Hanoi5

I remember someone told me (after I read Reese's version) that after reading each book you were sure the author was right. So if you want to believe they cheated, you read Truscott's. If you want to believe they didn't cheat, read Schapiro. I agreed with this after reading both. I also read about Reese confession and the posthoumous lawyer and stuff. A sad turn of affairs. However, I think that signal cheating is not as bad (of course it's bad and illegal and should be banned), I repeat, not as bad as 'helping your partner' which is what Wolff and company seem to be saying about the Italians (besides the footsie and other stuff). So, if the Italians 'helped' themselves, that's not good bridge and a shame. But if they didn't, then it's all American jealousy.

Can someone explain this post?

A bad example for Lisa, definitely.

I'd prefer 3♥ to 2♠ and could bid 4♠ right away.

2NT. But if I'm serious I'll probably just bid 3♥ as everyone else.

You shouldn't ask for help for your homework. 6♠.

So I got: ♠--- ♥T9 ♦AKQ9xx ♣8xxxx Both white, bidding went: Pa Pa 2♣ ??? I bid 5♦. Is 4NT better? 2♠ or 4♠?

Teams, None Vulnerable, RHO deals and opens 4♥, you: ♠AK6xxx ♥--- ♦Q8xx ♣J98 What do you bid? Teams, None Vulnerable, You Pass as dealer with: ♠KTxx ♥Axxxx ♦xxx ♣x And it goes: Pa Pa 1♠ 2NT 3♠ 4♣ 4♦ 5♣ ???

Who taught you to count cards like that? I know someone who did the same in our club...

Could it be that Klinger lied?: http://members.chello.nl/a.denbroeder4/REG...es/I.search.htm I also have that pamphlet. That was my source.

C'mon that would have been the next question, who made the first 1♣ strong system?

So, checking some old books and handouts I found the answer to this question: When was the first forcing pass bidding system devised?

Maybe also best player of the year in ACBL? Anyway I'd rather he has it than Piedad Córdoba or any other of Chavez's puppets.

So not on topic I think, hahaha. But it's quite a nice phrase, showing how we're all equal.

I'm doubling. I hope the spade fit is 5-2 and not 4-2 (or 3-2...).

The internet is not considered a media in this case. In fact there are web pages which present the daily price of the black dollar which I guess aren't/can't be located in Venezuela. But any other webpages (newspapers and news channels) cannot use the word or inform about it, so in a way if I were seen talking about it I might be reprimanded (if it were in the government's interest, for example if I were an opposition politician). This foreign exchange restriction has been 'on' for some years now. The truth is that not only this bad government has implemented it: No government in Venezuela (since the 80's) has been able to keep the dollar at a steady price without resorting to a exchange control. The exchange control commision always becomes a source of corruption, but if I'm not mistaken, this is the first time a black market has been banned. At the beginnig you could use $3000 on the internet and $5000 for trips each year. Banks started issuing pre-paid credit cards and everyone had one and of course dollars which they used to sell in the black market. For example, someone asks his/her maid to get a pre-paid credit card and then take it from her and use it abroad and bring the cash to sell (or for personal use). I remember I bought some iPods and other things and sold them for a nice price, but of course the government realized what was going on and then restricted the dollars even more. They also prohibited pre-paid cards.

Well after Mr Lall supports the pass I believe it will be hard to find someone to bid something else. The other 2 options are 1NT or 2NT, the last of which I might have bid at the table had I been on a point-counting day. The problem with NT is that our long suit is very badly distributed and ugly: only one honour followed by the 7. I believe this (and the fact that partner's double may be based on distribution mostly) is the reason why pass is the winner for if partner continues bidding (by doubling again or bidding 3♣) we can surely have another go with more information.

Ok, what will the Director rule? Would he only penalize the previous holder of the cards?

...and when I look at them I see they're sorted by suits. What do I do?

x and 2♦.

I'd double the second time around.

Now, you're either Nostradamus or this didn't happen exactly this way. I think you just used some reasoning which led to a good decision but what if they were discussing at the other table why that hand couldn't bid 4♠? Or why it was better to defend with such hand? Anyway, if you didn't listen to anything else and just made a good and lucky inference, good for you. But remember to tell the Director some people are not shuffling their cards which can now be penalized, probably for this same reason. And if you feel too bad (or if I'm mistaken and taking any inference from the way the cards are arranged is indeed wrong) then your only resource is calling the Director and telling him: you'll probably get an average then, or Ave+ (?).

Hahaha! you people have it all wrong! The internet has not been restricted (yet). Sometimes it's a little slow, sometimes we have a blackout and we blame it on the government who might be doing it on purpose or just because they are really bad at handling stuff. But what is restricted for us is the exchange of Venezuelan currency into ANY foreign currency. So If I want to pay to play at bridgebase (those money tournaments or maybe the ACBL ones) I can only use $400 a year (that is $400 for internet use, not only bridgebase, I usually spend mine at amazon). In fact if I travel and I want to use my Venezuelan credit card I need to ask for some permits (for using my credit card in the internet, too) and then I can only use $2500 a year. If I don't have a credit card, or if I want to have cash, I will have again to ask for a special permit and then get some $600 cash...for a year. Of course these restrictions are only for the 'normal' people. If I were part of the government I could get any amount I wanted as was evidenced by the fact that the Venezuelan Chancellor was checked in New York a couple of years back and discovered to have some $10,000.00 cash on him. And on the other side i can always use my international credit cards outside the country. The Black Market is prohibited. In fact if you mention that word on TV (or any media) referring to the sale of international currency you could be sent to jail or fined.

Agree with those bidding 7NT if I remembered I was playing a weak NT.

I would have changed the score, too...but to 3♠-2. Anyway remember there is now a special forum for laws and this kind of questions.