skjaeran

This hand surely qualifies as a 19-21NT. So I'd bid 1♥, then 1NT.

I'm passing 3♠ here. I think I've done enough. Btw, partner might go down.

I'd rebid 3♣ as others mention too. Sure this hand has more potential than any 3♣ rebid I've seen, but all other alternatives has greater flaws than 3♣. The closest other possibility is 3NT. 4♣ would imply a ♥ fit to me (4♥-6+♣ no void).

I must admit South African restaurant chains are much like Greek to me.....

Well, that might be going a little too far, but heck, wtp? :P

I'm also wondering about this. I've never heard about Drury or the like to be banned over 1st and 2nd seat openings. Nor could I understand any reason to forbid it. Actually there's quite a few people applying 2♣ as a non-fit Drury (or Toronto as it's for some unknown to me reason is called here - both the fit and non-fit variant) around here. I've never subscribed to that method myself and can't see why I should. Another method that's gaining somewhat in popularity is to play 1M-2♣ as a 2-way bid; natural or 10-12 with 3-card support. Nobody would believe any of those methods would or should be disallowed. Out of curiosity: Do many people in Norway of Great Britain uses their convention 2♣ response to cater to a "psyche" in first or second seat? No, of course not, I've never heard of anyone doing that - that goes for Norway, but I'm certain it's the same in the UK.

I have been silent since about the first few pages of the other thread because I am friends with some of the women on the team, and I don't think what they did was appropriate at that time (as I indicated at the time). My view is that they should get the equivalent to a slap on the wrist (or no sanction at all) since the punishment should fit the crime, and this thing has really been blown way out of proportion. I never thought that there should be serious blood drawn such as being banned from international competition. All that being said, I would not be willing to sign a petition at this time. So far, as far as I know, nothing has happened. No punishment has been handed out. I have faith that the punishment will end up fitting the crime, and I think any kind of petition is at the very least premature. I also believe that we do not know all the facts and that the people who will hand out punishment, if any, know more about the facts than us. I have no reason to think that their informed judgement will be worse than my uninformed judgement. I know that people are reading these threads and have a good idea of where everyone on this forum stands. I don't think anything else is necessary at this time. Not that I think you care but I really disagree with the way you handle yourself on these forums and I think that you should remember that people here are human beings, and that you are not being assertive, you are being aggressive and just plain rude. I would not mention this except that I know you (in the sense that I have met you, not that I "know" you), and although a bit on the rude side sometimes I think you are actually a good guy and misrepresenting yourself by the way you act on these forums, a bit like jdonn used to. Of course I don't know you very well, and maybe you aren't, and likely you don't care about what I'm saying. But I digress. Well said.

What do you mean "on the spur of the moment"? Obviously the sign was made before they went to the podium and most probably prior to the start of the closing ceremony/banquet. To me that means it was duly planned and has nothing to do with "on the spur of the moment".

I was the 2nd voter in this poll and the first for 3NT. I'm in the wtp camp too.

2♥ is fine with me. Minimum with regard to high card strength, but there's more to hand evaluation than that. Why should I double 4♦ now? I'd never expect that to be natural in this sequence. And I'd like partner to lead a ♣ if we defend some ♠ contract. 4♥ it is now.

That hand is way too strong for a 20-21 NT. 21 hcp, only controls and a 5-card suit should be upgraded to a 22-24 NT (upper half of that range maybe), because of it's slam potential. I'd not invite slam with the OP hand, but it's close.

I agree with the first part, but not the 2nd. That hand is an obvious balancing double and so is stronger hands of this type. You're really happy if partner converts holding hands like this. Btw, I'd always bid 1NT on the previous round with this hand,

I'm also wondering about this. I've never heard about Drury or the like to be banned over 1st and 2nd seat openings. Nor could I understand any reason to forbid it. Actually there's quite a few people applying 2♣ as a non-fit Drury (or Toronto as it's for some unknown to me reason is called here - both the fit and non-fit variant) around here. I've never subscribed to that method myself and can't see why I should. Another method that's gaining somewhat in popularity is to play 1M-2♣ as a 2-way bid; natural or 10-12 with 3-card support. Nobody would believe any of those methods would or should be disallowed.

Hehe - the last is defenitely true. Our Secretary General did a great job polishing it before it appeared in a morning TV-show back in Norway. I can tell you it will be polished before we hand it back to the WBF prior to the next Bermuda Bowl.

yes I know. That does not mean opponents play for it to be happening. If I were to play against the same opponents for tens of thousands of boards I agree with mixed strategy, however I don't expect this situation to happen vs the same opponents more than once in my life ever, so a mixed strategy does not make sense. It's just a question of what level they are thinking on, and what level they think you are thinking on at the time. Yeah, agree with this. I was thinking more in general here. The bridge community in Norway is small enough that if I pulled this stunt a couple of times "everyone" would know about it - thus the mixed strategy.

Gah, NO!!!!! I'll be posting it until my death. When partner is under pressure, don't hang him!! Some slams will be missed, but you won't go down at the 5 level, and more importantly you gain so much more from partner being able to stretch and get your side into the auction. No no no no no! Doubling with that hand after 4♣ P P is nutso, that is not even close. 4333, seriously?? So the hand with 7 tricks and a void has to pass, but the balanced hand with 3 or 4 tricks is bidding? Good grief! Sorry I know I'm going nuts here, but doubling with that hand at the 4 level? Agree.

Not how I'm used to play it, but surely looks better than "standard" unusual vs unuslal approaches. With a good pick-up partner I'd bid 3♦, expecting that to show inv+ with ♠'s.

In my methods we'd start 1♣-1NT (10-12), thus reaching game shortly. We play T-Walsh with a 2-way 1♠ response; 6-9 bal or unlimited with ♦.

If anyone is to blame at all I'd say it's north. With two aces, nothing wasted in spades and a 4th dime he's close to bidding 5♥. South really can't bid anything more - give norht the ♠K instead of the A and the bidding is the same. Now they can't even make 4♥. But as other has already commented, this is such a close decision that it's hard to blame north for doubling here.

Playing GB2NT I'd bid 2NT of course, else 3♥. It's almost unthinkable for me not to bid a 4-card ♥ in this auction.

I make active leads regularly, but far from always. Leading from queens and kings is very common for me. Underleading aces against trump contracts occurs seldom, almost exclusively when I know dummy is strong banlanced and declarer is supposedly not too distributional. In those circumstances underleading an ace can be very effective. Leading from a jack is almost a taboo - unless parnter has bid the suit. I only do that if there's absolutely no attractive alternative (in fact almost only if all alternatives are really unattractive). There's almost no other lead that's more prone to cost a trick than leading from Jxx or Jxxx.

Yes - obvious 4♠.

I'd have overcalled, never doubled with this hand. I'm passing now.

Agree with Justin, Frances and Ken!

Can't see any reason for leading anything but a club. I'll switch to a somewhat deceptive ♣8.