badderzboy

The question for me is not how good I am I rate myself as a purely competent club player just intrigued to know how better players know how good they are. My intermittent experiences of tourneys is the same club players migrate to tourneys too on the quest for Masterpoints...! Steve

I with a regular partner and occasionally others and play at a number of local clubs and score reasonably well averaging 58/60% annually at a club level regardless of which local club.... What benchmarks do u use to judge ability at a club level given the wide range of ability? I tend to look at an annual score rather than a session score but am interested to know how people self rate locally and what expectations people set for their partnership? Do u consider MPs or Teams a truer test of ability? I'm yet to venture into the wonderful world of congresses .... lol Steve

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=skj10xhaxxdqcakjxx]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] RHO opens 1 Spade... What do u bid and why? Steve

I prefer the new alerting/announcing rules in England including the doubles! Stayman/transfers and the 2 level opening alerts and announcing the NT range at least prevent the french defence and also lighten the mood at a club session when u have to cough etc to remind partner to alert the NT range. The doubling alerts are easier but given that many had no idea what they were previously its no great loss/benefit. A double for takeout is not alertable unless over a natural NT bid and also alertable if for penalty unless over a NT basically. The non-alerting over 3NT has also seen benefits ie the gerberites don't have the safety harness anymore.... The only thing I would wish for is some standard to be adopted across the globe lol! Jez I live about 80 miles south of Scotland - sounds like I need to read up b4 playing north of the border!!! Cheers Steve

I would bid 2♥s without a second thought and I guess I play modern Acol as I've played less than 5 years so... I degrade the 10pt requirement for the 2/1 with a long suit so here 8pts and a 6 card suit suffice especially when ptr knows I must have 5. as 1♠ can be a 4 card suit if 4333 and assuming partner bids 4 card suits up the line ... I don't bid 2♠s without a singleton. As MickyB says 2NT is G/F after a 2/1 these days. And I have a safe pass over 2♠ and a simple 3♥s over 2NT. What can go wrong :)... Steve

Anyone for 3♣s as I want to bid I have values don't know which red suit u have? Steve

The relevant laws are: The first issue is what extraneous information was passed apart from wtf was 4♥s. Does the hesitation demonstrably show extra values ? You could argue passing 4♠ used UI as bidding on is a LA if everyone else would bid 6 and go down on a bad split or unexpected ruff. As above what UI was passed? I would also ask his partner (a) did u hestitate and (:) why? I am a director and I'm not convinced I would disallow the 4NT bid with the information but u need to poll his peers here which I suspect they are not as good as you all are lol. With an expert partner I would be more likely to roll it backas they understood the 4♥ bid. The argument I was always going on has a little merit u would like ptr to take control and bid 4NT with the right hand as u've denied AK♥s surely... and they can accurately paint a fuller picture. I guess he thought his ptr might take over

Trying to access BBO 09:15 and unable to access from UK. Is there a current problem on the site Steve

The situation here is North has suddenly realised u might have Clubs and was assuming u had Diamonds - the fact your ptr can now work out u have Clubs from his holding is not AI to North. You HOPE ur double is taken as showing Clubs u haven't agreed it and ptr is entitled o work it out herself. The opps aren't allowed to know what it means if your ptr doesn't lol! Its a bit like a discard signal what does the X of Diamonds mean... The correct answer is if my ptr thinks it is high its a signal for if low a signal for.. its amazing how many say he wants a ... (Oh so u know its high/low....) Steve

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sxh1098da102ckq10983&s=skqxhak7654dk73ca]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You finish in 6♥ by South in a team match opps lead a 7 of diamonds to the J and K You cash A ♥ and Q appears from West You unblock A ♣ and J appears from East... How do u play from here? Does your plan differ if West is a weak player or a strong player .... Steve

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=shk73dakq8743cj102]133|100|Scoring: IMP Partner opens Weak 2S[/hv] Given 3 Diamonds is forcing and Weak 2 Spades 6 Spades and 6-10pts

Seems biddable to me without that many clever agreements 2NT -3C(puppet Stayman)- 3NT* no 4 or 5Card Major- 4C (forcing shows Cs asks for cue) 4D*(1/2nd ) -4H*(cue) 4S*(cue)-4NT*(RKCB) 5D(1/4)-5H*(Q ask) 6C*(Yes Q no o/s K)-7C (knows that partner 2/3 in majors can see AAAKQ and partner must have a major Q to have pts with no Ks) Steve

Amusing thing is how often have u penalised 1NT or the runout I've been hammered once by a pen dbl in 3 years and hammered it once (so did the rest of the field). I've disturbed and penalised 1NT far more effectively but hey I've only tried it and seen 40/50 good results 10/20 average and 3 bad but what do I know lol. Steve

1NT x as primarily takeout does not preclude it being a penalty double. I actually get to double the weak NT more often for penalty with X showing 13+ as I can double more often far more likely to hold 13+ than 16+ as ptr will leave in with 7/8+. I've frequently nailed 1NT with ptr holding 10+ and me 13. The only danger is where we have 16pts and ptr 5/6 and ptr pulls. We find opps run out of 1NT to a minor for a poorer pairs score occasionally too. We often find game when it otherwise goes 1NT-ppp too. My experiences of playing it have virtually all been positive certainly at MP pairs. Steve

