Quantumcat

My partner and I like to use BBO for partnership bidding, and for playing sometimes since we can get through 5 times as many boards on BBO as at the local bridge club in a similar amount of time. I thought it might be fun to play a tournament, but am concerned that since we are using the same internet connection (him on his computer, me on mine - in different rooms) someone could accuse us of cheating. But then I thought people could be on the phone too so maybe no one cares? After all tournaments would go pretty fast and there wouldn't be time to use the information someone was giving you, if you were cheating? Anyway I just want to know if we enter a tournament and we are on the same internet connection, whether anyone is going to accuse us of cheating. Cause I'd rather not enter if that is a risk. Thanks in advance for any replies :-)

If you don't play transfers over a 2NT rebid (which I think is a great idea) or anything else artificial, then: 3♥ shows five hearts and possibly four spades (opener should bid a four-card spade suit if he has one, even if he has three hearts - if responder doesn't bid 4♠ he can correct 3NT to 4♥), 3♠ shows 4-4 in the majors, and 3♣ and 3♦ are natural, 5+, but you have a hand not strong enough to bid them ahead of your four-card heart suit.

I meant trump partscores. For example 1♥ 1♠ 2♥ 2♠. You wouldn't bid 2NT or 3♥ just because you have a singleton or void spade (although you might bid 2NT with a 15 or 16 count, if you played weak jump shifts, so you'd know partner had a few values for 1♠ 2♠ ... although that would be to invite game, not to escape what you think is a bad partscore.) But no trumps is different. If you have a misfit and not many points you will be better off in a trump suit. That's why I thought 1♥ 1NT 2♣ 2NT 3♣ was different to 1♥ 1NT 2♣ 2♦ 3♣. Also your suggestion of artificial second rebids - I don't think that's a good idea. I've had this auction before: 1♠ 1NT 2♦ 2NT 3♥ 4♥ I had a bad five card heart suit and a club stopper, so though it more important to bid 2NT instead of 3♥ with my 11-count, in case partner was stuck for a bid after 3♥. Partner showed his 3-card heart suit which I was happy to hear about. And this one: 1♥ 1NT 2♣ 2NT 3♦ 3♥ 4♥ I had a singleton spade and a 16-count, and bid out my shape since I saw no reason not to. Partner had Qxx in spades so we played in the making 5-2 heart fit instead of the doomed 3NT.

Michaels. Most people I know would play an immediate double as takeout, a bid of the transfer suit as michaels, pass then doubling as penalty. Doubling instead of bidding 2♠ as takeout is better. Why? If partner has a crap hand but three or four hearts he can pass, and you're not forced to the 3-level. If you bid 2♠ as takeout presumably a double shows a heart suit and is lead-directing. This is not at all useful, since they now know what the threat is and even if 3NT only fails on a heart lead, then they will try 4♠ on the 5-2 fit and maybe make. Better to keep quiet and hope partner can find the lead by himself. In addition, the double lets opener define his hand a bit better (he can pass with two spades, bid two with three spades, and bid three with four). This is the same if the double is takeout but at least you are achieving something with it. (You'll be pleased to hear partner bid a suit over 2♠ when he has five.) It also lets you make a Michaels bid that you wouldn't been able to otherwise. One benefit of 2♠ as takeout is it will confuse the unprepared pair. (Does 3♠ by opener show four? Does double show small doubleton and invite partner to double the opponents, or does it show 3 good spades? Does pass show two spades? etc).

Are there five suits? (Post title)

It makes sense that in the auction: 1♥ 1NT 2♣ 2♦ 3♣ Opener shows a good hand (invite to game) since you shouldn't correct one partscore to another. But what about: 1♥ 1NT 2♣ 2NT 3♣ Does this show a very weak hand, trying to get out of 2NT? Or does it show a good hand (like the first auction), exploring for the right contract? And also, what about: 1♥ 1NT 2♣ 2♦ 2♥ Does this show a good hand, same as the first auction, since you shouldn't correct one partscore to another?

