Walddk

In bridge this is pretty new. Until recently Great Brittain could send only one team to the European Championships. The first time England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales could enter their own teams was in 2003. In football (soccer :D ) it's a different story. Not quite correct, Harald. First time we saw England, Scotland and Wales as separate entities was in year 2000 (Olympiad in Maastricht, Netherlands). Then we had the same three (bridge) nations at the European Team Championships in 2001 (Tenerife, Spain) and 2002 (Salsomaggiore, Italy). As an aside, Italy Open fielded the exact same team in Salso and won. Team photo here ... http://www.eurobridge.org/competitions/02S...lsomaggiore.htm Roland

That was quick! I already got a reply from 'Tjolpe'. It's all in Swedish, but here is an English translation: Against 1♣: Your defence against a Precision 1♦, alternatively against strong club. 1♦: Your defence against strong club. 1M: Natural openings. 2m: Natural openings. 2M: Dbl is take-out of the suit 'bid', or any powerhouse. With a take-out of the other major, pass for now. All overcalls, even in the 'opening suit', are natural. ... 'Tjolpe' who used to live in Stockholm for decades has now moved to the county of Skåne in southern Sweden. 'No one plays Magic here' :) , he writes. Roland

The players involved were Lev - Cohler (NS), the pair that bid 6♦, against Ekeblad - Jansma. Roland

I don't have one myself, but I have contacted Sven-Olov 'Tjolpe' Flodqvist and Lars Andersson who devised the system with Hans Göthe. It's not at all certain that they want to reveal a defence against their own opening bids, but it's worth a try. I will keep you posted as and when I get a reply. Roland

Interesting. So where are Gromov - Dubinin now? They are listed here ... http://www.eurobridge.org/competitions/08P...amid=Russia@674 But a 3rd pair's (Kholomeev - Khyuppenen) CC is on ecatsbridge. Roland

Tim, I don't think you have been following European bridge closely over the past five years. The 1st European Open Championships took place in Menton, France, in 2003, to be followed by the 2nd in Tenerife, Spain, in 2005. And to be followed by the 3rd in Antalya, Turkey, in 2007. Note Open. It's open to everyone (just like the French Open in tennis for example), regardless of nationality. Many North Americans participated in all three events. Roland

It's not difficult to figure out that the pair in question is Balicki - Zmudzinski. Whether they are eligible or not remains to be seen. The issue is obviously the EBL Bona Fide Residence Requirements. If you scroll back (page 1), you will see the requirements in full. Roland

I was told that this issue will be decided next week. Robert The Russians have now posted their line-up on the official eurobridge site, and Balicki-Zmudzinski is not in it. Although they are currently a team of four .... so there is space available. I can't see it is possible at this point, because ... All entries to the Championships must be submitted electronically using the link below, by 1 April 2008. It is very important that this deadline be respected. <snip> Registration of team rosters must be made by 15 April 2008. It appears that the Russians have violated that deadline, but maybe there is more to it than we know. Roland

Since I am half Swedish, I am also going to root for Ulf. Really?! Be careful in which country you say this. :) I may be one of the few Danes who don't say 'Keep Denmark clean, see a Swede to the ferry'. Danes and Swedes love to tease each other :D Roland

Since I am half Swedish, I am also going to root for Ulf. However, my native home is Denmark, so Michael Askgaard (MFA) and his team-mates will get a larger percentage of my support. I expect both teams to advance to the second stage of the round-robin. The format is brand new this time. Read here ... http://www.eurobridge.org/competitions/08Pau/Information.htm Roland

I agree with the first part, but I don't like the second part: I would be very reluctant to bid 2♣ with 3=5 in the minors and about 9 hcp... I guess it depends on methods, but I am accustomed to a style in which 2♣ is non-forcing ... You seem to have missed my point, Mike. I said that I respond as if there had been no double, so 2♣ would therefore be a one-round force. As I also said, I thought that was standard among experts nowadays. Roland

BBO-TV and a 56" screen :blink: Roland

I guess I don't understand the logic here. If partner has about 9 hcp and 5 clubs and 3 diamonds, shouldn't he bid 2♣? Why risk a 3-3 or 3-4 diamond fit when you could easily have a 5-3 or a 5-4 club fit? I don't see any harm in Xing now and correcting clubs to diamonds later. I haven't given up on hearts yet...in fact, I haven't even given up on a heart game yet. There is another choice that nobody has mentioned...just bidding 2 freakin' hearts. I don't think this hand is worth a reverse, but it's close. Very unlikely that we belong in hearts. Partner does not have 5-6 hcp and four or more hearts. He would just have bid them over double. Isn't it standard nowadays that you ignore the double and bid as if there had been none? With 9 hcp and 3-5(+) in the minors, he would have bid 2♣ on his first turn. Roland

Pass. This is not a problem hand for me. Not good enough (neither shape) for 1NT, too few diamonds for 2♦, and double is take-out. So I pass. If LHO passes too and partner balances with 2♣, I will not pull. Then he has a stack of clubs and a weak hand. No other contract is likely to play better. Roland

