badderzboy

Interesting poll, but I would have preferred a 2-5% option as this is probably a fairer guess in my opinion. In terms of memory aides etc I think this is quite legitimate - I use BBO to some degree as a learning tool and learned to play Benji Acol, RCKB, splinters and other useful conventions on the site so the responses etc stuck so I can now use them in a f2f environment when you are playing competitively! In terms of looking up conventions etc on other sites - I think this is legitimate as it helps (i) to understand what the bid means and (ii) learn to defend against it if people use it against you in f2f. I also think as you can play against any system in the world online and not just the national favourites then virtually everyone needs some help against some system. How many people post CC's when playing I do as I spent the 20-30 minutes to create a Benji Acol CC card but to date NO-ONE has ever posted a card in opposition even in tourneys (Is this cheating! - not really in my opinion ) Also the notes of cards played - I believe everyone can do it by running mouse over the tricks played bit on lower LH screen under East? (unless using ASCII format) (or is it only for Kibs?) I find it bizarre still that people feel the need to cheat - online we're not playing for glory or money well maybe glory... If someone cheats to beat me well done - I hope u enjoy the hollow victory!!!

Hi Epe, In the case of playing with rude opps then yes disconnect to get out, as it should be rare then you would be in no danger of being penalised for leaving tables willy-nilly. You can disconnect from a tourney in emergencies without penalty as it may be for a valid reason but do it 3 times and it suggests something else. If someone is messing about boot them & redeal, ask for a redeal and leave before you bid etc or reset the score after they leave and so on. Is it too much to expect to finish/play 1 board and then leave? The suggestions are to instill some order into the merry-go-round but not to the detriment of anyone. If a board is going badly then take the medicine and play the next it happens in F2F all the time! Steve

I agree with the previous comments and in my experience I find my partner and I tend to face about 8 people in the first 4 boards or so until a pair actually stay and enjoy some bridge rarely getting anyone explaining what system they play! even when we always post a CC (Benji Acol) 20 minutes work a little while ago and a brief summary of Benji - ie 4 Card Majors Weak NT 12-14 Wk2's in majors CC posted for further info - again 10 secs typing!. We always reset the score and also if some-one leaves mid-board either redeal if a new player is declarer/defender as they have no idea what went on before (unless it's likely their hand has no influence) and promise to reset after hand. In terms of solutions to the issues on the forum:- A possible idea is to only allow people to leave a table before all 4 players have made their 1st bid on a new board or for the host to boot them. I imagine to do this you set the leave table button disabled until the new hand is dealt and then disable again as soons as all 4 players have made their 1st bid ( in case you bid and the 4th player leaves). If someone intentionally disconnects and reconnects within 10 minutes say I believe this can be detected then monitor the number and if someone does it a lot then apply the censor rules. Allowing the host to boot also covers the emergency situation so all you need to do is send a brief polite message to the host . In terms of tourneys could the software send a msg to host/table when a player is due to start a tourney within x minutes say ( maybe auto set to 5 mins unless player invited whilst playing? and then msg is Player has been invited to start tourney in x mins) - this allows people to plan ahead etc. Steve

I play Benji Acol with 2NT showing 19-21 pts 2♣ an Acol 2 and proposing a balanced hand 22-23. 2♦ showing the G/F 23+ and proposing 2NT showing 24-25. How should you show 26+ bal?) Would you recommend using stayman(we use puppet) and transfers/Smolen over the 2NT response by opener when (i) A negative response is made? (ii) A positive response is made? (i.e. 2H or 2S over 2C and 2S over 2D) and adapting it so a transfer to that suit shows 6+ and then puppet stayman over the 2NT shows at least a 3 card suit in the other major and 5 in the original bid and so on? If you were going to adapt to systems on after a positive response to a strong 2 would you swap the 2♣ and 2♦ (ie reverse Benji). What do u lose in doing the above? Thanks for your advice in advance Steve

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sxhxxxxdxxxxcaxxx&w=sxhjxxdkckqjxxxxx&e=sqxxxhakqxxdxxxcx&s=sakjxxxxhxdaqjxxc]399|300|Scoring: MPs[/hv] How do u bid and play this hand in all seats?