Easier if you have no agreements about "gambling" 3NT - you just open it when you think you might make it, and having the opponents bid could be detrimental. Here you have a decent shot at making it, so you open it. Partner might have a card or two in the majors, and anyway the opponents don't find the magic lead EVERY time there is one...

The answers need some thought behind them - each answer has to be plausible drawing on a particular misconception the student might have in the subject. They can't really be random. Although I'm not sure what you mean by random. Is it writing a bunch of words to do with the subject, and drawing two out and having them as the wrong answers? But anyway the person who pointed out that the answer we find out to be wrong is random and not based on the knowledge of which one you picked has convinced me that I was talking rubbish!

First listen to the bidding. Say it goes 1♠ 1NT 2♣ 2♠ all pass. You say to yourself, "Declarer has 5 or 6 spades and 4 or 5 clubs". Then dummy comes down. It has two spades and three clubs. You are also holding two spades and three clubs. Wonder what partner can have. If declarer has six spades, partner will have three. If declarer has five, partner will have four. Say to yourself, "If pard shows an even number, declarer has five trumps. If pard shows an odd number, declarer has six." Same with the clubs. If declarer has four clubs, partner will have three. If declarer has five clubs, partner will have two. So you say to yourself, "If partner shows an odd number, declarer has four clubs. If he shows an even number, declarer has five." Now if you have said these things firmly enough to yourself in the beginning, you won't need to think about it again. As soon as you see your partner's count cards it will just click in your mind and you can use your brain for coming up with a good defence instead of trying to figure out the distribution.

This is a great convention. It is not the same as drury though. It means you never need to be at the 3-level on only an 8-card fit (Bergen 1♥-2♠ or 1♠-3♥ showing invite at 3-card support), you also don't have loads of room taken up by the Bergen 1M - 3NT showing 13-15 3-card raise. You also get plenty of room when responder has a gameforce balanced hand, and you need never respond at the 2-level with only a four-card suit again. It basically has no downsides whatsoever. Does it have a name, does anyone know?

Pard definitely has short hearts but he didn't double or bid 3C or 3D. Like the other poster said he is very likely holding 2(0/1)(6/7)4. Even without thinking about what partner holds, you could just go on instinct, thinking to yourself: "I love playing in my five-card suit, I love defending with singletons in partner's suit, I love it when an opponent's suit splits 4-2 with the 4 having the king and 9, partner hasn't bid a whole lot so I doubt we'll have game with my misfitting 3-count, I shall very happily pass"

(You meant 5413/6412 right?) Doesn't matter - a 3♠ bid doesn't force us to play in 4♠. Opener can bid 3NT on a singleton diamond ace or king. If responder bids 3♠ he can't see anywhere else but the 5-2 fit to play if since he thinks 3NT is a bad spot with x opposite empty ace or king in diamonds. If he can see an alternative, responder has other bids he can make after 3♣ - 3♦ might suggest a good diamond suit (to help decide on 3NT and offering 5♦ as a last-resort contract), 3♥ same but the 4-3 heart fit as a last-resort contract, and of course 3NT if there's still no problem with 3NT. And after these, if opener has a 6-card spade suit he can always bid 3♠.

Reminds me of auctions that happen sometimes at my club: (1♥) P (2♥) P (P) 2♠ (3♥) 3♠ (P) P (4♥) P (P) P They were just about to play in 2♥ making 11 and I open my big trap and balance with 2♠. Responder actually has a 14 count with 3 trumps. It's hard to play at country clubs!!

Couldn't there be a button labelled, "Add me to the next free slot" which you could click, then relax, play a bit of freecell and wait for the game to start?

It would be easier to go faster if it was multiple choice, and you could hold three fingers over the 1, 2, 3 on the number pad, corresponding to the three choices. It is hard to go fast on the mouse, and hard to go fast when glancing down at the keyboard. I guess I could go fast if I learned to touch-type the number-pad, but that's hard!

