Walddk

Sent to around 340 people on my contact list. Credit to Eric Kokish (eok) of Canada, who took the initiative and who has been a main contributor to the DONT's and DO's. I am sure we could have added another ten sections, but this is not a scientific essay and I think we are pretty much covered as it is. If only people would read it and, even better, adhere to the guidelines! One can always hope :unsure: Roland

Would be very surprised if it wasnt RM lite since I know Fred knows it/has played it, and Geoff loves it. Were they not also partners in 2006, and did they not play Precision (RM Lite) then? I think so. Roland

The teams for the 2010 edition of the Buffett Cup, to be held in Wales in September, have been announced. They are: Europe Sabine Auken - Daniela von Arnim, Germany Boye Brogeland - Espen Lindqvist, Norway Giorgio Duboin - Antonio Sementa, Italy Fulvio Fantoni - Claudio Nunes, Italy Jason Hackett - Justin Hackett, England Geir Helgemo - Tor Helness, Norway NPC: Paul Hackett, England USA David Berkowitz - Alan Sontag Bob Hamman - Zia Mahmood Bobby Levin - Steve Weinstein Jill Levin - Jill Meyers Jeff Meckstroth - Eric Rodwell Geoff Hampson - Fred Gitelman NPC: Donna Compton Perhaps the strongest teams ever. You be the judge. The teams seem to be quite comfortable with playing away from home. The inaugural event in 2006 was played in Ireland and won by USA, and two years later Europe won in Kentucky, USA. So, are the Americans favourites this time around? For more information, visit http://www.buffettcup.com/ Roland

Does any of them have a stable internet connection, and are the rates reasonable? Does anyone check before they book? They may all have posh hotels, but I seem to remember that internet connections have been pretty poor. How high a priority is that for the ACBL? Roland

I would say all of them after some thought. It's virtually an open book at this point. Perhaps Fred can confirm. The layout must be something like .... [hv=n=saq2ha1052dj87cak6&w=sk109hkq9764dcq1097&e=sj843hj83dq109cj85&s=s765hdak65432c432]399|300|[/hv] Trick 1: ♥K, 2, 3, ♦2 Trick 2: ♦A, ♥4, ♦7, ♦9 Trick 3: ♦3, ♥6, ♦J, ♦Q Trick 4: ? As pointed out by twcho, inquiry and mikeh, only the return of ♥J breaks up the looming compound squeeze. Roland

You must have missed something, Ben. Declarer did cash a top diamond before he played a low diamond at trick three. Nothing double dummy about that. Roland

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=saq2ha1052dj87cak6&e=sj843hj83dq109cj85]266|200|Scoring: IMP S: 6D Lead: HK[/hv] Here is a Christmas puzzle for you. South opens 3♦ and is raised to slam. Your partner leads ♥K, low from dummy and ruffed by declarer's ♦2. At trick two he cashes ♦A to which partner discards ♥4. Next comes ♦3 to dummy's jack and you win the queen. Your partner pitches another heart (the 6). What now? Roland

What's The Problem. You will also encounter ATB which is not intended as All The Best. To the contrary rather ... Assign The Blame.

Useful Links and Information --> Help --> Common online abbreviations

I will be away (in London playing bridge!), so those of you have me on your list now get the chance to pick someone else. Would have been nice to take part, but ... Roland

A: South Africa and France. B: Argentina and Nigeria. C: England and USA. D: Germany and Ghana. E: Netherlands and Cameroon. F: Italy and Slovakia. G: Brazil and Portugal. H: Spain and Chile. That's all for now. Roland

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=s6532hq106da7caq102&s=s84hak732d32ckj98]133|200|Scoring: IMP S: 4H Lead: SK[/hv] Danish Premier League. West passes, North opens 1♣, you respond 1♥ and West overcalls 1♠. Your partner doubles (support), East raises to 2♠ and you finish the auction with a leap to 4♥. West leads ♠K, overtaken by East and a spade is returned. West continues with a third spade, East discards an encouraging diamond and you ruff. When you lead a trump to dummy, West follows with the 8. Two questions: - 1. Do you play East for J954 by running the 10 next or do you go for the drop? - 2. Only relevant if you play for the drop. Let's assume that West opens 2♠ to show spades and a minor and the play was the same as before. Would that change your line? Roland

Send an e-mail to Lars Blakset at bridge-at-blakset.dk He will most likely be able to offer you a game in Denmark's strongest club: One-eyed Jacks. Roland

