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You will have to retire from bridge :(((((((

If you have 9 tricks in NT and hearts "could" go down (but will probably make), isn't 4♥ the correct matchpoints bid?

Whereagles, you are confusing me. Could you explain this again?

Do you mean that? I think Richard was kind in his reply. Many of these ships were delivering aid, and many are attacked quite far from Somalia. And what if the pirates spread out, is your answer we should just stop sailing?? And if they start flying, should we travel by digging tunnels to China? Obviously you and Richard missed my point. If you are concerned about icebergs, don't sail into frigid waters. If you are concerned about Somali pirates, don't use those waters. If you do use those waters, then you have factored in the risk of the pirates so deal with it. No one would expect the government to clear all the icebergs from his path, and no one should expect the government to rid the world of Somali pirates. If there is a serial killer in Pennsylvania, just don't go to Pennsylvania?

Yes.

I think you should agree that 3N is to play when partner has 14 cards, Dwayne.

Not to me, you would get to play 3♣ most of the time opposite me.

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Given that we have rather simple agreements over rkcb (wasting space by reasking with 5N rather than 5H, number of kings rather than specific king ask), why is everyone assuming that 6H must be an invitation to 7? I would have expected 6♥ to be to play, and 6N be the queen-ask :P Aside from that, partner will also bid slam on hands where it has no play. That is 50-50 if he has ♥K rather than ♦K.

If we have a single-suited hand with hearts, isn't partner very likely to bid 5♣ over 4N?

You think partner's 3NT bid shows an opening hand?

I would try spade to the J, diamond to the 9.

Isn't this a very frequent shape for opener? Maybe the most frequent? I would think 3♣ as natural is a clear gain when you have a weak 5-5, it doesn't have to be 6-5.

It's quite bad, compared to its potential as a dummy for clubs diamonds or hearts, or as a defending hand against any strain...

Nice paper, I wonder where he is going to send it!

I think you still make by shortening your hand twice, having taken 6 black tricks, two ruffs in hand, and the ♥A (and lost one diamond trick), you have ♥JTx and RHO ♥KQ9, and you can make one trick even though the lead is in your hand. If we play trumps by leading to the ace and leading back to JT, we are going to lose two trumps and a diamond. Am I missing something?

Cheating at a pairs event is ridiculously easy. Every time anyone is going to the bathroom they have to make an effort in order not to cheat (not to see cards at the neighboring tables). Cheating at other events is still very easy, and probably Noble's colleagues didn't realize that.

I would certainly double, I am not sure I would pass as East, but I am sure I would lead a diamond not a heart.

In the race they can see exactly where they stand at each moment. That's true in races where all the participants go at once. But think of skiing, where each participant does their own run by themselves, with no way of knowing their standings at any point. Or events where you're judged, such as gymnastics and diving. Many track-and-field events have each player going individually; if a gust of wind blows after you throw your javelin, you may gain or lose an inch depending on the way it goes, and this is not at all a reflection on your skill (some games have players go multiple times, taking the best one, to minimize random effects like this). Last time I checked, in downhill disciplines with multiple runs (slalom or combination), the size of your win in every single run matters. Same for figure skating formats with multiple performances for every participant. Apples and cucumbers comparisons on BBF, but what else is new?

Are you not a bridgeworld subscriber? Or do you manage to skip all the editorials (good for you!)?

I don't understand the criticism of the forcing pass. Aren't we pretty happy if partner doubles? Do you all play the pass here as a slam invitation, rather than unsure about bidding 5♦ versus doubling 5♣?

I thought the question was about the odds of opener having 11+ and responder 13+, versus 12+ and 12+, etc. I don't see why you and Helene should get the same answers then. To you 12/12+ answer you have to add the 13+/12+ cases. To you 13/11+ answer you have to add the 14+/11+ cases.

Fluffy!!

Happy birthday hannie, Han and hanp!

wow