Except that after this auction, responder is very unlikely to hold two spades (if he did he should have bid 2♠), and if he DOES hold two spades, he probably has a super no-trumpy type hand and isn't interested in playing in 4♠ with an eight-card fit. It is probably similar to rebidding after 1♣ 1♠ ?. If you hold 3-card support but a 4333 with KJs, Qs, etc, most people will bid 1NT instead of 2♠. So in this case, we don't need to find the 6-2 fit and there was no need to bid 3♠. In fact, you might make a more descriptive bid of 3♣ to show where your singleton is, and responder can make an even more informed decision as to whether he doesn't mind playing in a trump suit (if he has ace fourth empty diamond with 2344 this would be a good reason to bid 3♠ now).

My two cents. It is standard to include all balanced hands in NT openings even if you don't use puppet stayman. I would as soon forget I was playing Puppet Stayman instead of Regular Stayman as forget I was playing Keycard Blackwood and not regular Blackwood. Exactly the same amount as regular Stayman - in fact less, if the auction goes 2NT 3♣ 3♦ 3NT - they don;t know which 4-card major opener has, whereas 2NT 3♣ 3♥ 3NT tells them explicitly. And common sense too - anytime you have two fits, better to play in the weaker hand's fit. The rationale being they have fewer entries and once it is set up it might be stranded. While if it is trumps, the small cards will always take tricks. This is the same reason that with a yarborough and a five card major opposite a 1NT opening, you always transfer to the suit. In 1NT that suit would be useless. This is ALWAYS a problem - nothing whatsoever to do with Puppet Stayman. Actually, LESS information is transferred - using it more often means the opponents are less likely to know what's going on. The old adage of always leading a major against 2NT-3NT or 1NT-3NT because responder failed to use stayman is lost - responder could equally well use stayman whether he has his own major or not! Also, the 3♦ bid showing a four-card major doesn't disclose which it is, so less information is given to the opponents than regular stayman. It is standard to always open 1NT or 2NT with a balanced hand and the right point-count - if you don't you are living in the (long-distant) past. Again, whenever you have a balanced hand! Easy - bid your minor. That usually shows slam interest with a long minor suit. Opener can reject the slam invite with 4NT. More importantly, is after 2NT 3♣ 3NT (no major). The solution? Play Muppet Stayman, where the 3♥ and 3NT bids are switched. Then 3♠ after 3♥ is minor suit stayman. Actually, you only want to play in 3NT with a major suit fit when you have an excess of high-card points (27-30 for 3NT instead of 4-major, 34 - 37 for 6NT instead of 6-major - with 31-33 and a major fit, you'd usually try for 6-major). In this situation, you are often making the same number of tricks in NT as the major, as well as having safety when the suit splits badly (you should have enough high cards outside of the major to find nine tricks). When you don't have an excess of high cards, it is better to play in the major, for safety against them finding the killer lead, or any of the other three suits splitting badly. The most useful time to have Puppet Stayman in your arsenal is when you want to overcall 2NT over 2♥ but you have five spades and are worried they might be lost, whereas if you overcall 2♠ you don;t get across your shape and strength. Perfect solution - play Puppet Stayman over natural 2NT overcalls, then you never need worry about losing that 5-card major!

Partner should be expected to raise to game with any maximum pass, or a medium pass and good shape (e.g. any hand with 4 card support and a singleton, or an 8-count with 3-card support and not flat). So while no particular HCP is required, you think about what partner will need to raise with. If you can make game when partner will pass the jump-opening, then open at the one-level.

