bluecalm

USA... you guys allow to play 2♣ as any one suiter but 2♦ as one major is not allowed. Crazy :) Multi Landy is standard defense to 1NT in so many areas in the world that I guess it's beneficial for Americans to be more exposed to it.

I really don't think there is any point in this kind of analysis. The law is like pulling out the crystal ball or tarot cards. I now it's comforting to have something to rely on but it just doesn't work.

I am the same but this hand calls for 2♠. I also think 1♠ should be NF but I would raise anyway playing that way.

Nice hands! I am convinced now that I made a mistake by wanting to bid 6♦.

This is one book from Martens which I didn't like that much. There is not much new in it at least for someone familiar with polish style of bidding (2NT waiting you mentioned for example is 25+years old convention which is basically standard in Poland). There are still some interesting things but I was a bit dissapointed especially after other great books from the author.

I have just noticed that we are not 5-8 in first hand but 1-4-0-8. I still overcall but now I understand why other people don't :-)

1. 3♣. No doubts for me. It makes very good slam opposite 4 card support and not much else (or even nothing else) and if partner doubles them he won't be disappointed either. I don' see myself passing if the jump in diamonds anyway so I should bid now. 2. 6♦ again seems to be clear. I guess partner have stiff K if the bidding is natural. It can be useful to ruff a club in my hand to establish the suit. 3.Too much depends on agreements. If 4D was choice of games then he could be 4-5-1-3 and I need to bid 5♣ if it was all natural he can have very powerful hand with 4spades (like AQxx AKJxxx x xx). Anywya, I pass, if no agreements then any action is too risky imo and 4♠ is often reasonable spot.

From what I understand opponent's suit is game forcing balanced hand without stopper in their methods. 1NT is natural GF with stopper. I like this structure a lot. It's simple and allows you to establish forcing pass quickly which is very important in case they jump.

All natural GF, dbl = 6-7pc. If it's good for Meckwell it's good for mere mortals :-) I believe they dbl with 4 hearts and 8+pc and no stopper but I am not 100% sure (they do that vs 2 level overcalls).

Few points: a)As you count the deals when declaring side has any distribution, then of course hcp threshold will be lower. It's nothing new that if we have 6+card suit then 23hcp is enough for 3nt b)Double dummy stats are useless imo when thinking about how often 3nt make. The reason is that opening lead gives away a lot (and subsequent play is about even between declarer and defenders usually, at least in real play at high level) c)I did some stats from real play (from vugraph) counting only hands without 6 card suit and then without 5 card suit. 3nt made more often than not on 24hcp, but of course things like T's and 9's weren't included. If I have time for that later I will count those too.

[hv=pc=n&s=s876hj8dqj86cqjt8&n=skthak7542da4ca93&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1ddp1np3hp3nppp]266|200[/hv] 1trick: Q♠, K♠, 4♠, 6♠. Your move.

I still like normal stayman more but this version seems better than stuff when you give away opener shape on every hand.

Btw as to puppet discussion. I have just found out (by reading their cc) that MR play the version of puppet which hides opener shape: 2NT - 3♣ 3♦ any without 5M and following: 3♥ = 4spades or none 3♠ = 4 hearts 3NT = 4-4 in majors 2NT - 3♦ 3♥ - 3♠ = any 5-4/5-5/4-5 in majors This version could be even better for camouflage purposes than normal stayman as defenders often don't know anything about declarer 4card majors (if resp have at least on 4M) if it ends up in 3NT. I must say I like this idea a lot.

I can see how pass can win at MP's. Stil 2♠. At imps it would be 100% 2♠ here I wouldn't mind if my pd passes to be honest but I wouldnt.

I wonder what should dbl show btw. For sure some spades and some ♥ tolerance but dunno about details.

I like 2♠. It will often make.

One more thing: Allow people to buy separate topics. I am not willing to buy bunch of articles on topics which aren't aimed for me nor are about topics which interest me but still I could buy a few of chosen ones. It will be also good for you as you will have better picture of what kind of stuff is interesting for people as some topics will be bought more often than others.

I would like to see how the action looks live. I mainly mean the tempo of carding, first lead etc. Some segments of Bermuda Bowl or major American tournaments recored live would be great. Is there anything like that available on the net/private archives somewhere ?

I edited the question. For sure it's not encouraging. You play UDCA. So it's either count from 3 or discourage. From 743 he would always play a 7. I think this hand is more about analysis/playing for bigger chance than signals though. I believe opponents methods are such that they open 1♦ with 4-4 minors, but someone knowing French bidding standards could clarify.

You play vs France. Your partner is Eric Rodwell. [hv=pc=n&n=sq8hakq82d9652cj6&e=sk642h9dkt89ckqt75&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1c1h1s2hppdp2np3nppp]266|200[/hv] First trick: Q♥, 9♥, 7♥, 6♥ What do you play ? What should partner's signal mean ?(I think it's just count for Meckwell but I can be wrong). You play UDCA. So partner's signal is either reverse count or reverse attitude depending on agreements (it's for sure not suit preference) Any clues here ?

Btw, I find it sad that Eric Rodwell writes articles about support doubles at very basic level. I could do that just as well and probably many forum posters could too. As one of the best in the history of the game ER has certainly a lot to say about playing at the highest level, designing high level systems/treatments/conventions or even telling stories about what high level bridge is and what is important there. That would be unique and worth a lot of dollars to many bridge fans (like me, for example).

I don't see the need for all those different raises, especially in precision. Bid 2NT with 4 card support and 1NT with 3 card. Assign different meaning to free bids at 3 level, for example natural invitational hands with good suit. Game forcing hands could bid a game straight away and slam invite hands can bid 2♣.

My complaint about them is that I have no clue what kind of articles are in there. Support double one is really basic and I am not interested in that kind of stuff. On the other hand Gazilli by Lauria could be interesting for me but there is no way to evaluate if it's advanced/detailed stuff or again something aimed more to beginners/intermediate players.

Even: 1♣ - 5♦ - pass would be not forcing then ?

1. 1♣ 4♥ pass ? is it forcing ? 2. 1♣ 2♥ pass 5♥ pass = is it forcing ? Let's say you play pass/double inversion so doubles would be t/o in both cases regardless if pass is forcing or not but is it forcing ? Any general rules for those situations ? I saw in old Meckwell cc that pass is forcing after 4♣ and higher overcall but it seems risky to me.