Old York

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sqj74ha5d987cj972&w=s9862hjt9dt5c6543&e=st5h8762dkj43cqt8&s=sak3hkq43daq62cak]399|300|Scoring: IMP South reaches 6NT ♥Jack led Plan the play[/hv] It occurred to me that South's play in the actual hand was ok, but a bit "rustic" as it relied exclusively on East holding ♦Kxx Obviously, the diamond finesse is essential.... or is it? How would you play if this was the layout, or if ♣Queen was unguarded? or ♦K is singleton (or Kx) in West's hand? Hidden:- Tony :)

Does anyone use an artificial 2♦ bid to include hands like this? or a strong 2♠ opening? (8+ playing tricks) Tony

Love the idea, can you patent it? On the theme of scoring, I would like to see larger slam bonuses and a higher score for minor suit contracts If clubs and diamonds scored 25 points per odd trick, the game would be vastly improved Tony

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sqj74ha5d987cj972&s=sak3hkq43daq62cak]133|200|Scoring: IMP South opens 2♣ in 4th seat 2♣-2♦ 3NT-6NT[/hv] Only 2 tables bid and made this slam Even though I had 8hcp, I judged that a negative/temporising response of 2♦ may be better. I had no suit worth showing and bidding 2NT might wrong-side the contract. Partner's 3NT rebid shows 25-28hcp so 6NT is automatic. 6♠ may have been a better contract if South actually held AKxx but would 4♣ be seen as Stayman or Gerber? South was lucky in the play, finding ♦KJx with East http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer...5323-1262194282 Tony p.s. Acol 2♣ opening shows 23+hcp, but makes no difference to this hand This is because Acol 2NT opening is 20-22hcp(21-22 if agreed)

In its simplest form, a positive response is a mild slam try and a negative response is (almost) game forcing. If your highest ambition is game (or partscore) then make a negative response. If you can judge that a slam may be likely, then make a positive response. If your partner's 2♣ bid is fully up to strength, then he will not need much from you to make slam. Older texts advocated a positive response with Ace+King or 8hcp, but modern requirements are often higher. The quality and texture of an 8hcp response is important. Tony

At Imp scoring, you are rewarded for bidding games, especially vulnerable games, but it is not realy important which game you may choose to bid, except that you should normally choose the game contract which is most likely to make. This might mean bidding 5-minor contracts more often, and 3NT contracts whenever you have sufficient points. The main point is that at Imps you look for safety first. "Bid boldly, Play safe" (Rixi Marcus) so bid most borderline games. At Matchpoints, you must try to outscore your opponents who are bidding the same cards. The gain of 10 points can be huge if 3NT and 4♠/♥ are both making 10 tricks, but the major suit contract is preferred if you can score extra ruffing tricks, so shortages in dummy are essential. Bidding borderline games is not as important unless you think most others will be bidding it. Tony

That would have been a reasonable assumption, so I checked BBO "my hands" and discovered that N/S often play together, and I seriously doubt that south is a beginner because this player had on profile: Stay, tex, wilkosz, prec, 2hs weak,1nt 15-17,asy 5 z kr 102, odwrotka, jassem, PRO,NO SAYC! If north decided that the grand was a good idea (LTC 4+7=11, 24-11=13) then bid 5NT-Josephine? This is one of the bridge world's most famous bids, and an obvious grand slam try. 1♦-(2♠)-5NT*-(p)-7♦ Failing that, just bid the enemy suit or double, and await developments I did not post this as a bidding poll, just wanted to hear any reasonable suggestion for north's first bid Tony

North bids an immediate 7♦ 1♦-(2♠)-7♦ Opponents call TD Snookered. Ouch!! Tony :( South's hand: ♠AJT4 ♥J762 ♦AK52 ♣Q

One of the critical issues on this hand is the expected Diamond length promised by the opening. Playing Polish Club, 1♦ promises 4+ Diamonds. A void splinter - if available - seems like a standout bid. Playing many forms of Precision, 1♦ might be bid on a doubleton or even a stiff. In this case, starting with a negative double seems best as to maximize room to explore strain... Exactly what I thought So, North is Adv with WJ2000 on profile, South is "Novice" with prec on profile Any thoughts? Tony p.s. Would it help to know who was kibbing? ..... for example, a regular partner of south? In fact, this kibber has never played with anyone other than South

Would your view of the hand be different if playing WJ2000 or Precision?

[hv=d=s&v=b&s=shakq8dqj973cat97]133|100|Scoring: IMP You are North South opens 1♦, West overcalls 2♠ continue...[/hv] What is the best continuation after 1♦-(2♠) ? Tony

I prefer your double to a 1NT overcall, partner has passed and your hand is sub-minimum Presumably, had you been dealer, the bidding would be 1NT-3NT. Try to ignore the 1♠ opening on your right, it may be weak and other tables may have passed. Your partner's 3♣ bid was invitational, so with 15hcp you can accept. 3NT figures to be the "par" contract, so bid it Passing 3♣ could be more dangerous. Partner has not guaranteed a 5+ card suit, and may have 3334 with 11hcp, but no spade stopper (♠JTx) Tony

Standard Modern Acol (EBU) uses an immediate jump to 3NT to show 4 card support, 12-15hcp and no interesting distributional feature. The Delayed Game Raise can be used for hands with support and a source of tricks: 1♠-2♦-2♥-4♠ - responder showing 4 card support and good diamonds Splinter bids are recommended also. 2NT remains as a natural limit bid without 4 card support. 3334 or 3343 is expected. http://www.acolatbbo.org.uk/sundries/stdengmodacol2006.pdf Tony

