Walddk

Then I hope you won't find declarer with Qx opposite Jx. Small is the certain way to block the suit if it's wide open for five cashing tricks. Roland Pard won't considering ducking with A-5th? I would. [hv=n=sj4&w=sk1095&e=sa8632&s=sq7]399|300|[/hv] I hope we agree that if you lead the 5 the defence can never take five tricks. If you lead the 10 (or 9 if that is your agreement) at least you have a chance of getting all the tricks you are entitled to. Roland

You have a good hand after the 1♠ response, but it is not quite good enough for a jump shift (game forcing). 2♦ shows 5-4 and 12-18; that's what you have. A raise to 2♠ is sometimes best with just three but not with this hand. A simple raise shows a minimum hand (12-15). This hand belongs to the medium range (16-18). Change it to Axx KQxxx Kxxx x and 2♠ is perfect (unless you live in France or Poland where they never support with three). Roland

Excellent auction; well done! Roland

For the first time on BBO vugraph we will be broadcasting from Egypt. Premier League, semi-finals Thursday and Friday, and finals (with world class players El Ahmady-Sadek among others) later this month. I am sure that many of our viewers will be delighted to watch a live transmission from the strong Arab bridge nation. The weekend will take us to Norway and Australia. The annual Grand Tournament from Bergen (Helness, Helgemo, Brogeland, Sælensminde, Zia, P Hackett, Aranov, Stefanov to name a few of the very strong players). Full schedule to be found by clicking on ... http://online.bridgebase.com/vugraph/sched...?order_by=event You have it bookmarked already I presume. If not, it's about time! Many interesting broadcasts in January and February and more to be added before too long. Roland

1. Normal 1♥. 2. Sick. 3. No, but I know many would. I like better cards vulnerable, facing a passed partner. Roland

Then I hope you won't find declarer with Qx opposite Jx. Small is the certain way to block the suit if it's wide open for five cashing tricks. Roland

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=sq3hkq8dkj6ck10987&w=shj76432d954caqj5&e=skj9876542h5d3c64&s=sa10ha109daq10872c32]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Against the Welsh declarer West led ♣A followed by the queen. Nothing more to the play as South was able to set up the 5th club for a spade discard. At that table East bid only 3♠ over 1NT, so declarer would likely also have made the slam on a non-club lead. Neil Rosen from England was not that lucky. West led ♥7. Rosen now played for East to have the singleton ♣A (as suggested by echognome). Declarer drew trumps, cashed another heart and intended to duck a club to East. That would have worked if ♣A had been singleton because East would then have been endplayed to lead away from ♠K. Very narrow target to aim at in my opinion, but it would indeed have been spectacular if that had been the layout. On a heart lead you have to play the contract carefully even if you play for ♣A to be onside. You must win in hand, cash two top trumps ending in your hand and then lead a club up. It wouldn't matter where you win the first heart if West rises with ♣A, but let's assume that he inserts the jack or queen. Now you must exit with a low club. If you wasted a heart honour from the dummy at trick 1, you are now one entry short to enjoy the 5th club. A competent declarer will foresee that and preserve the extra entry in dummy. Just like Josh Donn showed us. An instructive deal. Roland

We can even be off three top tricks. Jxxxxx xx KQJxx -- Unlikely (he might have bid something before) but possible. If he didn't, you can hardly fault him for jumping to 4♠ next. The 5-level is usually safe with the hand Frances posted, but one has to consider that partner may have stretched because of his (likely) shortage in clubs. 5♠ (no heart control) would be my call if I decide to bid again. Touch and go in my view. Roland

Calm down. Roland

You think West leads a heart if he has a spade? I can understand your line if you place East with 9-1-2-1 or 9-2-1-1. Legitimate indeed and so is jdonn's. You must decide if East can be without ♣A for his vulnerable 4♠. It's obvious that one of the lines works (provided that one does) but which? You don't know the auction at the other table of course. If you did, you will no doubt choose the winning approach. (In the other room East also bid spades and West did not lead one. However, he did not lead a heart either). Roland

