Walddk

[hv=d=s&v=e&n=s6haj6dq72cqj9654&w=sqj95h10942dj653c8&e=sk42hkq8dak94cak2&s=sa10873h753d108c1073]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I agree with pass like the vast majority. The actual South pulled to 4♣ and got doubled by East needless to say. A minor defensive slip made declarer escape for 3 down (500) on an endplay, but this was still a bad result (-5.47). Yes, 3NT makes double dummy, but it is not at all certain that it will at the table - especially not on the indicated club lead. In fact, 7 declarers went either 1, 2 or 3 down. 6 made it, 4 of those with an overtrick. On perfect defence 4♣ goes for 800. Roland

[hv=d=s&v=e&s=sa10863h954d82c1043]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] MBC on BBO. You don't have the imagination to bid anything first in hand, so the bidding goes pass, pass, 3♣ from partner, 3NT to your right. Your partner is world class, not only according to his profile. He is in real life too. As to the pre-empt: no agreements, so you must stick to your common sense. Defend or bid? Roland

Perhaps more users should familiarise themselves with The Rules of this Site. In this context it reads: "If you think your partner or opponents deserve a compliment for their bidding or play, please give them one! If you think such a comment from another player was not deserved, please keep this information to yourself." Explore Bridge -> Bridge Library -> English -> The Rules of this Site Roland

1. Pass is not forcing. Double shows extras with at least tolerance for hearts, and does not promise a stack of trumps (how can I have on this auction?). Pull if you expect to make at the 5-level; otherwise leave it in. Roland

Sorry to sound rude, but you are on a different planet. Sorry, he is from the same planet as me if that planet is Denmark. I am not exactly thrilled. You will have to perform a search for several hours to find similar nonsense as expressed by my compatriot. Rubbish, Claus, period. Roland Wald Serious bridge player with no FD

Sure he will, and nothing else makes sense. Do you expect a weak 2 to cover 4 of your 5 losers so that slam makes? I am more concerned about making 4♠. Roland

2N - 3♣ 3♦ - 3♥* * four spades. If opener bids 3NT (not four spades), responder proceeds with 4♦, longer diamonds than spades, slam try. Same applies to 4♣ if that is your minor. Over 3NT by opener (no 4 or 5-card major), responder bids a natural 4♦. Roland

I don't agree and I don't think many agree with you. 2♠ is definitely forcing. I am sure that most susbscribe to RONF = Raise Only Non Forcing. So the only non-forcing bid ('sign off' is a better term I think) by responder here is a raise to any number of diamonds. New suit and 2NT are both forcing. Roland Hi, without the intervention I would tend to agree, that 2S is forcing, but after the 2H overcall? With kind regards Marlowe Yes, I saw the overcall, and it hasn't changed anything. It's not different from 1♣ (1♥) 1♠ 1♠ is forcing with or without interference. Roland

I don't agree and I don't think many agree with you. 2♠ is definitely forcing. I am sure that most susbscribe to RONF = Raise Only Non Forcing. So the only non-forcing bid ('sign off' is a better term I think) by responder here is a raise to any number of diamonds. New suit and 2NT are both forcing. Roland

For ignorant people like me for instance, pray tell what gigolo-bridge is. Roland

No misunderstanding is possible when you have read these quotes from the Rules of this Site: The only acceptable time to ask for an undo is when you have misclicked. If you make a poor bid or play or for any other reason, it is inappropriate to ask for an undo. <snip> All members have the right to reject an undo, redeal, or claim request for any reason. Members are not required to explain why they have rejected such a request and it is inappropriate for a player to be offended if one of his requests is rejected. If your undo, redeal, or claim is rejected and you do not want to play at the current table anymore, finish the current deal and send a polite chat message before leaving. --- I allow undo's for "obvious" misclicks but not if a player changes his/her mind. However, it is not always easy to determine which is which. As far as I'm concerned, they can discard the undo button altogether (normal play), but we do need it for two purposes: Mentors giving lessons. Vugraph operators. Roland

4♠. I bid what I hope I can make. No guarantees, but it must be worth a try. Roland

I would rather open 1♥ than 2♣, and yes, it does qualify for a Namyats 4♣ opening according to my requirements: 1. 8½-9 tricks at this vulnerability. 2. Trump suit with no more than one loser opposite a singleton. 3. Control in at least two of the three side suits. Roland

I agree with you in examples 1 and 3, but not with 2. This is a 2♠ raise. Passing 1♠ shows exactly three spades in my book, and a weak hand of course. I do not pass with 4-card support for opener's major (game may still be on), but sometimes I do with support for his minor. Example: Qxxx x Kxxx xxxx 1♥ - 1♠ 2♣ - Pass After a non jump shift, game is remote. Roland

1♠. Whenever I have a strong 2-suiter I try to avoid opening 2♣ if I have the tiniest excuse. I know, it may go 1♠ all pass, but I am not particularly worried. Roland

It makes be sad and angry to read an arrogant comment like this. "Everyone"!? "So Barry Margolin and others who only speak one language can understand", I suppose you mean. There is nothing wrong about understanding one language only, but there is a lot wrong when you deny others to speak their native tongue - also as kibitzers on BBO. "Everyone" does not speak or understand English. I know it's difficult for many Americans to comprehend. Arrogance and intolerance are the appropriate words in my opinion. Roland