It is incredibly simple - two or three rules cover every possible bid: (examples at the bottom) 1. Any bid at the 1-level is natural. 2. 2♣ asks partner to bid 2♦, intending to pass or make a natural rebid showing an invite. Opener has the choice of not accepting the puppet under agreed circumstances. 3. Any transfer shows a sign-off or is gameforcing. Opener accepts the transfer unless he is too strong (he is still interested in game even if responder has a sign-off). Examples: 1. 1♣ 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ or 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 1NT 2. Playing transfer responses to 1♣ you might agree that accepting a transfer shows 3-card support and jump-accepting a transfer shows 4 card support and 14-16 HCP. So after having accepted the transfer at the 1-level, you may bid 2 of responder's major after the 2♣ puppet, instead of 2♦, to show a minimum with 4-card support. Also you might bid something else if you are still interested in game even if responder has a sign-off in diamonds. 3. Doesn't really need an example. Bids above the suit transfers are for partnership discussion. You might play them as transfer-splinters (opener accepting shows the ace, to simplify keycard for responder if he has a void), or something else. 3♠ however should always be a transfer to 3NT. The main benefit is keeping auctions low - invites can be passed at the two level, and gameforce hands can take all the time they need to bid out their shape. Note that if you want to invite to a slam, you can play in game instead of 4NT/5-major if the invite is not accepted: 1♣ 1♥ 1NT 2♣ 2♦ 3NT pass! I feel like my partner came up with it, since we were playing it before it became so popular, but in fact it was first published a very long time ago (I can look it up if you want). Another convention we (think we) came up with (that you might like, if you like 1X-1Y-1Z) is transfers over a pre-emptive 2-major opening. 2NT to one-below-3-of-the-preempt-suit are transfers [excluding partner's suit, which stays as natural pre-emptive], which you can use to show more than one suit, to play (useful if you are void in partner's suit, but don't want to make a forcing bid), to show invitations to game or slam, or to set partner's preempt suit as trumps and start cue-bidding auctions as quickly as possible. e.g. 2♠ 2NT 3♣ pass - you have lots of clubs, weak hand, and void in spades 2♥ 2♠ pass - weak to play, void in hearts 2♠ 3♣ 3♦ 3♥ - gameforce, choose between 5♦ and 4♥ as contracts (longer diamonds). 2♠ 3♦ 3♥ 4♦ - gameforce, choose between 5♦ and 4♥ as contracts (longer hearts, or equal). 2♠ 3♥ 3NT 4♣ 4♥ 6♠ pass - 3♥ was a spade invite, 3NT accepted (leaving room for partner to cue), 4♣ cue, 4♥ cue, which was just what responder wanted to hear. 2♥ 3♣ 3♦ 3♥ pass - invite with a diamond suit that will provide tricks if it has some help 2♠ 3♥ 3♠ 3NT pass - Responder says to opener: I am counting on you to have a good suit for 3NT; if you don't we are better off trying 4♠. 2♠ 3NT - Responder says to opener: I don't care what you have, I basically have 8-9 tricks in my own hand (or the classic psyche, weak hand with support, planning to run to 4♠ if doubled).

