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[hv=d=n&v=e&n=saq7hakqjdqj10987c&w=skj1086h5432dckqj10&e=s95432hd65432c432&s=sh109876dakca98765]399|300|Scoring: IMP S: 7H Lead: CK[/hv] You guessed it, this hand is not from real life. From one of your nightmares rather .... or sweet dreams perhaps. Can you make 7♥ after West leads ♣K? If you think you know the answer, hidden text would be fine. Roland

You are right, I got it wrong. I thought East doubled. So West is likely to have ♣A. But it's not at all certain that he also has the queen, so I would still enter dummy at trick 2 and lead a club up, inserting the jack if East follows small. I still have a legitimate chance even if my jack loses to West's queen. I just need West's ace to drop later, so that I can score 2 club tricks. Leading ♣J as you did is hardly a line anyone would recommend. I do not disregard psychology at the bridge table, but this is perhaps not a case for it. Roland

1. No, I don't agree. 3♥ is a slight overbid, and Blackwood is not suitable for a hand with a void. For all you know, you can be off 2 cashing aces on the auction. 2. After the lead, the bidding tells me that East probably has ♣A (he simply must have for the contract to have a chance). Maybe also the queen; AQx or AQxx, but the queen doesn't have to be with East. I don't think I handle it if he has 4 trumps though, but I haven't have time to analyse the hand thoroughly. My aim is to get 6 heart tricks, by ruffing 2 clubs in dummy if necessary, 4 diamond tricks and 2 clubs. So I will play East for something like: Qxx xxx xxx AQxx My line would be: Ruff the spade, enter dummy with a diamond and lead a club up. East will likely win his ace and return a heart (spade is no better). I will win in hand, cash ♣K and ruff a club. If the queen hasn't dropped, I come back to my hand by overtaking ♥Q and ruff another club. Now a diamond to hand, pull the last trump and claim. The slam is not a good one, and it should be possible to avoid it. After a 2♥ rebid, South may splinter in 3♠ and North cue bid 4♦. Then South has done enough and should sign off. The 3♥ rebid makes it tempting for South I must admit. 3♠, 4♦ and South has a problem. Slam could well be on if North has the right values (but it's a disappointment that he doesn't have ♣A). When in doubt I think it's a good idea to follow the old rule: "Partners never have what you want them to have"! :D Roland

I remember the hand well, because it was against Henri Schweitzer (ritong) and me 8 days ago. It was the last deal of the session, and after Fred saw dummy and planned the play after 3 rounds of spades, he said something like: "I think it's ok to have some fun now that it's the last deal". Whether that had any influence on his line I don't know, but maybe Fred will tell us about his thoughts when he returns to LV on Tuesday. I think his line was a good one, because he needed to score all his small hearts. What he feared was a trump promotion (♥9) if he led ♥A and queen, and right he was. I was East, and after Henri had shown ♠A it was more than likely that I had ♥K considering my overcall. Since he knew spades were 3-5, it was with the odds to assume that hearts would break 4-2 rather than 3-3. In that case a trump promotion would be there, unless I held exactly K9. I hope it's clear to see that 4♥ will go down if Fred had played ♥A and queen. Another spade from me would have promoted West's ♥9. Let's hope Fred will reveal his thoughts when he is back in his office. Roland

All yellows can make public broadcasts. Only a handful do. I am one of those when a vugraph broadcast is about to begin. Usually I do it twice: about 10 minutes before the start, and when it actually starts (delays are possible as you well know). I do it to render a service to our members. Let me know what you think. Are the broadcasts uncalled for? Is it up to people to figure it out themselves? I don't mind if I'm told (by Fred and/or Uday obviously) to stop sending these public messages. After all, it's only extra work as it is now - especially considering how often we have vugraph broadcasts. Roland

I couldn't agree more Jill. Disallowing specs is almost the same as saying: "We think there's a great risk of cheating if we allow specs". Certain pay tourney hosts use this policy, and I strongly disagree. If you really fear cheating, the whole idea of pay tourneys with BBO$ awards is wrong. As soon as money is an issue, cheating is too, sadly, but that doesn't mean that you should bar 99.999999% of the members from watching a bridge game. Roland