Happy Birthday! Your (and my) wish will probably be that England retain The Ashes. Don't hold your breath :rolleyes: Roland

North's hand is far from good enough for a jump shift. 1♠ is fine. 3♥ is not since it's non-forcing. She must go through 4th suit first, unless your agreement is to play weak jump shifts; then 3♥ becomes forcing. I don't know what kind of Blackwood you play, but assuming RKCB, 5NT is also wrong when South knows you are off 1 key card. Then 5NT (specific king asking) guarantees all 5 key cards. You will get to the 6-level no matter what, so there is no point in bidding 5NT unless you are interested in grand slam. Therefore, bid 6♥ over the 5♥ response. As an aside, the play is interesting on a club lead with the king offside. You try the queen, but as expected RHO has the king. Now the best line is to cash ♥A (it is usually not when missing Kxx, then finessing is with the odds). However, even if no king appears when you cash the ace, you will be very unlucky if you go down in the slam. On a very bad day you go down when one opponent has all three hearts and a singleton or doubleton diamond. Roland

Aussies for my money. They are unlikely to make the same mistake twice. Roland

You are absolutely right, Richard (there comes a time when even you and I agree it seems), and your last point sums it up. If 1♥ shows say 0-5 hcp, any shape, it is not a psyche. However, it can be prohibited for other reasons as you rightly point out. Roland

This is a subjective assessment and it is up to the sponsoring organisation, in this case presumably the TD, to assess whether a call is a psychic call. I would not have judged this to be a psych (and know of few that would). However, you now know one TD who does. Of course banning psychic calls of natural calls is against the Laws, but I guess this is irrelevant. You pays your money (or not) and make your choice of whose tournaments to play in. Paul ACCORDING THE RULES OF THE BBOFANS TOURNEYS A PSYCHOLOGICAL BID IS FORBIDDEN. A 9 POINT HAND IN FIRST POSITION CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS A NORMAL OPENING AND IF YOU USE AS I DO THAT NOT 70ֵPERCENT OF THE PLAYERS OF THE DECLARERS LEVEL WILL OPEN 1H THEN THEIR IS NO OTHER CHOICE THEN CONSIDERING THIS AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL BID. 2 POINTS I WANT TO ADD 1. I PROPOSED SEVERAL TIMES TO FORM A BBO APPEAL COMMITTEE ESPECIALLY FOR THESE SORT OF TD INTERPRETATIONS. 2.I SAW A COMMENT WITH PERSONAL ATTACK AND I THINK THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE So your limit is 10 hcp I assume. If you have 9, it is a psyche according to your interpretation. Let me ask you this ... ♠ AK7653 ♥ Q10842 ♦ -- ♣ -- Do I psyche if I open 1♠ with that hand? And pray tell, how do you know that 70% at the same level as the person who opened 1♥ in your tourney would not do the same? Do you really know amfnz's level that well? If there is any doubt about this, don't you think that the "offender" should be shown the benefit of that doubt? ..... 2.I SAW A COMMENT WITH PERSONAL ATTACK AND I THINK THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE No, you did not. You saw an attack on your judgement and ruling, and you also saw a view where a poster says that bridge is not the game you direct if you forbid psyches. Exchanging views is what this forum is for whether one likes it or not. One has got to accept that not everyone shares one's view. No one is saying that you are a bad person or even a bad director. However, many of us think that your judgement was poor in the actual case, that's all. Roland

I don't want to put a king or queen less on an opening that I regard as light and not a psyche. You would also open this hand if you add say 2 hcp. Therefore, 1♥ is not a psyche, it's a light opening compared to your partnership agreement. There is nothing psychic about it as long as it's not a partnership understanding. I do not have enough evidence to determine that responder knows about this 9 count opening. Roland

How can he invent a suit he already denied when he bid 2♣? You will never make your partner believe that 2♠ shows a suit. I don't agree that 2♣ denies a spade suit. But even if it is generally your style to show spades first when holding longer clubs, what else could a 2♠ bid mean here? I must have missed something if it it isn't standard that you show a spade suit if you have one. I don't know what you mean by "first". Who says that I will get another chance? It's not like an auction where we bid 1♥ - 2♣ Then I can have four spades (if my hand is good enough to force to game, that is). I will get one more chance for sure, and if my hand had been invitational or worse, I would start with 1♠. And you will have to ask a better player than me if you want to interpret 2♠ on this auction .... 1♣ - (1♥) - 2♣ (2♥) Pass Pass 2♠ I sincerely don't understand how a 6-9 hand can bid 2♠ now. Unless, of course, if I play inverted raises and that 2♣ would be forcing also after an overcall. If that is the case, 2♠ makes sense. Roland

There is no apparent reason to lead a low diamond rather than a low club. With this said, I wouldn't lead either. I'll go passive and lead a trump. We have the side suits, so let declarer solve his own problems. Besides, a trump lead won't give anything declarer couldn't have done himself. Roland

My turn to agree 100% with what Frances said. We should have a game soon, but as far as I recall, you don't play online bridge at all :unsure: If you make an exception to your rule, I might even agree on playing Acol for the occasion. I will suffer, yes, but I will likely survive the ordeal ;) Roland