CharlieS

I REALLY miss the list of tables in play in the flash version. Will this option be added in future releases?

Why open this minimum hand without the majors, particularly without spades? I would pass, hoping to bid clubs (or double if the opps bid both majors). But what does Al Roth know about opening bids?

Are you sure he didn't mean a jump rebid eg 1H 1S 3H Nope, an honest jump shift EX: 1♦ - 1♠ 3♥

Didn't the Italian takeout include exclusion bids by advancer?

Yesterday a silver life master informed me that a jump shift by opener was an invitational bid. I was a little flumoxed because I have always played that a jump into a new suit by opener is 200% forcing to game. PLEASE help me on this. I have surveyed the internet and a limited number of books at my disposal, and have not found anything to counter my game forcing intrepretation.

Max Hardy's book Compteitive Bidding with Two Suited Hands (Devyn Press, 1996) talks extensively about the question raised in this thread. Hardy suggests playing Top and Bottom cue bids with the bottom suit being longer or, if equal length, stronger than the top suit; after a minor suit opening, a jump to the other minor shows a hand with a heart suit but a preference for playing in the suit bid; when holding the two top suits (the majors over 1 of a minor, or diamonds and the other major over a major suit opening) one doubles and makes an "equal level correction" if advancer bids the lowest unbid suit; two no-trump shows at least 5-5 distribution in the two lowest unbid suits, and four, five and six no-trumps having more offensive potential. Equal level correction does not imply extra values. If one has a hand he wishes to show extra values and the LOWEST equal level suit, the doubler must jump in that suit at his next opportunity. Hardy also talks about advancing two suited overcalls and doubles. The apporach Hardy reccommends is unorthodox, but my feeling is that it would be very effective if implemented. I have not tried the approach because I haven't found someone to play the system. Comments are welcome.

Five card majors and a weak NT are incompatable? Gee, tell that to Edgar Kaplin and Alfred Sheinwold, who developed and played a similar system in the late 1950's and early 1960's. What IS incompatable is four card majors and a strong nt. Try playing acol under these conditions!

You and your husband are welcome at my table any time. Just because you started this thread, I'm sure there will be no ethical problems when you play.

♠ AQ8732 ♥ A7 ♦ K ♣ KQ104 ♠ K64 ♥ KQJ1098 ♦ AQ54 ♣ How about this nice picture auction: 1H - 1S 2D - 3C 3S - 4NT 6C(1) - 7S (1) Two Key Cards and a void in Clubs

18 HCP with two wasted Jacks and a horrible spade suit looks like time to bid 1NT. If we miss slam It ain't MY fault.

Deflation of the requirements for an opening bid rears it's ugly hand here. Players are opening any old 12 point hands now, and I've had to inflate my forcing NT responses. I solve the problem by starting with 1NT, planning to give myself a boost on the second round. If partner shows any life, we have game. Another thought along these lines. I like an opening bid of 1NT with the shown hand, so when I rebid NT, I'm showing a hand even Alvin Roth would open.