Walddk

Yes. It's the only way we can locate a 5-4 club fit if we have one. As I mentioned above, we will always find our 5-4 fit in diamonds. It's only a question of who is going to declare if we end up there. Roland

It's my experience that it's best to respond 2♣ with 5-5 in the minors. Bidding the suits in the "right" order takes up too much room, and to add insult to injury, 3♣ after 1♠ - 2♦ - 2♠ - 3♣ doesn't even have to be a suit. Or even worse: 1♠ - 2♦ - 2♥ - ?? If we belong in diamonds, opener's rebid will be 2♦ over 2♣ and then I will be interested. If he doesn't rebid 2♦, we can't have more than a 5-3 fit and then it's not necessarily best to play in diamonds. I know that some (especially in NA and UK) rebid 2♠ with six spades and four diamonds if they have minimal values. I don't, so I am not going to worry about that. If I have a two-suiter (and 6-4 is), I show at least nine of them, not just six by rebidding the opening suit. Roland

At IMPs? Not me. We don't know if they have a fit, and if partner converts, the little defence I have is under the strong hand. Roland

1♥ pass pass 2NT 1♠ pass pass 2NT I assume that most experts play 2NT in this position as natural, roughly 19-21. Furthermore, I assume thay you play system on. I am interested in knowing what your agreement is if responder transfers into the opening suit. Roland

So you are saying that 1♠ in the balancing seat could be up to 15. Fine with me, but I am not sure everyone agrees. I could be wrong but my impression is that most people think it has a lower limit in 4th. Roland

I go active when I have to choose between active and passive. 4♠ it will be. I don't mind the initial pass. It's not quite good enough for 1♠ in my view, and 2♠ has too many flaws. Roland

Yes, Sumo wrestling is my specialty. I am happy to learn that you got women involved in the UK. My only wish is that they are bit slimmer than the guys in Japan. Roland

What if Donetsk pulled off a ManYoo and scored 2 in injury time? :P Theoretically they could have, so everyone on the Celtic bench was a little bit on edge till the very end, but it didn't happen. I guess in order to pull a ManU you have to be ManU (or Porto, which scored a stoppage time goal against ManU the year they won the Cup). Bob, I'm impressed. An American living in Japan who knows a lot about real football (soccer), even European. I don't know half as much about football in the Far East. Roland

If 1NT does not promise a club stop, you surely must have a better bid available. OK, for the sake of argument let's assume that it doesn't, what else can 3♣ mean? RHO opened a natural (4+) 1♣. What do you want 3♣ to be if not a fit for spades? I assume we agree that, for a couple of reasons, it can't be a suit. Roland

I like that. 3♣ must indeed show a fit for spades and a maximum. That's what I have. Roland

Part 2: A majority for 1NT which South chose at the table (what I would have bid myself actually). Anyway, over your 1NT partner proceeds with 2♠. How much do you expect him to have and what is your next call? Roland

Hilarious :) No wonder England never win anything significant. Roland

What Michael said.

I am curious as to what experts feel on that point. I have convinced myself (with very little evidence) that after 1m-P-P, you should pass with less than opening count and no suit. Outside of the 1NT call, you shouldn't 'steal a queen' on the balancing seat, even if it's Match Points. Is there a general consensus about this? I don't think there is a consensus, so I can only speak for myself. I would double with as little as 8 hcp if I have ideal shape. 4441, 4351, 4531 and 5431 if my hearts and spades, respectively, are weakish. With a good 5-card major I would often bid that instead of doubling. ♠ Qxxx ♥ Kxxxx ♦ Kxx ♣ x ... ♠ Axxx ♥ xxxx ♦ KJxx ♣ x ... ♠ Kxxx ♥ AJx ♦ xxxxx ♣ x as a few examples of a double in the balancing seat. My experience is that it's losing bridge in the long run to sell out to 1♣. With ... ♠ xxxx ♥ AQJxx ♦ Jxx ♣ x I am inclined to re-open with 1♥ because I have a preference, and because I pinpoint the lead if opener's next call is 1NT (18-19 balanced), or 2♣, 3♣, whatever. It could easily still be their hand. Roland

I am trying to make you bid the actual hand. If it is 1NT showing 9-12 as you said in an earlier post, what do you bid with the other two hands I gave you? I am not saying that 1NT is wrong with the 12 count in my initial post, but if it's right, you must bid something else with the other two. What would that be? Roland

I assume that your partner's double shows 8+, which I think is pretty standard. A balancing 1NT would have been 11-14. Roland Oh.. sorry, I meant 1/2NT by advancer, not doubler. For you to judge when you know what your partner (doubler) can and can't have. Perhaps consider your call with your actual hand compared to a hand like ♠ xxx ♥ xxx ♦ Axx ♣ KJxx or ♠ Kxx ♥ Jxx ♦ Qxx ♣ Q10xx Roland

I assume that your partner's double shows 8+, which I think is pretty standard. A balancing 1NT would have been 11-14. Roland

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=sa874h764da85ckj2]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] 1♣ - pass - pass - dbl pass RHO opens 1♣ (normally 4+), you decide to pass and so does LHO. Your partner doubles in the balancing seat, and opener passes. Plenty to choose from. What is your call? Roland

Personally I feel more comfortable wearing t-shirt, jeans and trainers, but if the organisers expect me to wear a collar-shirt, tie and jacket - and even an evening jacket for special occasions - I will obviously comply. Roland

What's your point, Frances? Do you mean that Forrester is in a better position to talk and give advice about clothes just because he is one of England's best bridge players? As far as I know he is not employed by any major fashion company. Roland

Great, now we have at least one vugraph operator ;)

The worst example of cheating (diplomats call it coincidental pre-arranged deal) occurred on June 25, 1982, during the World Cup in Gijon, Spain. Last match in Qualifying, Group 2, West Germany vs Austria. The Germans needed a 1-0 win and both nations would advance. Coincidentally, West Germany scored early in the match. The last 84 minutes? Well, no contest since all play took place in midfield. Not once did any striker come close to the opponents' penalty area. As far as I recall, one German commentator on national TV refused to comment and left his seat in disgust. Roland

Corrections 1. Denmark vs Sweden it was. 2. European Championships 2004 in Portugal. Roland

I received this e-mail from Rick Beye earlier today (Saturday): Hi Roland, Sorry for the delay in communicating. We will definitely broadcast the final two sessions of the Reisinger next Sunday (12/2). We may do the finals of the Sr KO this Tuesday. I will try to get back to you today on that. Rick

Hands like these (I am referring to opener's strong hands) made the Italians invent Gazzilli. Without it we are pretty much on a guess over 3NT. If partner has ♣A, 3NT rates to be a fine contract. If he does not have it, 3NT is likely the wrong spot (unless he has three small and the ace comes down in two). 3NT, 4♣, 4♥ and 5♣ are all possible contracts, and I am not sure what the best approach is here. Anything could turn out to be good/bad. How do you rate 4♥? As an option and not silly at all. Roland