jmc

I spent about an hour playing BBO on the Motorola Xoom. The play and bidding were ok, though occasionally multiple clicks were required. I used hand diagrams and the numbers were a bit too small even playing full screen. Anything that required typing was a disaster. Key response seemed slow and the pop up keyboard just didn't work well. I was very disappointed because I love the pop up keyboard on my android phone and its fast and accurate. The Xoom keyboard seemed fine in other applications. I had planned on buying the Xoom but decided against it. My hope is that perhaps BBO's software will run better on the Blackberry Playbook designed more for flash, or that the HTC Flyer that comes with a pen, will allow better interaction with BBO. If I can't alert or chat with friends, its a BbO experience I'm interested in.

I am in Las Vegas and suddenly find myself free for the afternoon. Anyone feel like playing a club game this afternoon? jmc 402-968-8865

I don't believe just any stylus will work. I think capacitive touch screens work because your finger conducts electricity and completes some kind of a circuit. Dead plastic won't do this. Some companies sell a special stylus that do this somehow. The old resistive touchscreens could be pushed with anything and could sense pressure. I don't believe capacitives can. Thanks for all your help. I'll try logging in again using cut and paste.

I installed flash 10.2 on my HTC Incredible phone yesterday and the performance of BBO is much better than previous versions. It works fine for me for kibitzing now, where before it was even too slow for that. I noticed one thing after using it for awhile was that if I clicked and held in BBO, flash would pop up a box I could use to maximize the window full screen. I think this is very handy. Does it work on the tablet for maximizing? I could not get the login password box to take the password I was trying to enter. The letters appeared singly and then vanished. Any issues logging in on the Xoom? Could you post a pic of entering text in a chat window? If you have time to do a video demo, I'll send you some BBO dollars as a thank you. I went to buy a Xoom today but neither Verizon store in my tiny town of 30,000 had any in stock. I may wait and buy a WiFi only from Radio-shack on the 27th. I also know that HTC has a tablet coming that will include a stylus. Might be better for BBO.

Thanks for the mini-review Echognome. How did the playability feel? Is the typing good enough to alert? I wonder if the powers at be would be willing to make changes to enhance tablet usability if it needs it. jmc

BUMP. Anyone with android try this yet?

ITS FRIDAY!!! Is it awesome Gnome? Is it playable? My credit card is ready. Tell me I need to spend the money. Does it work? I want my BBO tablet. MMMAAATTT!?!? I need info! :) jmc Engadget link and some info that faster performance will still becoming for the Xoom: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/flash-10-2-hits-android-today-adobe-hopes-for-viewable-720p-pla/

I'm still interested in your national championship wins or high NABC finishes. Why post anonymously? If I'm going to seriously entertain the idea of hiring you, I want your name so I can double check your credentials Marty Bergen, Mark Lair, Jim Jacoby, Kenny Gee, Jade Barrett, Gerard Cohen or whoever you are. jmc

I was mostly interested in Meckwell's 1NT-2S range ask and 1NT-2NT Puppet Stayman and was mainly curious what they do with the other bids. Clearly it is a system geared more for imps than mps. I appreciate people's comments and the FD card above. Olien's post comes closest to what I have found for them, though it is different in several ways. With Bluecalm's hand finding database help, I went through about 500 hands for Meckwell and Greco-Hampson. In a follow-up post I'll post what I am planning on trying, though it differs from Meckwell in several places.

The following link is to the 2007 Meckwell WBF convention card. The NT section seems identical to the WBF CC listed for Philadelphia. On the second page there is a section for NT responses. There is also a footnote labeled 13. These sections make a few things clearer but leave me wondering how to decode the following: After 1NT-2S range ask-2NT,3C- then "3D FG SPL♦, 3♥=♦ST, 3♠=♦SPL♣" Some things clarified: 1NT-2C-2D-3c is 6+ in a minor 1NT-2C-2D-3D is splinter in a major. I assume 1444 or 4144. 1NT-2C-2D-3M is Smolen. 1NT-2C-2M-3D is game force in the major. 1NT-3C is either weak in D or GF+ in clubs. 1NT-2D-2H-2S is some sort of artificial invite with re-transfers. 1NT-3M shows 5-5 or better minors and stiff in the OTHER MAJOR. As a passed hand 1NT-2C-2X-3m is weak and 1NT-3m is invitational. http://www.ecatsbridge.com/documents/files/ConventionCards/2007BermudaBowlShanghai/bermuda-bowl/USA%202/meckstroth-rodwell.pdf http://www.ecatsbridge.com/documents/files/ConventionCards/2010nonJuniorPhiladelphia/meckstroth-rodwell.pdf

Looks like the 3S bidder is walking the dog.

