lrussell

Very sound advise.

I was directing an ACBL speedball on Sunday when this hand came up. BBO player atriald was sitting west. Declarer proceeded with a excellent line of play. Atriald found the winning defense at trick 10. [hv=pc=n&s=st753haqt874d8cak&w=skj82h9dq63cj5432&n=sa94hk653dak7c976&e=sq6hj2djt9542cqt8&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=p1cp1hp2hp4np5hp6hppp&p=c2c6cqcahah9h3h2h4c4hkhjc7c8ckc3s3s2sas6c9cth7c5d8d3dad2dkd4std6d7d5hqdqs5sks4sqsjs9d9]399|300|[/hv] Nicely done atriald. This rare defensive play has a name.

Caitlynne is correct: "in the absence of discussion is unequivocally penalty" In a BBO ACBL tournament however, absent any discussion, it's quite likely partner's double of 2♥ is a transfer to spades.

I (ACBL_07) direct many BBO ACBL tournaments. I believe BBO players do not pay money and intentionally delay on purpose. The overwhelming majority of hesitations in online bridge are due to software/computer/internet/connectivity issues. Some players may also have physical handicaps which hiders their ability to play. Perhaps we should all exercise a little more patience when players are slower than we we wish they were. As Joyce Meyer said "Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting."

3♥ works for me. Be nice to have a 4th spade but life isn't perfect. When we have a fit I've found it best to let partner know. 2♦ might work too.

Go to www.bridgesqueezescomplete.com Download and install the program. Email me the serial number I will send you the registration code for free Clyde Love would approve.

Two considerations: 1. If you play the sequence 1♠ - 2♦ - 3♣ shows extras then minimum 5♠/5♣ hands should be opened 1♣ 2. The quality of suits might come in to play as well. With ♠Jxxxx/♣AQJxx I'd open 1♣ and with ♠AQJxx/♣Jxxxx I bid 1♠ The example hand I'd open 1♠

I duck the spade because 1. Not everyone is in 6NT so making should be a decent score. I don't care about those in 7NT. 2. Not everyone got a spade lead. Those that didn't can just play on clubs. So it must be a better chance to hope to tie them when clubs are not 3-3 (64.5%) than hope to tie them when clubs are 3-3 (35.5%)

Personally I like a negative double as it keeps 3NT in play. Partner had ♠KQ9 ♥K87 ♦KJ763 ♣AQ They found the spade ruff in 5♦

Match Points You Vul - they Not ♠J 2 ♥Q 5 4 ♦A Q 10 8 5 2 ♣5 2 Partner opens 1♦(better minor) - RHO overcalls 3♠ Your call? (Double is negative. If you double what do you do if partner bids 4♥?)

I guess I forgot reason #4. They might bid 7♣. Silly me, I never considered that.

You pass for 3 reasons: 1. You don't want to tell them how to play the clubs. For example: ♣Q2 ♣A1087654 There are two equally good (72%) ways to play clubs for one loser: a) Low to ♣Q b) ♣2 from dummy inserting the ♣10 There are other combinations where a double will help declarer play the suit. 2. A weird auction for sure. 6♣ down is likely the same MP as 6♣-X down. Why bother? 3. You don't want them to run to anything. Take your top.

Agree with nige1 6♦ = 10, Pass = 9, 4♥ = 8, 4N = 6, 3N = 5.

3rd seat, none other.

2♦ - agree with 1eyedjack 110% (especially the comment about wrong-siding the NT)

I'm headed to 6NT not 6S. If I play 1NT - 3S requires partner to cue Aces and Kings I'll do that: 1NT - 3S - 4D - 4S signoff (we off 2 clubs) 1NT - 3S - 4C - 4D - 4S - Pass (we off 2 hearts) 1NT - 3S - 4C - 4D - 4H - 4NT - 5D (1 key card) - signoff in 5S 1NT - 3S - 4C - 4D - 4H - 4NT - 5H (2 key cards) - 6NT 1NT - 3S - 4C - 4D - 4H - 4NT - 5C (0/3 keys) - bid 5S partner will convert to 6S with 3 keys and I will bid 6NT If I play 1NT - 3S asks partner to cue Aces only (then Kings) there is little point in bidding 3S as I can't construct an auction that will keep me out of slam in all cases when off 2 tops. I could try Gerber or some sort of sequence where 4NT is Black however they might get a lead directing double in. So the heck with it. In this case I just jump to 6NT.

