twcho

May I elaborate something on the 2H bid: It can be as bad as 5 pts with 5H and as good as 14 bad pt, 6H

3rd hand preempt esp. such vul is wide range but I have never seen my partner psychic. This was online game, the timing for all the bid was quite normal.

[hv=d=s&v=e&s=sj963hqtdk842c972]133|100|Scoring: IMP Wes Nor Eas Sou 　　　　　　　　　P P　　2H*　3NT　P P　　X　　　P　　?　　　[/hv] 2H is 5+H and weak to intermediate in strength. How do you interpret your pd's X? What will you do? If pass, what will you lead?

I have problem with the character font. I am using Traditional Chinese Windows XP. When I watch Vu graph with Chinese commentary, they are using Simplified Chinese character set. I don't have problem reading the SC commentaries as I can select Simplified Chinese through the General tab of the Options dialog box. However, when I tried to type to them in SC (I have installed Microsoft SC input method), all the characters became all unreadable. Is there any way to get around it? In fact, I have tried to open BBO thru AppLocale using SC. This can overcome the character problem ( I can view as well as type the characters in SC). However, it creates another problem, all of the suit symbols disappear so the auction and final contract all disappears (only the figures left). Any suggestion?

I watched the live broadcast when this hand showed up. At the time, Italy was trailing US by some imps (this was the last hand at this table where B-D played vs Joe Grue and Cheek Curtis. still a few hands not compared yet). I don't know B-D system, but for me, I just thought that Bocchi must be fishing with his excellent C support. But finally, Bocchi surprised me a lot by finally passing 4SX which imo was a very poor decision. The defense was excellent and the hand is very complicated. Both sides had chances but finally the contract went one down. (double dummy, defense will always succeed, but the defense is not easy to find at all). Alas, though the contract went down, but at the other table USA EW (Brad Moss and Geoff Hampson) outbid their counterparts by reaching 5CX which made easily and finally got into the Yeh Brother's Cup final. (Side note, the scores tied after 23 bds and the match was decided by this single bd).

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sxhakxxxdaqxxxcxx&s=sjxxxxhqjdkjxxxcq]133|200|Scoring: IMP We No Ea So -- -- -- Pa 1C 1H Pa 1S 2C 2D Pa 3C X Pa Pa 3D All pass[/hv]

You are in 4th seat holding Axxx xx AJTxx xx and the bidding went: 1H - X - Pass - ? Are you going to bid 3D or 2S? If you choose 2S, how about the hand becomes 4-1-6-2? Will you still pick the Major bid?

Very nice and detail explanation by Ben. I am taken by it. The NS hand was:[hv=n=sa83h8dajt75cak74&s=skq64h7632dk42cj8]133|200|No So 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ 2♦ 2♠ 3♠ 3N[/hv] I held south hand and after 2♠, which I took it as stopper asking, I tried 3♠ intend to show 4 cards raise and my pd end in 3NT and I was happy to pass. Luckily this hand we still have an happy ending in that although opp find the ♥ lead, it broke 44 and subsequently my pd guessed ♦Q to make the contract. Clearly, 4♠ or 5♦ is a more superior contract. How should we arrive at the par contract? Was my choice of 1♥ bid an ill one?

You played with your regular pd. The following auction arose: (imp, Nil) We No Ea So -- -- -- 1♣ -- -- 1♦ 1N -- 2♥? Is 2♥ a transfer? Though regular partnership, but it is impossible to discuss all bidding situation. Any general guideline to follow in order to determine a bid's meaning? Some may quote that if a bid can be natural, then it should be natural if undiscussed. But on the other hand, over strongish NT opening, transfer is the norm. So which should take the priority?

Simple uncontested auction: No So 1♦ 1♥ 2♣ 2♦ 2♠? What is the meaning of 2♠? Is it a fragment bid showing 3 cards in ♠ or asking for ♠ stopper?

IMP, NIL, The bidding went: We No Ea So -- -- 2D P 2H 3H Pa 4H 4S 5H Pa Pa 5S Pa Pa ? 2D is multi and 2H is P/C. Other bids all natural. Is the final pass of North forcing? Don't think actual hand is relevant for that matter.