I think it is a bit odd that there is no way to invite in a minor. Is it possible that 1NT-2C-2X-3m is invitational in the minor? Or do they just blast game with an invitational minor hand and this sequence shows 6-4 game force slam interest?

I am interested in Meckwell’s system over a 14-16 NT. Here is what I have come up with. I have no idea if any of this is particularly accurate and would appreciate any insight people could share. In many of the sequences the followups are totally unknown.. 1NT-2♣ Stayman. 1NT-2♦, 2♥ Transfers 1NT-2♠ Range Ask 2♠ asks opener to bid 2NT with a minimum and 3♣ with a maximum showing their “Range.” This may be used to determine the correct level or responder may have a bad hand with long clubs. Over opener’s 2NT, 3♣ is to play. 1NT-2♠-2NT-3♦, 3♥, 3♠? 1NT-2♠-3♣-3♦,3♥,3♠? 1NT-2NT Puppet Stayman Typically responder will have a game force and either interest in a major or a (13)(54) hand. Responses are: 3♣ No 5-card major, 3♦ ???, 3M 5-cards in the major. Following the 3♣ bid denying a 5-card major responder can bid: 3♦ Shows (13)(54). Opener can ask shortness with 3♥. Responder bids 3♠ with spade shortness and 3NT with ♥ shortness. ??? Openers 3S over 3D perhaps asks minor lengths??? 3♥ Shows 4♠, less than 4♥. 3♠ Shows 4♥, less than 4♠ 3NT To play. 1NT-3♣ ??? Transfer to ♦ either to play or so responder can follow up by bidding a M to show long CLUBS and M shortage??? 1NT-3♦ ??? 7+d and major shortage somewhere??? 1NT-3♥,3♠ ??? game force with 5-5 or better in the minors and shortage in the Major. 1NT-3NT to play 1NT-4♦, ♥ Texas 1NT-4S ?????

We have recently decided to stop playing 10-13 NT's for awhile in our precision system. There are a variety of reasons but the main reason is to get a feel for strong NT's in a precision context to better decide on what we like. As we've always played weak NT's, this is a way to get a feel for strong. Should we play 15-17 or 14-16? Why do the pros play 14-16? 15-17: As I see it this is a nice range to "stay with the field" 14-16: Slightly more preemptive and cleans up the 11-13 1D opener a bit. We play a pretty normal berkowitz-manly precision with transfers after the big club and 1C-1D-1H Kokish like relay. We open Rule of 20 hands and all 11 counts. Flat 10's are normally passed.

Any suggestions on how to enter the hands and then convert to LIN format?

I own both books and teacher's manuals but I was hoping to avoid typing all the hands in myself, especially if someone else has already done the work.

I am looking to find the hands from Audrey Grant's bidding 1 and 2 books in lin, pbn, or rbn format. Does anyone have these or know of a teacher that does? My dad is coming this weekend and wants to play some of the hands vs gibs. jmc

When I first started playing bridge I wanted to win every hand in the bidding. Light overcalls, insane overbidding, psyches, etc. were fairly common. My attitude was that I'd win the hand in the bidding, or I likely wouldn't win. I wanted action on every hand. I thought winning by pushing people around was the norm. Isn't that what Marty Bergen's books were telling me? :) Playing poker helped me to tone things down to a sustainable level and I got the wildness out of my system. Bridge helped my memory for for cards...and my bladder control. jmc

Nah, they should charge 'em more as the postage to deliver the magazine is really expensive.

