Walddk

I am sure you do a great job guggie, and now readers in the Forums know where you come from. If they are unhappy about the fact you don't necessarily make the correct rulings, they can just stay away from your tourneys. You should certainly be allowed to run tourneys, because there is nothing at stake, other than pride, in your tourneys. In other tourneys they compete for cash prizes, and in those instances I think it is a must that TDs rule according to the Laws of Duplicate Bridge. But how can they do that if they don't know what the laws stipulate? Some know, others don't. Roland

Yes, I take bridge in general seriously, because it is my living. I think that is a valid point. You are entitled to take it less seriously of course. Roland

Everything is relative. They may be cheapish inside the USA, but allow me to point out that there is a world outside the United States. [possible humour snipped. uday] Roland

Are you sure that this is an exception? I am sorry, but it is not! Most TDs/hosts on BBO are, excuse me, clueless as far as the laws are concerned. No one in the world knows all of them by heart, word by word, and that is not required either. What is required, however, is that TDs know where to look them up and rule accordingly! We have discussed this before, but it's a fact that most TDs are busy with nothing more than trying to keep the time and "where do I get my next substitute from". Having said that, I would like to stress that there is no excuse whatsoever for leaving a tourney, no matter how appalling the ruling is. If this happened in real life, a suspension would be automatic. And then we are back to the issue appeals committee or not. You have one in f2f bridge, but we don't have any on BBO. Roland

I don't think that a hand that opened at the 1-level can ever explore slam opposite a 1-o-1 response. Invite slam if responder has a good hand, yes, but not take any initiative itself. A couple of examples: 1mi - 1♠ 4♠ 1♦ - 1♠ 4♥ (splinter, void for many) Both show strong hands, but it must be up to responder to explore slam. Roland

30 minutes' drive away, and traffic is not the same problem here as in Germany where traffic jams on the motorways are quite common. Hope you can make it anyway, Gerben :) Roland

I think you are right Richard, and that is of course unacceptable no matter how wrong the decision was. Finish the tourney and don't play in any of that TD's tourneys again. Roland

Not out of the question at all as far as I am concerned. I remember that Fred did something similar in 1998 when the members on zone.com had a convention in Asheville, North Carolina. Fred came one day as a guest lecturer, and he even lived in Canada at the time. Need I say that this was a tremendous success? England is about 1½ hours away from where I live, so there is no major obstacle regarding travel. Time may be an issue, but that is impossible to say as long as there is no schedule. Roland

OK, East did not alert 3♠ which he should have although he had denied 4 spades long time ago, but again NS have not been damaged by the missing alert. There is only one proper ruling: Table result stands. Then the TD can tell East that he must alert a feature bid in the future. End of story. Roland

I don't agree Gerben. Even if he doubled with that shape (not my style, but not unacceptable), he should not run away from 1♦ doubled. Partner is likely to have 5+ diamonds, because he bid in a situation where he didn't have to. Roland

Should we not just assume that no one on BBO misleads the opponents deliberately!? You need very strong evidence to claim that someone does. I am pretty sure that the 10-11 point explanation lacked a + and that it therefore was inadequate. This has not, however, damaged NS in the slightest in my opinion. South took a chance by doubling. He got his just reward when 3NTXX made. Too bad, but don't think that you can get an adjusted score by calling the Law. Accept that you must taste your own medicine and get on with things. Roland

PASS without hesitation. Could that be the hand where, in another thread, partner doubled and then was in serious trouble when LHO redoubled and I bid 1♦ that got doubled? If so, 2♣ is definitely the spot for us, but I don't like to guess, so please pass next time. A simple rule is worth following in most instances: Pass in 2nd seat after RHO opens the bidding does not deny an opening hand It only denies a hand that is suitable to take any action - either because it's weak or because it has been kept out of the bidding with too many cards in the opening suit. Roland