"Inadequate explanation", I suppose you mean. There is no such thing as an inadequate alert. Either the call is alerted or it's not. 2♦ was alerted; we know that for a fact. The explanation was inadequate, however, and this could very well be due to a language problem. North might have thought that his explanation was adequate in English, or maybe he had no better way of expressing himself. As stated in Rules of this Site: "While English is the official language of this site, plenty of our users do not speak English at all or have only limited English skills". I don't think North tried to hide anything intentionally, and I would be reluctant to impose a penalty on NS in this case. At international championships, yes, but in a random online tourney, no. Awarding average to both sides would be a Solomonic decision which I would make. Misexplanation is too harsh a word to use here in my opinion. Roland

2♠ would not be control showing, merely one way of making opener bid again (new suit by an unpassed responder is always forcing). So would 3♣ be of course, but 2♠ gives us a little more room (opener can bid 2NT), and he/she will not support spades, because he/she doesn't have 4. Distorting the shape of my hand you may claim. Yes, but that is not an issue here. I am the captain, because opener has shown a limited hand by rebidding 2♦. My aim is to set hearts and learn about opener's controls later. This is a formulation of the issue: We play strong jump shifts: Bid 2♥ on your first turn, and bid 3♥ next. That will set the suit and ask opener to cue bid. He/she may bid 4♥ as the weakest bid possible with a hand unsuitable for slam (lack of controls). We play weak jump shifts: Bid 1♥ and rebid 3♥. This is game forcing with a strongish 6+ card suit, because a direct 2♥ would be weak, and 1♥ followed by 2♥ invitational. If opener's rebid is 1NT, however, a special agreement applies if you play some kind of check back Stayman. Roland

♥Q, asking for attitude. I'm a Garozzo fan. Ace and Queen ask for attitude, King for unblock or count. This is far from being a holding where you would want partner to unblock. AKJ10 KQ109 are, and even KQ10xx usually is. Roland

2♣ is never passed if you play something sensible: Bart or the like. After 1♠-1NT 2♣ is a relay, asking for shape. Gazzilli, like the Italians play, is also a great tool. 2♣ can be a variety of hands (2♦ is forced as most play it). Whether you play Bart, Gazzilli or whatever doesn't matter. You will easily reach top spot: 4♥. Gazzilli can also be used after a 1♥ opening (1♠ and 1NT responses): http://www.padovabridge.it/varie/gazzilli.htm It's in Italian, but hopefully easy to understand (at least I do, and I don't speak Italian). Roland

4♥. 9 loser hand, not good enough for 3♦ invitational or better. Besides, if I bid 3♦, LHO may get in with spades (either 3♠ or double). I have a bad hand for defence, so let them guess after 4♥ if it's their hand. If partner has something, 4♥ may even make. If he has nothing (as usual), no harm done, since no one can double for penalties any more. Roland

Let me quote from The Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge 1997: Law 40C. Director's Option If the Director decides that a side has been damaged through its opponents' failure to explain the full meaning of a call or play, he may award an adjusted score Law 84E. Discretionary Penalty If an irregularity has occurred for which no penalty is provided by law, the Director awards an adjusted score if there is even a reasonable possibility that the non-offending side was damaged, notifying the offending side of its right to appeal ...... So what do you think? Is there "even a reasonable possibility that the non-offending side was damaged ..."? I know what I think. Roland

In my book it shows 10-12 hcp and a 6-card suit and therefore non forcing. A good rule as to responder's rebid is: A suit at the 3-level, already bid by one of us, is always 10-12. Easy to remember. After: 1♦-1♥ 1NT it doesn't even exist, but you could conceivably play it as above. If you you want a jump rebid of own suit by responder to be GF, you will have a serious problem with a game invitational hand. Unless you play WJS of course; then 2♥ is invitational and 3♥ game forcing. Roland

This is obviously a hand best suited for a strong jump shift (2♥ followed by 3♥ will set the suit), but it's not impossible to bid the hand even if you agreed on WJS. For a start, bid your suits in the right order. Playing 2/1 some think that the correct response with the hand is 2♣ in order to establish a game force. It's not! 1♥ is as much forcing as 2♣ is (although not game forcing - yet). I can't know how the bidding will proceed after 1♦-1♥, but let's assume opener rebids 1♠. You now venture 4th suit (2♣) and later rebid hearts which is at least slam invitational with a good 6-card suit. Then you are on the right track. If opener rebids 2♦, I will improvise with 2♠ rather than 3♣ for 2 reasons: 1. It gives us more room. 2. Partner will not support spades, since he already denied 4 by rebidding 2♦. Whether opener's next call is 2NT or 3♦, I will proceed with 3♥. Again at least slam invitational with own suit. Finally, if opener rebids 1NT, I will use my 2-way check back Stayman tool (2♦ as a game forcing relay, asking for cheapest information not yet given). In a second I will rebid hearts to show exactly the same as in the two examples above. Roland P.S. If you play WJS you can jump to 3♥ as a game force, since 2♥ will be invitational.

