shevek

It seems likely that England received the World Cup because Kumar Dharmasena Marais Erasmus Rod Tucker & Ranjan Madugalle were unaware of Law 19.8 Discuss

As a teacher and club manager, I like to use BBO's handviewer in classes, and for talks before a session. I have access to an internet-connected Windows desktop, linked to a large TV or projector. I use a bunch of programs: Firstly, DMPro. Hands and auctions can be keyed in, then exported as PBN. Or I can import and edit deal files from a teaching text. That all works fine. If I am keen - or for a declarer play problem - I can key cardplay as well, to be able to click through [Next] during the class. Can't do that in DMPro so I use another program called JILL from asecomputing.com, which also saves as PBN. (One thing I find need to do with both programs is convert "AP" to "PASS PASS PASS" via Notepad and check no more than four calls per line) Here is a sample .pbn, created by point and click: [Event ""] [site ""] [Date "17-Apr-17"] [board "1"] [West "West"] [North "North"] [East "East"] [south "South"] [Dealer "N"] [Vulnerable "None"] [Deal "N:KT5.K32.K542.Q65 QJ6.T985.873.AT3 A92.A76.A9.KJ874 8743.QJ4.QJT6.92 "] [scoring ""] [Declarer "S"] [Contract "3NT"] [Result ""] [DealId "1"] [sCfont "1"] [sCwidth "400"] [Auction "N"] PASS PASS 1NT PASS 3NT PASS PASS PASS [Play "W"] DQ D2 D3 DA C2 CQ CA C4 DT DK D8 D9 C9 C6 C3 CK S3 C5 CT CJ S4 D4 H5 C7 S7 D5 H8 C8 H4 H2 H9 HA HJ HK HT H6 S8 S5 SJ SA D6 SK S6 S2 HQ H3 D7 H7 DJ ST SQ S9 For a declarer play problem, insert [Hidden "EW"] near the top To create a .lin file, I open that .pbn with netbridgevu.exe, which came with the old Windows BBO client. There are other programs that can do this but netbridgevu is fine. (Also, I need to use it to display hands when there is no internet, such as on a cruise) Doing that creates a lin file, which I open in notepad, then Ctl-A & Ctl-C to paste into Firefox. Go to www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html. Then add ?lin= and save that bookmark. Then paste the contents of that .lin fil, after = So the address bar will fill with www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?lin=mn| - 17-Apr-17|pn|South,West,North,East|qx|o1,BOARD 1|rh||ah|Board 1|md|3SA92HA76DA9CKJ874,S8743HQJ4DQJT6C92,SKT5HK32DK542CQ65|sv|0| sa|0|mb|p|mb|p|mb|1N|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|pg|| pc|DQ|pc|D2|pc|D3|pc|DA|pg|| pc|C4|pc|C2|pc|CQ|pc|CA|pg|| pc|D8|pc|D9|pc|DT|pc|DK|pg|| pc|C6|pc|C3|pc|CK|pc|C9|pg|| pc|CJ|pc|S3|pc|C5|pc|CT|pg|| pc|C7|pc|S4|pc|D4|pc|H5|pg|| pc|C8|pc|S7|pc|D5|pc|H8|pg|| pc|HA|pc|H4|pc|H2|pc|H9|pg|| pc|H6|pc|HJ|pc|HK|pc|HT|pg|| pc|S5|pc|SJ|pc|SA|pc|S8|pg|| pc|S2|pc|D6|pc|SK|pc|S6|pg|| pc|H3|pc|D7|pc|H7|pc|HQ|pg|| pc|DJ|pc|ST|pc|SQ|pc|S9|pg|| Try it. Grab the previous 16 lines and paste to the address bar in your browser. mb = make bid, pc = play card. Then [Windows][P] to bring up the projector options and choose "duplicate" F11 for full screen and away you go. Can save that as a new bookmark, such as Beginner Hand 5.1. Also, you can have groups of four or eight hands. The hand and bidding will appear. Can click [Next] to click through play or [Play] to choose cards. One thing I would like to be able to do is use [Next] to click through the BIDDING as well. Is that possible?? This is the beginner hand: [hv=pc=n&s=sa92ha76da9ckj874&w=s8743hqj4dqjt6c92&n=skt5hk32dk542cq65&e=sqj6ht985d873cat3&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1np3nppp]399|300[/hv]

This is similar to what we do when our 16+ 1♣ is overcalled by 1M. Here are some differences 1♣ -(1♠) - ? 2♥ = balanced-ish GF, no spade stopper 2N = natural GF 3♣+ = various naturalish GF Better not to overload double. 2♥ = ♠xx ♥xxx ♦AQxx ♣Kxxx so think "balanced GF with no stopper". Don't like to double with this. 2NT NON-forcing is awkward. Don't want to catch opener with a shapely hand.

