kfgauss

Ah well, I had to post again sometime.

Not exactly what you asked, but a work around if it is illegal and/or if you want to bid it often: Perhaps you're supposed to say 3♥ "asks whether opener has 3 spades". Then there's no psyche (how do you psyche an asking bid?). Of course, you don't get the full effect of a psyche, as your opponents are never told it shows 4 hearts. Similarly, I don't think Stayman can be psyched. It's an asking bid.

I know they'll probably go up on the vugraph project site after the event, but is there some place to find the files while the event is still going on (does BBO save vugraph files for a brief time somewhere?)? Side question: Is there a way to find out who will be on vugraph when (or at least next)? Thanks, Andy

I consider non-serious superior (for non-disclosure reasons) not just at MPs, but also at IMPs as frivolous cuebidding sometimes leads to them setting your game. Andy

One could (and many do) play as you describe (3S = non-serious, 3N = spade cue). I play 3S = spade cue (serious or not), 3N = non-serious (denies spade cue). The two are reasonably equivalent in any case, and mostly it's done for ease (I don't tend to play 4S = kickback with hearts agreed either). Like playing kickback, playing non-serious 3S requires extra discussion. For example, what are 3S & 3N on the auction 1S-2H;3H-? (I'd want 3N non-serious and 3S natural even if I played non-serious 3S usually)? Andy

Pass doesn't look right, and so, not really wanting to make the underbids of 2♦ or 2♥, I'll bid 2NT -- in competitive auctions, notrump rebids can be somewhat offshape. 3♥ has some merit, but I don't think one should jump raise with three -- I'm closer to 2♥ than 3♥. For those who bid 2♠, this is (generally played as) game forcing. Andy PS. I fail to understand jillybean's "clear but boring" 2♣ -- perhaps it's a typo?

While what you write is very relevant to the discussion, I feel obliged to point out that the opening bid was 1♥ and thus making 2♦ show 5 only requires 2♣ with 3 (and only 3-3-4-3 distribution), unless, of course, they also play Kaplan Inversion (ie 1N shows 5 spades) and thus must bid 2♣ on 4-3-4-2 as well (in addition to 4-3-3-3 and 4-2-4-3). Andy

A pleasant bridge-like 2 player game I like is: 1. Shuffle and place the deck between you. 2. One player draws a card and either a. discards it face down and takes the next card (which must be kept), or b. keeps the card and discards the next one face down (neither player gets to see it) 3. repeat step 2, alternating turns, until all cards are used up (you'll have 13 cards each) 4. Bid & play "bridge" (use rubber scoring preferably). (So two cards per trick, opening leader is the defender, etc.) ---- This game has some similarities to bridge and stresses certain skills (e.g. endplays and strip-squeezes are very important), and it's also fun. Andy

Weren't you of the opinion in my thread that pass over a double of 2♦ shows extras? Why is this different (we're still below 2♠)? (I'm not necessarily taking issue with your conclusions on this hand, just trying to clear up this murky situation.) Of course, on this hand, we should be able to ask our opponents how they play it. Andy We are speaking of different auctions. After the cue bid advance gets doubled, passing out the auction is impossible: the overcalling side is not about to play in the cue bid. After opener bids 2♥ over the cue bid, the force is off on the overcaller. So the bid of 2♠ after the double can (and usually is, at least in my part of the world) played as the weak bid. But after the 2♥, again in my part of the world, overcaller can show the worst hand via pass, reserving 2♠ as a real overcall, albeit not a strong hand. Could one play the two situations identically? I can see why one might, but that is not the common expert approach in the Pacific NW of NA... and I can't really speak for elsewhere since, while I have played with and against a lot of players from elsewhere, I have not discussed nor recall seeing this auction on those occasions. I've always played that 2♦ sets up a force through 2♠ and so you're not allowed to let them play 2♥. (If geography is of interest here, I've played in new england and northern california mostly.) Andy

Weren't you of the opinion in my thread that pass over a double of 2♦ shows extras? Why is this different (we're still below 2♠)? (I'm not necessarily taking issue with your conclusions on this hand, just trying to clear up this murky situation.) Of course, on this hand, we should be able to ask our opponents how they play it. Andy

I'll be there for most of the tournament, starting Saturday for the collegiates (playing for Berkeley). I'm 6', have curly hair, and am 25. See you there! Andy

The story on this hand is that I jumped to 4♠, liking my diamond shortness given lefty's now real diamonds and thinking partner probably has a bit extra for his pass. It turned out partner had Qxxxxx xxx KJx x and they doubled, taking the first five tricks plus the ♠K still to come. (Note to protect my partner: he'd simply decided to take some very swingy/experimental actions, starting with this board. You needn't comment on his bidding.) The story doesn't mean much, and mostly I was wondering how my hand evaluation was opposite a real overcall. The other interesting point, though, is that I'm not so sure pass should promise values in retrospect. I like to play that when we've found a fit, pass shows extras, but when we haven't found a fit (more clear in the auction 1D 1S P 2D; X when playing NF advances), I think pass should probably deny much to say and bidding should be descriptive and show mild extras at least. Any opinions? Andy

You pick up, 4th seat red vs white, imps: A1083 9864 8 KQJ10. 1D* 1S X 2D X** P P ? *: precision, 2+ **: you ask and get the explanation "penalty" What now? [Edit: regarding any questions, your partner is a good player, but you have no agreements.]

4th seat, white vs red, you hold: AK3 AK9 5 KQ10964 P P P 1C 1D P 2D X P 2S 3D ? A. Do you agree with double? B. What now? Andy [Edit: I forgot to add the form of scoring in case you care. This is imps.]

I play with some partners that over a game try you're supposed to bid 3NT with an accept, to leave room for partner to show a slam try. (We use 3NT so it can't be doubled for the lead.) We use 3S in these sorts of sequences as a general (power) try. Andy