HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bs@gauss.mitre.org (Robert D. Silverman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: 2 Problems (IMPS)
Date: 15 Apr 92 20:28:55 GMT
Article-I.D.: linus.1992Apr15.202855.1077
Organization: Research Computer Facility, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA

In article <35125@uflorida.cis.ufl.edu> nair@astro.ufl.edu (Nair) writes:
:
: IMPS against a BAD team.
:
: 1.) With both vul.
:
: 7x
: AQ10xx
: AKJx
: Kx
:
: Auction :
:
: You    LHO    Pard   RHO
: 1H     2C      2S     P
: 3D     P       3S
:
: Given that you don't play negative free bids, I think the percentage
: bid is 4S.  Of course that's a bid I would make with my partners
: these days.  But I think the right bid definitely is 3NT, saying :
: I have 1 stopper with exactly the hand shown.  So if he/she doesn't
: have a stopper he/she should pull it out to 4S.  I've shown 2 suits

No! No! No!   Partner will sit, for example, with:

AKJxxx
x
Qxx
xxx

because your 3NT shows some expectation that spades will run OR a double stopper
in clubs.
Since 3S does not promise a solid suit, 3NT should announce a fitting card in 
spades or a double stop.

Suppose you held:

Qx
Axxxx
AKJx
Kx

wouldn't you bid 3NT with this hand??   If so, how can partner make an
intelligent decision when to sit if you bid 3NT with this hand and the
one above????

: & I can't practically have clubs doubled stopped & bid 3NT (If I

Try:  x  AKxxx AKJx KJx

Yes you can have clubs double stopped.

: 2.)  Play problem.  Both vul.
:

stuff deleted..

I already posted a followup discussing the best line.

: Why can't the 1NT opener bid 3S to try for 3NT?  Seems routine to

The question is not: "why can't", but rather "with good heart support,
and just the A spades why would you want to????"

And even if you do, South does not have a spade stopper, so you STILL won't
get to 3NT. Unless you intend 3S to ask only for a half-stopper. But you
wouldn't want to do that without prior discussion.

: me.  As far as the play goes, E is short somewhere & for no reason
							   ^^^^^^^^^
: at all, I assume it is hearts.  Go up with spade A, cash the HA, play
: the CJ to the CA (covered or not) & hook the H9.  For the DA, E is

This line is ludicrous.
 
Even granting your assumption about hearts, what do you do after winning
the 9? Play another club to the K? Draw the last trump [leaving no entries?]
Lead a diamond? If the latter, RHO wins the Q and plays back a club. RHO
gets in with the A diamonds and now plays a spade. His partner ditches a
diamond, and you can't both draw trumps and cash two diamonds.

--
Bob Silverman
These are my opinions and not MITRE's.
Mitre Corporation, Bedford, MA 01730
"You can lead a horse's ass to knowledge, but you can't make him think"
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
From: sgm@sgfb.ssd.ray.com (Myerson)
Subject: 1 major - 2N
Organization: Raytheon Company
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 13:41:28 GMT

Does anyone know anything about the convention where a
2N response to partner's major suit opening shows a
game-forcing raise? I think opener's next rebid shows
something about distribution.

Thanks for any info.

Steve Myerson (sgm@sgfb.ssd.ray.com)
From: tac6189@hertz.njit.edu (Tom Carmichael)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Reversing the meaning of 1S and 1NT
Date: 8 Apr 92 02:53:05 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.

In article <1992Apr6.235004.1908@midway.uchicago.edu> valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty) writes:
>
>Playing a 5 card major, forcing NT system, what is the arguement for
>reversing the meaning of 1S and 1NT over a 1H opening?
>
>I remember having worked this out some time ago, but now can't quite
>remember the justification for it.  It seems that one of the benefits is
>that it eliminates the "Flannery problem", i.e., what to do is 4-5.