That 6♦ was tough. Club lead at the other table. On a heart lead, maybe ♠A, ♣J. That's an interesting trump suit. In isolation, best line is a first round hook, catering for stiff ♦Q with West. As to the "slam" that followed, surely it's "Don't ask, don't tell."

I guess the advantage of bidding 2♥ as takeout of spades is that partner can pass; while the disadvantage is that partner can pass. Well done in Canberra

Actually, that is an argument in favour of X = tko of hearts. Partner will double with a big 4-0-4-5 or similar and bid 2♥ with a huge 0-4-4-5. Won't be pleased if you pass but at least you will have a fit of sorts.

Assume 2♦ = weak 2 in a major, with or without strong options. Our style is simple enough X = takeout of spades 2♥ = takeout of hearts Has worked okay. Not so much interested in hearing about more complex methods. What about swapping the meanings? So X = takeout of hearts 2♥ = takeout of spades Is that demonstrably worse? I can see one small advantage of switching If (2♦) - 2♥ is short in spades, partner can maybe pass on a terrible hand with a few hearts.

Trumps are more likely to be 3-2 than 2-2. If you come down to ♣K-10 in dummy, ♦Qxxx is a big problem. There is a case for one trump (or none) then diamonds, though that stakes a lot on the diamond suit coming in. If diamonds don't come in, ruffing heart finesse is 12 only. Still need three spade tricks. (If you have drawn all trumps)

[hv=pc=n&s=sa43hkdajt54caq75&n=skjthajt9dk7ckt63]133|200[/hv] 7♣/S They didn't bid. ♥6-9-3-K. Make of those pips what you will. Many choices. Maybe not the time or computing power to work through them.

I did and it worked that time. Partner has the right cards: ♠Kxx ♥Kxx ♦Axx ♣xxxx If I move my small diamond somewhere else, game is no good. KQTxx is a pretty good suit.

We open nearly all hands with 12 HCP, unless there are problems like stiff honours. The 11-point hands are unclear. First there is the idea of length points - "add a point for a 5-card suit" Firstly, is the quality of the suit important? Do you add a point for ♥65432? I get how this works for notrumps ♠Ax ♥QJx ♦KQTxx ♣QT4 can open a strong 1NT because 14+1 = 15. Does it also apply in deciding whether to open at all? For instance ♠Kxx ♥Kxxxx ♦KQx ♣xx Is this a 1♥ opening, because 11+1 = 12? Maybe yes, but then what about the Rule of 20? That hand has 11+8 = 19 Opening Points so should pass. If we move a heart to diamonds, then it is a pass, however you count points. So a question is ... Which takes precedence? Length points or the Rule of 20

Your probably don't want relay. If you do, this is what we might do: Assume all 4333, 4432, 5m332 bid 2D if 8-11. Based on symmetric, showing suits & shortages top down. 1C : 2D (8-11 balanced, no 5cM) 2H = GFR 2S = no major 2N = S + m 3C = H + m 3D = 4-4-2-3 3H = 4-4-3-2 3S = 4-3-3-3 3N = 3-4-3-3 2D : 2H ? 2N : 3C ? 3D = S + D (4-2-4-3 / 4-3-4-2) 3H = 4-2-3-4 3S = 4-3-2-4 2D : 2H ? 3C : 3D ? 3H = H + D (2-4-4-3 / 3-4-4-2 over the top but ok) 3S = 2-4-3-4 3N = 3-4-2-4 2D : 2H ? 2S : 2N ? 3C = 5 Ds 3D = 5 Cs 3H = 2-3-4-4 3S = 3-2-4-4 3N = 3-3-4-3 or 3-3-3-4 (don't split) 2D : 2H ? 2S : 2N ? 3C : 3D ? 3H = 2-3-5-3 3S = 3-2-5-3 3N = 3-3-5-2 2D : 2H ? 2S : 2N ? 3D : 3H ? 3S = 2-3-3-5 3N = 3-2-3-5 4C = 3-3-2-5 (ok with 3-3 majors) We would play 1C : 2D 2S = natural 2N = non forcing ! 3x = shortage

