Hanoi5

I voted for an unimaginative spade. I figure it isn't a Diamond for that's what most of the people answered so, could it be a club? I don't understand why partner didn't bid another suit on his way to sac (maybe because then he would have needed to sac at the 5 level?) to ask for a lead, but as he couldn't fit bid clubs, I'm guessing you wanted us to think about a club lead.

Pass.

Is the other line to play LHO for ♥Hxx and ♦xx? Diamonds should be played first, if LHO ruffs the third or fourth round trumps are drawn, if he refuses to ruff ♥A and ♥K are cashed before playing the final diamond to discard the last spade.

3♠.

♥K, maybe I'll be able to keep the lead in case some special play is required or called for by having a look at dummy.

♠, maybe there's something about leading a heart, too.

4♣

Depending on where I win the first trick I'd play a heart to the 9 or a club to the 9.

1♦ 1♠ 2♦ 2♥ 2♠ 4♠ Responder could get excited and try to get to slam, though.

And also remember that 'offense is the best defense'.

I'd probably prefer doing this and dedicate my efforts to young people but let's face it, these players are needed. We seem clear in that it is more important to teach play/defense than bidding. But how about judgement? Should I do something about that? What?

1NT apparently turned out to be bad, but it depends on your methods. If double is TO, I'll try that. If partner might think I am doubling for penalties then I pass instead of 1NT. I prefer to bid 2♣ on a 5-5 but if partner will usually let 1♠ as the final contract when we have more the balance of the power then 2♣. So Pass first or Double now if it isn't for penalties.

I pass for I think we have a fit.

♣9, but I cheated...

What topics should old players learn? Usually people learning bridge take lessons to learn new gadgets which doesn't help them at all. Which subjects do you think intermediate players should be learning or studying? What's really important?

Yeah, what does jfk have to do with this? I'm all against Chavez but why wouldn't you allow Russian planes in Cuba or Venezuela but you (the US) have missiles in Poland? Sounds like a double standard to me...

3♠, how on earth will partner know we have 6♠'s?

I expect these topics to be made in order to: a. Clear a point you're not sure about. b. Convince partner of what's normal, standard. c. Win a discussion. It should never be the aim of this kind of post to humiliate someone.

♦K throwing a spade (8) from the table.

Small spade from the table to win the Ace. ♣2 to the table, ♦9 which I would let run if not covered.

It depends on partner's style and our bidding agreements. If he has 7 diamonds and a singleton heart we're pretty good for 5, if 2♠ is bid on a diamond fit then he's just competing, if double asks for a stopper then he's pretty unbalanced. I bid 5.

There's a 5♦ bid twice in your sequence. And to answer your last question:

I believe most Swiss people have a gun at home, a rifle in fact. How many accidents of these type have ocurred in Switzerland? I strongly believe that the solution to most problems lies in education.

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=skxxhjtxdkqxxxc7x&s=sq9ha9dacaqjt98xx]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] I got to 6♣ by: 1♣ 1♦ 2♠! 3NT! 5♣ 6♣! I'll tell you how I made it...in parts, read and answer each of the following lines: