generating practise hands

[onoway]

I seem to remember that there was once a mention of a program to generate types of hands for teaching tables/practise but I have been unable to find it. I believe that Stephen Pickett (sfbp)'s program could do it but not sure if that is still even available.

 

Specifically, what I am looking for is some way to generate various Lebensohl type hands. Anyone know of anything? I am not very computer adept so it also has to be quite user friendly. Is there anything out there that fits this criteria?

[Chas_P]

The web version has a nice deal generator. From the home page click "Hands and Results", then click "Hand Editor".

[Rain]

Chas_P is correct.

 

Also, if you're using web version, you could just start your teaching or bidding table and click on DEAL SOURCE to define your deals. You need to have an idea what kind of definition though.

 

I can't think of a way to define lebensohl type situations offhand, but maybe someone else can.

[paulg]

It's not too difficult if you are prepared to accept a little randomness in the hands generated.

 

You can read about how to do use the Bidding Partnership area on the newer web client here - Bidding Practice on BBO.

 

The following text should be pasted into the area on the Advanced tab of the Deal Source:

 

 

# Make North the dealer on every hand using the General tab

 

# This definition gives a simple 1NT showing 15-17 points without a 5-card major

 

north1NT = shape(north, any 4333 + any 5332 + any 4432 + 2245 + 2452 + 2425 + 2254 - 5xxx -x5xx) and hcp(north)>14 and hcp(north)<18

 

# Try and define some overcalling hands for East

 

easthand1 = shape(east, any 6xxx + any 55xx + any 65xx) and hcp(east)>9

easthand2 = shape(east, 5x4x + 5xx4 + x54x +x5x4) and hcp(east)>10

 

# Lebensohl possible hands are those with a weak long suit, invitational with a long suit

# and game forcing with/without a stop. We cannot define stop/nostop hands (easily).

 

southweak = shape(south, any 6xxx + any 7xxx) and hcp(south)<6

southinter = shape(south, any 6xxx + any 5xxx) and hcp(south)>5 and hcp(south)<9

southstr = hcp(south)>9

 

north1NT and (easthand1 or easthand2) and (southweak or southinter or southstr)

 

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

 

This will generate hands that a robot bidder (or a real person) will normally open 1NT, hands that a robot sitting East will normally overcall a strong one notrump, and hands for South that might be interesting to handle in that context.

 

Note that the hands are directionally fixed. So on the General tab of the Deal Source menu you will need to ensure that only the North box is checked as dealer. Ensure Robots are sitting East and West, and get a robot or partner to sit North.

 

Hopefully the definitions above are fairly self-explanatory.

 

Good luck

 

Paul

[onoway]

Thank you! I will try that.

[TimG]

# Make North the dealer on every hand using the General tab

I believe I read that in the newest release there is an option for randomly switching north and south so that if a pair is practicing they don't have to change seats to switch from opener to responder or the like. I'm guessing that the feature actually rotates the deal so that in the case of your script the overcalling hand would always be over the opening bidder.

[paulg]

# Make North the dealer on every hand using the General tab

I believe I read that in the newest release there is an option for randomly switching north and south so that if a pair is practicing they don't have to change seats to switch from opener to responder or the like. I'm guessing that the feature actually rotates the deal so that in the case of your script the overcalling hand would always be over the opening bidder.

Yes, that feature might work better in this instance than in some others.

 

In this case you could set both North and South as the dealers and it would work as you would wish unless the Lebensohl hand actually held an opening bid.