[hv=pc=n&s=sk962h43djt74c754&w=sj854haj5daqcaj92&n=saqt3hq72dk85ckq8&e=s7hkt986d9632ct63&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=2h(weak%2C%206-10)p4hdp4sdppp]399|300[/hv] IMPs (Swiss Pairs, major event) East is a good player. (Well, I think I am) North-South average. 4♠x went -500. The East-West system card says "Weak, 6-9 pts. Could be a 5-carder 1st & 3rd seats non-vul" Some questions ... What should happen at the end of the hand? If North-South say nothing and shrug, should East call the director? If North-South find a director at the end of the match - when they see a hand record - what might happen? If North-South call the director at the time "He opened 2♥ with 3 points!" what will happen? Should director quiz E-W about proclivities 1st in hand at favourable? Is 2♥ a psyche? (This is Australia if that makes a difference) If it is a psyche, how much better would the East hand have to be - at the conditions - to avoid the psyche tag?

[hv=pc=n&w=skq973ha96dq96ck7&e=sa852h87daj74cqj6&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=pp1sp4sppp]266|200|See below![/hv] Strange pass by East as dealer but normal contract and result. Thing is .... WEST had opened 1♠ out of turn, not accepted. Auction reverts to East, who thought along these lines, when given the options for the partnership: "If I open 1♦, partner will have to find a comparable response to a 1♠ opening. Can't be 1♠. Nor 2♠, since we play weak jump shifts. I think he will bid 3NT, which won't be best. How about I pass and raise his 1♠ opening to game!" Good thinking? Or .....

I run a few of these events. In fact I am doing one now as I post this. This particularly one is easy enough, since I know everyone will turn up for every session. I have 15 tables, running Sat arvo, night, Sunday morning. (It's a country congress with people driving for a few hours to get here) I had 2 choices. 1. Round robin of 3 x 9 boards. Each pair plays 27 out of 29 opponents. Need a twin set. T 1-9 play a Mitchell, can arrow-switch R9 but I don't bother. T10-15 play a ¾ Howell, 3 stationary. (If you have one set of boards, T1 can share with T10, etc) The 3 stationary pairs stay there for the whole event, while the other 27 rotate through NS 1-9, EW, Howell. (In fact I have keyed movements like these as one section, "user" moves) This is what I chose. More social, 3-board rounds throughout. Going well ... Best numbers for this approach are 10, 14 & 20 tables, pure all-play-all. Each extra table means 2 pairs missed. With 13 tables, 7T (7x4) + 6T ¾H means 21 of 25 opponents played, 84%. Even worse if 12½ tables, plus 4-board sit-out. Likewise, 18-19 tables makes for a poor round robin. 2. A better approach - if numbers are uncertain - is to do 2 session qualifying, again aiming for all play all movements. Take 13 tables, They can play a 13T mitchell, then a 13T interwoven Howell - all move, one repeat. Top 10 pairs go to a 5T Howell final, rest to a "Plate". Carry-forward as you wish, I do a third. With 15 Tables I would play a web (Bowman-Ewing), then a twin Howell. 2-boards throughout. Always keen to have all boards played by all pairs. The problem comes with uncertain numbers for week two. Then you would need to adjust the movement but no big deal.

3NT. A useful GF opposite is Kx, xx, KTxxx, AKxx 6D not so good on a heart lead. If trumps break, still need spades 3-3, or CQ coming down or a black squeeze. You have a normal 17+, no more. On the other hand, partner might have extras but be put off by the apparent lack of fit. Kx, Ax, KTxxx, Axxx will pass 3NT when 6D is goodish. Not so good if the black king is CK instead, which is more likely.

Gains like that are clear. Losses are ephemeral. At lower levels, there are usually alternatives to relay, when you fear an awkward response. (Such as 4D when you want to play 4H opposite a minimum) At the 5-level, bids by asker are probably either relay or to play, assuming no suit has been set by other methods. There must be times when (say) 6C is safe but a 5x relay would be dangerous. (If 6C would be relay over a 5NT response) Still not sure

Calling all relayers .... Our simple relay agreement is that 3NT and slams are to play. Stopping relay at 5NT is for safety, allows asker to place the contract more often but you can miss the odd grand. This happened recently: Relayer had AKJ, AJ, Q985, AT93, and knew that describer had either a) Qxxxxx, KQx, Ax, Kx, or b) Qxxxxx, Kxx, Ax, KQ Unfortunately, the bid that showed either of these was 5NT, so asker signed off in 6S. If 6C were available as relay, describer would bid 6D (to deny a 2nd heart honour) leading to 7S. What do people do? What is your experiance?

