PetteriLem

I would double with any diamond holding, but I admit there is risk involved, but I am willing to take it. RHO passed and LHO pre-empted, he could have a really bad hand. If partner passes, I am very pleased as I have an unexpectedly defensive hand. I cant see 3♠ making ever. We are unlikely to miss our best contract, if partner bids. If he is weak, he should bid our best fit I think. With average values we may end up in 4♥, which can go down. If he has a good hand, he is in a great position to make the correct decision. I think partner should assume that I wont have too wild hand, because I should probably bid it instead of double.

I would bid 3♠. I have a great spade suit and enough values for it. I did not pay attention to methods used, but what ever partner dreams I have, he wont be disappointed. 3 small hearts is rubbish compared to what you have, just forget them for now at least. If partner insists hearts, then you can ask for aces and find out how good they are and be even happy you have support.

Balancing over 2♥ seems reasonable, because east could have hearts and a good number of high cards or any decent hand, which didnt quite stretch to bid. What comes to 2nd balance, I am against it. I am assuming that a wish to punish the opponents is the main reason for the double. It could work. On the other hand we could be in deep trouble, if partner decides to bid. The opponents are going to hammer it, when it is right. Partner has passed 3 times, I draw the conclusion that he doesnt have much to tell.

I have symphaty for your view, but I think 3♠ is the key of the deal. It has to show extras. North has heard 2/1 GF, slammish raise and he is looking at a good hand. He must realize that 4♥ was no more than a forced cue bid, which he has to do unless he is totally broke. South could have a huge hand here and north should not prevent slam exploration lightly. North has to make another bid and risk the 5th level.

Very risky psychs indeed. I kind of like the way you do it, when it works the opponents either want to cry or laugh. I think it is interesting which length of suit is best for psyching. Less you have more partner is going to raise, but on the other hand opponents are going to miss better fit. As long as you can stay below 3rd level the success rate is going to be higher, because they cant double so easily. What comes to 2nt with 5-8bal, I think less is better, because opponents are going to have game more likely and you are going down a lot anyway. Opening 1nt with the same hand could be a mistake.

I am almost completely unaware of the law. Let's assume that the opener was forced to pass until the end of auction. Your system is strong pass. Would u alert the pass, is the system on and can u deviate from it?

I admit I was quite heated when I replied. What I wanted to say was that I agree with MrAce. What comes to the actual hand. Responder has to show clubs, opener should raise them, because the clubs are great and he has the worst hearts ever. And yes there is no turning back after 4♣, but you can be assured that 5♣ is often a good contract. What to do after 4♣: in the unlikely case where slam interest was shown, responder should bid 5♣. He has shown 6-4/5-5 (or better) with not so good hearts and a likely shortness, but needs a lot from the opener. I am abit swayed should responder still be more optimistic. Now to the likely case where only game interest was revealed. I would bid 4♦ as control. Direct 4♥ should show good hearts, no diamond control, something useful in spade(s) and is absolutely forcing as clubs are the trump suit. I assume that the pair is going to land on 5♣ when either of them bids it.

I completely agree with MrAce. Why on earth would someone offer 2 suits to play, while knowing that partner will think twice before showing support for the minor suit, which may push auction overboard. 6♥ cries out load as trump suit, if you think minor suit game is a genuine possibility, then dont start "I was only kidding sequence".

The heart slam depends on trumps. If they are good, then we have 6-7♥. I would rule out splinter and rkcb. Splinter will not give you any information u need or partner needs and worse, one day the opponents believe that you really dont have spades and lead clubs, which u really dont want to happen. Rkcb may strike gold, but often u just have to guess, which u should avoid. If u have agreed that 5♥ asks trump quality that should be used. I think it is not ideal here, but u find correct place more often than never.With 3 honours or equivalent partner should explore 7, with 2 bid 6 and with less it depends on agreements.

I tried 4♥, which was doubled. GIB had ♠ K75 ♥ AKJ3 ♦ K965 ♣ 96 Only 1 down by miracle. I can understand that balacing over 2♠ may be correct, I wouldnt take the risk. To double 3♠ for take-out is outright mad, of course explanations were totally situational as usual.

1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♠ pass pass 3♥ pass pass 3♠ dbl pass I dont know what to think about, nevertheless it is time to construct a hand and find the right bid with ♠ T3 ♥ T92 ♦ A743 ♣ 7532

A tricky play problem, which was too hard for GIB. Contract 1NT: GIB 9♠, A♣K♣5♣ Dummy J♣7♣3♣, 8♦ West 8♥5♥, 9♣8♣ East Q♣T♣6♣4♣ GIB plays a club from dummy. PS trumps are K, JT543, A976 and Q82. GIB plays J and A, 2 and K fall. Guess is GIB able to catch the rest of the tricks in trumps? No!

I cant emphasize that it is one the most terrible moments I have had with GIB. Watch it playing a small slam, finesse a critical suit and succeed. Then later not to finesse again and fail miserably. Has anyone of you ever changed your mind like that? I admit, I cant think of situation where I would tell my team mates my brilliant play, which would mimic GIB's antics.

