skjaeran

Agree.

1. 5♥. Definitely. 2. 4♠. 4♥ is a good idea, as long as someone makes another bid. That's not certain at all.

Passing is clear to me on both scenarios. I'm not saving with such a balanced hand - it's handing them 800 when they haven't got a slam and not very preemptive (yeah, LHO can't bid 4m, I know).

2NT 22-24 for me with my regular, 2♣...2NT else.

That's reasonable - I do about the same. don't you transfer?:) Sure, I transfer into my 2nd suit when appropriate. :rolleyes: :P

That's reasonable - I do about the same.

Hmm, a ♥ at trick 2 might work, RHO will almost always return a black card after winning an offisde ♥A (normally a ♣, but a ♠ is also quite possible. Lacking a spade in dummy there's no squeeze awailable for 13 tricks. I guess I'd try sneaking a heart through here.

Yeah, this is just about what I'd expect too.

***** - agree with you Josh, nasty opps here! (But that's what they're supposed to be...) Can't stomach bidding here, and pass is out. So double it is. Afraid that's bad on this occasion, but so be it.

There's no reason why partner should kill you for balancing. Your 2nd seat pass and non-double now will tell him that you're weak, unbalanced and can't stand a penalty pass, often due to a diamond void. Trust your partner and balance with 2♥.

OK, they put in "as a general rule", which possibly would allow a change. I'm surprised if they've changed from what's been a strict rule for 20 years. I don't actually think that's inconsistent with the rule that players in the Patino Cup (U26) have to have been born in 1982 or later. I believe that a person born in 1982 would have become 25 on his or her birthday in 2007 and would therefore be 25 on January 1 of 2008. Yeah, you're right - I misread. There's a change in the GCC from how it used to be. I see this GCC was implemented in May 2005, which means this change took place prior to the last World Youth Teams Championships.

Is there any difference from the text quoted at the beginning of the thread? If so, what is it? I haven't checked it word for word, but there shouldn't be.

I would double this. I switch to ♥A.

I'm bidding 7NT. Expect many pairs to reach that spot, so won't be too bad if I can't make this. And I expect to make, of course.

3NT for me too.

I'd have opened the original hand with my regular and a few others, passed with most pick-ups. I strongly prefer to rebid 2♠. I've tried a style where rebidding showed 6, but I don't like that much (I like the rebid showing 6, of course, it's what this does to other rebids I find unplayable).

That's strange, since article 4.5 in the WBF General Conditions of Contest say: OK, they put in "as a general rule", which possibly would allow a change. I'm surprised if they've changed from what's been a strict rule for 20 years.

A player knowing the old law could just as easily get away with the same though. Btw, as an opponent and TD it's normally very easy to be quite sure what really happened.

Obvious to pass the first two times around. Now I'm acting: 5♥

Joining the chorus.

1st choice: pass, 2nd choise: pass, 3rd choice: pass, etc.

Agree with all others that it's a very nice problem. It took me somewhere between half and a full minute to solve it, which means it's far from straightforward (I'm pretty quick normally).

At the 1-level I'd just make the overcall with this hand. At the 2-level it's a little different. All passing over 2♥ is very possible. I'll double - reluctantly. If partner bids 4♠ I just have to pass.

No. 4♠.

I totally agree with the first paragraph. The 2nd paragraph I also agree with, if you play in the ACBL or online. If you play f2f in most parts of Europe 2/1 won't make it easier to form new partnerships - what would will vary. In Norway you should learn Norwegian Standard - basically a modernised Acol-based system, 4c suit up-the-line bidding (5443 opening style) and 2/1 F1 to be able to play with most people or a 2/1 light 5cM T-Walsh to play with the best juniors (this approach is spreading).