peachy

This interpretation brings back the ancient thread on another forum, re-told by me here at least twice, about the 6S call. Auction, with opponents silent. 1S -...3S (3S=limit raise, but made with break in tempo) 6S (opener did not have anywhere near slamgoing hand ) Apparently, opener got frustrated, knowing his hands were tied after partner significantly broke tempo so he decided to make a call that was not a logical alternative at all, to him or to any other sane player of any level and skill. 6S made by miraculous lie of the cards. Was ruled to 4S or 3S or a mix of both, by a consensus of respected TDs at the time. Now ACBL new interpretation would describe this 6S call a logical alternative because this action was taken and therefore it is a logical alternative. Am I misunderstanding what the Laws Commission decided, or is there more than what has been revealed here on BBF?

This was the Finals of a two day nationally rated event in North American Bridge Championships [first day was the qualification] with strong field and many international participants. Knowledge of local customs IMO is irrelevant. This thread has become a nightmare and tangented off to several directions. My fault for starting it! Appreciate everybody's comments.

The front. Here is again the picture of the card http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/newss1131.pdf

Yes, I am sure. And it also was so shown on the system card.

The situation was discussed, agreed, and been the same for long time. My partner had some senior moment apparently. In the end, I think the opponent should have called the director, and when the opponent did nothing, then I should have stepped in and called the director. It backfired when I tried to be as helpful as I could. I didn't (and still don't) think I am allowed to say to the table what the systemic meaning of my own call is.

4S was really bad. All other calls were fine.

A friend asked me what is the best line of play here. I am including all the spots that I have, the rest are x's. No hand records, because manual dealing. IMPs, ACBL Regional KO's semifinal Bracket 2 Vul v. Not-vul 1NT-PPP 10xx A6xx A9x 10xx KQ7x J9x K10x AKx Lead: Club queen

In an ACBL indy, you are expected to know what SAYC is and if you are not bidding by SAYC, there could be score adjustments. In non-ACBL indy, see what mycroft wrote, also no redress for any damage to bidder or their opponents.

I play Leaping Michaels a little stronger than what the given hand was. And would have taken us to slam with the advancer's hand. Maybe not found grand though if continuations were not discussed and maybe not even bid six if the agreed strength can be just normal Michaels strength.

http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/newss1131.pdf Perhaps this helps in understanding what I said. A blank ACBL Convention Card.

I also agree with debrose. Assume it is penalty if it is not alerted and let TD sort it out afterward if it wasn't.

Agree about UI. That is why I showed the information to him in a manner partner could not see.

I was in good spirits and being helpful. In my "lesser moods", I would sit still and wait for the next person, whether foreign or not, to act by either a TD call or by looking at my card. The information is preprinted with a tickbox, not handwritten. I enjoy visitors and guests BTW. Again, what should I have done? Really, call the TD seemed to me unnecessary, but perhaps you are right.

For me, in 2/1, 3C here is "to play" with singleton or void in spades, inadequate diamonds to Pass 2D and no 5+card hearts. I admit it is a hole but I can live with it, easily; just choose between 3C (underbid) and 2NT (right on values but very wrong on shape). If clubs are only six-long and the hand is invitational, I bid 2NT even with singleton spade. It is quite common in any system to face hands where no call is 100% right. Just means there is a hole in the system but trying to fix THIS hole will need a major overhaul and IMO it is not worth it unless you are indeed ready for a mjor overhaul and ripple effects all over the place.

A logical alternative is defined in 16B1b, and my English expert thinks that the person at the table cannot constitute a "significant proportion of such players" on his own. Now if a well-known London player who has appeared on T-shirts showing his prowess were to make the bid, it is possible that the peer group would be only one, and he would be its only member, in which case I might agree. But in that case, peer has the meaning most often used in clues to Private Eye crosswords. After this morning's ACBL Laws Committee meeting, in ACBLand at least, any bid that is in fact chosen by the player at the table is a logical alternative. The committee had a very easy time agreeing on this. I am very surprised!

