third spade, West must either give up the diamond guard or establish dummies last heart. Declarer went down by winning the heart A and immediately taking the double hook in diamonds (probably the best chance given the lead, your LHO led the heart 9 quickly, but is also good enough to do so even from this holding). I just thought the hand was interesting.....and yes, its a terrible grand slam, but they were just messing around.

While kibbing some friends the other nite and after some unmemorable auction (or was it unmentionable?), they arrived in 7C on the following collection: [hv=n=sk53haq73d1052ck43&s=saq2h2dak93caqj72]133|200|7C by South Imp Scoring[/hv] Opening Lead is the 9♥, can you make it? (They didnt at the table, although to their credit, they immediately spotted that it "might" could be made on alternate line of play). What line do you think was taken, and what, if any, is the winning line? Is either line actually better?

I thought so too. And, for the information it contains, the book is reasonably priced. I think I got it for around $7 new a few years ago.

Wow, what DO club games cost around the ACBL? And if the prices are so high, at least there is prize money? Right? Its been a while since I have played in club games, but I believe the card fees usually run about $6.00 U.S. per session (some clubs may be slightly more, others slightly less). This is also probably dependent on which area of the country you are in, somewhat. Most clubs will have a "pot" that you can pay extra to participate in (as a prize fund), but it is not included in the card fees.

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Anything is possible.

Because holding good spades, a diamond void, a club control and any hearts at all, he has no reason to bid 7S (instead of 7H). Its also unlikely the heart A is going to disappear on the suggested holdings, even though at times I wish it would (might make a few more contracts if it did, hehe). And surely 5S (or 6D followed by 6S over 6H) is forcing.....

The Ace of hearts is out. Declarer is expected to be void, he ruffs, draws trumps and claims. On a club lead, declarer can probably win in dummy, and ruff out the heart A while drawing trumps and then cross back to dummy for the good hearts. If I have to pick a lead, I lead the diamond A......it is unlikely to give anything up and may well force dummy to ruff with a spade honor. If I dont have to pick a lead, I fold my cards quietly and leave the table, never to return. :P Give declarer something like J9xxxxx void xxxx Kx and dummy AK KQJ10xxxx void AQx (Its also barely possible that both dummy and partner are void in diamonds, also forcing dummy to ruff with an honor or be overruffed or that declarer has 3/4 diamonds and dummy has the stiff with partner holding the void.)

With two small Ds, I could choose 3C or 3H, depending on how my honors are distributed. Besides, from time to time, we bid 1N-3N or 1N-2x-2y-3N without stopper in a suit, and I am OK with it (and I believe you are OK, too). There is no prefect bid for a lot of hands, that is why we have the discussion here. It's about preference, not right or wrong. Ummm, I am ok with bidding 1N-3N without a stop or 1N-2x-2y-3N without a stop in a side suit. We agree on that. :( I am not ok with making a bid that promises that I have a stop, when I dont actually have one. There is a difference. If I have to choose between the lie about having a 6th club or the lie about having a stop, I believe it better to lie about the (non-existent) 6th club. If you dont, you will likely play in 3N with no stop in the suit that is almost certain to be led, in the other auctions given, they at least have to make the right lead. You also may find yourself in a 6C/7C contract that has no play, because your diamond control has been implied by the NT bid. However, as I said, do as you wish. :) (but you won't get me to agree with it) :P

I don't agree with "3C ... the only valid bid". 3C better show a hand with 6+ C and suit oriented hand (2S would show 6-5, presumably). As Frances pointed out, 1C-1S already shows 5-4 (not always though, could be 4-2-3-4), 2N/3N is more descriptive than 3C, especially given the quacks in red suits. The problem is 2N/3N GUARANTEES a FULL stop in their methods. But do as you wish, and go down in 3N when neither of you have a diamond stop. Btw, what would you bid on 4-2-2-5 with just XX in diamonds? (It cant be 4-2-3-4, as they are playing a weak NT and would have opened 1N on this holding or rebid 1N (15-17) over 1H, if I read his answers correctly).

Sorry I asked. :(

Could you elaborate on this, Phil? I think you are implying more than is detailed. (ie, is the "enlightened partnership" also playing Kickback? Redwood? whatever...) There has to be something else involved here, otherwise, 4N is RKC (or just blackwood) for clubs. The only way it is not, is if you have some other ace asking methods available to you.

3C appears to be the only valid bid given the scenario outlined. 2♦ appears to be 4SF. Opener does not have 3 hearts, does not have 6 clubs 5 spades, and does not have a full diamond stop....that leaves 3C as the only remaining bid. (If 2♦ was natural, then 2N/3N would be more appropriate.)

