Rossoneri

RKCB for me.

Agreed. Pretty funny story, but thoroughly let down by the wrong ruling given by the director!

For purely practical reasons, I don't want England to win. But then again, I can't imagine the mayhem around me when they lose... ...although I was on the bus a few months ago and overheard an Englishman telling his friend that he thinks this current batch of footballers are ***** and he's on the lookout for an Algerian flag so he can hang it outside his house when England lose to Algeria.

So want to see a conversation between pirate22 and Mike777 That's unfair, Mike777 is MUCH easier to comprehend than pirate22. I want to see a conversation between pirate and shubi. I second this.

Topalov resigns.

What a match lol, now it's looking the other way!

Looks like I spoke too soon, the position has been blown open after 29...e5

Looks like a draw...

I would probably lose a lot less imps on declaring/defending that's for sure. Bidding-wise, I don't think it would make much of a difference.

2♥, for the reasons Nigel gave above. No comments about the psyche, I am no flair player.

An interesting thought occured to me. Consider the following hypothetical situation at trick 13: What if declarer thought that the card in his hand was a loser (when it actually is a winner) and the the card in dummy a winner (when it actually isn't), and try to lead out of turn from dummy?

Quite right!

Probably some truth in that. I had at least 2 boards over the weekend where I've paused to think for a while, and ended up forgetting to draw trumps, thus going off in 2 cold contracts.

Just last week, my partner decided to make some additions to the system we are playing, mainly in competitive auctions. During the course of the weekend at Spring Fours, we found a few more problems and decided to patch this. Otherwise, we have not changed the system since November, but then again, we only play together approximately 1-2 times a month. In my other current fixed partnership, I have not really changed the system since we first started playing in October. I will readily admit that I would like to change certain parts of the system but laziness and school has gotten the better of me.

My vote for 4♦ too without any specific agreements. When's the commercial break ending?

I think it's close, at fav vul I bid 2♠

2♠, wtp?

Agree with the pass, and I wouldn't open 2♥ on that in 2nd seat!

I might be wrong, but I think you have to play for spades to have no losers? If the spade King is off you're probably off now anyway...

Well, I gave a short account on the situation AFAIK currently back in Singapore. Although admittedly, there are a lot less logistical problems doing this in such a small country.

In the past 5 years, there has been a significant increase of students playing bridge in Singapore, to the extent where some local club nights have student players accounting for more than two-thirds or even three-quarters of the players. This is mainly due to an increase in introducing bridge to junior colleges (equivalent to Sixth Form in the UK, Grade 11-12 in the US(?)), mostly as a direct consquence of our local NBO introducing coaching into schools. This is starting to have a knock-on effect onto universities as many of these students continue playing bridge even after their 2 years in school. There is a significant drop-out rate of course (more on that), but there is still a sizeable population even after this. I agree that the main thing going against bridge is the complexity of the rules and play, which is why I think coaching helps a lot as having someone to explain makes it more approachable. Once the players have reached a point where they are competent enough and are already hooked onto the game, most of the hard work is over IMO.

Prepared Club What you will be at the receiving end of after making partner play 1♣ in a 2-1 fit.

Not going to attract students with this I believe :lol: Still like Young Chelsea's policy of letting full time students have free games.

What would 4N be here?

Well you either love it or hate it, wouldn't that explain it? Although I'm probably one of the rare few who are rather neutral about it...