Playing 4 card majors and weak NT. I had virtually the same hand in a f2f session and missed a 4-4 Heart fit. My partner was 5-4 in hearts and spades with 12 pts... The bidding went 1C-1S-2NT-3NT. One could bid 3H over 2NT but is it forcing or weak - what do u do with this hand ♠Axxxx ♥ Jxxx ♦xx ♣ xx pass 2NT? I bid 4 card suits up the line so a reverse will promise 5-4 or better although with this hand the bidding with Free's suggestion would go 1H-1S-2NT-4H although my partner would expect a 4-3-3-3 hand shape here and might bid 4S assuming a 5-3 fit? ♠KJ ♥AQxx ♦Kxx ♣KJxx My partner held ♠AQxxx ♥Kxxx ♦QJ ♣xx On this hand it's a good argument for NMF after the auction 1C-1S-2NT(17/18) but is this a good idea as 3D by responder would be NMF and not allow a stopper showing/asking bid? If playing NMF I bid 3H and partner would bid 4H. If you adopt 1NT as 15-18 as per Klinger and using checkback then the auction would be 1C-1S-1NT(15-18)-2C*(game invite)-3H(17/18 with 4Hearts and 4Clubs so 3-2 in S/C's) - 4H. Playing ACOL I would interested in your expert comments on the +/-'s of the NMF vs natural vs Checkback approach? Thanks Steve

Dealer South No-one Vul MP pairs Playing Acol - bidding simply 1♣-p-1♥-p-1NT North ♠J1098 ♥ Q1065 ♦ J32 ♣ 75 South ♠KQ ♥ K87 ♦ K985 ♣ AJ103 Opposition lead 4th highest 6D how do you play to 1st trick given RHO has only one card higher than 6D but you're stuggling for entries to N for the spade tricks and dbl club finesse? JD or low and what would be your reasoning?. Thanks Steve

I don't mind people knowing that I have them marked as friends but I mark people as Enemies who aren;t!! so I can see them in the list with a filter on but not be notified when they login! Steve

Yes it would be silly - I made a typo in the hand it was... A10xxx ♠ AQ ♥ AKx♣ 9xx♦ doh! Would it change your answer?

Holding the following hand what do u bid after a 1H opener by RHO? A10xxx ♠ AQ ♥ Axx♣ 9xx♦ (i) Do u bid DBL or 1S or 1NT(15-17 here)? I bid 1NT then auction continues 1H-1NT-2H-X-p-? (ii) What do u bid now ? I bid 2S what should it promise 4 spades ? Opps then bid 4H do u bid 4S or pass to partner to decide? Thanks for your advice Steve

Hi all, As this question is in the BIL section, I think that the question is one of best bidding practice for us BILlies and that must be to bid 1♠ as partner has not denied 4♠ and we have a weak hand and if we do end up in a NT contract at least opps may not lead spades as a bid suit if we have a complete misfit. The hand is borderline for a 2♦ bid as it is 10+ with length points and the problem goes away The next thing is not to open 1♠ with xxxxx in spades and a 2-5-4-2 hand and 14 pts :D Steve

I've been learning for two years now and the things I found most useful were :- (i) Playing with a stronger partner (brave soul) and asking lots of questions post-hand if relevant - like was there a better lead, did I signal correctly etc and have a thick skin - I tend to screw up 1 in every 6 boards at present! (ii) Use BBO with friends and get a group of 4 who are happy to discuss the hand in a friendly manner - helped me loads - I thought your bid meant... Oh yes it should have or no it was .. in this sequence. (iii) Reading the quiz type books is great fun and informative - I've just started reading Logical Card Play by Kelsey and although I do a limited amount of it - it scares me I haven't been doing most of it lol...To bid or Not to Bid also makes you think and used in moderation ( because I've not got the hang of adjusting) works!!! (iv) When it goes horribly wrong smile and shrug shoulders - When it goes right Smile lots!!! (v) The best advice I ever recieved was always remember bidding is a conversation and who is "Captain of the auction" - "once one player has limited his hand and shape(ish) the other asks questions to finally set the contract and DON'T over-rule your partner when he does he knows more than you do!!! Easiest example is 1NT is a limited bid / shaped hand - every bid by responder asks or sets up questions to set the contract!!! (vi) Finally watching the Vugraph and star team matches does help - keep asking why did they do that etc... (vii) Also have you tried the daily quizzes at www.bridgeclues.com/index.php by Mike Lawrence - very interesting! Steve

