Hanoi5

'Should', excellent word. But the thing is s/he didn't. I really wonder if A&E don't get themselves into trouble sometimes... So you bid 5♣ on the FG 2♣ opening. And 7♣ on the natural 1♣ opening. Interesting.

I think there is also the problem of choosing the hands, the 'Director' and the helpers. Will Ben be the only one choosing the hands and directing the proceedings? What if he wants to participate? I like hrothgar idea, having a World-Class pair bidding the hands, but who's gonna find them? Frequency is also important, one contest every two or three months sounds fine, but also the dates should be set so that people don't take AGES to bid the hands.

So, I guess A&E has never played with a 'creative' partner. I also suppose A&E has NEVER detoured from the normal responses to a convention. Let's suppose the bidding had been: 2♣-2♦ 3♣-3♦* 4♣-??? 3♦ asks about Majors and 4♣ denies any 4-card Major (and the desire to play 3NT), what would you bid then with the hand in question?

I read it and sent an email. Even though I don'teven live in the US. In fact, it was probably the first time I heard about that paper. But I sent the mail anyway. It only took 5 minutes.

Playing 2/1, you hold: ♠KQxx ♥xxxx ♦xxxx ♣Q And it goes: 1♣-1♥ 2NT-3♣* 4♣!-??? 3♣ is checkback, asking about Majors. 4♣ does not exist in your system. What do you bid? I will later ask what you bid on another sequence.

Th topic title says 1H-X-2H but you're saying 1S-X-2S. I suppose we're talking about the second in which case I wouldn't mind doubling again. I lack a fourth heart and the only regret I can have is when partner passes, but I suppose s/he'll be responsible for that. My double is just saying that my hand wants to compete and that I don't hold a minimum in HCP.

Red vs White, you hold: [hv=pc=n&s=skq9h52da842cqt52]133|100[/hv] Partner deals and opens 1♥, you respond with a forcing 1NT and he reverses into 2♠, what do you bid? 1♥-1NT 2♠-??? I guess there can be a case for 2NT, 3♠ and 3NT, which do you choose and why? What do you think of the others?

Two-suited hands are very hard to bid after 2♣. Besides, if it goes 2♣-2♦ and we end up in diamonds I won't be declaring...

3♦ and 3♣.

I thought no one would answer :( East was the one who doubled the final contract (no other bidding by them as South opened first hand with one spade and South showed a splinter via 3♥). Zia opened the hand with 1♦, Cohen responded 1♠ and East doubled that. They reached 6♠ which wasn't doubled. I meant (and said) what if West plays the ♦10 on the third diamond, not the second. East won the heart King and continued with the Ace. Team scoring it was.

I agree with what you did, if partner shows no aces I'll bid 5♠, with one ace I'll try asking for the queen, to see if I end up playing 6 or 7NT.

[hv=pc=n&s=skj983h6dkqj9532c&n=saqt72hjt83dck865]133|200[/hv] I took this hand from the Inaugural Two Worlds Trophy in 1994 as reported by E. Kokish for the now defunct IPBM and gave it to some students. A pair got to six spades and was doubled. They received a heart lead and continuation. There is no mention of how the play went then and there for the 'important' thing was how to get to 6 (only Cohen-Zia got to the slam). My first thought was that a ruffing finesse was the best line, but then I noticed you can ruff 2 small diamonds in dummy while drawing a trump to check how they behave (2-1), get back to hand while drawing the final trump and then playing the ♦K, which in this case brings out the ♦A and you make your slam. However, how should you play if the third diamond from West is the 10? Is it better to finesse or to try to drop the Ace in East? Does the double lead you in any way? How do probabilities work at this point where diamonds are either 3-3 or 4-2 and neither the Ace or ten were doubleton with East?

I like nigel_k idea.

I'd also x and x

5♥ for me

Great job and idea, thanks!

It sort of is... I don't know how to do the math... Is it 29.1? Then I'm still 3,55% away from the best line.

And what is the percentage of playing ♠AK and seeing the Queen or the Ten? Or both?

When I say discourteous I mean it went something like: -What's 3♣? - What do you think it is? To play!

Yes, it was imp's. What's the percentage of getting two tricks in hearts by playing small to the 9?

[hv=pc=n&s=skj983h6dkqj9532c&n=saqt72hjt83dck865]133|200[/hv] I took this hand from the Inaugural Two Worlds Trophy in 1994 as reported by E. Kokish for the now defunct IPBM and gave it to some students. A pair got to six spades on this bidding: 1♠-3♥* 3♠-4♦ ??? 6♠ East doubled. I don't quite remember the sequence, I don't think the opponents did any other bidding than doubling the final contract. I believe a heart was led to the King and Ace and the question is, how do you plan the play? Will you try to ruff out the ♦A from East or ruff-finesse it from West? By the way, only Zia and Cohen got to 6♠ besides my students ;)

[hv=pc=n&s=sakj5haj93d3cj984&n=s932h72dakqt98ca3&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1dp1hp2dp3nppp]266|200[/hv] You receive a small club lead. You play low from the table and East wins the Queen and promptly returns the ♣K. What would you play now? Let's say you continued with a heart to the 9 and 10 and West returned a diamond. On the third diamond West discards a club, how would you plan to make at this point?

You can edit your vote in a Poll now, can't you?

Playing 2/1, a team match of 16 boards: [hv=pc=n&s=s92hq5daj74cakj93&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=pp]133|200[/hv]

I don't understand the diagram, but I'd lead the King of clubs and continue with the Queen and Jack and so on. Usually, leading high cards shows entries in the high-ranked suits, and this might be such a case, for with the diamond ace I'd continue with the Club Ten.