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=sq3hkq8dkj6ck10987&s=sa10ha109daq10872c32]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] In the Camrose match between Wales and England this hand was bid to slam at both tables. The bidding at one table went ... Pass 1NT 4♠ 6♦ all pass The opening was (in theory) 15-17, so you decide to have a punt at slam. You may not like it at these colours but that's beside the point. West leads ♥7. How do you play the hand? Roland

The Gold Cup The Camrose Trophy The Lady Milne Trophy The Junior Camrose Trophy The Peggy Bayer Trophy They are all British (plus the Republic of Ireland). Then England has a few big events: The Lederer Memorial Trophy The Schapiro Spring Foursomes The Crockford's Cup The Tollemache Cup Perhaps more could be added, but I'll let Frances or Paul do that if they see this. Roland

Indeed it is. An odd number is obviously really bad, so I think they did the right thing when they added a sixth. Then you can argue which should be the sixth. British Isles, British Columbia, British Airways perhaps? I don't know; at least it sounds very British. By the way, if they want to avoid all this, perhaps they could invite a country from the continent. That would create other problems, but the event would be stronger. I am convinced that the organisers have been through all options before they settled for the holders (2) in 2007 and now the hosts of the second weekend with two teams. Roland

<PEDANTRY> It is the host of the second weekend that has two teams. This year it happens to be Republic of Ireland, the holders. </PEDANTRY> True Paul, my fault. They changed it for this year's edition. Not sure I understand the merit; I liked the other concept better. It took the organisers 61 years to add a 6th team, and it has taken ages to introduce screens for this event. Things don't happen overnight in Britain :) Roland

The traditional, annual Camrose Trophy will be on BBO vugraph Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Six teams play a double round-robin of 32-board matches over two weekends. The venue for the first weekend is Belfast in Northern Ireland (second weekend in Dublin, Ireland, in early March). We will be broadcasting from all six tables throughout. http://www.bridgegreatbritain.org/homeinte...amroseteams.htm for team rosters and convention cards. http://www.bridgewebs.com/cgi-bin/bwc/disp..._news&club=nibu for results and standings. The Home Bridge Internationals for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was launched in 1937. The South of Ireland dropped out in 1951 but rejoined as the Republic of Ireland in 1998. The 1939 series was not completed due to war. The Camrose re-started in 1946 and has been competed for ever since. This makes the Camrose the most-played international bridge series in the world. England have won the Camrose Trophy on 46 occasions, Scotland on 12, with these two teams tied twice. The Republic of Ireland won in 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2007, whereas Northern Ireland and Wales have yet to win. For the second time we have six teams taking part. The holders (Republic of Ireland at present) are represented by two teams. Roland

I am not so sure that 2♣ is natural on that auction. Say I have this hand: KQxx AJx AQJxx x Then I would like 2♣ to be 4th suit to see if responder has five hearts. Can't I just bid 2♥ you may ask? That would not show extras in my methods, and I can't jump to 3♥ without committing to game. I might bid 2♥ on Kxxx Axx KQxxx x No guarantee of a 5-3 fit, I know, but that doesn't bother me. 1NT may play better if responder has longer clubs than hearts, perhaps also if he is 4-4, but a 4-3 fit at the 2-level usually plays quite well. The hand is also suit-oriented with an ace and two kings. However, if I have slow values, I will likely pass 1NT. KJxx QJx AJ10xx J So as a general rule the 4th suit is fsf if we have bid three suits naturally. That's the best agreement in my opinion, and it also makes it easier to remember. Roland

It's not an Acol thing. Although it is often the case, 4th suit is not necessarily the 4th call of the auction (responder's rebid). 4th suit is also used by opener, and sometimes later by responder. Examples: 1♣ - 1♥ 1♠ - 2♥ 3♦ 1♥ - 1NT 2♠ - 3♣ 3♦ And your hand: 1♠ - 2♦ 2♥ - 2♠ 3♣ If opener is strong enough to bid again over 2♠, 3♣ is best used as a catch-all 4th suit. Patterning out with 5404 isn't important because only in theory can responder have four clubs. Even if he has, it is unlikely that we are going to play there. So with that shape opener would normally bid a number of notrumps. ... Responder can also introduce 4th suit at a later stage in the auction. Examples: 1♣ - 1♠ 2♣ - 2♥ 3♣ - 3♦ 1♥ - 1♠ 1N - 2♦ 2♠ - 3♣ 1♣ - 1♦ 1♥ - 3♣ 3♦ - 3♠ Roland

