gordontd

You could lose a spade, a diamond, two clubs, one or two hearts. So, it might seem that on a really bad day you could go off in 2♠, although in fact the defenders are usually going to give away at least one of those tricks on the lead.

Not IMO.

On what basis might that ruling be made?

It's a matter of regulation. For example we have regulations in the EBU that say (slightly simplified) that if they withdraw before half way through the event, all their results are cancelled; if after half way through, results against them stand and those who don't play against them get AV+. The pair themselves are usually deemed to have abandoned the competition, but may in cases of illness their scores may be allowed to stand.

For those who don't know him, he's written several books, has won the Gold Cup three times, and coached a team of juniors who became World Champions.

If you try to draw trumps, East can wait till the third round before winning, and then return a club. Now he can ruff a club if you play one and you are cut off from the remaining club trick. If you return a club immediately and finesse, you can play a third club which East will have to ruff low (else you'll discard a losing spade), and now he has the same number of trumps as dummy. You will have to have ruffed it high to ensure that your T9 of trumps guarantee an entry. However, now if East wins the first time you attempt to get to dummy with the T9, he can return a diamond to West, who can play another club for East to ruff to kill the trick in dummy. What about if you play a top diamond immediately and knock out the ace? That seems to get rid of West's entry, so that you can proceed as above without them being able to kill your club trick. Of course all of this pre-supposes you've worked out the layout, and I've no idea if this line figures to be with the odds.

If I should be bidding 5♥ now, I don't think I should have bid 2♥ earlier. The only additional information I legitimately have from partner is that he definitely has four hearts.

I don't think 5♥ looks like an obvious call. I think it's clear that North is short in spades, so if he was contemplating a double it was on the basis of high cards that will also be useful to me in 5♥. Hence I think any action (X or 5♥) is suggested over Pass, which I think is a logical alternative.

Quite a number of people choose not to accept them, but we don't generally know much about it because they are asked in advance if they would be likely to accept an honour if it were made. So, they aren't usually awarded the honour unless they've indicated they would accept it, and many of those who have said they don't want the honour keep quiet about it. The sticking point for many is the use of the words "British Empire" in the title.

Then start by bidding 2♣

When neither minor has been bid, clubs is the forcing enquiry.

Nicola Smith got an award quite some time ago, but hers was an MBE.

In the EBU we have forms to be filled out with the various weightings, using the "Maastrict Protocol", before entering the data into Jeff Smith's scorers, which also keep a record of what scores were entered.

There's a problem in the setup, in that it won't let you vote No without also voting for a bid or double.

I'd certainly rather rebid 2♠ than 1NT with ♠AKx ♥AQxxx ♦xx ♣xxx

Conversely, Scorebridge only allows adjustments as Fines. So, if you want to give a positive adjustment (eg in order to do a weighted ruling, which isn't otherwise catered for), you have to give a negative Fine!

And yet he made a second penalty double, rather than raising.

Sounds like it doesn't work for him any more.

You've got it the wrong way round. If my partner had said he didn't play EKCB, I would indeed pass a jump to 5♣, because it obviously would be natural. So too, if my partner said he doesn't play transfer breaks and then made one, I certainly wouldn't assume my partner was doing what he said he doesn't do.

Well that's your understanding, but it's not the only possible one. If a partner of mine had said that, and then broke a transfer, the one thing I wouldn't assume my partner to have is a fit for my suit.

I'm not so sure. After 3♣, whatever it might mean, East could have bid 3♦, but instead bid his five-card spade suit a second time, just to make sure his partner got the message, having heard from the explanation (UI) that he and partner were not on the same wavelength. And if he does believe 3♣ to be an impossible call, might he not have passed it on the basis that it can only reveal a psyche... except that the UI tells him that's not the case?

I thought it was only coming in in the new year, though I've heard of another event that has used it. So you were allowing a third decimal place because of the carry forward? Had it all happened as it might, just think that it would have saved everyone from a tie-break.

You are correct about the announcement, but incorrect to call Ed Andy :)

Those of you with 500 or more upvotes.

Those who open light in 1st & 2nd have little need to do so in 3rd.