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Hi: I lost with a 72%. Regards, Robert

Hi: We were on riot control training in Okinawa in the late 60s. I was in uniform along with about one half of my company. The other half of my company was in civilian attire. They had sticks about three feet long and they began to hit the guys carrying rifles on our arms and knuckles. We had not been attacked for very long before we removed the covers of our bayonets and cleared the area in front of us. A line of troops with fixed bayonets half stepped across the field and the training appears to be a success. Victory for Israel is measured by winning every war with their neighbors. They are only one military defeat away from genocide. Regards, Robert

Hi: I joined the Dark Side so my weak 2s are very wide ranging. I am rather sane when Vul. Third seat fasten your seat belts please. Roth's "Picture Bidding" showed me how to bid 6-5 hands and 'rebid' after opening a weak two. Follow up auctions are 2H-2S 'natural' partner may pass, however, with any reasonable excuse he should bid. Higher bids are mostly transfer bids. 2NT=transfer to clubs might be weak, might be strong or even a lead directing bid. 3C=transfer to DS. 3D=inv. raise if Hs opened and transfer if Ss were opened. 2M-3raise is a 'blocking' bid. Regards, Robert

Hi: It may not stop partner, but you might want to mention that the 'five level is for the other pair.' This is not an absolute rule, however, it is normally a very good rule to follow. A raise to 2 of your major should be a fairly well defined hand. A hand that will not bid five 'unless' additional bidding by partner 'invite you to help decide.' Regards, Robert

Hi: Even a blind pig finds an acorn sometimes. A stopped clock is right twice a day. ;) Regards, Robert

Hi: 3C limited the hand. X was penalty. Pass. Regards, Robert

Hi: Change the system if that hand bids 3D in your system. 2C-2D waiting-2S-3D*(no second neg., so GF)-3NT Regards, Robert

Hi: I play a lot of systems, however, a Precision based Big Club is what I prefer. Weakness :) Competition over 1C* is a problem, but 1C* showing 16+ helps a lot The alledged weakness of the 1D opening showing 2+ is vastly over rated. The 2C opeing shows 6+ so that opening is not a weakness. Many of the supposed problems have been cured by using better replies to the openings. It is hardly anything like Precision currently except for mostly 5 card majors and 1C* forcing. Many problems have been solved by changing the meanings of the bids. 1NT=14-16 in 1st/2nd seats(15-17 in 3rd/4th seat) I open most 10 counts which has some drawbacks but many more advantages. 1C-1D neg. higher bids are all GF, 1H=5+S or 11+NT, 1S=hearts 5+, 1NT=clubs, 2C=Ds, 2D=8-11-HCP bal., 2H=4441 any, 2S=5-5 minors, 2NT4441 11+, 3C=all 4405 hands with 5Ds. 3D/3H/3S numeric 0445, 4045 and 4405 hands. Alvin Roths "Picture Bidding" solved most of the problems of bidding over our NT. The bidding is still changing, however, most main ideas are already in place. Regards, Robert

Hi again: You stated that playing penalty doubles did not work well here. If they never double your artifical bid, XXs would also be on no use but... What exactly do you want? Penalty doubles have not worked out for you and if 'support' doubles are not the answer...? Robert

Hi: Support X and XXs. Regards, Robert

Hi: 4H is natural and 4S* is Kickback for Ds. Meckwell calls this the 'unfocused' major as I recall. This is if you play a style that a passed hand cannot want to bid 4H. If you always open long H hands here, 4H is indeed Kickback. I switched over to the Dark Side and dropped virtually all requirements for 'not opening' something with long suits. Roth bid 6-5 weak two bids and I long ago started bidding long suits headed by the seven. My KS days where I held 2/3 top honors and 9-11HCP now seem like a bad dream. Regards, Robert

Hi: It is very wrong to not play xyz. Bridge without prior agreements is party bridge. Regards, Robert

Hi: Transfer to the minor and transfer to the major next. With 6m-4m hand, transfer to the 6m and rebid 3S* showing 6-4 hand. Regards, Robert

Hi: Americans used reverse Flannery when they played a version of Blue Team Club. You will not miss any 5-3 spade fits if you open a Reverse Flannery bid bid showing 10-14 and 5S and 4H. You might want to avoid ACBL play since their rulings can be sillly/plain wrong. A recent Bridge World editorial comments on ACBL legal rulings used the phrase 'threading the Labyrinth' and also mentioning that there are 'many errors' in a guide for giving rulings(Duplicate Decisions) BBO allows you to pretty much play what you like. Several decades ago, I did play a Forcing Pass Canape system. 2C covered the 4441 shapes and Roman style 2D/H/S showed the longer main suit plus clubs. 1C* was the 0-9HCP fert., a 10-12 1NT and Pass was 13+ balanced or 16+ any. We were told to 'ask' each pair before we played the system. If they declined, we played 'gasp' Precision. Most people did agree and general laughter occured whenever we opened with 'Pass' and we alerted. The extra step after partner opened with a 0-9HCP 1C* or replied to "Pass" with a 0-9 1C* was a nice feature. :) Regards, Robert

Hi: I play the doubles as takeout and I get more penalties or so it seems. If you have a penalty double, don't you think that partner is short and he will normally make a takeout double. Now we double for takeout and partner passes 'if' he has a penalty type hand. Regards, Robert

Hi: You are recalling what happened in WWII. It did work. Regards, Robert

Hi: One lady had 14 kids and she screamed genocide when it was suggested that she stop producing more children. "I love my babies and I want more." Regards, Robert

Hi: I) Banks were loaning money(to buy houses) to people that could not pay it back. II) Everyone should be a home owner. :) III) Taxpayers were forced to pay the bills when the whole thing failed. :) Regards, Robert

Hi: Pass. If you were going to bid, use Good Bad 2NT to compete 1C-(2H)-2NT*-3C-3D The person with shortage in the enemy suit should strive to compete. Neither partner has shortage so the other pair get to play this hand. Regards, Robert

Hi: 18 point hands are relatively rare. I did not notice any special problem. A flat 8 opposite 17 in a 15-17NT is a much more common problem. Go with the odds and pass hoping that no makeable game exists. If they are balanced and you play some version of 15-17 1NT(or a weak NT and 15-17 1NT rebid) you have to jump to 2NT to show 18-19 using standard methods. You can try a 2C* rebid(that can rebid to show strong hands), however, that only delays the problem. Regards, Robert

Hi: Try a Big club system. I use 14-16NT and 1C-1D-1NT=17-19 Lots of room for transfers, stayman and others 'toys.' Regards, Robert

Hi: Penalty. Regards, Robert

Hi: It is a very cold day in a certain area that is normally very hot when Meckwell downgrades. They state 'freguent upgrades' and they mean just that. Regards, Robert

Hi: Mini NT may not be a IMP gainer at the top levels. Meckwell used to play 10-12 1NT. Regards, Robert

Hi: This hand is not(repeat not) 13 more like a thin 12. El Paso is correct playing standard methods. I open most ten counts in a Big Club framework so I do open this trash. Regards, Robert