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=sk10532haq93dj64cj&s=sahj4da105ckq107642]133|200|Scoring: IMP S: 3NT Lead: D3[/hv] You arrived in a normal looking 3NT with no interference. The lead is ♦3 to East's queen and your ace. Plenty of tricks if clubs come in, but the communcications are poor. How do you go about this? Is 67.83% good enough for you? No more hints. Roland

4♥ 9-11 hcp, void, 4 trumps, OR 7-9 hcp, void, 5 trumps. Stronger hands with a void will go via 2NT. Will confirm ♠Q if asked. Roland

I think you missed my point. I was merely implying that I think it would be a good idea to have the times in more than EST and PST. I mean, for us who naively believe that there is a world outside the US ;) Roland

That is one way of putting it of course. Another, which I would suggest, is "(Username) has been banned from my tourneys in consequence of a violation of "Rules of This Site". A report will be sent to abuse@" Roland

Correct, there is a 99.5% line. The rest of you who want to try can take it from there. Roland

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sj9hk5d10632caqj85&s=saq1086532hj63dac2]133|200|Scoring: IMP S: 4S Lead: DK[/hv] Here is a deal from real life. We are at Ostend in Belgium for the European Championships 1965. South was the legendary Giorgio Belladonna from Italy. You are in 4♠ with no interference. Looks very promising, doesn't it? At least 7 trump tricks and 2 aces. Plenty of chances for the 10th trick. Is there a 100% line that will see you home no matter how the layout is? Roland

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sj96haq7d862c5432&w=s8742hj104dk943cj7&e=sq1053h9832dq75ck8&s=sakhk65daj10caq1096]399|300|S: 6C Lead: HJ[/hv] For some reason you have arrived in the rather unsound 6♣ (yes, could have been me, since MY slam statistics are pretty poor). West leads ♥J. Was my decision to bid the slam justified, or will I go down as usual? In other words: do you want to declare or defend? Roland

For members who live outside the United States, (some of) the times are: Paris: 04.30 Saturday morning. London: 03:30 Saturday morning. Sydney: 2:30 pm Saturday.

I don't buy that. You think West has supported on a doubleton? Low club is fine if you decide to return a club. Roland

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sa106hj103d9764cq82&w=s5hq872dak105cj764]266|200|Scoring: IMP S: 4S Lead: DA[/hv] Defence is arguably the most difficult part of the game. Spectacular when you get it right, ugly when you screw up. South opened 1♠, and North responded 1NT (some would have raised to 2♠ but that's beside the point). Now 2♥ from opener and 2♠ by North, raised to 4♠. End of auction. You lead ♦A and continue with the king, ruffed by declarer. He cashes ♠K and leads a small to dummy's ace, your partner following small and jack, and you discard a club. Next he advances ♥J, losing to your queen. You go into the tank, or do you? At least declarer doesn't claim. What now? Roland

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=s852h1096d10972ck32&w=sa4hkqj32dj64cj75&e=sq96ha8daq3cq10984&s=skj1073h754dk85ca6]399|300|Scoring: IMP W: 3NT Lead: S5[/hv] Thanks for your contributions. Most of you got the layout right, and I agree that declarer's diamond play at trick 2 makes little sense if he had ♣K. Therefore it seems as if a low club after the losing diamond finesse must be right. That will lead to 3 down after your partner's inspired lead. This will surely be the right defence at matchpoints where every trick counts; at IMPs, however, it depends on how "greedy" you are. Because as some pointed out, a diamond return will give you one more chance later in case declarer did something odd when he went after diamonds at trick 2. The thing you must try to assess at the table when playing IMPs is whether the first undertrick is not more important than the second and third. A club back is certainly consistent with the "strange" diamond play by declarer, but all declarers are not always rational, and if you want to make sure that you actually beat the contract (if at all beatable), you should perhaps be happy with down 1 and return a diamond. That will not give declarer his 9th trick. I will leave it up to you and your judgement. Roland