Walddk

One of the big events coming up this week. The Vanderbilt Knockout Teams from Houston, Texas, with world class players in abundance. We will be broadcasting from the Round of 32 Tuesday through Saturday when the final will be played. If all goes according to plan, we will have two tables up in the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals and final, four tables in the semi-finals. We may get more tables if the organisers can find enough operators, but nothing is decided at this point in time. For approximate session starting times in your area, please go to ... http://online.bridgebase.com/vugraph/sched...?order_by=event Roland

Our good luck wishes must have helped, because the EBU did indeed win the Camrose Trophy. Congratulations gnasher! http://www.ebu.co.uk/internationals/Camrose2009Results.htm This win puts an end to four successive Irish wins. Roland

Frances (Mrs. Hinden :rolleyes:) sent me a copy of the article. Fine play and a well deserved swing. Roland

I taught 6-9(10) 25 years ago. I still do. Roland

I don't subscribe to that magazine. How do I get a copy of the article? By the way, Mrs. Frances Hinden sounds very formal, does it not? I found this descriptive information on the net: "Mr." is for a man. It used to be for an adult male and "Master" was used for children, but it isn't used much any more. "Mrs." is an abbreviation for Misses and is used to denote a married woman. Miss is not an abbreviation and, therefore, should never have a period after it. It is used to denote an unmarried woman. "Ms" is also not an abbreviation and is used to denote a woman, married or unmarried. During the Women's Liberation movement of the early 1970s, it was thought that it was biased to give a title representing a woman's marital status whereas men have a title that does not reveal this information. Roland

The upcoming weekend will be another busy one with broadcasts from four nations: Australia (2 tables), Turkey (2), England (6) and Netherlands (2). The presentation from the Camrose Trophy in Oxford, England, features one of our regular posters, gnasher, aka Andy Bowles, who will be playing for the EBU (English Bridge Union). England field two teams this year. This is the second (and last) weekend. After the first weekend in January in Wales the standing is: 1. EBU 86 VPs - 2. Wales 83 - 3. England 79 - 4. Ireland 74 - 5. Northern Ireland 70 - 6. Scotland 52. http://www.ebu.co.uk/internationals/Camrose2009.htm We wish gnasher and his team-mates good luck! Roland

I don't want to cut off Pakistan from international cricket, but Pakistan as a venue has no future as I see it. Pakistan's home matches must be played in 'neutral' places. Roland

Sad day for cricket. I must have been naive, but I never thought this would happen in 'our' sport. I fear that international cricket in Pakistan has no future after this. No team wants to go there any more. I don't blame the players. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7921430.stm In retrospect, was it a wise decision for England to go back to India after Mumbai? Roland

Count me in as an opener, a clear opener even. Better than many 14-15 counts. Roland

Andrés Segovia of Spain (1893-1987). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Segovia

The draw for the Round of 16 where the 8 teams in the Upper Bracket have two lives (double elimination), the 8 teams in the Bottom Bracket only one (you lose once and you are out). Upper Bracket: Yeh v Sweden Netherlands v Australia Selected England v Global USA Hampson v China LongZhu Bottom Bracket: Bridge i Norge v Norway Japan Seniors v New Zealand India National v Australia Open USA Stansby v USA/Italy Cayne As you see, Team Lavazza did not qualify. Roland

Most of us think that 3♦ is an underbid. I mean, vulnerable at IMPs, how would you be feeling if it goes all pass? For the sake of argument, let's pretend that partner responded 1♠ instead. Would you still rebid 3♦, or would you consider a reverse into 2♥ if ... - 1. You have no agreement. 2♥ is a natural reverse. - 2. You have a gadget. 2♥ is an ambiguous reverse, and responder has a 2NT relay available to ask for clarification. As for 2., this is how the top Italian pairs play 2♥ in this situation. Similarly, on the actual hand, they can make a 2♠ jump shift without promising a suit. Can be a hand too strong for a 3♦ rebid like here, with or without 3-card heart support, but can also be natural, 4-5+ in spades and diamonds. Again, 2NT asks for clarification. How do you like that? Roland

Allow me to compliment the Australian organisation. Vugraph setup as well as the most comprehensive website I have come across. Brilliant! Without naming particular countries, I think we agree when I say that many could, and should!, learn a few things from the Aussies. Roland

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sa10ha42dkq109653ca]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You are playing in the Yeh Bros Cup when this hand comes up. Your system is natural, and you open 1♦. Partner responds 1♥. This caused a problem in the two matches on vugraph, and a few other matches too actually. What is your next bid? Please explain why. Roland

Happy Birthday MikeH. It's a pleasure to read your posts. Deep analysis and very articulate (for a Canuck :D). I even agree with most of what you write :) I vote for you to be the moderator of the expert sub-forum. Have a nice one! Roland

By the way, full credit to your RHO for not doubling 2♦.

I remember the hand and agree with your partner. This is a sound club raise. The commentators predicted that you would pass, because it did indeed look natural when you looked at your cards. 2♦ = "My hand became enormous when you rebid 2♣". Roland

Partner's reasoning would indeed be quite disgusting if partner bid 3♣ instead of 2♥ with that shape. I don't follow. Would you not redouble with 4405? Do you still want him to bid a doubleton major rather than a 4-card club suit? Roland

Yes, and it won't harm to add "in my view, because ..."

We can't tell, because declarer did not play the hand like that, but OK, say you cash four rounds of hearts. West started with three and pitches a diamond on the 4th. East discards a diamond and a spade. By the way, Ken, I posted this problem in the B/I Forum with the intent of getting B/I'ers involved, not experts. Roland

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=sj43ha1073dkj4c752&s=s86hkq95da32cakj3]133|200|Scoring: IMP S: 3NT Lead: H4[/hv] Earlier today on vugraph South went wrong in the wrong contract. Can you do better? South opened 1NT and was raised to 3. Although North is 3433 I think he should have used Stayman. Opener does indeed promise a balanced hand, but he could easily have a worthless doubleton in one of the black suits. He had as you see, and 4♥ is a much better contract than 3NT. Anyway, it's your job to try and make 3NT. You are probably relieved not to have received a spade lead. West led ♥4 (4th best, low from a doubleton, middle from three). You decide to win in hand over East's jack. Plan the play please. Roland

I think "wtp" and "LOL" answers are arrogant. If posters ask a question, it's a relevant question for them. In my opinion you should either give them a detailed reply or refrain from answering if you think the question (or point) is stupid. If you think a question is stupid, and you can't help yourself, then at least tell the poster why he/she is wrong ... in a polite fashion. Roland

You lost me there, Hamdi. Could you please translate that sentence into English? Roland

Frances, are you saying that you don't play Allerton's rescue system?? I did not know there was one until yesterday I must confess, but there is (or at least was). Is Jeffrey not unhappy when you have chosen something else? Or is he yet another inventor who doesn't play his own convention? Roland

You need to change the laws first, Mike :) Roland