the_dude

[hv=pc=n&s=saqt432h53d32caj4&n=skjhak42dakq87c32&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1dp1sp2hp3sp]266|200[/hv] Playing with an occasional partner .. in the past we have agreed that 2♠ by responder is minimum (5-8ish) and his 3♠ bid is a good 6 card suit and forcing. We aren't on firm ground with reverse auctions tho. If North now bids 5♠ .. is that a general slam invitation *or* a specific inquiry about club controls? I would think it was asking for a control in the 4th suit .. would like to confirm tho... What better methods do y'all use for this auction. Do you have any specific agreements (lebensohl or otherwise) that would help?

Agree with Dake. Partner just knowingly used the most space consuming auction that exists. He is (or should be) extremely strong and well prepared to continue bidding at the 4-5 level if you think there is a slam about.

Lurpoa .. Opener needs to be able to force game once Responder has given his initial response .. showing 19-21 and saying "we are going to game I just don't know where yet". In Standard-American-based 2/1 systems (rightly or wrongly) opener does this with a Jump Shift. It is pretty much 100% game forcing in the 2/1 systems that I know. You can start carving out exceptions if you wish, but know that they are not standard, and you need to be able to handle hands without obvious fits. On this auction, responder with Qx KQx KJxxx xxx might very will wish to bid 3♠ and hear from partner again .. not wishing to bid 3NT unilaterally opposite a hand that has shown 9 cards in the majors. But he sure can't do that if partner can pass! Hence the value of the game force. Obviously it's not perfect, and strong club systems handle these hands way way better...

The only reason I gave South 25% is that game is possible on a host of 5-5 hands on the order of AKxxx KQxxx xx x or other variations which may require a finesse but are certainly 50% or better. That being said, I think pass by S is pretty normal.

[hv=pc=n&s=st2ha654dq972c752&n=sak953hkt92dktca3&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1sp1np2hppp]266|200|IMPS[/hv] My feeling is N= 75%, S= 25%. Concur?

These reasons enough would be more than enough for me to ban psyches. By agreeing to play on a Free, anonymous, or extremely low cost site .. aren't you implicitly agreeing to a less-serious game with a lower standard of play. Such a game would need certain rules to combat things like "runners", cheaters, and other mayhem seekers. I would think that players insistent on a serious game would play somewhere that requires a real membership and identity, with real consequences for misbehavior. Then I would feel better about complaining if the venue did not allow the full array of competition.

Thanks JLogic. I've just returned from the game after a long absence and I'm having a tough time finding good documentation on Inverted Minors. The Lawrence and Hardy materials barely scratch the surface. I've seen a few other snippets and I can't tell if they are mainstream or way out there. I'm just looking to adopt something that I can play comfortably with multiple partners.

Thanks for the responses. Things I was trying to resolve here: 1. Is walsh-style "assumed" for a good pickup 2/1 partnership? That helps because the auction gets bogged down if Opener has to rebid 1♠. 2. Is it "standard" these days to treat the following as forcing: 1♣-2♣ 2♦-2NT 3. I used to play 1♣-2♣-2NT as a balanced non-forcing 12-13 that did not necessarily promise stoppers .. and all other 2 level bids a bit more than minimum (14+ or so) and 4+ clubs. Is this treatment still around?

[hv=pc=n&s=sa42hk3dqjt3caqj7&n=skq53hjtdak2c8632&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1cp]266|200|IMPS, no opposition bidding[/hv] How would you bid the South hand with a new partnership .. generic 2/1 with Inverted minors and 2way checkback. How would it go with your favorite partner?

Am I way off base here? I would have bid 2S instead of 3C as west... Not giving up on the 5-3 Heart fit and showing a big 2344 or 1345/1354... Or is there some other modern agreement for 2S that I have missed? Of course I don't know what to do as East in response .. now his hand is gigantic given his earlier lack of jump .. seems like he would bid 3D but that doesn't do it justice. He'd be alot less wont to bid 3NT tho opposite known spade shortness.