Playing against weak NT here in the UK at MPs, I've found the following defence quite effective as dbl for penalty is quite ineffective against decent pairs they know how to run anyway. Dbl - 13+ primarily takeout can be passed for penalty - 2NT relay over ptrs takeout 16/17+ mild game interest. New suit after ptrs reponse forcing 1 round one suited hand. 2C/2D/2H/2S all natural 5/6+suit 10-13 HCPs typically - 2NT over suit bid relay game invite asking for more info as per UCB. 2NT both majors or minors 5/5+ good hand minor suit as preference with 3H as relay to both majors p/c (3H/3S over 2NT shows shortage and game interest) 3C Clubs & Major 3D relay 3D Diamonds & Major 3H p/c 3H/3S v strong one suited hand akin to Acol 2 in that suit. Steve

1♠ - 2♥ 4♣*-4♠* 4NT*-5♣* 6♥ 1S - 4+ ♠ 11-19* 2H - 5+♥ 10+pts 4C - Splinter agreeing ♥ 4S - Cue denying Diamond AK but extra values 4NT 3014 (have Diamond control) 5CL 3 (no void 6C with 3 and a void) 6♥ missing Ace of Diamonds ah well Steve

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sa10hkqdakqj1093caj]133|100|Scoring: Total Points Bidding is 2C-P-2D(neg 0-7)-2S(opps) - 3D - p - 3NT[/hv] Your partners 2Diamonds is a negative 0-7 3NT shows a max negative with a spade stop what do u bid and why? Steve

2. Intentional Variations A player may not attempt to mislead an opponent by means of remark or gesture, through the haste or hesitancy of a call or play (as in hesitating before playing a singleton), or by the manner in which the call or play is made. E. Deception A player may appropriately attempt to deceive an opponent through a call or play (so long as the deception is not protected by concealed partnership understanding or experience). It is entirely appropriate to avoid giving information to the opponents by making all calls and plays in unvarying tempo and manner. F. Violation of Proprieties When a violation of the Proprieties described in this law results in damage to an innocent opponent, 1. Player Acts on Unauthorised Information if the Director determines that a player chose from among logical alternative actions one that could demonstrably have been suggested over another by his partner’s remark, manner, tempo, or the like, he shall award an adjusted score (see Law 16). 2. Player Injured by Illegal Deception if the Director determines that an innocent player has drawn a false inference from a remark, manner, tempo, or the like, of an opponent who has no demonstrable bridge reason for the action, and who could have known, at the time of the action, that the action could work to his benefit, the Director shall award an adjusted score (see Law 12C), Hi Wayne, Straight from the law book. Please note that after the opening lead u are allowed to take stock of dummy and the singleton rule does NOT apply. (In fact as a matter of course it is good form to consider dummy for two reasons - allows ptr to consider as well and also gives no clue whether u need to coniser dummy or not). Steve

And the EBU: The principal difference in approach appears to be it is recognised in England that asking questions provides UI and hence you are advised not to ask if it would prejudice your own rights. The difference in approach to asking about alerted calls is born out by my limited experiences when playing in the US. People ask far more questions during the auction than they do in the UK. Paul It suggests that the player’s action at the current turn depends on the answer to the question. In particular, if a player asks a question and then passes, he has shown an interest in taking some other action had the player received a different answer No he has not - he has shown interest in clarification and nothing else. I try to use this also to draw the attention to opps. that their handling is not solid. It is the first phrase about selfprotection which is important. Whether you can ignore and then put the blame on TD. Looks like such is at least assumed to be poor sportmanship - thats what I have advocated and what some seems to blame me for. Sorry Claus, Bobbins if u ask and pass u pass UI. I don't know a TD who would believe u either. The 'french' defence to 1NT or weak 2s is a figment of our imaginition. Yes you may ask at any point in the auction but u are not allowed to ask to assist partner too so why ask if u have no interest. U can ask b4 the opening lead if u really want to know. Why do u want to help your opponents for gawds sake (saying that online I offer a redeal in the case of a real screwup) Steve

3NT is a little too hot for me , 3♦s seems a reasonable alternative. North bidding 6N facing an expected monster seems fair enough. Steve

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=sq10h3dkj109752caj4&s=sk9752hakqj62dc32]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] How do u bid this one? Steve

Calling the TD is seen as a faux pas by many but it is there to protect BOTH sides. I've called the TD on myself to protect the opps before in a misbid auction my partners alert was correct and his pass correct in the system but I had misbid ( the joys of Modified Ghestem)! The role of the TD is to be fair to everyone and also even if I know the TD ruling in advance for a mistake at my table (I'm a qualified English BU TD) - I would not presume to tells the opps u need to call the TD! It is true some players get away with murder by saying u should do this blah blah blah amazing it would help them everytime lol If I'm going to call the director I tend to say to the opps nothing personal but we need to call the TD just to make sure - leads out of turn, calls out of turn that sort of thing! Steve

I read this post with sheer despair! I guess I better not play in that Tourney as I play a weak NT I bet 70% don't I guess if I TD I should pander to a results merchant who dbld got it wrong and even when to the trouble of finding a whinge! When will people realise that its a game , we not playing for glory or money (well not in this tourney). I better not use judgement when I bid - guess thats naughty too? I better not make a strange lead or signal is that verboten too? Jes Steve

1♥-3♥ unless I'm playing Acol and it's the hand strong 2's are made for so either 2♣ Benji followed by 2♥ or a straight 2♥ Steve

Hi Fred, Love the Icons especially in chat but is there anyway we can make the names icons configurable in the future as I use Enemies as people I like to play with and friends as people I want to know are online. Its a shame to have an unhappy face next to people I like :( All in all love the new structure Steve