Bridgewebs looks like it is a comprehensive solution, but I don't find their layout particularly attractive. Their calendar and card diagrams are a bit on the ugly side. They do appear to be service oriented and their prices reasonable. jmc

I rather like the following structure suggested by Larry Cohen on his website. http://www.larryco.com/BridgeArticles/Arti...px?articleID=45 jmc MODIFIED JACOBY 2NT After our 1-MAJ opening and 2NT response (Game-Forcing 4+-card raise): 4 of our MAJOR = the absolute worst dreck imaginable (always 5-3-3-2) 3 = any other minimum (could be 5-3-3-2, but at least some redeeming feature) 3 = non-minimum, with a side singleton or void somewhere 3 = non-minimum, any 5-4-2-2 distribution 3 = non-minimum, 6+ trumps (no singletons or voids) 3NT = non-min., 5-3-3-2 (you can use this to show a HCP range such as 18-19) 4 new suit = decent 5-card side suit (nat.--should have ace or king) Follow-ups: If responder ever jumps to game in the major, it is a sign-off--no further interest. If responder still has slam interest, he can ask further as follows: AFTER opener's 3 : Responder bids 3 to ask, then (note the similarity to the original responses by opener): 4 of our MAJOR = 5-3-3-2 min., but not total dreck (maybe nice controls) 3 = minimum, with a side singleton or void somewhere 3 = minimum, any 5-4-2-2 distribution 3NT = minimum, 6+ trumps (no singletons or voids) 4 new suit = min., decent 5-card side suit (natural--should have ace or king) (After opener's 3 or 3 answer to 3, next step asks, using same schedule as below) AFTER opener's 3: Responder bids 3 to ask, then: Step 1=A VOID somewhere Step 2= singleton in lowest side suit () Step 3 = singleton in next side suit () Step 4 = singleton in highest side suit (other major) After Step 1 (VOID) Next bid asks where and S1=, S2=, S3=other major AFTER opener's 3: Responder bids 3 to ask, then: Step 1= 4 cards in lowest side suit () Step 2 = 4 cards in next side suit () Step 3 = 4 cards in highest side suit (other major) This looks a bit complex, but there isn't too much memory. The first set of answers to 2NT must be memorized. After that, the same principle covers all the memory: Next step asks, and answers are "up-the-line." INTERFERENCE: As stated above, this convention is never on if they interfere after our 1MAJ opening. However, we do need to cope if they interfere after the 2NT response: Opener's double = Shortness in suit doubled Opener's new suits = natural or a control 3NT = Balanced Maximum (Ace or King in their suit) Opener's Pass = Nothing special--flat hand, could be 5x3x2 awful after which, responder's X=penalty Opener's jump to 4M = dead minimum, but 6x3x2 If they double Asks or re-asks : XX = business, Pass=S1, etc. If they bid after Ask or re-ask : X=Penalty, Pass=S1, etc. (except when double = short as above) Like any new convention, this can't be taken lightly. Practice and study are required. I am not big on conventions, but this one is worth the effort for a serious partnership. Not only does it provide more accuracy, but the biggest payoff is in concealment. Most times, opener will have a minimum (12 points are statistically more likely than 15 or 19). When opener bids 3 to announce a minimum, most times responder will no longer be interested in slam. He will simply jump to sign-off in game. Meanwhile, you have not given away opener's shape to the opponents. It is too easy to lead and defend against standard Jacoby 2NT, when you are told opener has a singleton. It is much better to keep this information concealed on most deals.

I want to start a website for a small bridge club that has just begun in my town. Is there anyone on the forums who is experienced in putting together small websites? I would like something that looks professional that doesn't use a total off the shelf web template. Ideally the site would be just a handful of pages: front, games, results, teaching, directions. If your interested feel free to post here or pm me. Let me know what additional information you'd need to give me an estimate of the cost. If anyone would like to post links to bridge club websites you think are really good, I'd love to check those out as well. jmc

If you are a self starter and learner I would recommend a couple of books. The first is Precision Today by Berkowitz and Manley. This book is a good intro to Precision and has some discussion of advance agreements as well. I understand a second edition is due out anytime. The second book I would recommend is Precision Bridge by Eric Jannersten. This book is fairly old but it presents more or less traditional Precision along with asking bids. If you would like something more online and interactive, you might consider OliverC's Precision. He runs some lectures for the intermediate advance club and the beginner intermediate lounge. His web site is: http://bbo.pigpen.org.uk/ Good luck! Its a whole new world. jmc

I am playing several events in Reno with my regular partner and teammates but am looking for a partner on Sunday the 14th and Monday the 15th as I arrive before they do. If I know you from playing on BBO, the forums, or both and you would be interested, drop me an email. jmc jonathan(dot)cohn(at)gmail.com

I bought a Sony Reader for my wife and we both liked it and read numerous books on it. She bought me an Amazon Kindle and the screen is WAY better. I dare say that its is in a different league in terms of readability. If you were my friend or brother I couldn't recommend the Sony Reader less. Buy a kindle or another eink reader without a touch screen. jmc