If you are playing Flannery, normally a 1S response shows 5 and a 1NT 
bid is forcing.  By reversing the meanings( having 1NT showing 5S and 
forcing 1 rnd and 1S being an artificial force ) partner can play a
natural 1NT contract and also does not have to bid a fake suit in 
response to 1NT forcing.  Any 2-level bid promises 3.

Just out of curiosity, did you bring this up because of the ACBL considering
to allow this to be included into the GCC?

Tom


-- 
"Sleep is a poor substitute for caffine."|  Tom Carmichael
	- The Wizardry Compiled		 |  tac6189@hertz.njit.edu
-----------------------------------------|  tomc@shock.njit.edu
#include <stddisclamer.h>		 |
From: doug@cm.deakin.OZ.AU (Douglas Newlands)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Bid these hands
Date: 14 Apr 92 00:02:02 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Computing & Mathematics, Deakin University, Australia

In article <1992Apr13.033720.6547@ramon.bgu.ac.il> avir@chen.bgu.ac.il (Avi Roy Shapira) writes:
>Finally there are no good references to the system in English. Probably the
>only source is a pamphlet published by Edgar Kaplan many years ago, which
>is now out of print. If Bob has a better source, I'd appreciate if he will
>publish it here.
>
>Avi

"The Roman Club System of Distributional Bidding" by Belladonna & Avarelli
is the base book but was published in 1957 after 3 world championship wins.
I don't know how you buy a copy , I found one in a library sale for 1 shilling
and 6 pence a great number of years ago.

The two bids may not seem very efficient but they are logically necessary to
fill holes in the one level opening structure.

doug.
From: desj@idacrd.UUCP (David desJardins)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: No problem on this card
Date: 12 Apr 92 03:52:13 GMT
Organization: IDA Center for Communications Research

In article <1992Apr09.190653.19556@eng.umd.edu> tpermutt@eng.umd.edu (Thomas Permutt) writes:
>You hold 7 spades to the K, a club void and the Ace of diamonds, and
>opponents play 5H after vigorous spade bidding by you.  Partner leads
>the Ace of Spades, and 3 to the Q appear in dummy.  What do you do?
>You could dither long enough so that it is clear that you are not
>thinking about whether you have the King or not, and then make a
>suit-preference signal, but then your ethical partner will certainly
>lead the opposite of whatever you signal for.

>I followed with the King, as smoothly as if it were a singleton.

I have no idea what the point of this example is.  Why would you play
the king of spades, which is a signal for diamonds, when you require a
club shift?  Why would it matter if you do it smoothly?  Would
hesitating before playing the king of spades make any conceivable
difference?  (You said you bid spades vigorously, so I doubt that your
partner will play you for a singleton in any case.)

					David desJardins
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
From: sgm@sgfb.ssd.ray.com (Myerson)
Subject: Re: No problem on this card
Organization: Raytheon Company, Portsmouth, RI
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 12:13:43 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.205329.8850@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> jch@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (jeffrey.c.halle) writes:
>From article <1992Apr09.190653.19556@eng.umd.edu>, by tpermutt@eng.umd.edu (Thomas Permutt):
>> In the discussion of hesitating with a singleton at trick 1, some writers
>> have mentioned the possibility of saying something like, "I am thinking
>> about something else."  
>(and lots of other comments by others)
>
>Why not do what I do?  Write on your card, "Third seat always hesitates at
>trick one."  Then always hesitate, whether you have one or ten of the suit.
>You give no information to anyone, and you cannot be accused of coffeehousing.
>If declarer questions your pause, just show him your convention card.

I like this. It's better than my previous response.
Now, where's my convention card?

Steve Myerson (sgm@sgfb.ssd.ray.com)
From: atleung@troy.uucp (27354-leung)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Misalert
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:21:26 GMT
Reply-To: atleung@troy.UUCP ()
Distribution: usa
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ

This is for imp for Flight A Swiss.