Good points, and they are no doubt the reasons for no or inadequate explanations. Many players on BBO simply do not know how to express themselves in English. However, it must be possible to teach them: 1♣: 12-14 balanced, 15+ with clubs or 18+ any shape. Furthermore teach them that 1♣ in Polish Club is alertable on BBO (where the ACBL alert procedure is in force) although it is not in other parts of the world (mainly Poland of course where it's standard). I have a feeling that this has already been tried by notes on bridgebase.pl, but maybe it's time to do it again. wojela, libido, martpl and juror are very capable Polish yellows who are happy to help those who are not familiar with English. People from other countries, Italy and Turkey for instance, have similar problems with English. Fair enough, but again we have local yellows available if they need help. Roland

My point was that if I am on an appeals committee in real life and get the facts jyllybean presents, confirmed by NS as well as EW, I will likely deem the appeal without merit and forfeit the deposit. Then I can afford to buy a few of the cokes I lost to co-commentators during our vugraph presentations ;) Roland

I don't think anyone has or should have agreements on which card to lead from the trump suit. Sometimes I will lead the jack, sometimes the small card from this holding. The point is that my partner could not care less about how many trumps I have. On the auction I don't think it matters much which card you lead. Anyway, let declarer do his own work and guess if he has a guess. In other situations, later in the play, a trump echo may be needed in order to help partner (can he give you a ruff or not). Roland

♥x Opener has shown 5 hearts and 4+ in a minor. The convention is popular in some parts of Europe, especially the Netherlands and Great Britain. I see no alternative to a trump lead. I do not underlead an ace against a suit contract, and cashing one of the aces will only beat air. All side suits are controlled, so I will get the chance to see what is the right continuation in a minute. Roland

1♥. A weak jump overcall vulnerable should first of all have a good suit, and little outside. Here is a hand that is much more like a weak 2: xx KQJxxx xxx Kx I would really have liked to add the 10 or at least the 9 too. Second seat is a dangerous position as long as we haven't heard anything from LHO, so look at suit quality first. It is rarely profitable for the opponents to double you at the 1-level, but from the 2-level and upwards they may very well do. On a bad day AKJx is sitting over you with the hand you post, and then you know you are in trouble if it goes 2♥ pass pass X, all pass. Roland

I think 2♠ is an underbid. If no other agreement, I think 3♠ is just fine in any natural system, also after interference. That is what this hand is worth. You have a very good hand in the 16-18 point range, whether you count your singleton as 2 or 3 points. Roland

2♣ is probably our best spot, but I will try 1♥ first and pull if it gets doubled. I am glad it's not my partner who doubled initially. He can't possibly have a hand where double was the right call. He must have fewer than two diamonds after the redouble. Roland

Again no. "I assume E would understand 1♣ to be 11-13", it reads. A TD is not supposed to assume anything. He/she is supposed to state the facts, nothing more. Roland

No, West had 13, that was "wrong" if you like. The explanation that the agreement says 10-11 has not been proven wrong. Roland

How do you know that the explanation was wrong according to their agreements? We have no such evidence. East is entitled to bid whatever he/she wants. If 12 hcp is enough for him/her to bid 3NT, there is absolutely nothing you can do. South made a poor decision by doubling. It won't help to call the Law and ask for redress. The appeal is frivolous. I wish that more people would attend TD courses in order to give rulings according to the Laws of Duplicate Bridge. Roland

It doesn't matter what West had. If 10-11 is the agreement it is perfectly legitimate to hold 20 hcp for that matter. It's a common mistake inexperienced TDs make. West is not supposed to tell opps what he/she has, but what the partnership agreement is. "It shows 10-11 according to our agreement, but I have 13 this time". Opps are not ientitled to that information. I don't know why some think that a player must tell what his/her cards are. Roland

I follow a simple rule. Every time our side is able to bid 1x 1y ; 1NT (with or without interference), check back is on. Roland

NS have not been damaged even if the explanation may have been inadequate. Table result stands. Appeal without merit, deposit forfeited. Roland