iamdavej

Approximately 1 in 61055 (calculated as C(26,13) / C(52,13)) - number of ways of picking 13 cards from a universe of 26 divided by number of ways of picking 13 cards from a universe of 52.

You don't really have any other rebid to make - 2NT here should show a balanced hand too strong to open 1NT but not strong enough to open 2NT. In other words, 1X opening with 1NT rebid should show 12 - 14 balanced, 1NT opening should show 15 - 17, 1X opening with 2NT rebid shows 18 - 19, 2NT opening shows 20-21, etc. Let's you get hand strength and shape clarified for your partner. Yes, your diamond suit is a bit ratty (and it would be nice if it were Qxx, but it isn't); any rebid other than 2NT says something about your hand that isn't true. If your partner doesn't have appropriate shape for NT (e.g. void in diamonds as you feared), then he will have at least one 5-card suit (and you shouldn't have any singletons for your NT bid), so there is at least one 7-card (or better) fit. He's already told you his longest suit, so with his next bid, he should probably place the contract (since you've given him a relatively complete description of your hand already) or, if strong enough to explore slam (14+ HCP), make appropriate forcing bids to initiate that exploration.

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Need some appropriate novice/beginner tools to deal with interference over strong 2♣ opening. Partner opened 2♣ (22+) and RHO piped in with 3♥! I had: [hv=pc=n&s=s8hk86dt98642ct73]133|100[/hv] Partner says that I should have bid 3NT to "show the heart stopper". I countered that my obligation to respond to the forcing bid was relieved by the overcall (not totally sold on that conclusion, but was not sure how to indicate weakness (and that a bid of either 3NT or 4♦ would have shown more strength than my 3 HCP)). Discussion afterwards with other pairs indicated that some had agreements that a 2♣ opening obligates the partnership to game regardless of interference, but that obligation is shared by both partners. Not sure I am sold on that approach either - perhaps it is OK if amended to get to game *or* double opponents in a contract where the penalty is at least as big as bidding the game would have netted? Questions: What should I have bid over 3♥? If 3NT was correct, how does partner continue if that contract is wrong for her hand shape (i.e. did not have balanced 22-24 or 25-27)? If Pass was my correct bid, what should my partner have done with her balanced 22 count (3-3-3-4) with a heart stopper - X (not clear if that is penalties or takeout) or 3NT? Is there a good recommended novice/beginner set of tools for handling this general type of interference? Thanks. Dave in San Diego

LHO opens 2NT, partner passes, RHO bids 2♦ (insufficient). I say "it appears we have an insufficient bid, I think we need to call the director." RHO offers to explain what my partner's (!) options are, I decline (causing exasperated noises from RHO, but that's a different matter) and summon the director. Director explains that I may accept the bid (which I do not) or that RHO may replace the bid with a sufficient bid and that if it's anything other than ♦, there would be further information to come. This seems like the right ruling only if 2♦ was not a conventional bid. After it was corrected to 3♦, LHO announced "transfer". So, shouldn't director have asked (away from the table?) what RHO meant by 2D and then proceeded under 27(B)(2)("If either the insufficient bid or the lowest sufficient bid in the same denomination may have been conventional or if the bid is corrected by any other sufficient bid or by a pass, (penalty) the offender's partner must pass whenever it is his turn to call "). Thanks. Dave San Diego

Hi - Have been playing bridge for many years (rubber, Chicago, and online), but have just recently returned to the world of in-person duplicate bridge (after 30+ years away) and am having to learn the joys of the bidding box. Making the bids, passes, doubles, etc. is relatively straightforward, but quite a bit of a change from the spoken bidding I was using when I last played duplicate. What is less clear is how to manage the "non-bids" - is there a good write-up already in existence that would answer the following questions (and any other frequently-asked ones on this topic that have not occurred to me)? 1. If I am about to make a call that is unusually high (where in the past, I would have said, "skip bid, please wait" prior to making my (verbal) call), I first place the "Stop" card and then place the bidding card indicating my call in reasonable tempo thereafter. a. Does the Stop card go 'in line' with the other bids or is it placed above/near the stack of bids? b. I am to leave the Stop card for the full prescribed waiting time? Or return it to my bidding box in reasonable tempo after making my call (putting the burden to wait on LHO)? c. Is there clear direction on which bids require the Stop card (which doesn't seem to be used much at one club, but is used frequently but inconsistently at another club). Before 2C (strong)? Before a Weak 2? Before a 3, 4, or 5 level opening bid? Before a Weak Jump Overcall? Before a splinter? What about a 'leap' to Blackwood (e.g. 1S - 2S - 4NT?) What about a 2N or 3N opening bid? 2. If my partner makes a bid that is alertable, essentially the same questions as 1(a) above? When is the Alert card returned to the box? I have also heard about leaving the Alert card sitting on the table and tapping it to indicate Alert - is this normal/acceptable? What if my RHO calls while I am fumbling for the Alert card in the bidding box - does that require the Director? 3. Announcements are something new since I last played in-person duplicate. Are announcements required? I don't seem to hear them much at all (I am playing in Beginner / 199er games). If they are required, what bids get announced - 1N opening range, Jacoby transfers on 1N and 2N openings (and 1N overcalls where systems are on?), Texas transfers - is that the full list? Does the announcement get prefaced with "Announcement" or if my partner opens 1N, I simply say "fifteen to seventeen"? 4. One unusual situation came up last time we played - my partner's bidding box didn't have a Double card in it (three Redouble cards, but no Double card). This was not noticed until he needed to Double, of course. So, we've added "check the bidding box for completeness" to our "arriving at a new table" checklist. During the bidding of this hand and at his turn to call, he said "I want to Double, but I don't have a Double card" and we provided him with one from another bidding box at the table - was this the correct way to handle this or should we have called the Director? Thanks in advance. Dave San Diego, CA

http://tinyurl.com/7rrul3t GIB seemed to have clear double of 3NT contract. On lead with 8 running heart tricks?

http://tinyurl.com/3hjoedt

http://tinyurl.com/3qabeht Admittedly, my 4♥ preempt was a bit cheeky, but the Robot's takeout double was just wacky (as was not taking 4♠ out to 5♣). I think 2000 is the largest score I've ever achieved on defense (4♠Wx-8)

http://tinyurl.com/23h4lrq What was 4♣ supposed to be?

http://tinyurl.com/29gwvoz Not sure why it decided to bid 5♦? Not sure why it kept bidding diamonds?