spotlight7

Hi: You need tricks not HCP. I would expect to lose 2 Heartss and one Spade in 5D. Pass is your best bid. 3NT is likely hopeless opposite a normal 3D bid losing 4-5Hearts plus one spade. Regards, Robert

Hi: This is a good news, bad news item. They look like Jessica Biel, however, they also share the mating habits of the praying mantis. B) Europeans 'discovered' the new world and you know how they treated the natives. Regards, Robert

Hi: Did you ask what he would rebid after you did bid 1S-1NT-any-? It seems that he has no rebid. I would have rebid with your hand. Partner may have a long suit and we cannot bid it unless you bid over that forcing NT bid. Regards, Robert

Hi: 1) and 2) Pass should not be forcing. 3) You are unlikely to want to defend so doubling is not the message you want to send. 4) I would expect that they would cash the first 5-6 Diamonds after a diamond lead to the king(Ace?) and a D back. 3NT is very likely quickly going down. 5) Bidding a suit here suggests 5 in a big club framework, so that suggests 'not' showing a suit here. 6) Change the system appears to be the winner here. :blink: I strongly prefer to use my judgement, however, the system appears to be the major problem here. Regards, Robert

Hi: I use Good/Bad 2NT to show vaues when I bid directly and I show shape(without solid values) when I use 2NT*. 1D-(2S)-3D shows invitational values while 1D-(2S)-2NT-3C*-3D is this hand. :) Regards, Robert

Hi: 1M-3m is a natural bid that invites with a 6+ decent suit. This helps with 1M-new suit being a game force, since it removes 'those' kind of hands from the 1M-1NT* forcing auctions. Now 1M-1N-something-3m shows a long minor, however, it denies inv. values. You might also want to know what 1M-2M means in a 'limited' system. Some reply with very light values and others show a constructive type bid. Regards, Robert

Hi: 2C-2D-2NT-3C-3H-3S*=H slam try-3N*(serious slam try)-4D(cue) check on key cards and bid 6H My 2C-2D-2NT bids shows 22-24 so I would never think about forcing to game with this hand. You have no game unless partner has some values or a magic fit. Regards, Robert

Hi: If partner is trusted to have 5-5+, 3S at your first chance takes away a lot of their bidding room. It is a close decision with 4333 shape, however, you hold no wasted D values. This is fair hand with a 'double fit' in the majors. The 3S call is a big overbid by your partner. You might bid 2S with xx in spades. If East held defensive cards, 3S could go for a big penalty even with you holding xxx of spades. Regards, Robert

Hi: I downloaded a number of items from Dan's page. Currently I own two copies of Rigal Precision in the 90s. If they ain't selling any more books, it does not cost to allow for free downloads. C.C. Wei's Original Precision book is available on the net for "free." It was published sometime in the 70s as I recall. Located at Precision Club - 99 This link works since I already tried it. :wacko: Do not download any books from the net if it upsets you. If they are out of print, legal complications would seem to be zip. Regards. Robert

Hi: 1C-1S shows 8+ and 5+ spades, 1C-1NT=8-10 balanced and 1C-2C or 2D shows 5+ in the suit bid and 8+HCP. If you go to www.bridgewithdan.com/systems you can download(for free) a copy of Rigal's Precision in the 90s. It is one of the best Precision books ever written. The first half of the book outlines basic Precision and the second half suggests solutions to various problems in Precision bidding. Regards, Robert

HI: Welcome to the Dark Side. I used to play a fairly decent Precision version where we opened decent 11s with shape and passed flat 11 counts. Now I open all reasonable 10 counts including NT types. The style does involve some problems, however, the problems are more often caused to the other pair. 1C*=16+. 14-16=1NT and other bids show 10-15. I did make some adjustments in my bidding. It seems to have improved the bidding rather than make it harder(most of the time anyway) I switched to opening most 10HCP hands after reading Robson/Segal book. They use a 'passed hand' 2NT bid to show hands that "are not inviting in NT." To avoid a problem, I open any hand that might want to invite in NT. May you enjoy the Dark Side. Regards, Robert

Hi: 1C*-1D*-2H*=GF balanced 'or' hearts. Partner bids 2S* and you bid 2NT GF balanced with suit bids showing GF with hearts plus the suit bid. :) Regards, Robert

Hi: Played a lot of Blue Team many years ago. 13-17NT, but system rules resulted in the bid normally showing 15-17. Not as much time playing Acol, however, we had lots of fun bidding 'what you think that you can make.' Played a little bit of Forcing Pass Canape using 4 card majors. 10-12NT Regards, Robert

Hi: Agressive bidding over their 1C* is a good thing. Many pairs play conventions that show two suiters with little or no HCP values. Pass and later bids tends to show a decent hand. You bid at your first chance with lesser valued hands. Red vs white keep your bids decent. 1M-4M by forcing club pairs are sometimes preemptive like standard bidding and sometimes up to 13/14HCP without a lot of Aces and Kings. Regards, Robert

Hi: I quess that I 'quoted' everything. Regards, Robert

Hi: Fantunes wantabees are playing a 12-14 NT. The numbers are not large. Regards, Robert

Hi: The delayed double of hearts 2D-p-2H-p-p-X could be played as a light takeout X Delayed 2NT is minors. Regards, Robert

Hi: A single raise in KS is @15-17. You do need 18-19 to double raise. Some rare hands raise to 2H with 14, however, they are 'control rich' with shape. Regards, Robert

Hi: Try a Romex system source. They used two way game tries back in the day. It is a way to use both short suit and long suit game invites. The cheapest step is a relay so that you can show a long suit game try. 1S-2S-2NT*-3C-bid your long red suit naturally here and a 3S rebid shows clubs :) Direct bids show a short suit game try. 1S-2S-3 non spades shows shortness. Regards, Robert

Hi: Reese played Italian style(I have an opening bid) doubles with partner expecting no more than xx in an unbid suit. He played in high stakes money bridge for a period of a year using the style. ;) Regards, Robert

Hi: Using Kickback 4H* ace asking, you can 'exchange' the meaning of 4NT and the Kickback bid. 4NT here would be a Heart cuebid. Regards, Robert

Hi: An honest politician is one that stays bought after they take your money. But trust one...? Regards, Robert

Hi again: The phrase 'drive by' refers to shooting someone while driving past them. They shortened to 'drive by' to save a few words in the newspaper. It happens much too often, but it does happen. Regards, Robert

Hi: Some trucks have gun racks. Flipping off a nut case may not be in your best interest. Trucks are much longer, wider and heavier than your bike. Regards, Robert

Hi: Rating new players using 'hands played' may not be wise. Mike Cappelletti had one of the top teams in the Washington D.C. area several decades ago. They played a 28 board IMP match against a team with zero master points and lost to the newbies. The 'new team' could play bridge, they just did so in their own circle which was quite good. What is the problem? I normally know how good a person is after a few hands. Do you really expect to find that many good players as a 'pick up player' on bbo? Label people as friends if they play at/near your level. Avoid playing with players that your notes list as 'butcher' or 'wild overbidder.' Regards, Robert