I think 2♠ is better served as simply a forcing bid asking partner to describe his hand further. It tends to ask for a spade stop. Partner will show a one if he has it or a second suit, if he is not totally bust. If totally bust, partner should simply bid 3H and your hand should pass. The 2♠ bid also should promise another call from you unless partner bids anything other than bid 3H (you cant pass partner in 2N or 3 of a minor). If he bids 2N, I would have no problem raising to 3N. If he bids 3 of a minor, I would be inclined to bid 3S asking about a partial spade stops such as Qxx or 10xxx (committing to at least 4H, but it may well be wrong to do so).

The Ultimate Bridge Joke A cleaning woman was applying for a new position and when asked why she left her last employment, she replied: "Yessir, they paid good wages, but it was the most ridiculous place I ever worked. They played a game called Bridge and last night a lot of folks were there. As I was about to bring in the refreshments, I heard a man say: "Lay down and let's see what you've got." Another man says, "I got strength and no length." And another man says to the lady: "Take your hands off my trick." I pretty near dropped dead just then when the lady answered: "You forced me. You jumped me twice when you didn't have the strength for one raise. Another lady was talking about protecting her honor, and two lades were talking and saying, "Now it's time for me to play with your husband and you can play with mine. Well, I just got my hat and coat and as I was leaving, I hope to die, if one of them didn't say: "Well, I guess we'll go home now. That was the last rubber!!"

Hmmm, can somebody explain that last sentence to me? It cant be both. (It just feels that way, hehe) :)

Scratch that

Ummm, its easier than that I think. Your spade spots are just good enough to handle the 4-0 break without having to take a first round finesse. The 7 in your hand allows you to cash one high spade first, just in case LHO has a stiff J. On this auction, I will never play for LHO to hold more than one spade. (I also expect LHO to hold at least 8 hearts.) Ruff Ace, small spade to K; you do not have to take a first round hook, LHO almost has to show out.....or his bidding makes no sense. Assume he shows out, cross to diamond A, spade 8, RHO must cover, you win as cheaply as possible, club K to the A, 2nd spade finesse (or again win if RHO covers), draw last trump, and claim. If LHO follows to the spade K, I will finesse on the 10 on the next round. And if LHO has managed to bid 5H on ♠Jxx(x) ♥AKQ10xxx(x)......I cry. :)

Huh? So, you are saying that if you hold AQxxx Kx xx Kxxx and partner bids 2♣ that you do not raise to 3♣ showing fit unless you have better values??

ACBL Recorder http://www.acbl.org/play/recorder.html describes how a recorder is appointed and his duties. The position of recorder was created to give players a methodology of reporting suspected unethical behavior to a third party and have it investigated, without actually having to accuse someone of unethical behavior (or cheating). One of the flaws in the ACBL regulations is that (if I remember correctly) it is against the Laws to actually accuse someone of cheating (not to mention bad manners), but if someone is actually cheating they need to be reported somewhere. At the time the reporter position was created, there was no place to file a report/complaint of suspected unethical behavior, leaving players with no real solution should the behavior actually be occuring (a Catch-22). So the ACBL created the Recorders position to handle these complaints. Essentially, he is an information gatherer that collects player complaints (usually regarding ethics), researches and investigates such complaints, possibly warns the offending pair that if such behavior continues that they will be referred to a displinary committee for review. If, after a review of the complaint (or complaints), he finds that disciplinary action is warranted, he presents his case to the disciplinary committee. A recorder (or assistant recorder) is supposed to be available at all tournaments. Failing this, the director-in-charge serves as the tournament's recorder, but forwards any Player memos to the Unit/Districts recorder. Player memos are supposed to be available at any ACBL sanctioned tournaments. (It is my belief that they are usually available at the club level as well). The player memo can be found here: http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/pmemo.pdf Currently there is no such thing as an "Online ACBL Recorder", but if there was, he would do the same thing(s) as a recorder for f2f tournaments, imo.

ummm, ok. Although it would probably be smarter to give an option automatically notifying all players registered for a tourny (paired or not) that a tourny has been cancelled and provide a reason for it when you actually cancel it. Cancel Tourny? = Y Notify Players? = Y Reason for cancellation="No director avaialble", "Director is not feeling well", "Not enough players registered", etc. Then when you press enter to actually cancel, just do broadcast message: Tourney #abcd has been cancelled by "inquiry" because "whatever reason was entered". No? Not that there may not be other reasons for doing as you suggest, but for tournament cancellation, I would think that this would probably be the best way.

On a side note, I found this in an article on Yahoo news" "North Korea also has golf clubs in cities including Pyongyang -- where, according to the communist state's official media, leader Kim Jong-Il scored 11 holes-in-one in his first attempt at golf" And they want us to take them seriously?? I dont think he could score 11 holes in one at Putt-Putt golf, much less a real course. LOL!!

Well, I thought we were talking about a rating system for everyone to see.....so that they would have some mechanism of judging a players ability other than the self-rating system we currently have. :P

This is a baaaaaaaaaaaaad idea. :P