[hv=pc=n&w=sakt5h98dj7ck7432&e=s43hakt742daktca8]266|100|Dealer East, IMPs[/hv] 12 out of 14 pairs played 4♥ in a recent, decent club game, IMPs. Presumably after 1♥ - 1♠ - 3♥ - 4♥ East was dealer. Can you do better? (Okay, it's a good hand for a strong club system)

[hv=pc=n&s=sa76hj93d976cqt32&w=sk543h8652d8ck854&n=sq2haqtdajt42caj9&e=sjt98hk74dkq53c76&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=pp1c1nppp]399|300[/hv] Board-a-match North had 8 easy tricks on a spade lead and took 7 of them. (He won ♠Q at trick 2 to play ♦A-another. In dummy with ♠A, he ran ♥J with some confidence but this proved an error.) The auction has shades of Spain vs USA. Does anyone have issues with the East-West actions?

[hv=pc=n&s=s75hq3dt96542ckt3&w=skqjt9ha7d7cq9752&n=sa63hj86dakq8caj6&e=s842hkt9542dj3c84&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=1s1np3c(Alerted%2C%20Ds.)d3np(BiT)p4cp4sppp]399|300[/hv] Goodish players, North is one of the country's best players. Assume the Break in Tempo is agreed by all. Part 1 Table result or give NS +600 in 3NT? It would be awkward (time-wise & conflicts) to poll West's peers. Part 2 Say you wind back to 3NT and EW appeal. West has a case at the vul, etc. Then what?

Okay, consider this hypothetical. Let's say North-South have the following agreement, born of bitter experience: "In auctions like this, we don't bid 5-over-5 in direct seat; pass is NOT forcing." It's a good agreement. So North's only systemic action over 5♥ is to make a penalty double. When North makes a BiT pass, South considers his three alternatives. If North has the indicated matchpoint double, double by South does not seem to be a LA. In choosing between pass and 5♠, South considers 16B1 and thinks "The BiT strongly suggests partner was considering a penalty double. This demonstrably suggests that Pass is the way to go plus. Therefore I am required to bid 5♠, which rates to turn +50 into -300." What is wrong with South's reasoning?

[hv=pc=n&s=sjt853h2d8542c875&w=s4haj8753dat7ct63&n=sakq92hkdkq963ckq&e=s76hqt964djcaj942&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1s2s4s5hp(BiT)p5sdppp]399|300[/hv] Decent standard matchpoint club game. West & South are good players. You are called by West after South bids 5♠. South happily acknowledges the break in tempo. You observe the play from a discreet distance. East leads ♦J but West wrongly cashes ♥A, missing the second ruff, thus converting +500 near top into +300 below average. You half expect a call back but West shows no interest, perhaps mulling over his cardplay. Say West does call you back and suggests that North's hesitation made 5♠ more appealing. How would you rule? Would you need to know whether N/S had a proclivity to bid 5 over 5? If they don't, then North is favourite to hold a penalising hand, in which case 5♠ would not appear to be demonstrably suggested, though pass is clearly a logical alternative.

This structure came from Roy Kerr's Kiwi club in the mid 70s. He has 1C - 1H as 12+ any, with reverse relay. 1S+ were 8-11. We used this for a while, then Paul Marston and others ditched the super positive 1H to lower the structure by a step. Convinced this is the way to go, provided relayer uses judgement and has the right tools when shape is out. We do Step = QPs (start at 5), Step+1 = kontrol ask (start at 2) We don't use 4D end signal, but rather use it as a mild slam try in an undisclosed suit, needing "extras" and good trumps. Sometimes it is clear that simple DCB will not help much, or take us over the top.

Got asked the chance of a player being dealt one of each pip (A,K .....2) I thought .... Not so rare if I got it right, about 1 in 9,462 Shuffle the cards and deal out 13 to a player. First can be anything, so 52/52 Second can be 48/51. 51 cards left, can’t be one of the 3 other (aces, say) 52/52 x 48/51 x 44/50 ……. 4/40. (Come the last card, there are 40 left, need to be dealt one of the four (2s, say) = 0.000010568. 1/x = 9462. Nick