Walddk

So 2♣ with 3343 ? Agree with Arend on all counts. Yes, 2♣ is the most flexible call with 3433. 2♥ shows 5+. Roland

There is a significant difference, Tony. BIL is run by a person from New Zealand (Maureen Hall), JuniorsBBO by people from USA. New Zealanders dislike restrictions in this context. Roland

Probably because they had no chance of cashing for either the session or event, and thus it would be a giant waste of everyone's time and probably looked upon very badly. Isn't whether their opponents were cashing also relevant? A scoring change involving two non-cashing pairs could also have an affect on the cashing pairs. Exactly. The game is about the score. If the score is incorrect then the integrity of the entire event is compromised. If the ruling is incorrect then the score is incorrect so it needs to be fixed. Wayne, have you ever been on an AC that did not forfeit the deposit in a case of BIT and consequent UI? I haven't and I have been on a few ACs, domestically and internationally. Roland

16. Any Director’s ruling (other than penalties under sections 4, 5, 6 and 7) may be appealed to the Appeals Committee designated by the Tournament Committee. If a pair or team wishes to lodge an appeal, it must post US $50 which will be forfeited if the Appeals Committee deems the appeal to be substantially without merit. Decisions of the Appeals Committee are not subject to further appeal; however see 20 below. http://www.cavendishinvitational.com/index...id=16&Itemid=39 So yes, the offending side could have appealed if they had wished. Roland

The commentary about the screen placement relative to the auction is incorrect, and it might be important. The 3NT bidder was north: http://www.cavendishinvitational.com/2009/PAIRS5HR.pdf. So Feldman saw the screen go under with P-P-1C-1D; P-1H-P and saw it come back with P-P-1C-1D; P-1H-P-3NT; P Which is exactly what I said, please read my post again. Lev was North, Zagorin East, Pepsi South and Feldman West. Pepsi and Feldman were on the same side of the screen, and when the tray came back to North and East, 3NT had pass, pass on it. So auction over. Zagorin (East) was the player to lead and chose a heart. Ruled illegal by the director. Roland

Rik, your post is very good, and everything is correct, given that there was no UI for East to use. However, we disagree regarding screens on this issue. South and West were on the same side of the screen. When the tray came back to North and East, it had pass, pass on it. Provided that there was a BIT, which we must presume that there was, it takes no Einstein to figure out who hesitated. The player (South) who passed initially and bid a mere 1♥ after partner's 1♦ overcall can't have had a problem over 3NT. The other player (West), however, who opened the bidding could well have had a problem. We can't know which problem that was, but one might have been doubling 3NT for the lead. I do not agree that using screens had any effect here. It sometimes has, but mostly on competitive auctions. There was nothing competitive on this deal once North's rebid was 3NT. Since I was not present, I can't be 100% certain, but my feeling is that the TDs ruling was based on the facts that ... - 1. There was a BIT. - 2. UI was transmitted and used. Therefore, a heart lead is illegal. Roland

Dear Val & Paula, I have a lot of respect for all the work you do and have been doing from the start of JuniorsBBO. However, one should always be sympathetic to constructive criticism (rest assured that I, as the vugraph coordinator, get my fair share). Some of us think that barring the Multi is a bad idea, and I echo Nick's sentiments completely. If we want to attract youngsters to the game, the way forward is not to impose restrictions; to the contrary. In my and other people's views it is much better to encourage them by allowing them to play all the fancy stuff they like. Eventually, they will be able to figure out which conventions are good and which are not. They are smart young people who want to try everything before they settle down and select one or two oddities. Do not spoil their enjoyment by telling them that Multi is a no-no. And finally, you do not need 20 pages of defence against the Multi. If no-one else volunteers, I can offer a simple defence in a couple of minutes. You don't need pages for it. It can be written on the back of a stamp ;) Roland

IMO, any interesting tidbits about what is happening at the table only add to the enjoyment for spectators, making it feel like you are "there" in the room, so I like to hear those from the operator if he is still able to keep up pace and key in auctions and plays fast and accurate. However, I agree with you that the operator should let the commentators analyse and he should just provide the service he has volunteered to give and not do hand analysis. IMO, his comment about the hesitation was innocuous and in no way improper. It was in the same class as "so-and-so is looking puzzled/deep in though/thinking" or "his cards resting on the table" or some similar comment about what the players are doing at the time. I agree with you and not The Hog. Comments by the operator add flavour to the presentation as long as it does not hamper his/her ability to do what he/she is there for first of all: operating. Jan Martel (USA) and Michael Wilkinson (Australia) are two people who can do both. Some try and fail, others don't have time to comment. I don't blame them. Roland

Agree with both. This is pure ACBL Multi paranoia and should be avoided at (almost) all costs. Roland

Law 76, B: 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. Consequently, if facts are disputed (in this case hesitation or not), the director can ask spectators. It does not happen often, but it happens. I assume that the vugraph operator was the only person (i.e. spectator) in the 'room'. If there was a dispute of facts, and if I understand Josh correctly there was, did the director ask the operator? If the operator answers 'yes' or 'no' to hesitation or not, it's easy to ascertain the facts, because we must assume that the operator is unbiased. If he answers 'not sure, I was busy with other issues', it is much more complicated. Roland

You are probably right, but if I interpret the CoC correctly, this is not going to happen. USA1 and USA2 will be two of the 27 teams listed here ... http://usbf.org/index.php?option=com_entri...k=list&event=14 Roland

