DJNeill

Meant as PM.

Hi all, Does anyone have a complete bidding tree (like FD card complexity) of the GIB system available for free download somewhere, or a way to make such a file from the FD automatically? I am playing that CC, and no longer play robot tournaments so want to have something to study. Thanks, Dan

Re: ads, if it matters, the blinking ones are the only ones that make using the app impossible for me on my droid mini (small screen like iPhone 4). The nonblinking ones I can live with. Thanks Dan

Just to be clear, the Big Bang system is related to but way better than the 2010 Bocchi-Duboin system in terms of detail (I think most branches end quickly in the 2010 book, but the Big Bang notes go much further).

Hi all, Big Bang system notes available at my systems page. Thanks, Dan

Hi, No problem, I sent a private message through BBO Forums asking which email to send it to. Thanks, Dan

Hi, This is Dan (of the website) and I agree that the price can seem high (I am sort of young, like to save money too). Thanks for your input - I know from other bridgefile sites some authors have charged higher prices, and I don't know how well those sold, but some authors' e-books are also cheaper, available from Masterpoint Press or through Amazon I think. The decision to switch to pay (for some documents) was entirely due to the good book that Bill Jacobs made from my free notes I compiled over a few years and many hours. I figured I might recoup a sliver of the opportunity cost of the countless hours I've put into the site by charging as well. I think the Meck Lite docs are well-written and helpful to learn precision with, and the Polish e-book is very cheap and nicely-written (I just translated). However the L-V, B-D, and W-A systems are less instructional discussions than simply an orderly presentation of the whole system with a little discussion and some real example hands to help (much like some champions have done in publishing their own systems in the past [b-D, L-B and many lesser known pairs]). But we are talking about a glimpse under the hood of world champion systems that anyone can now access and use to improve their bridge results (and at the least have a lot of fun with). I even have reverse-engineered the full Meckwell notes but have decided not to publish them because I am honoring the request of a close friend of theirs, now deceased. But I am not bitter nor have wasted my time - my bridge life has been enriched and my students have benefited from all this knowledge as well. I take pleasure in all of this. So no matter how you decide, WGF, I am just glad you are interested and maybe one day the prices will change :-) If you would like to purchase several of them at once I'm sure we can work out a deal too on the side. Thanks, Dan

Hi all, For a review of the system, see ecats, or watch BBO "jcmax" and "roy" when they aren't on a world tour. 74 pages, located at www.bridgewithdan.com Thanks, Dan

1C-? 1D/1M = normal 1N = 8-10 2m = nat GF 5+crds 2H = reverse flannery 2S = invit to 3NT 2N = nat GF

Yes that's what the "Grandmaster Polish Club" of WJ2015 is (with 2C = Ekrens). It's supposed to be Martens-influenced WJ.

Hi all, I'm not going to translate this book because there are not enough interesting changes from WJ2010, if anyone wants to give it a go. Thanks, Dan

He moved the summary of WJ05 in English - here it is again.

Resolved until further notice.

See Kokish/Kraft at http://www.bridgewithdan.com/systems/

It would be interesting to see the results of some market research on what most kibs like to see and hear in their commentary. To me, there is Kit, Larry, and George, and then everyone else, but everyone has their own opinion.

Hi all, Playing strong (16/17+) club with weak (11-13) NT where 14-16 opens 1 of a suit (1D=2+) and rebids 1NT, does anyone have any good experience with the best way to show the strong NT in competition, in particular when playing support doubles? Playing a strong NT, the support double is usually a weak hand or unbal max so responder could just assume weak and opener would take it further with more, but playing weak NT, I'm not sure the frequency and best strategy. E.g. 1D-(P)-1S-(2H); ? Pass = ? X = ? 2S = ? 2N = ? Kokish-Kraft play that X is always a strong NT equivalent with support, and 2NT is good/bad, passing with weak unbalanced hands with 3fits and letting pd reopen with a cards double. Thanks, Dan

Hi, It would be nice to have a way to have a folder structure to the chat manager. For instance, I might want "suggested defenses" chatlines, "new tourney round agreement explanations" chatlines, or a whole lesson plan of canned chat lines. Thanks, Dan

