hotShot

BBO has already moved it's codebase from Windows to Flash, It would require to much manpower and cause to much costs to support a 3rd platform. But ... I could imagine that some day there might be some sort of automatic Flash to App converter.

Wait until the cricket season get into it's hot phase.

I can think of many valid reasons to keep the profile "private". Of cause there are also invalid ones. I don't like to act upon prejudices, so I don't mind if someone has a blank profile. I take that as "I play your system". Up to now I don't have the impression that those privates have a larger rate of <put your favorite *?!**'' here> than those with profile. It seems intolerant to force others to follow my idea of privacy. But it is a fact that a lot of people with little concern about privacy issues, just have no idea, what is possible with the data they supply.

I think there are 2 prototypes of bridge players, the technicians and those who have table presence. Any real player is of cause a mixture of both. Getting informations from opponents "body language" is an important part of the game.

We have the meta-agreement that repeating a suit is NF unless defined otherwise. Responders 3♠ would be asking for a half stopper in ♠ suggesting to play 3NT. Openers 3♠ would be asking for ♠ stopper, denying to have a stopper in that suit.

Well of cause virtual screens should behave like real screens.

If there where a single "best way" in bridge everybody would play that. Fortunately there are a number of possible ways to choose from. The good news is you gain an extra bid the redbl. I think it's common to use redbl as the only strong bid, to limit all other answers. You could think about rising the minor as preemptive calls. If you bid a suit at the 1 level, you should have a look at the suit quality, partner might be expecting a stopper in that suit. Bidding 1NT has a nice preemptive effect, you should discuss the requirements for that call.

A line representing the screens could be displayed on the virtual table. This would be visible for anyone at the table including kibs and yellows. Connection problems are discovered by the server, so I don't think there are unsolvable problems either. But it's not that so simple as one might think. There is more to it than just delaying the display of the bids. But indeed it would be a nice feature.

Well in that case I assume that East can count from seeing 9♥ and 10♣ that his partner can drop something in ♣ or ♥ on one of his high ♦432 to have an easy ruff later. And quietly follows with ♦.

North has 1 trump longer than West, so I think West can force North to play away from his trumps to the 9.

It seems Merkel want to make this deal. If you can't enforce regulation they make no sense. If there is a save harbor to hide your money from the tax authorities. Than paying taxes can't be enforced. Buying stolen account data, reduces the safety a lot. And makes the (tax) laws a little more enforceable.

Well the tourney ranks depend on the fractions, especially midfield. Taking a small extra risk can make a difference. Lets say they variance is a factor there.

What about ducking the ♥, taking the 2nd ♥ with the Ace and play a ♥ and drop the ♣. Now I can ruff the ♣ if they play ♦ I have the minors set up for a cross ruff. If they try to draw my trumps, I should get some ♠ tricks. Well obviously only 2nd best or worse.

Seems we are very close in our perception. Perhaps you would agree that an overtrick counts more: MP>>XIMPs>IMPs.

I don't see poor bids, there is no blame to take for missing the slam. But, North knows that that he has 6♠'s, South does not. There is a 40% chance that the ♠ are 2-2. So if North wanted to create a swing, He could bid a risky 6♠.

At IMPs you get nothing for 10 point difference. At XIMPs your score is compared with several other scores and averaged over these. The 10 points more you have over some, can make 1 IMP more difference compared with others. So you will see that a 10 point difference can give you a faction of an IMP more at XIMPs than those who have 10 points less. Of cause not always, but sometimes.

The main difference between MP and IMPs is that at MP each board has the same weight. A boring flat board has the same weight that a close slam makable only on a triple squeeze. Many good player prefer IMPS at BBO because they can score many points at difficult boards, and can relax during the simple ones. Many average player prefer IMPs because a lucky board can help their score a lot, while at MP the sum of small losses has a much bigger weight that their good board. BBO uses XIMPs. They are closer to MP than simple IMPs.

You're right, hoping for a singleton in partners hand is unrealistic. But still the error is not serious enough to lose redress. How can North not lose the ♠9?

Leading an Ace is giving up a control without knowing if thats useful. I don't lead ♥, if declarer wants to finesse ♥, he should do it himself. So I'll lead a ♠, don't think it will do more damage than other leads.

So your're playing against this convention. If would be nice if double would be neg. or T/o now. That way I could show both majors. Otherwise I'll simply bid 4♥. The 2nd is easy: 2♦ it will be more interesting next round. At that point I would like to know if 2♣ is GF, SF or only strong.

Pass. I have to devalue the ♥K and I don't want to play at the 4 level with a flat hand and this combined strength..

Q1) No, no damage by the MI. Q2) You did not mention the use of screens, so yes, it seems that listening to partners explanation made south bid his ♣ again. Q3) East has 6 ♦ and sees 3 at the table, hoping that the the remaining 4 split 2-2 or 1-3 with partner holding 1, is playing for a 40% (2-2) + 25% (3-1 with partner holding 1) = 65% seems more like the percentage play than a serious error or a gambling. Q4) I see 3♦, 4♠, 1♣ , this is -5, if that is already the top I'll stop thinking.

To think about a score adjustment you have to answer all of the following questions with yes: 1) Was there UI? 2) Was the UI used? 3) Was there damage? 4) Was the damage caused by the UI? This is: Yes, Yes, No => Here we have no damage, so there is no case.

I miss a very important question: Was the NOS damaged? I would say they where not. They got the normal result. If the OS would bid 3NT, they would have gotten a worse result. Unless they give me a very good explanation why they would lead differently when RHO bids 3NT, I don't see a reason for the TD to take actions. No damage => no adjustment

Rumor is that Apple is targeting HTML5 (that can play Videos without flash).