True hand from this Monday, club game: [hv=d=s&v=b&n=sqj43haq3da74cq97&w=s76h62dkqt9653c64&e=s10985hj1085d82ca82&s=sak2hk974djckj1053]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Norths plays 3NT after west has overcalled in diamonds. East leads the diamond 8, west wins the queen. West leads the diamond 9 which holds. West now plays the diamond 3, east pitching the club ace. How many reached 6♣? Tony

In general, when playing on bbo, I have 3 opponents. I suppose the odds are still in my favour as only one opponent is my partner. Tony :)

There are many threads like this, but what do they accomplish? We are presented with a "borderline" hand and asked to decide what to do Some players will pass, "we are Vul, the hand has weaknesses" Some players prefer to show the 5cM, even if it is AT432 Some prefer to double, even tho one suit is Qx Some will run simulations etc We rarely, if ever, get to see the complete hand My personal view is that pass might be safer than any bid, but that is my "style" and I do not expect others to be influenced by that. So what are we left with? We might as well open a new Poll asking:- "Do you always bid in borderline situations? Y/N" I predict that the answers will be meaningless Tony

I suspected that this may be the case, never having played at these tables. Thanks for the info. Maybe bots should have rights, too? I have often wondered, however, why human dummys were not allowed to reject claims at any table, if Law 68D allows it. I have also seen one opponent concede when partner has a winner Tony

You seem to have the perfect partnership. Get 2 aggressive or 2 conservative players together and things are more likely to go wrong. System is less important than style, flair and intuition for you, but your partner needs a firm foundation. Try to explain the basic differences in the systems to your friend and let him choose Be lucky Tony

On the subject of 4441 shape, this approach is fine with red suit singletons With a black suit singleton, we now tend to open the middle suit, and with both majors 4432, we open 1♥ The general approach is to be reluctant to open a four card spade suit, this can be a factor of the chosen no-trump range, and the general strength of the hand and suits. Obviously, a 1NT/2NT opening is prefered within your nt-range. With hands 4M/4m opinions differ, but I open the minor if it is considerably stronger, intending to make the appropriate no-trump rebid if expedient Strong no-trumpers seem to have most difficulty with the system, often reverting to prepared minor openings, or insisting on extra strength for 2 level responses. Playing 12-14 NT, we have the added benefit of playing 4cM and 4cm, all suit bids are natural and promise 4+ cards OP might try kibbing the most popular tables in the BBO Acol Club to see how the system fits together Tony

It is unfortunate that dummy cannot reject a claim by oppo A claim by declarer can be rejected by either opponent, but declarer is on his own. Dummy has rights to point out "irregularities" so the right to refuse a claim could be a logical addition for online play Tony

I cash ♦Ace. If I am right, then I have paid West a compliment I am playing West for : ♠QJx ♥KQT98 ♦KT ♣xxx or ♠Qxx ♥KQT98 ♦KT ♣xxx which is twice(?) as likely as ♠Qx ♥KQT98 ♦KTx ♣xxx but why drop the ♦10? West has already been squeezed and has bared the ♦King, (perhaps hoping ♦Q is with East) Predicting the endplay, He has kept 4 hearts and one spade to cash If he had thrown a Heart, then I set up a Diamond before unguarding spades With no heart higher than ♥7, East cannot rescue his partner, so adds to the illusion by keeping Diamonds, discarding hearts ..... or do I owe you a pint? Tony (Why rebid 1NT with no stop in Hearts? Allow North to play the hand?) Edited

[hv=d=n&v=e&n=s987hk872dj7654c9&w=sjt532haq96daqtc5&e=sq4hj3d983ckqjt42&s=sak6ht54dk2ca8763]399|300|Scoring: IMP P-P-1♣-x p-p-p[/hv] This is just one of many possible results. 1♣x-2 or 1NTx-3 is fine with me. E/W 3NT-1 being the worst of all possible results Partner is a passed hand and probably has 7hcp and 5-6 Diamonds. Frankly, I would expect partner to play in a Diamond or No-trump partscore on most layouts. I honestly doubt that the posted hand can find a game without a lot of co-operation from partner. If a game exists, then partner can find it if I double. The Spade game on a bad 5-3 fit is not a high priority IMHO Perhaps you consider me to be naive or foolish to place so much trust in partner? Fancy a Team Match, sometime? :) Tony

Interessting way to play transfer with 3 ♠ tzo show hearts. As Td, I had been called to the table by opponents. I have no idea what 3♠ actually showed and doubt that anyone at the table knew. It is possible that it was intended to show 4 bad spades and 5 hearts, some sort of smolen bid, dunno My decision was "no agreement-no damage-result stands" The point of this thread, and this hand, is that players are rebidding 2NT with no agreement, confusing partner and opponents Tony

You were perfectly correct to bid 2♣, and you partner's inscrutable 2NT reply seems reckless. Many would bid 2♥ transfer with your hand. You seem to have no alternative to showing your long spades over 2NT and hoping that partner is showing maximum support for both majors. It is possible that 4♠/♥ is making if partner has the perfect hand In a similar vein, what does 2NT-3♥(tfr)-3NT imply? I missed a good Diamond slam after this sequence, and I only had 7hcp with 5/5 ♠/♦ Tony

Double has an advantage that nobody has commented on. Partner can convert to penalty by passing with long clubs Imps is the nearest thing to rubber. All rubber players know the value of penalties in partscore battles. Tony