Walddk

No matter which system you play, 2♥ is at least a 1-round force. The reason for it is logical. Even if 2♣ only shows 10+ hcp, a new suit by opener is forcing, because the rebid shows 12-18. Consequently, a 2-o-1 responder can't pass opposite a hand that could have up to 18. Personally, I would open 1♠. This is unlikely to be passed out. I try to avoid opening 2♣ if I have any excuse at all. 2♣ is the nightmare opening in a natural system - simply because you have taken the 1-level away from you and your partner. The subsequent bidding after 2♣ is not as accurate as after 1 of a suit. Roland

Well, we can now state that the selectors did have enough, because you and Diane Greenwood were on the bench at the weekend. Too bad for you, and too bad for Northern Ireland who performed pretty poorly this time. There was one good thing about it though. We had Diane as one of our vugraph operators, and she did very well! Roland

I agree wholeheartedly. Then we can also change the name of this site to Bridge Buttons Online (not to be confused with Bridge Bottoms Online, which are also quite frequent) :) Roland

Naive you are if you believe life favours those who aren't naive "Grooks" (he wrote about 10,000!) was the name Piet Hein (1905-1996), mathematician, inventor, poet and scientist - one of our nation's all time greats - devised for his short pithy poems. Here is another one (not translated into English officially, but I have below): Den som tager spøg for spøg og alvor kun alvorligt Han har faktisk fattet begge dele lige dårligt! -- Piet Hein He who takes a joke for a joke and seriousness only seriously He has actually comprehended both equally badly! Roland

I beg to disagree. This always happens when a "big" match is in progress in the Main Bridge Club (especially when Garozzo-De Falco have been playing lately). I, naively perhaps, thought that people go there to watch top class bridge and not to express all kinds of nonsense comments. They are not vugraph broadcasts, and no commentators are scheduled. I think it's great that people who usually do not get the chance to commentate on the auction and play voice their opinions to a large audience, but I also think it's irritating when (too) many think it's more important to chat about the weather in Baltimore, the stock market in Frankfurt and the advantages of using viagra. We've got chat rooms in case people believe that these topics are worth discussing at a bridge site with some 150 specs around. I have a feeling, however, that those gatherings won't attract quite that many. If your aunt's corns are bothering her, you should perhaps consider sending a private chat message to one or two who might be interested. There is probably also some state-registered chiropodist around who will be happy to tell you what the cure is (free of charge even). Let the rest get a quiet time so that they can enjoy what this is all about: a good game of bridge. Roland

Well done everyone. Cash a top honour and lead low towards the jack. If it loses to the queen, you should go for the drop on the 3rd round. But it's only marginally better than finessing the 9. The combination is actually in the Encyclopedia I now see. The chance of getting 3 tricks is about 84%, and the combination yields 2,88 tricks on average! Roland

Aber sicher, Sie is ja ein bisschen altmodisch, nicht wahr? Roland P.S. Sorry, we'll switch back to English soon

B is actually short for "Bonde" in Danish. "Peasant" or "Farmer". Should have been Jack of course and is now corrected in my initial post. My apologies. Roland

It has been a while since we had a suit combination to tackle. This one came up in a live IMP game last night: AK93 J62 Plenty of entries to both hands. How do you play when you need 3 tricks, and how good a chance is it "a priori" (everything being equal)? Roland

What a shame Fluffy. I would have asked you for a game, but I must look elsewhere then, because I gladly raise with 3 cards if my hand screams for it. Roland

1. PASS. 2. 5♣. I don't mind the double of 3♦ since it shows 4 hearts. Now we must get to clubs. I bid what I think I can make when partner shows extras. We may have a slam on, but that would be pure guessing. "Plussschreiben und gewinnen". The same German sentence I have used before. This time it means that "the scores belong in the WE column". 4♣ is non forcing, so that's out of the question. Roland

