badderzboy

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sq105hqj1096dqj96cj&s=sak763hkdak1073c86]133|200|Scoring: MP Contract is 4♠ by South. Lead is 8 Diamonds Plan the play[/hv] You are playing duplicate pairs so overtricks count! Most of the field made 10 can you make 11? What could the lead mean? Who do u want to have the A♥? What tricks must u lose? Steve

Why is it 100% obvious??? Question number 2 Then Ron ... What do u bid if RHO passes ? Now what's changed? you have C's double stopped...

You hold the following... [hv=d=n&v=n&s=s642haq102dq10ckq87]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]. Does your decision change if the scoring is MPs? Full hands and what happened hidden!

Just a BILlie What do we know? LHO should have 12-13 pts and we have seen 4 of them. Is Declarer good enough to play A from AQx in ♦'s here to hide partners singleton ♦. The hand is either [hv=n=s6haq76dt8763ck54&w=skjxxxhkxxdaxcqxx&e=sq85hj9dkj52ca972&s=saxxxhxxxxdq9cj10x]399|300|[/hv] or ... [hv=n=s6haq76dt8763ck54&w=skjxxxhkxxdaxcqxx&e=sq85hj9dkj52ca972&s=saxxxhxxxxdq9cj10x]399|300|[/hv] I play a 8 ♦ asking for another Heart and if partner can ruff great we set it if not hope oppo has 3♥ and 2♣ and so discard can't help? No doubt miles away...

Assuming 2♦ is correct my background is ACOL so I reversed for strength? but I try and play SAYC for obvious reasons how does South's bidding differentiate between these two hands then? [hv=d=s&v=n&n=skqj5hkq10dck107542&s=s62ha7532dakj10caj]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] & [hv=d=s&v=n&n=skqj5hkq10dck107542&s=s62ha7532dakj10caj]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=skqj5hkq10dck107542&s=s62ha7532dakj10caj]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Our bidding went 1♥-2♣-3♦-3♠FSF-4♥-PPP Now I think that North should Ace Ask here in our system as I've promised a big hand with reverse? Q1 - How would u bid it and which bids do u disagree with (It was ACOL but would SAYC 2/1 differ? Q2 - Swap A ♦ for A♠ - how do u find or do u try to find 7 (assuming 3-2 split in ♥)? Steve

I think I've set a new record, person joined table for v.first hand, bidding completed and they left after their partner led their 1st card. It may be they had a legitimate reason but a quick gtg is all required! They didn't disconnect just up and left and were still logged on! Can we put up a news item warning people that this behaviour is unacceptable and in future people should report to abuse? I've noticed it getting worse recently and it seems to take about 8 players and 4 boards until you have a consistent 4! Finally an apology to Free as well as I had to leave mid-hand today on first board when my v.senior boss phoned me and I had to leave urgently (won't do it again) :(( - it was for legit reasons and I did post have to go!!! Steve

Just a BILlie but can the expert community explain why 1♦ is a better opening or 1♠ is a better response? Granted not a nice hand for an ACOL-esque system but I have to say I'm confused what's wrong with 1♣-1♥-2♣ ? showing the weak hand with 5 clubs ( Yes it's an awful suit but at least we have 5 and the long club may make a trick and the outside honours are likely to provide some winners whether a trump suit or not ? What would partner do with 2-2 in minors over 1♦-1♥-2♣? Finally what would you do with when partner bids 2♦? ( I realise partner is potentially stronger in this auction)... Steve[hv=s=saq53h97642d8cak9]133|100|[/hv]

Yes, you're right Trumpace I had my stupid head on lol

Not if the diamond lead was singleton and opps holds a ♥ greater than 9. East wins and returns a Diamond ruff 1 down? Steve

Wayne, Thx for posting, I'm sure that you knew when you posted the DBL wasn't the best but it was thoughtful of you to post it to remind fellow BILlies about when you should dbl for lead directing purposes and more importantly the dangers and info you provide opponents. Steve ;)

