peachy

I am defaulted into 2D (whether 2-way or one-way NMF). Easier in two-way when it creates GF and I don't need to worry about wrong strain or level when bidding will not end below game.

Whether you use 1S to show 4+ or double to show 4+SP seems to be a toss-up, if you are going to vary from the traditional (1S=5+, DBL=4). But, to us, the advantage of chosing one of those over the standard is that you can show a directionless response without 4S -- a hand which would have probably responded 1NT or 1H, but now cannot. Without the variance, we are shut out early and might have an impossible situation later. We find that it occurs frequently enough to make it helpful. Others have expressed in earlier threads the importance of showing 4 vs. more spades. Their view is more than valid, just not our choice. P.S., the decision on what to use would be affected by what a 2m raise should show. Your responses here as well as in other threads talk about "we" and "us". Who is "we"?

A good player sees when some play or bid or defense was bad, he/she does not need barometer scoring to recognize an error; nor will he/she yell at partner about it. Typically, yelling is done by result-merchants who really do not even know what they are talking about while having "Expert" in their profile...

1NT because that is what I have, 15-17(18) and clubs stopped. We can still find a major fit if there is one

LOL, I have needed this feature often. Maybe, once this new feature is implemented, all occurrences of using this feature would automatically be collected and emailed for the GIB administrator's review . Just kidding...the mail load would be enourmous... All that aside, I still play robot tourneys a few times a week. Better than solitaire or mahjong puzzles.

That is true, but the robots are big liars some of the time. Seems like "often" to me. For example this one two days ago. Unopposed bidding between you and the GIB. GIB opens 1D. 1D-2C (I had AJx-Qx-QJ10-AJxxx or something similar 15HCP. Clubs, diamonds, and the shape are accurate, the rest as best I remember) 2D- 3D (2D explanation shows 5+ diamonds) 3H - 4D (dont remember exact explanation but it included 3- H and 3- S, did not match GIBs hand. I tried to look what my 4D means to GIB but there was no explanation available) 4NT- 5S (RKC and my response) 5NT- 6D (K ask and my response 6D, not sure if my response is right) 7D - down several, I don't remember if the other GIBs doubled or not hehe My GIB had 3-4-3-3 in a 13count with 7xx in diamonds and no aces!

2C for me. I am not completely opposed to Dbl, but there are too many hands for partner where he might leave 1SX in (if he actually had a trap pass hand) but we can't set them. Plus, my diamonds should be three cards. Plus, what will I do if partner pulls Dbl to 2D? Pass or 3C?

No blame. A minimum opener although 4-card support, does not need to bid again opposite a passed hand because game possibilities are very remote. Opener can bid 2S if opponents balance, this is likely a partscore hand. I would have opened 2S as East.

South has no logical alternative to the 4H. Result stands.

Blame goes to North. He has a very clear 5S bid. Even South could have bid 5S, but if he didn't North must do it. There is no excuse for North's final pass. EW bidding raises some questions also. Why did East Pass 4S? And why did West bid 5H??

it is hard to tell what others think... unless they come right out and tell you. Even then it is hard to tell what they think...such as, what is their motivation to tell me what they think my play is like...or do they have adequate skill/enough data etc. to even make such judgment.

Splinter with responder hand is fine, just decide after hearing 1H opening from partner that "I am first splintering, then making a move toward slam". The responding hand has all side suits controlled first or second round, and MORE than adequate trumps length and quality. Opener has 8HCP after the diamond values are discounted, so he should just bid 4H. If agreed style prohibits splintering with this, you are defaulted to first responding 1S. Jacoby 2NT should not be used unless it is agreed with partner that one can hold a singleton in the J2NT response. Normally J2NT shows a balanced GF with 4+ card support.

Without agreements, assume it is a hand too good to overcall 1S.

IMO, misinformation did not lead to double. The double was "independently bad" with or without misinformation. In fact, with misinformation [2s = natural] the double is even worse judgment than with correct information. I notice that you left out from your second post that West is World Class player. I doubted that fact from the start.

The Dbl was bad judgment. Even if there was MI, the damage was caused by the World Class (really?) West doubling.

I don't act as TD and don't have to be one to read the ACBL alert regs - such as they are... Support Dbl is alerted. That is clear, be it this auction or other auctions where Dbl is support. Other doubles in this auction (unless meaning is highly unusual or unexpected) are not alerted.

No bidding problem in this problem. Pass. I would not have asked about 2S. If 2S it was not alerted, no reason to ask about it. If it was alerted, you asked, and they answered, no reason to doubt their answer and ask again. I find that annoying.

I would make the bid that by our system shows my hand. I don't know how it is relevant whether partner is "best" or "worst" or "average". 3C = limit or better raise in hearts.

Just to make it clear: the examples in my post are not "mine", I was directly quoting the ACBL regulation which has those examples. I agree that the regulation term "unexpected" is fuzzy.

Not sure if it does any good but you could mail this to ACBL Rulings - with dates, TD name, opp names, etc. relevant detail. The table ruling is plain wrong, IMO.

It does matter where -alerting regulations are not laws that are the same all over the world. (and I know you knew that) The ACBL regs only say this about the subject (I am copying it here for ease of discussion: = = = = = PART IV: DOUBLES, REDOUBLES AND PASSES Except for those doubles with highly unusual or unexpected meanings, doubles do not require an Alert. 1S-P-4C (splinter bid)-Dbl If this double asks for the lead of any suit other than clubs, an Alert is required. 1H-Dbl or 1H-P-1S-Dbl If either double is penalty or lead directing only, an Alert is required. 3H-Dbl or 3H-P-P-Dbl If either double is penalty, an Alert is required Passes or redoubles with highly unusual or unexpected meanings require an Alert. 1C-P-1S-Dbl- Rdbl If redouble shows three-card spade support rather than a good hand, an Alert is required. 1S-P-2C-2S- P If the second Pass says, "I do not want a spade lead on defense," an Alert is required. = = = = = Under these rules, your OP first case is alertable in ACBL because it would be unexpected. The rest are a gray area. IMO.

Finally, a problem to which there is only one answer: Dbl. Partner is allowed to pull if he thinks we have slam.

If 3C is gameforcing, then 3S is misleading or an overbid. 3S should be reserved for hands that have slam prospects or NT prospects, both of which this hand is lacking.

It would be awful for fast players to make them face slow players even MORE frequently than they have to suffer from that already. I know you are trying to find a solution to make slow players play faster but there just isn't a solution. But it would be nice if tempo is tracked, then slow players were denied access to Speedball tournaments, at least once, to extract from them a promise to play faster:) .

Many standardish bridge players have agreement that two-level Dbl is penalty and 3-level is takeout, when they overcall on our 1NT. Under these agreements, I pass. If our agreement is that Dbl on the 3H is penalty, I still pass.