Yet another BBO vugraph record will see the light of day (and darkness of night). Starting on May 14, ending June 16, we will be having presentations every day! In other words: 34 consecutive days, many of which will have more than one broadcast. During that time span we will be visiting 16 nations, some more than once. They are: Poland (2), Czech Republic, Scotland, Bulgaria (3), Finland (2), Belgium, Germany (2), Norway, Chile, Sweden, Hungary, USA (2), Guadeloupe, Estonia (3), Indonesia and Canada. http://online.bridgebase.com/vugraph/sched...?order_by=event Why not make it your start page? Roland

Overheard when the team scored up: "I apologise profusely for leading a heart. It was close to ridiculous, and we don't deserve the 10 IMPs. May I suggest that we hand them back to the opponents?" Roland

♥10.

Our current vugraph schedule is the most comprehensive ever. Inside the next eight weeks we will be visiting five continents. Sorted alphabetically, the 19 countries are: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Serbia, Scotland, Sweden, Turkey and USA. Have a look at the schedule page, and you will see that some of the above mentioned nations offer presentations more than once. Join us in the vugraph theatre, starting with Iceland on Thursday, April 23. Free of charge as always! Roland

At least five spades and at least four in a minor. I also asked RHO about what they require for a double of 1NT. I got a vague reply, something like "a good opener if balanced, could be less with shape, but could also be strongish." If you think clubs are 5-2 (seems likely, I agree), and when you are told that West has at least five spades, you will probably restrict your lines to a minimum. One of the lines looked appealing to me. By the way, if you decide to win the ace at trick two, East follows with the 4, indicating an even number of clubs. Roland

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s86haq2dkj732ca75&s=saq54hj1063da4c1098]133|200|Scoring: IMP South 3NT Lead CK[/hv] This hand came up in a club game (IMPs) the other night. You open a 10-12 NT. West overcalls 2♠, spades and a minor (at least 5-4), partner doubles to show invitational values or better. 3♥ from you, 3♠ by partner, asking for a spade stopper. The auction ends after you bid 3NT. West leads ♣K which you allow to hold, East following with the 3, giving count when a king is led against NT (low-high from an even number). ♣J continuation by West. You are far away from taking 9 tricks. Plan the play please. Roland

In the Danish version of the law book we also differentiate. "Bud" = "bid", "Melding" = "call". I always found that silly and confusing. Name them all "bids", just like you call a spade a spade. The members of the Law Committee may be legal experts, but just like lawyers don't know how to use a language (thank goodness they have secretaries), the same applies to the above mentioned members. Let me add that Mike Hargreaves is the rare exception to that rule. The law book could have been written in a language humans understand, but it isn't. The more complicated, the better seems to be the jumping-off point. The book is supposed to be read and understood by laymen, not only judges in the Supreme Court. Roland

That wouldn't work, because pass is itself a call ("Any bid, double, redouble or pass"). Declining to make a call would be a breach of Law 17C ("The player to dealer’s left makes the second call, and thereafter each player calls in turn in a clockwise rotation.") Strange language. In any other language I know (quite a few) you bid whether you pass, double or bid 2♥. I guess one shouldn't be surprised, because a train also makes a 'call' when it stops at a station. "The 17:29 from London Victoria to Southampton, calling at Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath, Hove, Shoreham by Sea, Worthing, Angmering, Barnham, Bognor Regis, Havant, Cosham, Fareham and Swanwick." Long journey. Anyone for a game of bridge? ;) Roland

And even funnier if you look in old British books and magazines. 1♠ No Bid 2♣ No Bid 2♦ No Bid 2♠ No Bid and so on. You also see 'No' instead of 'Pass'. As far as 'No Bid' is concerned, I guess it should have been No Bid or Call ;) Roland

This is quite funny. If RHO opens 1♥ and you enter the auction in second seat with 2♣, it is an overcall, and it could also be an overbid :huh: Roland

Gerben's interpretation is correct. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_scoring Scroll down to Recent scoring changes (at the bottom).

To prove Mike's point: K&R Hand Evaluator K 10xx QJ9xx AJxx 9.95 ... x K10x QJ9xx AJxx 12.05 ... and even better: x 10xx KQJ9x AJxx 13.15 http://www.jeffgoldsmith.org/cgi-bin/knr.cgi Roland

Clear pass. Give me a small spade and let the king be in either of the other three suits instead of a small card and I open. Roland

This upcoming Friday and Saturday will be unique as far as vugraph presentations are concerned. The Chinese ambassador to Italy, Mr Sun Yuxi, a capable player in his own right, has invited the Angelini team (Angelini, Versace, Lauria, Fantoni, Nunes, Giubilo) to play a match over 80 boards against the Netherlands (Jansma, Paulissen, de Wijs, Muller) at the China Embassy in Rome. Read about the event at ... http://www.bboitalia.it/china/ Our current vugraph schedule is comprehensive beyond compare, and you haven't even seen it all yet. Worth noting is that we will be showing 38! sessions from the United States Bridge Championship in White Plains, NY, in early June. The USBC will select the two USA teams for the 2009 Bermuda Bowl in São Paulo, Brazil, in August/September. Take a closer look at ... http://online.bridgebase.com/vugraph/sched...?order_by=event I presume that most of you have this site bookmarked. If you haven't, it's a good idea to do it now! Roland