Last Train

[Generation-B]

I am looking for a write up / web site that provides details on how to use Last Train. Can anyone provide me some insight? Thanks

[Dwayne]

I'm not sure how to use Last Train but you might like to hum along to this popular little ditty.

 

Last Train to Clarksville as sung by the Monkees

Words and Music by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

 

Take the last train to Clarksville,

And I'll meet you at the station.

You can be be there by four thirty,

'Cause I made your reservation.

Don't be slow, oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

 

'Cause I'm leavin' in the morning

And I must see you again

We'll have one more night together

'Til the morning brings my train.

And I must go, oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.

 

Take the last train to Clarksville.

I'll be waiting at the station.

We'll have time for coffee flavored kisses

And a bit of conversation.

Oh... Oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

 

Take the last train to Clarksville,

Now I must hang up the phone.

I can't hear you in this noisy

Railroad station all alone.

I'm feelin' low. Oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.

 

Take the last train to Clarksville,

Take the last train to Clarksville,

[repeat and fade]

 

-------------------------------

DWayne-orama

[catch22]

Try http://www.imp-bridge.nl/articles/2over1b.htm

[MarceldB]

see an article by Fred Gitelman :

 

http://www.imp-bridge.nl/articles/2over1b.htm

[inquiry]

Welcome to the Bridge Base Forum

 

Two users have pointed you to Fred's excellent article on last train, so I will not comment furhter on those aspects. His article is very definitive for what different LTTC bids mean on different auctions (especially when combined with Serious and or non-serious 3NT).

 

Instead I will give you a coceptial idea for LAST TRAIN that might help you. How do you play the following auction?

 

1H-(2D)-2H-3(D)

?

 

What does 3H show? What does double show?

 

Here do you use double to show invite to game, and 3H as simple a competitive bid? I do. Call this double what you might, maxiamal double, what ever, it uses the last avaialbe space to invite game. Now consider this auction

 

1S-(2D)-2S-3(D)

?

 

Here you probably play 3S as competitive (not invite to 4), and 3H as invite to 4S, as it is the last available bid. Now double can be penalty of optional. These bids, the last avaliable one, before you commit to a higher level are very important in modern bidding theory.

 

In so many ways, last train works the same way. It suggest, but does not demand, a willingness to continue beyond the current level (which is game). If there has been some cue-bidding going on, it obviously shows a control in any suit that has been bypassed (or else you would not be willing to go on). It neither promises nor denys a control in last train suit (hearts for spade contract, diamonds for heart contract), but denies controls in any bypassed suit to get to the last train suit (if you agreed spades, and partner cue-bids 4C, a 4H last train bid would deny a first or second round control in diamonds).

 

Just because the last train suit is available doesn't mean you HAVE to bid it. IF you have already shown you values or if you are minumum for the bidding so far, you can choose not to use the LTTC bid (an exception is if partner has shown slam interest but skipped a suit in which you hold a control, you owe it to him to bid the LTTC to confirm holding a stopper in the bypassed suit).

 

Really, simply read the fred article, it does a wonderful job of explaining this. And again, welcome to the BBF.

 

Ben

[Chamaco]

In so many ways, last train works the same way. It suggest, but does not demand, a willingness to continue beyond the current level (which is game).

It is intuitive for me to think of LTTC as a sort of "4th suit forcing".

It asks for something or shows something (extras or controls), according to situations.