badderzboy

I suspect this will be the 1st of many and move around the UK I'm from the North East and Coventry isn't the easiest place to get to in Jan but I'm still going and Coventry is fairly Central in the UK. I would prefer to give kudos to people getting up and organisng the event than worry why wasn't it at so and so! Steve

One point after 1D-1S-2H is that partner has 3C available if very strong as 4th suit forcing at which point you bid 3H showing at least 6-5 and if he bid 3NT I might even bid 4D to show the extreme shape as a slam try. Steve

I often play in the Acol club or BIL would it be possible to list 'favourite' clubs alongside the three main rooms? Steve

Hi Jilly, It shouldn't be acceptable and there are laws to deal with it if the director sees fit - best option is to call the director otherwise they are getting away with gamesmanship Some people pray on new peoples ignorance of the laws of the game and this is one part I personally would love to jump on when I direct if people would call when they should. Otherwise best option is to just try and beat them to shut them up - tends to be my solution let our card play and defence do the talking lol I play at 3 local clubs - one mixed ability circa 7 tables , one a mix of learners and experienced pairs about 11 tables and one where the ability is pretty good with 13/14 tables - guess where u could cut the air with a knife and guess where it's a pleasure to play with never a harsh word!!! Steve

I play the bids as following :- 2/1 shows 10+pts (or 9+ with a good 5 card suit / 8+ with a good 6 card suit) 1. Strictly non-forcing - shows 5+♠s,4+♦s and 11-14 pts and asks for suit preference if minimum. 2. n/a 3. Yes 1M-2x-2M-2NT is invitational showing a 10-13pt hand with 1 or fewer of the bid major. 4. 1M-2m-3m NF courtesy raise shows 5+M 4+m and weak hand so up to 2m bidder to bid again or pass 5. 1M-2m-2X-3m NF long m with minimum response no tolerance for other suits. With the other version go via 4th suit. Steve

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=saj532hatdak6ck86&s=sk4hkj3dq7caq7532]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]. Playing Acol my partner and I got to 7NT but can u, only 2 out of 13 tables had bid 7NT at our local club. The 1st decision is whether you open 1C or 1NT in SAYC ( for Acol players do u rebid 3C or 1NT... as an easy 1C opener in Acol). take it from there... If its too easy if the clubs break 4-0 what is the only hope? Steve

After a night of mad hands this hand turns and just as you are about to possibly show a 2 suited hand for the 4th time! [hv=d=e&v=b&s=sqt986hj9dkt9753c]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] East passes and I did the same Q1 - do u agree? West now bids 4♣ ((described as strong long suit but pre-emptive in nature) and partner bids 4♥s and East 5♣s. Q2 what do u do now 5♥,DBL or pass? If u bid 5♥ then South bids 6♣s.... and is passed around to you Q3 Do u bid 6♥ or dbl or pass? Steve

Ah the wonderful world of masterpoints! I would have to agree with all the posters here. It is primarily an attendance award but is also used by the authorities to segregate some competitions ie with less than 5000 UK Masterpoints (not sure of US conversion ratio) u can play in the National Newcomers Pairs (below rank of master) and so on. To be fair most people can stumble to this figure in the UK or qualify to play in a regional competition where high 100s of MPs are on offer for just turning up! I've learnt fairly quickly that skill/MPs don't correlate more a factor of time served and how much money spent at congresses. In fact when was the last time you asked what rank someone was as a guide to their ability? PS Also how many trust the ranks on BBO lol - I think Adv/Int/Beg are far more accurate ratings by people who don't feel the need to fluff up their feathers... Steve

easy neg dbl wtp This is MPs so I might want to play in a 4-4 Spade fit? Steve

[hv=d=s&v=e&n=sqxxhkxxxxd10cjxxx&s=saxxxhxdkj987xcqx]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] S....W....N...E 1♦ DBL 1♥ Pass 1♠ DBL pass pass ? corrected as per Free's request (Back to nursery for me to learn Left and right!!) (i) do u pass or pull to 2♦? (ii) How do u plan the play on A♣ by West followed by K♣ by East and a 3rd ♣ by East? Cheers Steve