I dont want to repeat myself, but I remind you of an occaison, when GIB succesfully finessed a suit. The contract would have been set, if the finesse failed. Later GIB refused to finesse again to make the contract, but tried another line. I suspect that GIB blindly makes simulations without memory and good heuristics. It would interesting to know situations, when GIB actually places a certain card and later plays accordingly against the odds.

I guess it became obvious, but GIB thinks that 3♣ shows a huge hand. It will always go for a slam with 4-6 pointer (queens and jacks doesnt matter) without any feature or good fit. Why it does so is hard to imagine. More experience allowes you avoid some traps that GIB sets for you. As a side issue try to avoid this sequenze. I have tried it twice, just to make sure. 1♠ - 4NT; 5NT (showes void) - ?. Any cue bid will be passed, despite bid info claims it to be forcing and showes ace in the suit.

I suspect that people noticed the hidden text, but if you didnt... It was GIB playing and cold bloodedly passed 1st time. Very hard to imagine that it could be profitable in any simulation. If GIB was not going to defend 1♦ doubled, then how can it be right to pass? 3♥ promised unlimited hand with opening values, but I didnt quite believe it.

EW vul NS non vul W N E S 1♣ 1♦ p 3♦ p p 3♥ What do you think east has?

Let N be the sum of 4444 to power 4444 digits and M the sum of N's digits. What is the sum of M's digits?

6 clubs/ 2S - 4C - pass - 6C; all pass. A 92 AJ32 AKT432 J432 AQJT43 - J65 The lead was K of diamonds, GIB ruffs and plays a club to the ace. GIB ruffs again and plays a spade to the ace. Removes trumps and has to give a trick to the east. A heart comes back and T wins! GIB ruffs a spade. A heart to the ace and the contract goes down. Let's assume that GIB takes a finesse early, which sets the contract if it fails, but it makes this time. Later GIB discovers a line that makes the contract more often than 50%, but requires the same finesse to fail. How does GIB handle situations like this? What if the early finesse did not yet set the contract, but a hold up was a possibility?

If you lead a low club and your partner has clubs well covered, then you have struck a gold mine. It will be very difficult for declarer to develop tricks anywhere. On the other hand if declarer begins by cashing several clubs, what are you going to discard in so early position? I would lead a low heart, but experts know better :)

I am amazed to see that all the off-shape no-trumppers are not responding. There is a case for 15-17NT. If you think this is too strong go for it, then try 18-19NT. I would expect 1♦ - 1♠; 3♣ to show a serious minor 2-suiter, not showing uncertainty about possible games 3NT, 4♠, 5♣ or 5♦. I favor recommended 2♣ route.

1st hand 1♦ 17+ - 1NT 5+♥ not 5332, 8+ 3♥ 18-19bal 3-4support - 4NT rkcb 5♠ - 5NT 7♥ 2nd hand the same except opener could deny invite to 7.

I will add a twist. Let's assume that Witty Novice replies that he was thinking his action over a possible balance by Little Dynamite. Maybe Little Dynamite should pay more attention to her cards than the opponent's skill level. I give an example from chess. When you look at your games that you played when you were a novice, they are just random. It is simply impossible to comprehend what you had thought when you played a certain move. There seems to be no plan that lasts long enough to come true. The moves are not connected to each other. Yes, novices can see things clearly, but they do not necessarily see the whole picture. Taking clues from an opponent's body language or a tempo break and then claiming something improper... thin ice comes to my mind. If Dynamite thinks the opponents are experienced, they would not be thinking whether to invite or not. If the opponents are truly novices, then I cant see ice here. Who knows what they are thinking! By miracle they found a good spot and now Little Dynamite hits them on the head with the law book.

U.S.A gun fetisism is a peculiar phenomenon. I live in the belief that the most western countries have gun control that prohibits a man to own a gun without a valid reason. I cant say how the people sleep at night, when they have a constant fear that a knife man can break in their house and not to have a gun under the pillow. A telling example where I come from. If someone steals my dvd-player, I can try to stop the thief freshly, but basicly without force. That means I cant hit or shoot the poor thief. I agree, why would I even think of killing him for a dvd-player. Let's say that a knife man comes to my house with unknown but suspicious intends. Shoot the bastard. No! My first duty is to run away, if it is possible. My leg is hurting. Shoot the bastard! No! I must be in real physical danger. The knife raises over my head. I say between the eyes! No! I must aim to a less fatal point. The knife comes down. Shoot him! Dead. I will spend a day in court explaning my actions.

I am not quite sure about the methods, but a strong 1444 is usually hard to bid. I dont blame S for opening 1♦, reversing 2♥ nor bidding 3NT. I am not sure about norths 3♦. It is reasonable to support diamonds, but 3nt is a choice too. I think 4♦ is a huge overbid. North has a rotten hand without controls. The jump to 6♦ is unnecessary, when partner is unlimited. South probably paniced, when he saw that his partner is control poor, but still bids strongly. My conclusion is that south did a small mistake and north a huge mistake.