Playing SAYC, I would have bid 1♠ first for two reasons it stops a spade lead and by bidding 1NT you have denied 4 spades! and you are not strong enough to bid 2♦. After the strong reverse promising 5♥ & 4♣ I would bid 3NT showing the misfit and diamond stop and expecting the diamond lead into your nice AKJxxx... A fellow beginner / intermediate so I'm likely to be incorrect! Steve

Thx Bearmum for your comments, I can the high cards :- N ♠xxx ♥QJxxxx ♦ xx ♣ Kx [hv=d=n&v=a&w=skjxxhakdkjxcqxxx&e=sxxhdaqxxxxcjxxxx]266|100|[/hv] S ♠AQxx ♥10xxxx ♦ xx ♣ Ax A few comments, (i) weak 2H should be alerted in UK - it is a non standard ACOL bid ( 2H is normally 8 playing tricks) although natural. (ii) All conventional bids must be alerted in UK even Stayman must be alerted here so if 2NT is conventional and not alerted we are potentially damaged by no alert but yes I could ask as you rightly point out, it must be alerted in UK- hence I can assume it is a natural bid and ACOL std bid is 16/18 pts balanced with Heart stop... (iii) I think this is a tough call for any director to make I'm interested in my learned posters what type of adjustments if any can / should be made and where the infractions are. It was also a friendly club night and I have no intention of posting the directors decision here or indeed criticising anyone but interested in what rules apply where? TIA Steve

Playing at my club, the following happened ( both Vul) and although I'm still a relative beginner I'm interested in directing at some point so what should happen here... My partner opens a Weak 2 Hearts (alerted but not asked what it meant) and RHO bid 2NT ( not alerted) therefore assumed to be 16-18 balanced o'call (ACOL bidding). Assuming strong and holding 5 Hearts to the 10 and AQxx ♠ and Ax ♣and xx ♦ in I jumped to 4 ♥ . Now LHO bids 4NT at which point RHO says I don;t know what 4NT means but I better alert it without prompting by either my partner or I! (UI to her partner) and bids 5 ♦ ( holding 1 ace as well lol) not alerted by here partner - all passed... Before I make my lead RHO says I should tell you that 2NT was unusual 2NT with no explanation of range etc. The hand itself - 4 makes and 5 goes down only on A♠ lead as partner holds K ♣and LHO has AK ♥ allowing ♠ to be discarded... There seems to be a lot of UI in this auction and actions - what is the correct action by a director? (i) 2NT not alerted - does LHO assume strong therefore 4NT was quantitive? (ii) The 4♥ bid was influenced by the 2NT being strong as my AQ sits over the presumed K ♠ and I can capture K ♣ with the Ace... Over unusual 2NT I may X first and then 4H! and also lead A ♠ over 5♦ before the Heart next... (iii) 4NT comment by RHO tells LHO that the repsonse is not conventional etc and they've messed up and so passes the 5 ♦ bid as it wasn't a conventional response to what LHO thought it meant - if ace asking or quantitive then he cannot pass 5 ♦ as he cannot know they have a ♦ fit if partner says nothing !!! How would u rule in this case? TIA Steve

As an 'average' player on BBO, I think ratings would be an unmitigated disaster for two reasons, (i) People would leave tables with even greater frequency than now to avoid a 'bad' score. (ii) Snobbish behaviour towards people with low ratings and new players to BBO! Ratings prove only to boost ego's and not good manners / ethics! To cheat the telephone gets round all electronic countermeasures but never done it as I play to enjoy not to win by cheating !!! Steve