My hand (south) is
S  Q 10 8 7 6
H  x
D  x
C  K 10 9 x x x

Partner (North) is the dealer 
    N      E      S     W
   1NT(0)2C(1)   2H(2)  pass
   2S    pass    3C     pass
   3NT   pass    pass   pass

(0) 15-17 HCP
(1) Alert as heart and a minor
(2) Transfer to spade (it was properly alerted)

When I was informed by W that 2C showed heart and an minor (though
he did mention that he was not entirely sure).  I was almost
positive that the minor is a diamond (it couldn't be clubs).  
I sensed a good fit with my partner in the black suits.
Before my partner bided 2S, she examined the opponent's card which
was marked correctly (though I was not aware of it during the entire bidding).

I passed the 3NT because with E holding diamonds and hearts.  There was an
excellent chance that the clubs would run (since E has at most 2 clubs and
W's clubs could be finesse).   

Even with 15 HCP, my partner could have held

S K x
H K Q x x
D K J x x
C Q J x

Even if it goes down, I don't expect to go down more than 1 in 3NT.

Anyway, it turned out that 2C was actually a 1 suiter, and 3NT was
down 5 (she played the hand badly).

My partner's hand
S A x
H A K x x
D J 10 x x x x
C A x

The committee ruled that no injustice has been done in my team.  One member
in the committee said that I (who was the one called director after the
play was over) took a gamble at 3NT, and deservedly going down.  Another
member seconded that I should know 3NT was impossible when I knew my
partner could have at most 17 HCP.  
Since my partner has seen the correct convention card, she was told that
she should have asked the opponents to avoid the confusion.  It turned out
that my partner was never sure about the bidding.  She decided not to clarify 
the bidding to give the defense any information (which I believed was silly).

Question 1
Was my bidding correct based on the information I have given?

Question 2
I had an argument about my partner's opening of 1NT.  I believed that she
should have opened 1D.  Her hand was much better in suit contract.  What
is the field's opinion?

Question 3
What should I have bidded if I was given the correct information?

Question 4
What did you think of the ruling?

Thank you.

PS Constructive criticism, not flames, is welcomed.
From: asingh@egr.duke.edu (Aviral Singh)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Help!
Date: 6 Apr 92 16:35:45 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Duke University EE Dept.; Durham, NC

Hi,
	I am new to this country. I am keenly interested in bridge. Can any of you tell me how to become a member of ABCL and how to be able to participate in local tournaments.
	Also, I would be very willing to play in informal games around this area if somebody is willing to try me as a partner. I would also appreciate getting
to know where to get a convention card of ABCL.
	You can reply to me by posting it in here or by mailing to me at

	as4@hercules.acpub.duke.edu

	Thanks in advance,

	Aviral Singh.
From: eric@pencom.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Some Bidding Problems
Date: 16 Apr 92 23:20:31 GMT
Organization: Pencom Software

In article <1992Apr16.180219.26459@linus.mitre.org> bs@gauss.mitre.org (Robert  
D. Silverman) writes:
> 
> All of these are IMPS, against a HORRIBLE team.
> 
> You hold, none vul.
> 
> J9x
> x
> AKQ8xxx
> QJ
> 
> You LHO Part RHO
> 1D  3C   3H  4C
> 4D  P    4S  P
> ??

Since you are willing to play at the 4 level with a void from partner,
4S is probably a cue-bid.  5D.

> 
> (2) None Vul.
>  
> x
> Q109x
> Qxxx
> Kxxx
> 
> 
> RHO  You  LHO  Part
> 1NT   P    P   6S
> Dble. ??
> 
> I am not joking.
> 
> What has partner got??   Note: You have 2 suited bids available at the
> two level if you feel that is relevent.

Partner has 11 or 12 tricks in spades and another suit and RHO is
doubling out of indignation.

>  
> What do you do??
> 
> (3) All Red:
> 
> Axxxxxx
> Jx
> Qxx
> x
> 
> LHO  You
> 1C    ??

1S.  Just enough high cards to be constructive.