Hi, I have BBO open a lot but am not always at the screen. Applies to the mobile app too. I frequently get chat that I didn't see, and the sender is not canny enough to send a separate BBO-mail or email, particularly if they thought their one message was read but ignored (ok that happens too). It would be nice if the software could detect a sequence where a message was sent but nothing was responded, and the option of having a daily or weekly digest of these emailed (preferably) or BBO-mailed. And also it would be nice to have the option where BBO-mail could be auto-forwarded to email, optionally. I have a few friends who love BBO mail but, as it's extra clicks to get to, it's not as easy to use as email. Not sure if there should be a way to email-respond into BBO-mail if this ever becomes part of the software. You get the gist. Thanks, Dan

Maybe says ok for partner to compete to 3D if they bid 3C, if partner has the 5 card diamond signoff, so 3-4 diamonds.

I love the new version - bigger display, better for kibitzing. Bigger buttons to review history or other table (it feels like). Iphone 4. Haven't tried playing yet. But the feel of it is improved.

Either partner is playing a deep game trying to get out in 5NT with just Kings in diamonds/spades, or they just don't know what to do other than protect a diamond holding. I am more confident in the random 16+ count making slam than the deep bid, so I bid 6♣ (pd needs to protect ♦K which is why we are not in 5♥ or 6♥ now).

5♥. I am imagining lots of 16+ hands that have slam if partner has the ♦A. Rarely pd can bid 6♣ with similar clubs to my hearts, but ♦K unguarded. 4♦ is sure an available useful step, but I'm not sure what that would mean even in my most regular partnerships (so that is not an option). What should it mean? Stall? Multi? Slamtry clubs? Thanks, Dan

I second this request.

Hi all, The original NT range in CC Wei precision was 13-15 HCP, possibly because it would allow the simple rule of all 16+ HCP hands opening 1C. There is a trend in the West to open 1NT with 14-16 HCP in Precision. Here are a few reasons: 1. When 1NT is 13-15, NT ranges with 16 or more HCP must be stretched and are vulnerable to being lost in interference. One possible ladder is: 1D-1M-1N = 11-12 1N = 13-15 1C-1D-1N = 16-19 2N = 20-21 Another is: 1D-1M-1N = 11-12 1N = 13-15 1C-1D-1N = 16-18 2N = 19-20 or even: 1D-1M-1N = 11-12 1N = 13-15 1C-1D-1N = 16-18 1C-1D-1H [H or BAL]-1S[forced]-1N = 19-21 2N = 22-23 In each case, the balanced hands that open 1C start at 16. The problem with stretching the 1C-containing NT range is that when the opponent's compete, opener has a wider range of NT's to cover. 1C-(1H)-X-(2H) and opener may have 16 balanced or 19 balanced, for example. Or opener may have an unbalanced hand. Opener is already at a disadvantage and this adds to it. By playing a 14-16 NT, opener will always have 17+ if balanced, which provides more information in competition. 2. By removing 16 HCP balanced hands from 1C, it makes a random 8 HCP response a better promise of game. Balanced hands have the least trick potential, versus unbalanced hands, on average. If there is no fit, a 16 HCP NT is a disappointment opposite 8 HCP. By guaranteeing 17+ HCP if balanced, responding hands can upgrade to a positive response more often, which makes it easier to handle competition and get to the right contract. It is more difficult to handle competition after a 1C-1D than after a 1C-suit positive. e.g. xx xxx AKxxx xxx could gamble a game forcing 2D response to 1C a lot more easily if 1C promised 17+ HCP if balanced. This hand might be lost after 1C-(Pass)-1D-(2S). Removing the balanced bad hands from 1C makes it easier to guarantee game with any 8 HCP. The main advantage of 13-15 HCP is that it is more common than 14-16, and thus you can describe your hand more often more quickly with 13-15. However, there is no clear consensus that losing a 4-4 major fit (that you could find with a frequent 1D opening) is worth opening 1NT more often.

Takeout of 1C. The big hands have to start with a double anyways so better to play "takeout or big" rather than "diamonds or big" which gets into more trouble. Thus, like in most sandwich situations, 2D would be a natural overcall. Thanks, Dan