Only the vugraph operator can edit player profiles, e.g. name, country and useful information. Many do, some don't. Experienced operators have plenty of time to do it, perhaps not before play begins if they are in a spot of time trouble, but if not, then soon afterwards. Less experienced people have plenty to do with following the play and do not edit the profiles, not even when encouraged through a private chat message. Finally, some don't even know that they have the option. It is of course desirable that flags are shown. We do not have specific rules with regard to this issue, but recently I added the following to our standard vugraph guidelines: "Please make sure that the operator edits the player profiles and inserts name and flag. The same applies to the operator, who should put full name an country in her or his profile. As far as players are concerned, we also recommend that operators use surnames only. The software only allows 10 characters. Example: Versace is fine, but Alfredo Ve is not. That is what you will see if you try it type first names too." Roland

Happy Birthday!

♠ 10962 ♥ 10 ♦ KQ543 ♣ QJ3 ♠ A84 ♥ KQ ♦ A1076 ♣ A964 As many said, planning and timing are essential, and of course the ability to spot the dangers. In all likelihood you need five diamonds, two clubs and one trick in both majors, but ... 1. There is a risk that diamonds are blocked. If they are 2-2, no worries if you go for the drop. If East has Jxx, you need to finesse the 10. 2. As you need ♣K to be onside, you must take the finesse at trick 3 when you are in dummy after a diamond to the king. You may not need five diamond tricks after all! West was dealt the singleton ♣10 in a 5-6-1-1 shape (stiff ♦9). Roland

Provided that ♣K is onside, yes. Taking the finesse is no doubt with the odds after LHO has shown at least nine cards in the majors. However, I think you are a little too hasty. I also missed an interesting point at first glance. Roland

... or even worse if hearts are 6-4. Then they might have a plan B)

[hv=d=s&v=b&n=s10962h10dkq543cqj3&s=sa84hkqda1076ca964]133|200|Scoring: IMP S: 3NT Lead: H4[/hv] JEC-match yesterday. Sadly, quite a few of the hundreds of specs don't pay attention to the bidding and play. They are busy with all kinds of non-bridge issues, thereby polluting the chat area with rubbish. Those who did focus on this deal commented (not sure how many had a chance to see it), but they got it wrong because they missed the point. Can you do better? South opens a strong NT, West overcalls 2♣ for the majors, East gets the chance to bid hearts, and eventually you end up as declarer in 3NT. West leads ♥4 to the jack and queen. Plan the play. Roland

Copenhagen area December 27, 28 and 30 (the 29th a day off for sightseeing). Around 60 boards per day. Send me an e-mail if you want details. Roland

... and they usually do. They do not expect World Championship level when commenting on the 2nd division in Romania (broadcast last weekend). Furthermore, for obvious reasons some players suffer from stage fright the first time they appear on vugraph. Knowing that hundreds of eyes watch your every move can be frightening. Nothing strange and nothing wrong about that. So our rule #1 is and will always be: treat the players with respect no matter what they do. They don't make intentional errors. Roland

Dear ksubu54, If the purpose of your thread is to become a vugraph operator, please send me an e-mail (roland_wald@hotmail.com) and tell me a little about yourself. Name, country and where in that country you live. When I have the required info, I will forward your e-mail to the appropriate organizer, who, in all likelihood, will be delighted to welcome you. Roland

This topic was brought forward in the vugraph forum: QUOTE (Tola18 @ Oct 21 2009, 08:01 AM) A follow up question about asking the operator to witness. Can the spectators /kibz be asked to witness?? Law 76 B. Spectator Participation A spectator may not call attention to any irregularity or mistake, nor speak on any question of fact or law except by request of the Director. Yes, in case facts are disputed by the players, the director may want to ask a spectator. Whether he/she can refuse to answer questions by the TD I don't know. It is not explicitly mentioned in the laws. Maybe someone will address the issue in the "Laws and Rulings" forum. Roland ..... So this is what I do here. Can a spectator refuse to get involved for whatever reason?

Law 76 B. Spectator Participation A spectator may not call attention to any irregularity or mistake, nor speak on any question of fact or law except by request of the Director. Yes, in case facts are disputed by the players, the director may want to ask a spectator (as Dave pointed out above). Whether he/she can refuse to answer questions by the TD I don't know. It is not explicitly mentioned in the laws. Maybe someone will address the issue in the "Laws and Rulings" forum. Roland

Quite right. An operator is a spectator and should remain silent unless addressed by a TD. Roland