Walddk

It definitely looks accidental http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/w...006/5122676.stm Picture 11. You need to find a better excuse, Alan. Regarding your thoughts about Ronaldo, I agree that it was a disgrace that he didn't miss his penalty. After all, he earns his money in England, so how dares he send England home? If players, spectators and press in England are going to harass him after this, it says a lot more about them than about him. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened, and I won't be one bit in shock if some stupid and drunk English hooligans demolish half of Gelsenkirchen after the defeat. Roland

Not for the first time did Rooney lose his head. Not sure why he thinks it's permissible to stamp in an opponent's crotch on a football pitch. Exit Rooney, exit Eriksson, exit England. And now we are waiting for Alan to tell us why England didn't go all the way this time either. Some would claim that it's because the opponents score more goals. Maybe the saint has a better explanation. No players from Southampton on the team? :P Roland

Maybe read http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...=0entry142427 Most likely we will get the same question 2 or 3 weeks before Bangkok, and I predict that we won't be any wiser then. Call me a pessimist, but I am not too hopeful. We had a hard time in Italy, Vincenzo. There was not a single Italian volunteer operator in sight. Hervé Lustman was very disappointed (to put it diplomatically). Fortunately, Fancesca Canali (queequeg) offered her hep. I can't see how how one can be more optimistic next time. Roland

I see no reason not to lead a normal ♦Q. Roland

Two-suiters with both minors are even worse. How do you like this auction: 2♣ - 2♦ 3♦ - 3M 4♣ I am also a 1♦ opener although we might have missed a game if I don't get another chance. Roland

It would have cost the WBF close to nothing to hire a couple of local operators for this short event. Let me try once more: When does it dawn on the WBF that they need to employ a person who knows what is good for bridge? Let me add that this problem will arise all the time, perhaps again in a little over a month during the World Youth Team Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. The issue about vugraph broadcasts on the internet won't be settled until Jose Damiani and Fred Gitelman sit down for an hour and get it sorted out. Who is going to pay for it? We say it clearly in our vugraph guidelines to all organisers: "All tournaments are welcome to use the BBO software for vugraph purposes. We do not charge a fee for the use of our software (nor do we charge a fee to people who watch our broadcasts), but you will be responsible for all arrangements and expenses." Maybe I am biased, but I think this is a fair deal. Roland

I have no idea as to what 4NT is, but I have a feeling that partner has a spade suit she can't show any more because she is too strong to risk a pass. If I am right, she should have jumped to 3♠ on her first turn. Now that partner has left me in Guessland, I will send the ball back to her half and bid 5♥. I hope this message gets across: "I don't know what's going on. Do you? If the answer is yes, bid something that even *I* understand". Roland

Why is that? Responder should have 6 spades on this auction (although I would prefer a re-transfer). I can't see why the opponents are in a position to double unless they also would after 2N - 3♥ 3♠ - 4♠ Roland

It makes a lot of sense that you must accept the transfer on these auctions: 1NT - 2♦ 1NT - 2♥ Bid 2♥ and 2♠ respectively unless you have the agreement that you can break the transfer with 4-card support. In my view, it also makes sense that you should not accept the transfer indiscriminately after: 2NT - 3♦ 2NT - 3♥ I think that in the long run it's better only to accept the transfer if you have a fit (3 or more cards) and bid 3NT if you have a doubleton. By having this agreement you gain two significant advantages. 1. It's easier for responder in the subsequent auction. 2. Responder won't have to raise to 4MA with only 5 and land in a 5-2 fit because he is afraid of a wide open side suit in 3NT (some 5431 shape). To be fair, there is one drawback: you can't play in 3MA if you don't have a fit. This happens very rarely anyway, so I am prepared to give up on that. There is nothing new about my thoughts here. Many pairs already play as outlined above, and my impression is that they are pretty pleased with the results. Feel free to express your view and let us know how you see it, and perhaps also if you have tried it at the table. Roland

I guess most partnerships are in undiscussed territory here, but bridge logic tells me that double is for take-out. The reason is that a limited hand can't double for penalty when responder has shown no values. So in a regular partnership I would risk a double. Off-shape 2NT overcall with the black suits, most likely longer clubs, because if I had 5 spades, I had the option of overcalling 2♠ instead of 2NT, or bidding 3♠ now. Could conceivably be 4-5 in spades and clubs if the spade suit is weakish. In a random game on BBO I would pass. I do not like the idea of conceding 670. Lastly, I would not be surprised if the winning action at the table is pass. Partner could easily have long hearts and then we have may have nowhere to go. Roland