This question is interesting enough and I've seek my pd's opinion on it. I am quite persuaded by his argument. 4D should be non forcing, reason as follows: If 4D intends to be forcing, then it must be slam try. If one want to slam try with D fit, surely he must hold control for at least one major, then why can't he bid 4H or 4S instead of the ambiguous 4D. So 4D should be non forcing.

I'm not sure about what is standard. But in my regular partnership, this is a splinter support of the 2nd suit bid by opener and GF. Tommy

Well stated by Ben and the other posters. So the best return should be ♥K with least chance for letting the contract to slip through. But pitifully, Ralph Katz who was sitting North didn't work this out at the table and returned a small ♥ instead. So Hampson was able to score his ♥Q from Qxx. His distribution was actually 2371. So at the end Hampson made his doubled contract with 7♦, 2♥ and 1♠ tricks.

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sa32hk64dk6cjt984&w=skt87ha983d72c732]266|200|Scoring: IMP W N E S - 1♣4♦X P P P[/hv] The auction was short. Your pd led ♣A, winning, with declarer follow with 6. He continued with ♣K and declarer ruffed. Declarer led ♠5. Your pd inserted the Q and declarer covered with K. Your turn now

[hv=d=w&v=b&n=saq94hqtdkt95ct73&w=sj73hk62daq72ca62&e=sk862haj98d864ck4&s=st5h7543dj3cqj985]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Versace won with dummy's K. Played ♦8! from table and covered south J with Q. Upon winning with ♦K, north continued his good defense by returning ♥Q. Versace won with ♥A, return to his hand with ♥K, CASHED ♣A. Then played a small ♠ towards dummy. North played small and Versace won with dummy K. Cashed the ♥s and discarded a ♠ from his hand. North tried desperately by discarding both ♠Q and A under the ♥s. So at the end, Versace still scored the 9 tricks that the contract required. Full marks to both declarer and the defenders (David Birman of Israel sitting north and David Fohrer sitting south). A real gem for us.

South switch to ♦3. U follow with ♦2. North win with ♦9 and return ♣2 to dummy's K. Continue your play.

Since there are too many lines to consider, let's give some hints for continuation. OK, u duck the ♣, south win with ♣J. He then return a small ♦. How do u continue from then on?

[hv=d=w&v=b&w=sj73hk62daq72ca62&e=sk862haj98d864ck4]266|100|Scoring: IMP West North East South 1♦ Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All pass[/hv] North lead ♣7, plan your play.

2♣ is out as opp has already overcalled 2♥. My choice is 3♣ and then support ♠ if given the chance.

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sat85hjdjt3c87542&w=sq74haq9752dk9ct9&e=sj963ht84d87ckqj6&s=sk2hk63daq6542ca3]399|300|Scoring: IMP W N E S - - - 1♣ 1♥ P 2♥ 3♦ 3♥ Dbl P 3NT All pass[/hv] This hand being played in 32 tables in round 8 of the European Team Champion. 10 tables 3NT by South and one table 1NT by South. Out of these 11 tables, every west lead a small ♥ except Versace who led ♥A and continue with small ♥ thus defeating the contract by two tricks. Every other table makes with ease. How can Versace deduce to find such a devastating killing lead? Is that the bidding suggest the lead or only because he is on his own class? It will be inspiring if we can learn something from the Great. Tommy

The hand is possible for slam facing suitable hand given you have good arsenal to explore for it. As I think it is not easy, just settle for game is more realistic. For game consideration, I'm certain that the long trump will play better even you have 44 fit in ♠. The only exception perhaps is that you have a 54 ♠ fit. Even so, you may be tapped out of trumps to enjoy your long H (this will be more true if your hand is even weaker. In general, try to play in the long suit held by the weak hand).

I will pass with south hand but bid 3nt with north hand

Yes, this will be a great help and much more fun to watch the playback of Vu graph with synchronized comments.

Is it possible to create a standard table for entering the auction? It is very inconvenient that a forum dedicated for bridge discussion is without such table. Tommy