Here's a summary: All the conventions are designed to find out, after an action starts 1-1-1 (e.g. 1C 1H 1NT) whether opener has four cards in the other major (if one was bid), or 3-card support for responder's suit. The simplest is checkback stayman. Checkback stayman is for auctions that begins 1-minor, 1-major, 1NT. A 2♣ bid by responder is at least invitational and asks opener to say whether he has 4 cards in the other major, or 3 cards in responder's major. If he has more than one option, he should bid the lower (like responding to 1NT 2♣ stayman - when you have 4 hearts and 4 spades you bid 2♥). A 2♦ bid is by partnership agreement. This also means that the auction 1♣ 1♠ 1NT 2♥ (or 1♣ 1♥ 1NT 2♦) is weak - if responder had invitational values he would have used checkback. Opener is free to pass when he has support for the second suit. Slightly more advanced is new-minor forcing. This is exactly the same as checkback stayman, only instead of 2♣, it is whichever minor opener didn't bid. Responder can then sign off in opener's minor: the auction 1♣ 1♥ 1NT 2♣ is weak and to play, whereas 1♣ 1♥ 1NT 2♦ is now the conventional asking bid. Same as above, 1♦ 1♠ 1NT 2♥ is weak. I'm not sure what two-way new minor forcing is, sorry! More advanced still is the convention 1X-1Y-1Z. Similar to checkback and new-minor forcing except it applies to any 1-1-1 auction, not just ones that end in 1NT. There are many versions, but the most common (where I play) is that 2♣ shows any invitational hand or sign-off in diamonds, and asks opener to bid 2♦. Then responder's rebid is natural and invitational. For example, 1♣ 1♥ 1♠ 2♣ 2♦ 2♥ shows an invitational hand with at least five hearts. Any gameforce hand bids 2♦ instead of 2♣, then opener bids something naturally, then responder's rebid is natural and gameforcing. The benefit here is that gameforcing hands don;t need to do any jumping, since they are not afraid of being passed. Also (as in the previous example), invitational hands can come to rest at a lower level, since opener is free to pass any natural bid if not accepting the invite. The best of all is that all bids (starting at 2♦) are transfers, showing either a weak sign-off or a gameforce. All invitational hands start with a 2♣ puppet to 2♦ as above. This gives you loads more room than you would have under any other method. Even better still is to open 1♣ whenever you were planning to open a minor and rebid 1NT, increasing the frequency of these auctions. Opening 1♦ and rebiding 1NT can show whatever you would normally have jumped to 2NT on (18-19, usually). This convention, along with transfers to 1♣, is now the latest craze in Australia and you won't find any expert partnerships not playing some sort of version of it. Don't know about the situation overseas.

Hand 1: He showed invitational values at least (otherwise it would be a 3♦ bid or pass). Has to be keycard. If you've set trumps, you could only end up playing in said trumps or no-trumps and I don;t think no-trumps looks likely here! It was only North's wishful thinking, since he didn't actually have his diamond raise. Hand 2: Logically, if a bid can show two different hands, but one of those hands could be bid another way and the other can't, it shows the one that can't. A hand exists where 5♥ needs to ask about trump quality (they have a void, so Keycard will not tell them what they need to know), whereas if you need to know about diamond control, there is plenty of room to take things slowly - set hearts then start cuebidding. Therefore it must ask about trump quality.

Bid 2♥, because most of the time partner is going to give preference anyway (after which you can bid some number of spades confirming a fit), and it has the extra bonus of finding a 4-4 heart fit. Also partner might be about to bid 3♠ over 2♥, showing whatever it shows (maybe 16+ HCP with three card support?) and by bidding 2♠, the 3♠ now has to absorb other hands (like hands with two card support that would have given simple preference over 2♥) and the auction loses definition. In any situation where one action serves a purpose, and another serves the same purpose but caters to alternate situations as well, you would choose the second action. For example. You have AKJxx opposite xx. Assuming infinite entries, would you take the finesse right away, or cash the ace to see if the queen drops, then take the finesse? Of course you would take the second action. Same thing here!

Restricted choice can help you in multiple-choice exams. For instance, say a question has options A, B, C which, using your knowledge of the subject being examined, you assign probabilities of being correct of A: 45%, B: 35% and C: 20%. So you of course choose answer A. Then, later on, you read a question which makes it obvious that answer B (in the question under consideration) is incorrect. Should you switch your answer to C? Most people would scoff and say of course not, we thought it was probably the wrongest answer (we assigned it a 20% chance of being right). However, restricted choice says you should: C now has 55% chance of being right. Why? When you chose answer A, you only had a 45% chance of being right - that is, if you could somehow hedge your bets and choose B AND C [winning when either was right], you would have a 55% chance of being right. Knowing B is wrong doesn't change that, only now you have a legitimate way of being 55% right - switching your answer to C. It gets even better if you chose your first answer at random - now you have a 66% chance of being right! I just thought of this this afternoon. Hopefully this might come in handy for other students!

What an awful 1♠ overcall! Beginners are taught, "to overcall you need either a good suit or a good hand". This hand is neither. Intermediates know, "it's ok to overcall if you are likely telling your partner the only possible worthwhile lead", which this hand certainly isn't.

I've never heard of it, but it sounds neat.