Dirk Kuijt

Agua I quoted the BWS statement because my opinions really aren't worth much, and I know it. I'm not one of experts posting on this board, and I'm well aware of that fact. Therefore, I reported what the Bridge World said without comment. I did, and do, think that it was an interesting data point, and one that hadn't been made before.

FWIW, I found this on the Bridge World site as part of the description of Bridge World Standard: http://www.bridgeworld.com/default.asp?d=b...=bwsall.html#VE

This reminds me of my proposal from a few (OK, many) years ago. Each pair's score is the IMP score vs. a zero par, so +110 gets you 3IMP. Of course if the board is flat then every NS gets +3 and every EW gets -3, so there is no overall effect. Equally, for any flat board, regardless of result, there is no overall effect, provided that one compares NS with NS and EW with EW. However, if any pair has bid and made a small slam, the par score becomes the slam bonus (+500 or +750) instead of zero. If any pair has bid and made a grand slam, the par score becomes the grand slam bonus (+1000 or +1500) instead of zero or the small slam par. In those extreme and rare cases where both sides have bid and made a small slam, then the par goes back to zero. Ditto for both sides making a grand slam (in your dreams). If one side bids and makes a small slam and the other side bids and makes a grand slam, then the par becomes the small slam bonus for the grand slam side. The point of this scoring system is two fold. First, the effect of those weird sets where someone has been dropped in a redoubled cue bid is minimized. The two pairs affected have a strange result, but it doesn't change other effects much. Second, there is still a big incentive to bid and make a slam. Suppose one pair bids and makes a small slam in hearts, not vul. Then, that pair scores +980 and the par becomes +500. So, all the pairs in game score -20, or -1IMP. The slamming pair wins 10 IMP. If that one pair goes down, then they score -50 or -2IMP, while the game pairs score +450 or +10IMP. So, bidding a slam on a finesse is more or less 50-50, which is what my intuition says is right. (Of course, if someone bids and makes a small slam on three finesses and a suit break, when the sensible pairs are in game, then the slam bidders still win 10 IMP. This doesn't eliminate luck.)

Well, the 5 trumps should have some nuisance value ;) More to the point, if partner's 2♥ bid meant something specific, like a limit raise in spades, then I'm clearly passing. I've already (over)bid my hand, and partner has bid his hand (and won't take action over 4♠). But, if partner's 2♥ bid was general strength, which is what the OP said, then I think I'm closer to beating 4♥ than making 4♠, and partner will do *something* over 4♥. IOW, I'm playing partner for general strength and a shape like 3-1-4-5, rather than a heart void and 4-0-4-5. If partner has that hand, he should raise spades to whatever level he thinks is appropriate, instead of messing around with a cue bid.

FWIW a-b +45 a-c +21 b-c -18 so, for me, Pass>2♥>Dbl. Interesting, because I would never overcall 2♥ on this hand; Dbl "feels" closer to the truth (though I would likely pass at the table).

flat also at -420

a 1♠-p-p-1N p-p-p +150 b 1♠-X-p-3N pp-p- +600 c 1♠-2♥-p-4♥ p-p-p Some people make this, but I go down, so -100 a-b -10 a-c +6 b-c +12

I'm doubling because I don't want partner to bid 4♠.

1. Pass, but I'm more conservative than most. Dbl is OK, 2♣ is out. 2. 2♣ seems clear 3. 4♠ seems confused to me. The hand has a small doubleton and a void; those are both no-nos for Blackwood. While the earlier bidding is unclear to me (what kind of hands would partner cue bid with earlier?), it seems that partner could have: ♠Axx ♥KQxx ♦xxxx ♣Qx (7♥ is cold) or ♠KJx ♥QJx ♦KQJx ♣xxx (on a bad day, even 4♥ fails). Those are extreme examples, but lots of hand with 2keys make 6♥, and another lot of them have no play, depending on whether partner has strength in diamonds or not.

I have P and X getting to 3♣, but 2♥ getting to 3N-1 by West so: a-b 0 a-c -4 b-c -4

Well, I'm out in left field but ... a. 4♥ +620 b 3♥ +170 c 4♥ +620 So a-b +10 a-c 0 b-c -10

a. 1♠-p-p-p NS -110 b 1♠-X-p-2♣ 2♦-p-p-p NS +50 then it gets ugly 1♠-2♥-p-p- X-p-p-p- NS -800 a-c -2IMP a-b +12 IMP b-c +13 IMP

I'm with awm. I get to 4♠, not doubled on all auctions. N/S just can't expect 5 of a red suit to make or be a paying sacrifice, especially when there is such a good chance to beat 4♠.

a 1♠-p-p-p The opening lead blows a trick, so NS -80 b 1♠-X-p-2♣ p-p-p In an inelegant 3-2 fit, NS gets a good layout to lose "only" -300 c 1♠-2♥-p-p X-p-2♠-p p-p East, with more information, guesses better, so: a-b -6IMP a-c 1IMP b-c -5IMP

a 1♠-p-2♠-p 4♠ but, East goes wrong in spades, so NS +50 b 1♠-x-2♠-p 4♠-p-p-p with this clue, East goes right in spades NS -420 c 1♠-2♥-2♠-p 4♠-p-p-p and East goes right in spades NS -420 so a-b +10 a-c +10 b-c 0

I'm flat at +680.

I'm with fluffy; East always buys the hand in a spade partscore, making 4, so a-b 0 a-c 0 b-c 0

I have EW finding the Spade game when South overcalls 2 hearts, making on a diamond lead, so: a NS +100 b NS -400 c NS -420 a-b 11IMP a-c 11IMP b-c 1IMP

I end in 3♣ a lot a 1♠-p-2♠-3♣ p-p-p b 1♠-X-2♠-3♣ p-p-p c 1♠-2♥-2♠-3♣ p-p-p flat at +110 The questionable one to me is b; is 3♣ adequate over a double?

Leading the J, 9, or 7 from the north hand and passing it if East doesn't play an honor works against East holding A, Q, AQ, Q5, or AQ5. Leading low to the King works against East holding specifically A5. Nothing works if East holds 5 or void. So finessing the J is easily the best.

I'm almost with awm here a: 1♠-P-P-3♣-3♥-P-3NT. Making, +600. b: 1♠-X-P-3NT. Making, +600. c: 1♠-2♥-P-3♣-P-3♦-P-3NT. Making, +600. a-b = 0 IMPs a-c = 0 IMPs b-c = 0 IMPs

a 1♠-p-p-3♣ p-3♥-p-4♣ p-5♣-p-p p NS +600 b. 1♠-X-2♠-3♠ p-4♥-p-5♣ p-p-p NS +600 c 1♠-2♥-p-2♠ p-3♦-p-4♣ p-5♣-p-p p NS +600 no swing

a 1♠-p-p-1n 2♣-2♥-p-3♥ p-p-p West leads a spade, so NS +140 b. 1♠-X-p-3♥ p-p-p East leads a club, so NS -100 c 1♠-2♥-p-3♥ p-p-p West leads a spade, so NS +140 a-b +5IMP a-c 0IMP b-c -5IMP

I'm flat at -140. While it would be nice, double dummy, to trap over 1♠-2♥ with the West hand, I wouldn't do it with 3 spades, and might not sit for a double from opener anyway. The whole situation would never arise because I wouldn't open the East hand.

Flat at 4♠.