peachy

I could have said "took 5-7 seconds before making his call" but I used the common terminology "hesitated" which in my estimation only means that "more time than normal is taken". But you are right, use proper terminology. As you said, the AC decided this 5-7 seconds did not constitute a BIT, therefore there was no UI and opener was free to make any call. And the AC did establish as a fact that 5-7 seconds was taken, confirming TD finding.

Playing 2/1, bid 2S and then repeat spades next round. In 2/1, 2S is either natural or a hand that lacks clear direction, asking opener to describe more of his hand. Obviously, this time the 2S is natural :) Playing methods where 2C does not create a gameforce, I would still bid 2S and repeat spades. 3S could be splinter with diamonds agreed, at least that is how I would take it without agreements with a good partner.

3S created gf (in essence it did because we cannot pass 3S if the other opponent passes). Pass by opener over 5C is forcing, leaving decision to partner. Therefore, you cannot Pass. If you do, and partner then doubles, your pull to 5S shows a hand that partner is allowed to raise to six. I think 5S directly over 5C is very clear, whether it makes or not.

This appeal was reported in today's Bulletin from the San Diego NABC. http://www.acbl.org/nabc/bulletins/2009/03/5/ The link has the full article, but the gist of it is this: 2NT (3S) ...P (P) 3NT (P) P (P) After 2NT, the opener's partner hesitated for about 5-7 seconds. Director was called during auction and then after the hand. Before I had finished reading the write-up, I thought this would be the clearest case of using UI in the history of bridge when a 2NT opener in solo rebids 3NT, with a 19-count and Qxx in spades. To my astonishment, the AC (which included David Stevenson as one of the members) allowed the table result to stand. I don't understand...

What is left for the "None of the above" vote. AM I missing something that 3 voters saw...

This hand just keeps popping up everywhere. Someone must be obsessed with it:)

No heart, no diamond. I need to look at my hand, but probably clubs.

Yes!

It could be close considering we are vul. Then again, partner is short in hearts and probably has 6 spades and is trying to not lose a partscore swing. I pass.

Don't pull partner's penalty double unless you are CERTAIN by your OWN hand that you get a MUCH better score by pulling.

The ACBL Convention Charts support this. However, if opening 1NT with a singleton more frequently than whatever the powers-to-be consider "rare", it becomes an illegal agreement and it also would be a CPU unless alerted.

I hope consistent demonstration of terribly bad bridge would be one. But how do you find out, or do you rely on reports (with examples?) from kibitzers??

2D does not show extras, in my experience, my opinion, by general bridge knowledge or by anything else AFAIK. Typical hands for partner include singleton spade and six diamonds.

Yes, a normal 2S opener. Yes, partner is boss of our side auction after I open a weak two. Yes, ditto. 5S, I see no reason to Pass 5H and don't see any oter possible action than 5S. This all seems pretty straightforward.

Bid 4S instead of 3. Partner cannot see through the cards and you could easily have had a really bad hand and 4-card spades, instead of this maximum, for the 2S call.

If I can trust partner, he has a good overcall with six spades, that is clear. If he had another suit and he wanted to compete further, he would bid the other suit. I am going to leave it in and trust that partner has it set in his hand. It does not take a 'mountain too big for a simple overcall' to set them, just long good spades and entries.

South 100%, North another 80% . If South wants to investigate 3NT on the basis that 2H only promises 3-card support, fine - investigate but don't count on Axx being a double stopper LOL. If North wants to leave 3NT in, fine - just don't have have 4-card support and xx in their suit.

I suggest you do not believe anything that the person (who suggested to open 1S with this) is saying.

2S is running from 4-2 heartfit. Opener has 5+ diamonds, 4 spades, singleton or doubleton club (not void, he would have reopened with something else), and probably no significant extras.

Not sure that is accurate. Sorry, Fred. My understanding from your past posts was that the likelihood of BBO implementing a rating system was approximately zero. Thanks for the correction.

Second all that, plus, BBO owners/administrators do not want a rating system.

I also have BW that I would like to sell. Sporadic issues from the 1960's, nearly all from the 70's onward til current. I would love to send it all somewhere where they would be appreciated since I seldom re-read them any more. I wasn't very vigilant in getting back every issue I let somebody borrow so my sets are not all complete.

2C is a wide range bid although not forcing, but it is passed nearly never. With like-minded partner: 1C-1H-2C-2D = forcing. This I believe is universally true whatever the system. 1C-1H-2C-3D = 4 hearts 6 diamonds, to play unless opener overrules with significant extras. If this is not the agreement, then it is 4-5 hearts, 5 diamonds, and invit 1C-1H-2C-4D = splinter with clubs as trump. Some play it as RKC for clubs I suppose.

Not rude at all, IMO, and certainly not against the laws. But if an opponent (a silly one) is bothered by it, I might as well put the book or paper away and keep peace. Several years ago when bidding boxes were not so common although already implemented for ACBL tournaments, I met an opponent who required verbal bidding because her insufficient hand function prevented her from using the bidding box. She did hold cards in her hand, not a holder. However, when she was dummy, she had enough hand function to hold a cross-word magazine in her one hand and do crosswords, with a pencil in the other hand... Now this is what I call rude :)

Nice. However, result from one hand does not justify doubling here, IMO. I estimate that much of the time a Dbl would give a bad score one way or another.