DJNeill

Hi all, Ecats has the systems so far submitted for Verona: http://www.ecatsbridge.com/documents/docde...ionships+Verona Thanks, Dan

Hi all, I've seen them bid 2S with this. Slowly, but 2S. editing: Snabu and Papi Thanks, Dan

Hi Luke, Thanks! Later, Dan

Hi gru, You should be posting instead to http://forums.bridgetalk.com/ because David Stevenson posts there. But my stab would be, in the ABCL: When was the director called? South has a chance to remove the final pass if, say, director was called after the auction but before the play begins. But if the director is not called, South has no way to recover here, since his partner would never be able to deduce so strong a hand on any sequence, I think. The director has to award to the offending side the worst result at all probable, and, as long as they "played bridge" (which I think they did), to the non-offending side the best result at all likely. The actual results awarded are a judgement call. Thanks, Dan

Hi 42, In WJ05, balanced GF's (with 2-4 card support) always respond 2C, which shows clubs or balanced. Then responder follows with 2NT which reveals the 2C was just a convenient bid. Finally it shows the heart support. I think Jassem is clear on this point. Thanks, Dan

Hi sceptic, I seem to recall that the very first tournament that BBO ever had a few years ago we played and won. Not sure if that is any indicator but it must mean you are doing something right. Thanks, Dan

....as are transfer responses showing at least high-card game invitational values." But then what will we see from then if not their normal system? Thanks, Dan

Hi all, At least we'll get the fantunes we know and love: "In general, any convention or treatment that is familiar to the average tournament player, or can be explained to the average player within 10 seconds, is allowed. Methods of a destructive nature are not authorized, nor are the following: a. Forcing or strong pass systems; b. Multi 2" and similar conventional opening bids; c. Two-suited weak two/three-bid openings which specify only one (or neither) of the suits held; anchor suit must contain at least five cards B except that two of a major showing that suit and a minor is permitted – even if the major is only a four card suit. d. Preemptive bids that do not specify which suit is held; e. Artificial bids or sequences that require a lengthy explanations; f. Canapé style overcalls or opening bids if the first-bid suit may be shorter than four cards; g. Any system, convention or treatment that would require a pre-alert (in ACBL parlance) and written suggested defenses. h. Transfer openings and transfer responses, subject to the following exception: 1. Any transfer response structure to a notrump opening, overcall or rebid is permitted" Thanks, Dan

Hi Josh, If the dog is made, make sure to ask permission. Dan

Hi all, Until April 30th registration is still open for the BBO R&T League. http://www.bboleague.net/index_eng.php Thanks, Dan

Hi extrasolid, Try filtering the lobby so you can see just Austria and Italy. Then roll your mouse over all the profiles and see who advertises Blue Club, and spec them or mark them as potentials if they are not playing. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, If anybody is going to Gatlinburg that plays Polish or Blue Team clubs and is looking for a partner, I'd be interested in a few sessions somewhere in Monday/Tuesday/Friday/Saturday, all planned in advance. Thanks, Dan

Hi Sig, In my experience, GIB always gives current count on defense if it can afford it. Try that theory and let me know if it's not the case. Thanks, Dan

Hi inquiry, I definitely hit Alert with all my alertable bids using FD, and rely on the astute opponent to roll over the greyed bid in the auction box. The director didn't even know to look for FD. The director said "that doesn't look like 2/1", when (s)he was looking in fact at the opponent's card. It does sound like the opponent didn't notice that it was alerted. You can look up the board now in the myhands and it is greyed. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, Last night in the Rock Around the Clock, our FD card for TOSR explained a 1H opening as showing spades, and I alerted as well. The opponents called general foul when they bid my suit naturally and got punished for a zero, and the tourney director was called. Ruling? We must type our bids, not only use FD, because the TD cannot see the FD explanations or alerts in the board history. In other words, we may as well not use FD. This was not a posted rule, nor will it likely be since I've never seen it posted in the rules before on those tournies. Just a warning for the Rock Around the Clockers who might use this feature of the software. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, I suggested he call the 5-4+ 2-suiters Mucas Twos or Lucasz Twos (sz is pronounced like 'sh' in English). He didn't like the former. Thanks, Dan

Hi Uday, Agree with Richard - post this to David Stevenson's laws page. Not only does he know the most of anyone else online but he also goes out of his way to defer to the sponsoring organization when those rules might supercede WBF regs. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, One way to build a FD card, expand a current card, or improve a partnership, is to have a mode whereby whenever a sequence arises (incl. seat and vul) that is not filled out in the card, it prompts the loader of the card to fill in the meaning (perhaps then showing it to the opponents as well), saves it, and reloads it silently. This would be a typing burden on that person but it can be quickly done. Thanks, Dan

Hi Flame, I haven't checked the website notes but this is how it should be: 1D-1H(relay)-1S(minimum)-2C(GF relay)- 2D = spades 2H = diamonds 2S = clubs, non-reverser (so 5+H-4C, or 5-5) 2N = relay 3C = 5-5 3D = 5+H-4C hi short 3H = 5H-4C-2-2 3S+ = 5+H-4C lo short 2N = clubs, reverser (4H-5+C) 3C = hearts 1-suiter, high-shortage this is all normal + 2 steps. If opener hasn't a minimum, there isn't the +2 cost anymore. 1D-1H(relay)- 1N = spades (max) 2C = diamonds (max) 2D = clubs (non-reverser, max) 2H = clubs (reverser, max) After 1H and a minimum: 1H-1S-1N(min)-2C(relay) 2D = diamonds 2H = clubs, non-reverser.... so it is +1 steps here. After 1H and a maximum: 1H-1S- 2C = diamonds ... we are back to no-cost. So I guess minimum = +1 or +2 cost. Maximum = no cost. Solution: upgrade all hands to maximum. Thanks, Dan

Hi pigpenz, It's true, the ratings of KQJ are based on masterpoints (not even just ACBL, mind you, but any points awarded on BBO - for instance you could earn 90% ACBL points and 10% other organization points and the sum would comprise how many points are considered when getting a AKQJ...65432). But those ACBL component masterpoints count towards ACBL titles to some degree (ACBL limits how many can be used towards titles). Maybe the online game, with the ease of cheating, should not be allowed to count for real life titles. Further, both the AKQ... and LM titles are based on achievement, not skill level. Wait, let me use italics: achievement, not skill level. That's more emphatic. Lots of problems, to be sure. I don't think that we should bash achievement-based things too much. It's a separate issue from where we should have rating systems or not that measure skill - and which those should be. I would think that without so corrupt and inaccurate a rating system as ACBL points, the game would have died out much earlier than it will. Thanks, Dan

Hi Ulrich, Play an enhanced 2-way checkback a la WJXXI. I am sure you can figure out a way to encode what you want in that structure somewhere. link Thanks, Dan

Hi all, What's the best way currently to fill out two different defenses to weak and strong NT's. in FD? Do you do something with the "Qualify" field of an enemy opening 1N? Thanks, Dan

Hi foo, I've heard it said that over a (4S)-X you pull only with a 6-crd suit. Over (5m)-X you probably pull even less. And frankly, Todd's doubles of 4M or higher tend to be an expression of the contract's chances, even more so after some bad boards. Know thy partner. Todd'll say I'm wrong. Later, Dan

Hi all, I think he is referring slyly to ebay's peer-submitted ratings? Dan

Hi all, Look at the end of the Blue Team Club document by Marco Pancotti on this site. Thanks, Dan