Penalty doubles hardly exist any more for a start. Partner has hearts, so he can leave my double in if he prefers. Secondly, why am I not allowed to show extras with a hand that is stuck for a bid? AKJxx xx Qx AQxx Ben wants me to bid 4♣ with that hand I take it. That would look silly if the right spot was 3NT or 3♥X. Roland

Definitely not! I should have added: 3-card support with or without shortage. You only show your singleton with 4-card support. It has now been corrected in my initial post. Roland

Sounds like a good idea and would no doubt be very helpful for the commentators. As it is now, it's sometimes irritating to get the private messages. They take up room on the screen, of course. However, I have a funny feeling that this will be put on Fred's "would-be-nice" list, because other issues are more important to deal with. Roland

1. Sign off, no slam interest, typically 2-3 in spades and diamonds. Could conceivably be 2-4 with honour concentration in hearts and clubs. 2. Extras, no clear direction (or no descriptive bid available if you like). Roland

This is virtually impossible. I can only speak for myself of course, but it would be a hopeless task to respond to all the private chat messages I get during a vugraph broadcast. Believe me, I get tons. Generally speaking, I don't mind at all, on the contrary since some of the messages contain useful information and questions. The most interesting ones (imho) I usually pass on publicly to all commentators present - or I ask the questions and reply myself. I know that the same applies to other commentators. Those with +++ in their profiles can receive private chat (I don't need the characters because I'm yellow and therefore able to get private chat regardless). The dialogue between specs and commentators is important in my view. We are not oracles, and we make mistakes, so it's perfectly legitimate to tell us when we err. Most of the commentators are prepared to listen and even apologise if they do or say something wrong. Having said that, however, it's very difficult to concentrate on the auction/play and private chat at the same time, so more often than not the sender doesn't get a message back. No offence intended, as I have typed in my profile. Roland

5 posts (except for Fred's and mine) in over a month. We must do something right! Roland

Everything! I am not saying yours is bad, but I prefer to insert a 2NT relay after 1x-1♠; 2♠, and a 2♠ relay after 1mi-1♥; 2♥, asking for number of trumps, min or max, and shortage or not. If the members are interested, I will be happy to give you the subsequent responses. Roland

I obviously should have thought about this very likely auction before I opened. Personally, I would have opened a weak NT (12-14). Yes, I do know I have a singleton heart. 1NT shows a balanced hand, I also know that, unless it's unbalanced for some reason. Fred had the "impossible" hand last night in a tourney: 3-1-4-5 and a 16 count. So not strong enough to reverse into 2♦ after 1♣-1♥, so he chose 1NT as the practical solution. I was and am with him. The least of evils in this example is 1♠. I simply refuse to rebid that non-existent club suit, and 1NT now would show 15-17. Roland

If your hand is suitable for a raise with only 3 cards, you should raise. Example: 10 AJ4 KQ95 Q9754 1♣-1♥ 2♥ In my opinion you should avoid rebidding the 5-card club suit unless it's pretty good. This one is not. I know that raising with only 3 is a major crime in France and Poland for instance, but I don't live there. I would even raise to 2♥ with: 73 K105 KQJ A10854 Many would rebid 1NT, but if NT is the right spot for us the contract is likely to be positionally wrong-sided. If responder is strong enough to make a move, there is an excellent method for him/her to find out if the raise is based on 3- or 4-card support with or without shortage, and minimum or maximum within the 12-15 range. Roland

How many trumps do you think partner knows we have? Roland

PASS. Didn't I show my hand when I bid 2♥? It can't be a complete shock for partner that I have 12 hcp and 4 hearts, so the rest must be up to him. Roland

Because a zero is a clear plus compared to 100, 110, 140 to the enemy. So I prefer to keep "plusschreiben und gewinnen" :) Roland

I have been a BBO member for about 2 years now. I was an okb'er when a friend told me about Bridge Base. So I decided to give it a go. I never looked back! Roland