Dealer South both NV W....N....E....S ..................1H DBL.2H..2S...4H DBL.p....p.....p N ♠ 8 ♥ J52 ♦ Q843 ♣ K9632 S ♠ A632 ♥ AKQ1064 ♦ 92 ♣ 7 Lead is A Diamonds from west with East playing the 6. Next is 3H from West with East following suit with 5... What do u play at trick 3? Can u make the contract if trumps break 3-1? What do u do when East shows out on second round of trumps? This has been posted as a bridge homework question and quite frankly I can't see any way to make 4 Hearts unless 2-2 split or East has the remaining 2 Hearts and West v. likely the A♣ and K♦ by playing the 7C next and then winning the next return and playing the 9 ♦ to get 1 ♠ ruff,Q♦,K♣, A♠ and 6 Hearts in South??? If West has 3 hearts and A♣, K♦ on 3rd round he should play another ♥ and following 9♦ the final Heart and so I lose 1♠, 2♦, 1♣ is there another way? Thanks Steve

With my regular Online partner I tend to use the following :-) One thing we do as a partnership is never take comments as a criticism but constructively anyway but my translations are :- wdp - polite contract made or opps messed up vwdp - nice play but not too hard ... wd "Name" - great play vwd "Name" - how do u do that - perfect play !!! gtp - DOH!! - slight brainstorm on that hand I suspect (We tend to own up anyway afterwards as we know where we went wrong!) gtp & comment - unlucky with this or that - bad break - finesse missed etc gdp - when opps go down by our play not a declarer goof... nto - just being polite nto & comment - usually bad break but play seemed correct from my seat! I also tend to get "u lucky so & so" from partner but u have to be in it to win it! Steve

The answer lies here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1703-1137443,00.html Shows the best players can do it too! Steve

Hi Maureen, As an intermediate BIL player this looks like a♥n evil hand! Playing ACOL (or SAYC I suppose), N E S W n/a n/a 1H 2C 2S(5+) P 3H P 3S(6+) P 4H P P P P P I'm sure it could go completely differently as well! N E S W 3 ♠ 2♠(club ask) T♠ A♠ 2♣ 3♥ 3♣ J♣ 6♠ 4♠ T♥ J♥ and we're down ! as AH is good for opps... Over to the experts...

The outcome of the hand was I bid 2♣ and my partner bid 2♦ which was passed out. My partner had a 4-4-3-2 hand 1NT goes down 2 or 3 and on some 4! depending on play and isn't doubled nothing lies nicely as AQ♥ is off-side and 2♦ went down 2 and scored an average board. Thanks for all the advice - next time I'll pass the 1NT! Cheers Steve

Playing at my local bridge club with a very experienced player I held :- ♠ xxxx ♥ KJxx ♦ xxx ♣ xx My partner opens 1NT ( 12-14) and RHO passes do you :- (i) Pass (and if LHO dbls do u scramble?) (ii) Bid Stayman and do you pass a 2D call If (i) when do you scramble before LHO can double i.e. with what point count and shape? Steve

Does anyone of good links to responding to notes on responding to 1y-X(by opps) and also 1y-X(by ptr)? I had a number of hands in a session like this and got a few badly wrong? Thanks Steve

When playing ACOL with 4 Card majors, by bidding up the line with 4-4 then over 90% of the time you do have a 5 Card major or a balanced hand with a NT rebid. As a rule of thumb I compete pre-emptively as though partner has 5 anyway as per Robson/Seagal. Steve

I love the game of bridge but the most annoying thing I see in MPs Duplicate is the correct bidding to 4 of a major just making and the score sheet littered with 3NT+1. Do you think bidding 3NT on a hand which would normally be bid to 4 of a major at teams/imps/rubber is good bridge or alternatively WHEN do u do it? Should the scoring be adjusted to make these one & same? The corrolary is why is it my opps bid these hands to 4 of a major and the 3NT'ers only make 9 lol. Interested in other opinions. Steve