Rossoneri

Did you mean to ask this in the BBO directors' forum?

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sq943hj53djt96c87&s=saj62hqt64dakcaq2]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] A bit of deja-vu a day later from problem 1. 2NT opening and partner places 3NT on the table. Lead is ♥9. East takes the first 2 tricks with ♥AK and returns a 3rd ♥. How do you continue?

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=skq75hkt2d9875c73&s=s932haq6dak32cak6]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] After opening 2N and going via puppet stayman you arrive in 3NT. Opening lead is ♠8. How would you play? Hint 1: Hint 2:

Well, back in Singapore, my local club had tables with drawers on each side, the bidding box stays in the drawer and doesn't get knocked over! A lot of other weird debris gets into the debris though....besides, the tables look rather expensive!

Excellent, now I will just have to plan to skip lessons and cross the channel to watch!

2♦, wtp?

Csaba, I suggest you ask this in the Law forums, would be more relevant. Also, I quite agree with Helene about the ethical/legal parts regarding explanations. I would quite rightly slap a pair with a PP if they explained a bid as "clubs or ghestem".

I'm passing.

I am guessing Driving Under Influence.

I never supported the union's decision to strike - I only pointed out that you had decided the union totally to blame and showed examples of how that may not be completely accurate. Rarely, if ever, is a single side totally blameless or totally at fault. For a timing standpoint, you would say the union's leveraged their timing to make the most impact by striking around the holidays. They doesn't make the timing right or wrong or the union right or wrong. Not referring to you winston! In any case, I blame the union for most of it for reasons above, and the fact that the none of the people voting for voted for the dates and time period. In any case, I am highly biased against strikes because I have seen labour disputes back home settled between unions and companies without any strikes. Feel free to disagree with me. The high court's decision will be out this afternoon.

Well, it seems like the Eurostar is going on strike as well this weekend (unrelated to this) and baggage handlers in Heathrow and Aberdeen going on strike as well (under the same union as the cabin crew strike.) So, I am supposed to be psychic and predict 2 months in advance that they were going to serve ballot papers? In any case, a lot of people affected by the strike have spent quite a bit of time saving up for their holidays. As my own flight is short-haul, it would still be within my means to book another flight, however 100 pounds is not a small sum to a student! For those who support the union's decision to strike, consider the following 2 points: 1) If the strike goes through, BA will collapse or at the very least, suffer a big hit to its reputation. This can't be of any good to any of the staff in the long run. 2) If you think the union is acting in the best interest of the workers, well, bear in mind that the union behind this strike has lots of internal politics and one of the main "organisers" of this strike is running to be the general-secretary next year. Note that the current secretary-general has called the strike "probably over the top". BBC article I am currently too tired/busy with looking up possible alternatives, packing, deciding to buy an alternative ticket first or not but all the above information has been taken from news websites, you can easily read them by googling.

BBC link Personally, facing the possibility of having my flight back to London from Vienna on Christmas Eve cancelled is not very funny.

Bridge with Imagination by David Bird and Geir Helgemo. Found this book in the 5 pound section in London's Chess and Bridge shop. A very interesting read for the creative ways to play a hand. Most of the hands are from Helgemo, but there is quite a collection of hands featuring other well-known players as well. The deals are divided into different chapters dealing with different topics, so this makes for easy reading and linking the various discussions in the book. I wouldn't say this book is a textbook, it definitely is not, but it will help to broaden your mind to the possibilities of playing a hand. Recommended only for Advanced and above. Intermediate players might find some help but I would think that some of the plays and discussion would be of little use to Intermediate players as they are too advanced/obscure to be of the most benefit. I rate this an A. Bird's writing style is always enjoyable to read!

This thread is top class.

This is available online for free legally I believe. Dan Neill's website has a soft copy of it for download. I agree that this book should be strongly recommended for advancing players.

This news about Google buying Etherpad sounds good. The last person I know of who did his notes using Google Docs is Ant, and I found that it was pretty nifty. Outside of bridge, one of my friends used Google Docs for us to collaborate the discussions for our holiday plans as well.

Thanks! Too bad Csaba! Maybe Perez can buy away Pato and that will be the end of Milan :)

What I currently think, based on gut feel. I might revise this when I look at the data and statistics. Group A: Mexico (15) Uruguay (19) Group B: Argentina (8) South Korea (52) Group C: England (9) United States! (14) Group D: Germany (6) Australia (21) Group E: Netherlands (3) Denmark (26) Group F: Italy (4) Paraguay (30) Group G: Brazil (2) Ivory Coast (16) Portugal (5) Group H: Spain (1) Switzerland (18)

I have a convention card which partner used the word "Deception" under Carding Methods. I rarely see this on anybody else's convention card!

It is with great sadness that I read about the passing of Charles Leong, former Singapore junior international and occasional vugraph commentator (his bbo handle was charles_l) in the December edition of the SCBA newsletter (SCBA website, go to newsletters, December 09) I don't really know Charles very well, our interactions were limited to the few times I saw him at the clubhouse or to the times when I was on BBO kibitzing him or watching his commentary on vugraph. He was a friendly, approachable guy and I do remember learning a few pointers from him at the club. His sudden passing is indeed a loss to the bridge community both in Singapore and online. (Edit: Thanks to the mod who moved it to the correct forum! I was a bit mixed up the first time round!)

This came at a good time - I was fretting over how to score a minibridge tournament, I might try this out!

Interesting, why would you not bid last train?

I've disappointed teammates in the past 2 league matches that I've played, so it would be fair to say I'm worse than people expect!

1. A 2. C 3. A 4. C

End of the year congress at Blackpool, I believe.