I think the key lesson is to Listen to the bidding Pass North is now limited to less than an opening hand 1♣ An opening hand with 3+Clubs at a guess (SAYC?) 1♦ I have an overcall with 5+Diamonds 8-15pts 1NT I have a balanced hand with Diamonds stopped and 6-9 pts At this point E knows points are evenly split as West is limited - West does not South should also know that NS have at most 20pts too especially since East has shown 13+ and West 6-9... 2♦ Fair bid I have Diamond support and some values lets compete Dbl Yuck - East should pass it would limit the hand and also West know East is short!!! He can count 3+5+3/4 means 1/2 in West unfortunately it pays off ... Pass Good Bid I have nothing more partner to say 2NT Yuck - No 4 card major and denies a Club fit!!! - should bid 3♣s Pass Good pass 3♣ Another iffy bid I'm short in Diamonds hate NT (Partner knows) 3♦ No need to bid here leave it to partner to compete but u are now showing extra strength 3♠ ??????????? 3NT There may be trouble ahead ( Stick your neck on the block time) Axe didn't fall!!! Don't mean to be critical here but worth always listening and building pictures. EW bidding should have warned North off his 3NT bid and maybe workout the 3D bid too but if this was GIB then who knows it sometimes takes flights of fancy lol. It can be dangerous in competitive auctions when 1 opponent knows the combined assets of his side.... Cheers Steve

Is there UI/MI? Yes Was there Damage? Yes if 5♥ X makes Is the 5♥ bid influenced by the UI ? No, The 5♥ knows nothing useful by the MI and the bidding suggests his ptr is light in ♠s. Is the 3♠ and double influenced by the MI ? yes First, Did he make 5♥x? If yes , I would rollback to 3♥ making +2 I guess your partner would not bid 3♠ with the right explanation and West is also going to pass and so 5♥x is never the final contract? If No then you get the score of the double as you would never be in ♠s Steve

The new concept on alerting doubles seems easier to remember but no doubt will be the cause of some dispute but it shouldn't be too hard to remember that a double of a natural suit bid is not alertable if for takeout and a double of an artificial bid is not alertable if it shows that suit otherwise alert! The only problems I've seen so far are people annoucing too much info ie weak may be 5 cards for a 2 level opening and so on. Steve

Mollo had some great characters in his books but what are the modern day types? What would be their motto / common saying and how do u recognise the type by their bidding, doubles and overcalls? Eg, The Basher - The motto might be "game in every part score, slam in every game" or LTC said bid 4 holding Qxx Qxx Qxxx Qxx .... - The Overcalls / Opening pre-empts style - well I had a 6 card suit - holding 987432... - 1♦ - Double holding Jxxx Qxxx x Kxxx well we had a fit somewhere and LOTT said I'd be protected... The scientist - "It may take 25bids but ze wil bid the slam eventually" The optimist - " Well it only needed 3 finesses" (or is this a Roland slam?) :D or "Gotta be in it to win it" The Miserable old git - " Slam - humbug I don't bid slams I wanna play in game with 39pts - that J might be offside" The pessimist - "Well the trumps might break 6-0 when u hold 7 ..." The LO(Person) - "Sorry Dear but did I really reverse there?" How would the above bid/overcall and pre-empt? and better mottos pls Cheers Steve

Hand 1 1♥-2♣-2♠rev -3♦4sf 4♣4513 or better no D stop -4NT-5♦(3/0)-5NT-6♥(2)-7NT its pairs Hand 2 dbl too wtp? Steve