July will be another very busy vugraph month with broadcasts from Brazil, China (twice), Chinese Taipei, Norway (twice), Estonia, Czech Republic, USA, and Finland (not listed yet). Broadcasts on 22 of the 31 days with frequent overlaps! In this context, I would like to underline our comprehensive coverage of the Spingold Knockout Teams in Chicago. BBO will be there from the round of 64 and all the way through. Thanks to Rick Beye and his staff in Memphis and elsewhere for arranging this. We expect to broadcast a selected match from the Spingold or Wagar (women) each session. One match, all day, two tables. Match conditions may dictate moving to another match at a break point. As always, we are aiming at broadcasting from all 4 tables in the semi-finals. http://online.bridgebase.com/vugraph/sched...?order_by=event Roland

That would also be my dream final. Roland

I suggest that Frances returns to the cricket grounds. It can't get any worse for England. Roland

Surely not at matchpoints, and it does read MP as I see it. In a strong field 600 would be a very poor score. Roland

Germany had a great team in the 70's with the likes of Maier, Vogts, Breitner, Beckenbauer, Overath, Grabowski and Müller, but I think it's fair to say that they haven't even come close to a team with that many profiles since then. They always did well at major championships, right enough, but rarely because of spectacular football. Fight and a little luck with the draw (all teams need that) have been main factors. The team of today has very few profiles. Ballack and Klose are excellent players, and Lehmann is a fine goalkeeper. Not much more to write home about. That might be enough to advance further, but I don't think and I don't hope it will. Argentina plays the kind of football I like to see, and I hope it will prevail. I understand perfectly well that Sigi, Arend and Roland support their country. That's how it should be. Just like I supported my country in the 1992 European Championship final ... against Germany. They had all the stars, we had the better team on the day, and then of course Peter Schmeichel in goal. Roland

With a minor as one's longest suit, one should avoid opening 2♣ if there is any excuse whatsoever. There is here in my opinion, because a 4-loser hand with both minors often creates problems later in the auction. At IMPs you may be able to land on your feet, but at matchpoints the most important thing is to avoid 5 of a minor if 3NT is an option. 2♣ is a room consuming opening and is much more suited if you hold a long major or a balanced hand. With the 2 hands shown here, I suggest the following auction: 1♦ - 1♥ 3♣ - 3♦ 3NT - pass Opener is now almost always marked with a singleton heart, and responder's ♥K looks worthless with regard to a diamond slam. Therefore, he should pass. Replace ♥K with the ace, and I would continue with 4♦ over 3NT. Now 4♥ should be an unambiguous kickback rkcb. That even allows the partnership to sign off in 4NT if for some reason responder decides to bid 4♦ with the actual, aceless hand. Roland

3♠ at game all seems about right. I am not going to give LHO a free ride. Roland

My partnership (and marriage) broke up because I claimed that ♠7 was bigger than ♠6. "Yes dear", she said, and then she left. Roland

Yes, send all the teams home, except the angels from Germany of course. That would be the only chance Germany has if they are to become world champions. Roland

Or you can give West nothing in clubs. Then it's an automatic squeeze in the majors against West. ♠ J1043 ♥ Q832 ♦ 3 ♣ 9532 He can discard all his clubs on the diamonds, and one heart on ♣A. Then ♣K will squeeze him in the majors. Roland

To be happy with a husband you have to understand him a little and love him a lot. To be happy with a wife you have to love her a lot and not try to understand her at all! Roland

Is that an abbreviation for Flushing Meadows? Roland

I am not frustrated at all that Denmark didn't qualify. Unlike many others, I am capable of acknowledging the shortcomings of one's own country. We simply didn't deserve to qualify. That was never an issue for Germany because they, as the host nation, had an automatic berth. Nothing wrong with that since it applies to the host nations in all sports. I would like to compliment the Germans on a strong performance against Sweden. If it hadn't been for Isaksson in the Swedish goal, the score could easily have been 5-0 or 6-0. The Swedes were very disappointing, and the match was over before Lucic was red-carded. So that's no excuse. In 2002 Germany were extremely lucky to make it all the way to the final (I think that even German supporters will agree). This time they are playing much better football and have, deservedly, made it to the quarters. With this said, I predict that we have now reached the stage where the party will stop. All good things must come to an end. The Argentinians were not at their best against Mexico, far from it, and they need to be in order to eliminate Germany. I am sure that the South Americans can and will step up a gear. Roland

You are a Germany supporter, I am not; nothing strange about that since you are German. I honestly think that Sweden has a better team than Germany, not least demonstrated against England last night. However, no matter who wins, that team is unlikely to get past Argentina one round later. Roland

Support doubles are fine when responder has 5 cards and he can rebid his suit at the 2-level. Mandatory support doubles are not so great when responder has 4 and is weakish, especially if the 4-card suit is weak too. ♠ 10874 ♥ A53 ♦ Q9 ♣ J872 1♦ p 1♠ 2♥ dbl p ? How do you like it now? Furthermore, it also gives the show away no matter whether you declare or defend. Roland