I'm a BILlie but I'll hide my attempt too

I started playing on BBO as a complete novice in Feb 2003 I think (have changed PCs since then so I've lost my logs and so don't know when I started :) I remember there were fewer than 10 tables online during european daytime but I remember Sheps Classes even then. The growth of BBO has been breath-taking and the introduction of the BIL I think has been great for the game and I honestly think we'll see a future Vugraph presentation with 'former' BILlies playing in it at some point in the future! I remember the peak when USA-ITALY played on Vugraph and the misplay that cost extra time and gave the match to USA (in the Bermuda Bowl?) which we now see exceded everyday! So who were the early birds/nicknames and who are the earliest registered members still online? Steve

swap A & K ♥ and what do i get...

As I play in the UK we see a lot of auctions like 1NT-P-P-P or P-1NT-P-P etc In the first situation, current regs are 1Nt-X or 1NT-P-P-X must be penalty although I think that changes in April. With 1NT-P-P-X would you recommend doubling with less than 16pts as a balancing double (increases likelyhood of partner needing to take out etc) What responses would you recommend? Part ii You're a passed hand and RHO opens a weak NT.. ie P-1NT-P-P You play Astro so you can show 5M-4m/M hands in balancing seat What should DBL show now? If you play it as say hold a balanced 10-11 count now What should partners responses mean? I was considering treating it as if I had opened 1NT Pass = penalty partner has balanced 12-15 not strong enough to double 2C = Stayman 2D=Tfr to Hearts 2H=Tfr to spades 2S=Range ask showing 14-15pts considering 3NT 2NT - tfr to Clubs 3C= Tfr to Minor Is it sensible or madness or should all bids be natural? Steve

[hv=d=n&v=e&n=sk1074ha10dqj1043cj7&s=shkj875432dckq1042]133|200|[/hv] An interesting hand from last night Beg/Int class at my local club. Considering South in isolation first... What do u do if (1) Partners opens... 1♦ or 1♠ (2) Opps open 1♦ or 1♠ (3) Two passes to you...

Thx Roland I totally agree I posted because I thought my line was v.poor and your suggestion makes much more sense. Seems almost as if I held North as declarer I might see the Club ruff line but got blinded by the spade void in my hand! Thanks for comments Steve

Hi Roland, You're right 4NT is not a good bid ( I was hoping that some BILlies would say so too) as you should be cue-bidding with a void... but you're playing with a novice, so I would assume 3♠ would confuse the hell out of them lol. I think 3♥ is a little bit of an overbid too (just a 7 loser hand really or 15pts including the singleton) but opposite a real 3♥ slam is just too tempting especially in a practice session! I placed the A♣& A♠ in West though for the double (+ at least K or Q ♠) and as they also play intermediate jump o'calls (12+ HCPs) so I thought it was quite likely Q♣ was in East... I decided to try and ruff 3 spades in South and try to promote the K♣ to throw last ♠ so I need 3 entries to North via a diamond , club ruff and a heart... The opps also know me so I played the J clubs from South! playing for West not to have the Q re: above and as they know I am sneaky enough to play J from KQJxx ♣ West played his Ace :D Ruffing Clubs makes perfect sense rather than spades as the entries are there already thx for that! Hearts/Diamonds also break 3-2 so it was easy street. I don't think my line was particularly good but I'm interested in what other BILlies / experts would do?

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sj642haqj9da932c6&s=shk1082dkqj10ckj842]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Playing with a Novice North against two intermediates all playing Acol the bidding goes as follows... N....E....S....W 1♦...P...1♥...1♠ 3♥...P...4NT...P 5♥...P...6♥...X 1)Do u agree with bidding? 2)What does bidding tell you? Opps then lead A Spade... What's your plan? What layouts can't you handle?