From 1st August, We will announce 1NT range, stayman, transfers over 1NT and no alerts over 3NT unless NAMYATS or similar openings... Always felt strange alerting stayman! There are also mild change to doubles alerting. I am looking forward to them but expect them to cause some chaos, what funny experiences have u seen and what level of fun do u expect? I'm also a recently qualified TD so will have to deal with the fallout too! Steve

♠ AKJxxx ♥ Axx ♦ Kx ♣ AQ ♠ xxx ♥ KQJxx ♦ Ax ♣ xxx Playing Acol or Benji Acol it is straight forward Straight Acol 2♠-Acol 2 - 3♥ 5+ good suit 8+HCPS 4NT RKCB(3014) - 5♠ 2 & Q 6♥ or 6NT at MPs Benji 2♣ - 2♥ +ve 5 card suit 2♠ - 3♠ 4♣* -4♦* 4♥* -4♠ 4NT-5♦*1/4 5♥ Qask - 5♠ No 6♠ or 6NT are both feasible options Steve

I would reverse the question! How to ensure partner doesn't tilt after the mistake. I guess partner knows he made a mistake and he knows u know! One of my partners would chastise me a little or not so much now as I would tilt for the next few boards when he did and the other would laugh at me in a friendly way saying you don't do that very often... Guess which one helps the most in recovering composure... I would lighten the mood a little with the latter and then add don't worry we'll get it back partner and smile. Bridge is a partnership game and if we can't accept partner making a mistake then play Chess lol but you also need to remember the human aspects too... Steve

In terms of promoting Bridge it's a good thing. To take away all systems nuances is a good thing then at least Joe public can understand the bidding as it will at least be consistent and potentially watchable on TV by none bridge players... (You try explaining why 1♣ is one thing to me and a myriad of other things to every other pair). The indy bit doesn't bother me either as it will come down to judgement and good play across the board not whether you find the hands bias to one system or another and so on. I think it will be very entertaining although I won't see it I'm away from the internet on a cruise when its on :rolleyes:(( All very positive for bridge in general!

Hi Wayne, 3NT was perfect if you play gambling 3NT. 4♣ is pass or correct so partner is captain as you have described your hand. I guess u made on a non spade lead and no spade switch but you really should pass 4♣ as you have no idea what partner has Just remember when you have pre-empted you don't rebid your hand you have told all so trust partner :( Steve

Hmmm, Would it not be reasonable for the commitee to suggest Juniors couldn't commentate on matches involving fellow UK juniors unless they have their permission to do so or alternatively to comment only on meaning of bids within their colleagues systems ie not on play or judgement issues which may cause offence. The EBU minutes suggest some players were upset with vugraph comments by a fellow player. A blanket ban appears heavy-handed does it not! Steve

Its funny I play acol with a weak 12-14 NT and transfers are my favourite bit of my system although I use 4 way with extended stayman to find a 5-3 if I need to. Also as I play in the UK the bidding is with the field too so no real advantage playing a better more memory intensive system. Beauty of transfers is it's dead easy to remember and can ferret out the best contract in most hands! Steve

Playing Acol 4 card majors... Opps open 1C-1S-4S. You hold [hv=d=w&v=e&s=st54h98754dqjcqt6]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] What's your lead Do it change given u are playing a 13 table moderate ability club night. Does it change playing teams... Steve

Full hand is [hv=d=e&v=e&n=sq3ha1032daq10c10742&s=saj98762hkj864d6c]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv]. We bid 1♣-2♣-p-3♥ p-4♣*-p-4♦* p-4♠*-p-4NT p-5♥(2noQ)-p-6♥ How should it be bid and where do u end up? Steve

1♠-2♦-4♦(Splinter)- 4NT*-5♣*(1/4) 5♦*Qask-6♣(y & K♣) 6♠ or 1♠-2♦-3♦ game force cue 4♣*-4♦Cue 4NT*-5♣*(1/4) 5♦*Qask-6♣(y & K♣) 6♠ Possible auction but needs an established partnership to bid it this way I suspect Steve