As an aside, BBO will likely be broadcasting from 12-16 tables three times a day for two weeks. The FFB has requested 20 vugraph accounts! Too much to choose from? Perhaps, but if we did not offer options, we would also get complaints. Roland

None as serious as the errors Angelini has made several times when he has been playing on BBO vugraph. This is bridge politics, guys. In this respect, Ms. Lavazza is not only the team sponsor; she is also a politician. Bridge politicians from Italy are not exactly people I would elect to have on my committee, but the Italians decide in Italy. Simple as that. Roland

BONA FIDE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS Players, who are not citizens of the country they wish to represent in international bridge championships, may be allowed to rely on the Bona Fide Residence Requirement if they are able to satisfy the sponsoring organisation of the legitimacy of their residence. The proviso is incorporated within the sponsoring organisation’s conditions of participation to facilitate the opportunity for those players who have relocated to a country, that is not the country of their birth and, who genuinely and continuously reside in the country that they now wish to represent. Bona Fide Residence is one's actual or true residence, maintained in good faith, and does not include a temporary residence or superficial residence established for convenience or for the purpose of circumventing the conditions of representative participation. It is for the player who seeks to rely upon this requirement to satisfy the European Bridge League and demonstrate the genuineness of their residence. It is not to allow the transfer of a player’s allegiance for any reason other than their genuine relocation to a country that is not the country of their birth. Those players who are unable to demonstrate to the absolute satisfaction of the EBL’s Credentials Committee will not be allowed to represent the chosen country in international championships. The following criteria will apply for those players seeking reliance upon the Bona Fide Residency Requirement: - 1. The player must establish bona fide residence in the country that they seek to represent for at least two years prior to the start of the year within which they wish to participate; and - 2. The player must have a visa or permit that allows them to remain in that country for a period of at least one year; or - 3. The laws of that country allow the player to remain in that country for a period of at least one year. Residence may be established and supported by the production documents from at least three of the following categories: Voter’s registration Driver's licence Local or national tax records Homeowner or tenant records Medical records Utility bills (gas, electric, water, telephone, mobile phone, waste disposal) Financial records (loan, credit, investments, etc) Welfare records Vehicle records Such other documents that may demostrate residence. In addition, players who seek to rely upon the Bona Fide Residence Requirement must submit a written application that contains the following information: Details of their previous country of residence and the date on which they relocated to the present residence. If they represented their previous country in any international championships, the dates and detail of any such representation. A signed statement that they are a Bona Fide Resident of the country which they now seek to represent. If the Credential’s Committee is not satisfied with the documents submitted it may require further proof and/or information. A player who has represented a country two or more times during the previous five years shall continue to be treated as being eligible to represent that country. Players should be fully aware that by competing for a country other than that of their nationality (i.e. for which they hold or are entitled to hold a passport), they may jeopardise their eligibility to participate in a subsequent Olympic Bridge Event or Olympic Qualifier. Approved by the EBL Executive Committee, Wroclaw, Poland, November 2007

Most likely you are referring to Sweden's Magnus Lindkvist (note the difference in spelling). He retired from the international stage about 5 years ago. Magnus' regular partners were, first, Björn Fallenius, later Peter Fredin. There was another famous Swede with the surname Lindqvist (spelt the same way as the Norwegian's for this event). His name is Jörgen Lindqvist, European Champion in 1977, Denmark, but he died from cancer 8-10 years ago. Espen Lindqvist is indeed Norwegian and has always been. Roland

4♠. Did I miss a slam? Too bad. He wouldn't know what to do over 5♠ anyway, and 4NT (two places to play) is not attractive. Even if he bids clubs, it's not at all certain we belong there. He could be 2-3 in the blacks. Roland

I think Phil means that when commentators are 'ungagged', they will be able to talk to the room. That is correct, and it won't change until they are 'gagged' again, or after next maintenance when everyone is 'gagged' automatically. In an ideal world I would have time to 'gag' all commentators after every session. The world is not ideal and that is not practically possible for a number of reasons. Uday and I are working on something practical that will make it easier in various respects. Roland

Justin, do you know if the two women on your picture are both spoken for? :) Roland

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sa1075hkq109d3ca1076&s=s642haj87dakq105ck]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] This hand came up in the final, last set. The bidding went: 1♦ - 1♥ 3♥ - 4♥ P I have got three questions for you: - 1. Who underbid, North, South or both? - 2. Would you prefer to be in 6♥ or 7♥? - 3. Why did this have a happy ending for NS? *) *) Those of you who were watching don't have to answer question 3. Roland

1NT playing strong NT, otherwise 1♣ What Frances said. The hand is too good for a 12-14 1NT. Roland

Dummy reversal. A club loser goes on the long diamond. There is indeed a reverse dummy available (you can even cash two rounds of trumps when West does not have the last one). Well bid (?), and well played. Roland

Excellent question, given that there is a certain loser in diamonds and clubs. Did they revoke? Roland