No agreement of course, but I would take it as 11 tricks in his hand with spades, void in hearts, disregard that ace. One-suited, two-suited, don't know. So the responses should be quite easy. 5♠ with no working ace, 6♠ with one and 7♠ with two. Number of spades irrelevant. Roland

I need to know the difference between 1♠ - 2♦ 2♥ - 2♠ and 1♠ - 2♦ 2♥ - 3♠ If 3♠ shows 3 and is invitational, then 2♠ must be a preference with a doubleton. Or do you distinguish between 9-10 and 11-12? 3♠ = 11-12 with 3 and 2♠ = 9-10 with 2 or 3? It seems like Helene isn't sure regarding responder's 2♠ preference. What is the "rule" if there is any? Roland

What's wrong with being committed to game with 15 opposite 9? Most would bid game on 9 if partner opened a strong NT. Most? What makes you think that? Did "most" dump invitational sequences after a 1NT opening? If your answer is "yes, you don't invite", your point is valid. If you agree that invitational auctions exist, it is not. Roland

I assume responder has shown 9-11 with a doubleton spade and no club stopper. Wouldn't she rebid 3♠ with 3 card support?. 2♠ could well be the limit of the hand now, but I think it's a little too good to pass. I would bid 3♣ as fourth suit, indicating extras with no clear direction. If we have a game on, 4♠ is likely the spot on 5-2 after responder already implied that she has no club stopper. It still amazes me that you must respond 2-o-1 on a 9 count. 2NT rebid (15-17) by opener is GF you say. I think that is mainstream in Acol-land, but it doesn't make sense that the partnersip is committed to game with 15 opposite a possible 9. The system is seriously flawed. Nothing wrong with weak NT, but then 2/1 responses should have full value. If they have, the 2NT rebid as game force is much sounder. Roland

Pass. Double would be take-out for me and I really don't want to hear 5♣. Yes, 4♠ will no doubt go down, but I will settle for my undoubled undertrick(s). Likewise, if my partner had doubled, it would be take-out. He did not although he is short in spades. Give me 1444 instead and it's a different ballgame. I'd double now. Roland

Now, you ask two questions in your original post. You get uanimous 2♠ x 2, and all you care to tell us is that we are "aggressive". I don't mind, call me aggressive, but you seem to be disappointed that you did not get the answers you were hoping for. Why ask the questions if you don't care? It doesn't seem to matter what we think anyway since you are convinced that we should have replied 2 x pass. I can understand your disappointment, but if you raise questions in the forums, you must accept that not everyone agrees with you. In this case no one does. You've got to accept that too. Roland

Even better: 650 on any lead. So ArtK78 thinks this hand is too weak to act directly. It's a view, but if this is your approach to the game, I think you will miss out on too many good or even cold games because you are frightened of going for 800 or 1100. It's a risk, sure, but I believe it's a bigger risk to remain passive. Let me give you an example. You are vul against not with ... ♠ AKQ532 ♥ xx ♦ AQ ♣ xxx RHO opens a weak 2♥. I assume that even you would overcall 2♠ at this point. No one would blame you, but it's not your day because LHO has ... ♠ J109876 ♥ Ax ♦ KJ4 ♣ AK He doubles and all you get is your three top spades and ♦A. 1100 away. Very unlucky, I agree, but should that stop you from overcalling again next time? Definitely not. Accept that there is a risk when you overcall, with this hand as well as the hand you put forward. But in my opinion you will win in the long run by being active (bid) rather than being passive (pass). No one asks you to be foolhardy and bid on tram tickets, but I think it's a good idea to get in if you have a reasonable hand. The hand you posted is one of those. Not great, but reasonable. Roland

1) 2♠ 2) 2♠* * As I mentioned in a another thread recently, this is a take-out double of 2♥ with 4-5 spades. Even if I don't play that method, I would still bid a natural 2♠. Roland