> 
> 
> (4) Vul vs. Not
> 
> AKxx
> AKxxxxx
> J
> x
> 
> 
> Part RHO You LHO
>  1D  P   1H   P
>  1NT P   ??

2S followed by repeated heart bids.  If partner nevers supports
hearts, he can still assume that RKC is for hearts after I rebid them.
With 2 aces and the Queen of hearts I will go to 7.

> 
> (5) None
> 
> 10xx
> Jx
> AKQx
> AQJx
> 
> You  LHO  Partner  RHO
> 1NT   P    3C(1)   4C       (1) A weak, minor two suiter.
> 5C    P    P       6C
> P     6H   P       7H
> ??				Might you double for a diamond lead?

I think they know they are missing 2 aces.  A 7H solo suggests
2 voids and your hand certainly does make that seem possible.
I will pass.

> 
> 
> (6) Vul vs. not
> 
> AKJx
> Qxxx
> AQx
> xx
> 
> 
> You  LHO  Part  RHO
> 1NT  Dble  P    P
> ??

Pass.  I imagine this rest of the field will end up around the
same place.

> 
> I have some stories to relate from these and a few others.
> The stories are Ghastly.

My favorite kind.
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
From: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu (R. Bharat Rao)
Subject: Re: Cheating?
Reply-To: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 16:41:08 GMT

adam@castle.ed.ac.uk (Adam Hamilton) writes:

>In article <1992Apr16.001554.22976@m.cs.uiuc.edu> bharat@cs.uiuc.edu writes:
>:More interesting quandry ...
>:
>:Our opponents sit down and they play Precision or some complex relay
>:system ... it goes 1C(alert)-P-2D(alert)- at this point we request no
>:more Alerts, since its going to help the opponents more... now the
>	In Britain, at least, you may not change your alert/don't alert
>request in the middle of a hand.
The question is not about changing an Alert/No-alert request, but
whether you can ask for an explanation at that point...
Bharat
--
R. Bharat Rao                          E-mail: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu 
AI Group, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
405 N. Matthews, Urbana, IL 61801  (217)-244-1263 (O) 337-6498(H)
Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana
From: eric@pencom.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Reverse Redux
Date: 16 Apr 92 13:07:57 GMT
Organization: Pencom Software

In article <1992Apr15.210325.18054@newshost.lanl.gov> ttw@beta.lanl.gov (Tony  
Warnock) writes:
> What should one bid in the following situation:
>  
>                South     S: KQJx
>                          H: xx
>                          D: xxx
>                          C: xxxx
>  
> The bidding has gone:   North          South
>  
>                         1 club         1 spade
>                         2 hearts         ???
>  
>  
> This is a follow-up to the case where North bid 2 diamonds.

I bid 2NT as an artificial negative, planning to pass 3C.

Playing Standard American, I take immediate preference with 3C.
From: shankar_k@mscf.med.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: A few questions
Date: 7 Apr 92 15:23:07 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania, Med School Computer Facility

Just a few questions for the bridge pundits:


1)  There was some recent discussion on what to lead with three low cards. 

2)  Is there any good book (or any other way) of learning how to play card
combinations? (You know, like "How do I play AQx opposite xxxx for the most
tricks" sort of thing).

3)  I've been told about the "within three if you're non vul, two if you're
vul" rule of thumb for preempts, but I don't understand how this works in
practice, especially at the 3 or higher level.  (I just never preempt :-) )

Is :  QJT9xxx Qx xxx J a good preempt?  At all vulnerabilities?  If not, what
is?

Kalpana SHankar
What about four low cards or more?
From: eric@pencom.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: 1 major - 2N
Date: 16 Apr 92 18:47:49 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Pencom Software

In article <1992Apr16.134128.15614@rayssd.ssd.ray.com> sgm@sgfb.ssd.ray.com  
(Myerson) writes:
> Does anyone know anything about the convention where a
> 2N response to partner's major suit opening shows a
> game-forcing raise? I think opener's next rebid shows
> something about distribution.