When you make takeout Xs with the North hand, you accept that hands like this will burn you now and then. I still think it's the winning strategy (far more wins that losses) but this hand is exhibit A of the downside. Likewise with the South hand .. you pretty much have to bid 5S (after all partner could really could have his bid) but the soft cards and duplication in club shortness are warning signs that if partner doubled on a mini then you are headed for a poor result.

I think both 2♠ and 4♠ are fine, depending on how aggressive your takeout doubles are. 3♠ as anything but preemptive makes no sense to me. How many invitational bids do you need? I mean .. assuming 2♠ is 9-11ish, and you are going to bid 4♠ with any opening hand (or 2♥ with a good hand but 4card suit) .. then when would you ever want to bid 3♠? Unless of course you have a bad hand with six spades and want to jam the auction.

I'm at the nationals after a 15 year vacation from Bridge and I'm finding that the 2/1 I played in the early 90's has evolved a bit. Is there a good "Expert Standard" 2/1 reference out there that is up to date in 2010? Something pretty in depth ala Hardy's book.

I don't see how it could be a FP. Wouldn't North bid 4H on pretty much any hand with a stiff spade and 6 hearts? South has a difficult decision but hearing the 3D bid by W might be a clue that there are double fits on both sides and bidding 5H is right.

[hv=pc=n&n=skqj9hkt82dkckq32]133|100[/hv] NV vs NV My partner argues that it is "normal" in the advanced/expert class world to open this hand 1NT. I think he's on another planet .. if you want to mastermind a bit fine, but it is by no means "normal". IMO this particular hand doesn't present alot of rebid problems .. but that aside .. what are your thoughts on opening 1NT with a singleton K in 1st position?

Whoops forgot .. is that missing on the new diagram? IMPS.

[hv=pc=n&s=skqj5h5daj85ckqt5&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=2dpp]133|200[/hv] West opens Weak 2♦ .. passed around to South. Are you bidding, and if so, what?

[hv=d=s&v=b&s=sajxxhk98xxdjxcjx]133|100|Scoring: IMP P-1♠-2♣-3♦ ? 3D is weak. Double is undiscussed (you are playing BBO 2/1 with an experienced player).[/hv]

[hv=d=n&v=b&n=saxhkxxdaqxxxxxca&s=sxxxxhaq10xxdxcxxx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Playing 2/1, how can we get to 4H on this hand? (no opposition bidding) More to the point, after 1D - 1H, what is North's rebid?

South is too strong for a direct 3NT .. which could be anything from a strong NT to a running diamonds. Prime 21+ isn't one of the options that I'm aware of. South should Double followed by 3NT over 3S. 4C over 3H. Gonna have to get creative if partner jumps to 4S... any ideas?

North has a 5cd suit, great black suit values, and assurance of singleton or void in D. And since there's no room for invitation, he needs to belt it out.

[hv=d=s&v=e&s=saqj10xxhxdqxcj10xx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] What is your opening bid? I've been away from the game for a while and I'm wondering what the modern style is.

THanks for the responses. I've been looking at profiles .. but they haven't been much use. When I joined I put myself as "advanced" because while I was relearning and making mistakes I didn't want to get a reputation as a "bad expert". But after watching some 'expert play' .. apparently I am world class lol. I guess I'll just stick to trial and error. Ugh... Helene .. what are these clubs? Thanks again :rolleyes:

BBO newbie here. I'm returning to bridge after 15 years of mostly inactivity .. and was thrilled to find that BBO had >10,000 people online! But a few days of wandering through tables has been a massive disappointment. How do you find people that know how to play? I'm not looking for progressive squeezes or Vienna Coups here .. I'm really rusty and capable of making dumb mistakes. But most of my partners have not known to lead top of a doubleton .. or play lower of touching honors. It's impossible to count a hand or play any sort of defense .. much less believe a bid. And these are the 'advanced' players! Is there any mechanism to find a decent game rather than just picking a table and sitting down? So far I'm about 0-100... Thanks ;)