Hi Wayne, As a fellow BILlie I totally agree with you , Playing a 'bloody' awful 3NT in the BIL the other day I was prompted quicker by a Novice which I found more amusing than anything else cos' I tend to play quickly normally after thinking after the opening lead if Declarer OR 3rd in hand to consider all that needs to be thought about (including false-cards or ducking etc) to not break tempo and give opps a cliue and also the ABCD etc in earlier posts. If you need to think - Think! people who don't are real experts and have plans ABCD in their head in a micro-second or are not yet intermediate level players in my opinion and will learn lol! Ironically in F2F I declare fairly quickly but slow my tempo in defence/bidding to give myself time to think (including passing) to ensure no UI to partner n/a on BBO to some extent! As you know you are welcome to play at my table anytime and take however long you need to think, I think it;s the mark of an improving player instead of a card-chucker lol Steve

Hi Fred, I had the same problem but this has gone with 4.0.9 Thanks Steve

Im guessing LHO has made a WJO on 10xxxxx and has less than 5 hearts else a Michaels bid was more likely so RHO is out of clubs and clearly we can't win a trick with the 5th Club, also LHO is likely to have AQ♥. Our top winners are A♠, 5 ♦, AKQJ♣ once trumps are out so we need 2 more, We can win another spade once K gone and also ruff a spade for the 12th trick or try and ruff out the K♠ given the likely bad split in spades by the 3♣ call. I play for a 3-1 or 2-2 split in trumps I think so after winning the J♣, I'd play A♦ and if both follow cross to Q♦ if both follow great if not draw final trump with the J leaving ♠ A ♥ xxx ♦ 9 ♣ AKQx ♠ QJ98xx ♥ K ♦ K8 ♣ Now cash A♠ and AKQ♣ discarding K♥, 8x ♠ leaving ♠ ♥ xxx ♦ 9 ♣ x ♠ QJ9 ♥ ♦ K8 ♣ Ruff back to Hand and play Q♠ and let run unless covered by LHO as we can return to hand and you win J♠ and ruff/lose last ♠. Thats 12 tricks I hope? Steve No idea how to handle 4-0 ♦'s?

In the drop-down list could we add some further options? Chat to Friends (global) Chat to members of any clubs you are in - thinking of BIL etc hard to attract BILlies if not in the club as I suspect everyone has chat to lobby off? Steve

♠ Ax ♥ 10xx ♦ AKQxx ♣ xxx ♠ xxx ♥ AK7xx ♦ xx ♣ AKx Just a BILlie but I would try... Top tricks are A♠,AK♥, AKQ♦, AK♣ so we need 2 extra tricks. If hearts break 3-2 we get 2 extra hearts, if 4-1 we need a trick from diamonds. I take the A♦ and play to AK♥ if they break 3-2 play another ♥ win return and cash out for 10 tricks If 4-1 then run the Diamonds and throw club and spade on the 4th/5th Diamond forcing the hand with 4 ♥'s to ruff and so trade a trump for a diamond winner, I then lose a spade and two hearts? I only fail I think if the person with 4 hearts has a singleton diamond? Probably completely wrong? Steve

There are a number of Acol players on BBO, I know of around 50 myself and I'm sure there are a lot more.. Typical Acol is Weak NT 12-14, 4 Card majors, 2♣Strong, 2 other Acol 2 = 8 playing tricks in that suit but yes a lot play weak 2's in various guises. Strength of the system is the weak NT in my view - as long as you have an exit routine if u are doubled you tend to be protected by LOTT if your partner can transfer to a 5 card suit if very weak or have a mechanism to find a 4-x fit of some descprition... It's been a long time since I played 1NTx down whatever! As long as people bid up the line when I open 1♥ and especially 1♠ I will have 5 most of the time I think it's 85%+ or have at least 15/16 pts with 4 and be rebidding 1NT or whatever. I love the system personally and find it good to find a natural fit which is obviously the weakness as it pon-points the shape to opps too... We are also quite lucky to have as good an author as Ron Klinger write some excellent books on the system which helped me learn the system more quickly.. Steve