At the NABC IMP Pairs, I played against a few foreign players. Some seem to have no idea what and where any information is on the ACBL system card although they generally did have their own ACBL system cards filled out (probably by someone else, why else would some of them be acting like deer in the headlights) and little or no understanding about ACBL Alerting Regulations such as they are - but at least they are available to anybody. Example: Opp1 Pd Opp2 Me (1D) 1NT (X) 2C Opp1 asked my pd what 2C means. To my surprise, partner said he does not know what our agreement is. Opp1 looks confused. To be helpful, I suggest he look in our system card which was on the table next to him. He looks at the front and asks where is it. Away from partner's sight, I show where NT Overcalls are on the system card. The box *Systems On* next to it is ticked. He puts the card on the table and then asks me, "so what is 2C?" I show again - trying to do it again out of partner's sight to avoid UI to partner - the NT overcalls, the *systems on*, turn the card front up for him and show where the NT systems are listed. He doesn't want to look at the card and then gives me hand gestures to put the card away. I tried to do the right thing by law, be kind, be hospitable, and be helpful toward a visitor. Should I have said *Stayman*? Beat up my partner for having forgotten a simple agreement? Go home, have a warm bath and a cup of tea? Call the Director?

I am bidding 3H instead of 3D. System is SAYC and 1NT was not forcing so 3H just shows doubleton because all hands with heart support would have raised hearts. Had the system been 2/1 and 1NT was forcing, I still bid 3H.

ACBL, nationally rated event IMP Pairs. None vul. Auction, with no alerts, my partner opening: 1NT (Dbl) P (P) P 1NT=12-14 To be sure the unalerted Dbl is penalty, I looked at my LHO's computer processed system card. The explanation line in the card was showing suit symbols separated by slashes and some words of text which was too small for me to see. RHO was sitting on his sys card. Being late in the round, I didn't ask what the Dbl meant, and assumed it was artificial because of the string of stuff on the explanation line, and that they just forgot to alert. When the smoke cleared, and RHO's card appeared from under his butt to enter the score, I saw RHO handwritten card show "Penalty". I then asked LHO to read what her card said and she said the suit symbols and text etc was continuation from the line below because all the text didn't fit in the line below. Should I have asked even when the Dbl was not alerted? We could have gotten off for -500 in 2SX instead of -800 in 1NTX. Over a penalty Dbl, we play *Systems On* so via Garbage Stayman we obviously find our fit. Opponents are cold for 3NT and the scoring is cross IMPs. I didn't call the TD. Should I have?

I may have not been clear. The place I suggested, is on the West wall, next to the Players Club customer service. The Starbucks lobby is in the the South end of the floor and of course also a possibility though it may be filled with travelers and Starbucks customers while the Players Club room is normally empty.

If I know what the forumers have in mind, I could step up and do it. How long? With or without food or drink? When? I spoke to Grand Sierra (Randy, manager of Player's Club). There is a large seating area next to the Players Club and that area is quiet, typically empty all day and night, has seating enough for more than what our group would need, and it is free = at no charge, to use. Located to the left of the main entrance where the bronze horses statue is. Or to the right, if you are looking toward the main entrance from inside the casino floor, next to the Player's Club customer service (opposite wall from the restaurants). If this works, fine. If not, let me hear suggestions and be happy to get this going in some other direction. Then, what day and what time?

I'll be there the whole time. Unless I see Josh or someone decide on day and time, I'll look for it at the NABC information desk. If it is in the morning hours, there are several areas in the renovated hotel-casino that can informally accommodate, say, a gathering of 20 people. PS. My Red Ribbon partner had to cancel his trip. Anyone want to play with me Thu-Fri 3/18-3/19, either that event or Silver Ribbon?

I also support eliminating lifetime eligibility without the requisite platinum points. And they should be current platinum points (50+ within the last three years) or way higher than 200 if lifetime platinums are included in the mix. I am not qualified, btw. One reason is I attend NABC's about once in two years. The other being, when I play in nationally rated events, I sometimes place on the "first page" of the results and that just doesn't cut it although in itself it is nothing to sneer at. All in all, keep the bar high. There are plenty of other events to play in.

Nothing to "take it as" or "understand". It is a takeout double, made in the balancing seat. It is practically NEVER left in, in this auction.

For me - in competition, it shows 4-card hearts - without competition, it shows 4-card hearts and extras (in HCP or playing strength, either is fine) but the raise is still invitational, not forcing. Many kind of agreements exist and can be made.

1S, better than a minimum 1S opening because all points are in the long suits, there is a void, there are no dubious/wasted queens/jacks, it is 6-5, the suits have high spots, the list goes on for more.