skjaeran

I think Frederick is correct that 1♠ might be best as natural vs a potential 4c♠-minor canape. But you need an explicit agreement for this to apply. Missing that I'm in full agreement with Frances (and others) that 2♠ in this sequence is natural.

Happy Birthday Jilly!

I'd start with Hugh Kelsey's series of Test Your "Tecnique" (Card reading, Communications, Defencive Play, Elimination Play, Finessing, Pairs Play, Percentages, Safety Play, Trump Control). I'm not sure that's the complete list of titles. Every book consist of 36 hands. Very instructive hands and superbly written. Every problem start with your hand and dummy, the bidding, opening lead and if needed the first few tricks. And a review of the problem presented on the right hand page. The solutions are given overleaf. A lot of good stuff for advancing players.

I don't know where you play, but generally it would be very wrong to make this assumption. I don't know where you play, but I'm used to playing in fields where 90+% reach a 33 hcp 11 controls 5-5 fit slam. I'm talking f2f bridge here, and not very strong fields, just experienced tournament players.

With my regular partner I use Nilsland: pass forced xx => pass=to play, 2♣=♣+M, 2♦=♦♠, 2♥=♥♠, 2♠=4♦6♣, 2NT=6♦4♣ xx=puppet to 2♣, showing a 1-suiter 2♣=both minors 2♦=♦♥ 2M=natural constructive 2NT=GF 2-suiter

On the bidding I'd expect not_so_good breaks. So I don't think we can safely asume we're making anything higher than 4♥. So I'll go for a set and pass. +300 vs +400/420 isn't a bad result at IMPs either.

I agree.

You're right Josh. I must have been half asleep responding earlier. 3♣ it's got to be.

In my book 1S does not deny reversee strength, only gameforcing strength. 1D-1H-2S is a GF jump shift. Agree, I meant GF strenght.

Most of the example hands for opener are impossible to me. 1♥ 1♠ 3♣ promises 55+ to me and is GF. 3NT now on my hand is absolutely nuts. I'd most probably rebid 4♥, which is weaker than 3♥ in my methods.

The first hand I'd open in 1st, 2nd and 3rd seat, pass in 4th seat. The second hand I'd open in any seat.

Pass. And when a notorious light opener like me passes, this should be unanimous. ;) After 3♠ 4♥ pass I've still got an easy pass.

Where I'm playing everyone would open the south hand with 1♥, so you know the popular contract will be 6♥ by south. But some will certainly play 6NT by north (not many) and some will receive a ♦ lead and have a free ♣ finesse for the 13th trick. So playing safely for 12 tricks might yield something below average score. Thus, depending on my current standing etc. I'd play safely for 12 tricks if a score around 40-45% is OK for me. If not I'd go for the overtrick and take the ♣ finesse.

This is an obvious opening hand for me, except in 4th seat, where I pass. 1st and 2nd seat it's a systemic 1♣ for me. In 3rd seat I'd open this 1♦.

Sorry - we have not implemented scores and movies for team games yet. I am guessing you will see that happen within the next couple of weeks. Fred Gitelman Bridge Base Inc. www.bridgebase.com Thanks Fred - I guessed it might be so. Because later I watched Arend and Hannie playing a IMPs at a table. Then I could see scores and earlier boards in MyHands too.

With that hand partner would rebid 2♥ over my 2♦ and I'd raise to game.

Agree. I'd bid 2♠ now and change the system after the board.

I agree with this. I also agree with this.

I'm also used to weak/strong Michaels. But at red I won't bid with the weak variaton, prefering to use Michales with all intermediate+ hands and pass with the weak hands. I also prefer Michaels to show specifically ♣ and the other major over major.

Isn't 2♠ GF to you? It is to me, so there can't be any doubt about 3♥ being forcing or not.

I tried to watch the Cayne match this evening (it's going on as I write this) on BBOTV. The match score never came up and I couldn't find boards played before I logged in in MyHands.

This hand would not be possible for some of us. To many primes. Agree - that hand I'd alway open - except in 4th seat.

The title is "Why you lose at bridge". :) Edit: Sorry, didn't see Hannie's correction.

I can't say John Keats was any part of my education. But I've read Dan Simmons' "Hyperion Cantos" and thus have read parts of Keats "Hyperion", "Endymion" and other poems there.

Happy Birthday Helene - have a really nice one!