I bid an invitational 2NT all types of scoring and vul. If partner has 18 or 19 I expect 3NT makes more often than not. (DealMaster makes game 62%) If partner has 17 I would expect 3NT to go down more often than not. (DealMaster down 70%)

After 1♥ - 4NT I can see a few possible disasters If 4NT is RKC 1♥ - 4NT - 5♣ - 5♦ - 6♥ (yes partner I have the ♥Queen) - how nice! 1♥ - 4NT - 5♦ (0-3 or 1-4) do I bid 6♦ or pass? When 4NT isn't RKC: 1♥ - 4NT - 6♦ (1 ace + ♦void) this won't be a success! 1♥ - 4NT - 5NT (2 aces + ♦void) will partner pass 6♦? will it make? 1♥ - 4NT - 5♥ (2 aces) DealMaster analysis shows partner has ♠A and ♥A then 6♦ makes 27% partner has ♣A and ♠A then 6♦ makes 57% partner has ♣A and ♥A then 6♦ makes 76% So that gives a combined probability of roughly 53% After all that I'm NOT bidding 4NT - I'm bidding 5♦ 1. If partner has 0 or 1 ace I'm not too high 2. If partner has 2 aces I've missed a 53% 6♦ (no big deal) 3. If partner has 3 bullets he might just bid 6♦ by himself 4 I've avoided a possible RKC or non-RKC disaster

I'm with the 1NT bidders. Helene_t has it exactly right.

3♦ is non-forcing in SAYC. 3♣ is my call.

Both were pushy but South's ace-less, 4-3-3-3 pancake 9 count is not a limit raise. South to blame.

A SJS in hearts would have been easier. However I'll offer this Voidwood sequence 1♦ - 1♥ 1♠ - 2♣ 2♥ - 3♥ 5♣ - 5♦ 5♠ - 6♥ P 2♥ - Partner might be 4-4 in the majors so 2♥ leaves room to discover what partner has 3♥ - 2♠ would set spades as trumps - 4♥ would be to play - 3♥ sets trumps slamish 5♣ - Exclusion RKC (Voidwood) - just need to know about ♥AKQ and ♠A 5♦ - 0-3 Key Cards not counting ♣Ace (5♥ for the 1430 players) 5♠ - Queen ask 6♥ - No queen Edit: I just noticed this is the same as Two4bridge's post #1 with the exception of the explanation of the 3♥ bid.

Case 1 was an invitational auction. I gave opener 16-17 and responder 8-9. Case 2 responder was strong enough to force game. I gave opener 15-17 and responder 10-14.

DealMaster Pro with Deep Finesse analysis shows diamond best in all cases Trump lead is next best. Best lead IMP (beat contract) Card (1) (2) SJ 30.4% 10.2% S2 30.0% 10.0% HK 21.6% 6.2% HT 28.6% 8.2% H2 30.6% 9.4% D8 38.8% 12.6% CK 18.2% 3.8% CJ 19.0% 4.4% C6 20.4% 4.4% Best lead MP (most tricks) Card (1) (2) SJ 68.6% 80.0% S2 68.6% 79.2% HK 48.6% 49.6% HT 60.0% 60.0% H2 63.0% 63.4% D8 85.0% 89.2% CK 44.2% 47.8% CJ 47.6% 47.3% C6 48.8% 48.6%

Pass. I judge the odds of getting a plus score defending 3♥-X is greater than the odds of getting a plus playing 3♠ or 4♣.