The more well-known convention is the "Jacboy 2NT".
1Major-2N Shows 4+ trumps and semi-balanced.

A new suit at the three level is shortness.
A new suit at the four level is a USABLE 5 card suit.
3 of the major suit is a semi-balanced slam try.
4 of the major suit is a minimum semi-balanced hand.
I believe 3NT is a minimum with very good trumps. but this
is open to partnership agreement.
From: bs@gauss.mitre.org (Robert D. Silverman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Fixed
Date: 14 Apr 92 18:59:01 GMT
Organization: Research Computer Facility, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA

In article <1992Apr14.144847.4973@pencom.com> eric@pencom.com writes:
:In article <22267@megatest.UUCP> jao@megatest.UUCP (John Oswalt) writes:
:> The following bidding occured against me by a weak pair
:> in a strong club game:
:> 
:> S	N
:> 
:> 1S	3N(1)
:> 4S	4N
:> 5H(2)	6S
:> 
:> 1) When asked, S said she had no idea what this meant.
:
:When did you ask?  Given the hands in question, you can not
:possibly have had any hand that would have wanted to enter the
:auction.
 
Yup! So the question is: why did you ask? If you were asking to try to
confuse the opponents, that is grossly unethical.

:
:North, upon hearing of North's confusion many have decided to
:take a pot shot.
 
I assume you mean "South's" confusion.

If this is true, this is taking advantage of unauthorized information
and is also grossly unethical.



--
Bob Silverman
These are my opinions and not MITRE's.
Mitre Corporation, Bedford, MA 01730
"You can lead a horse's ass to knowledge, but you can't make him think"
From: graeme@castle.ed.ac.uk (G J Ackland)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Ruling, Please
Date: 9 Apr 92 14:43:35 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University


>> North deals (in a KO) and passes.  East bids 2C, South passes.
>> Now, West asks for a review, and _East_ says "1H-2C-P."

>West's situation is easy.  He has received unauthorized information
>(East's giving the review).  Therefore West must bid as though East
>had opened 2C...

Who has the right to say what the auction was?
Here, north would most likely say "That's wrong, I passed"
East may disagree,  West may agree with east, south with north.  Are
there rules about this?  The tactic of agreeing with partner's version
regardless seems to be a good way to avoid a penalty here.  I seem to
recall it's the same with responses to questions about conventions.  If
you can't remember what you are playing, you wont get penalised if you
claim to be playing whatever partner told the opponents. e.g.

third in hand, you hold xxxxx xxx xxx xx

1nt  X  2c(1) p
2h   p   p    2s
etc

(1) You think this is a weak take out, partner alerts it as Stayman.

When the director comes,  what is the ruling if you say
a)  It should be weak take-out, partner gave misinformation. 
b)  Partner's right, it should be Stayman, but I forgot.
c)  It WAS Stayman.  I was deliberately psyching.
d)  You can't bid 2s after 1N - X - 2c - P - P - P  (and partner holding
      5-2-4-2 backs up your assertion that he never bid 2h)

OK, (d) is rather fanciful in this case.
If you think defence to 1nt*  should be on the convention card, and
you're at fault for not filling it in, apply the same arguments to a
different auction.
                         graeme
From: graeme@castle.ed.ac.uk (G J Ackland)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Rules about psychs?
Keywords: Psychs, artificial bids
Date: 7 Apr 92 14:03:03 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University

In article <davidm.702580090@rutabaga> davidm@rutabaga.Rational.COM (David Moore) writes:
>Is it true that the GCC does not allow weak twos with less than 7 points? 

Reminds me of a jolly time in the States.  First in hand, favourable
(scuse me, favorable) I got xx xxxx Txxxx xx.  At least it wasn't a
Yarborough.  So I open 2H. double, 3H from pard then bid bid bid RKC (0
or 3) 6C double from pard.  Partner cashed AS and a spade, came in with
the AC, gave me a spade ruff and later got his spade king. +800.

D I R E C T O R !!!!

Try as I did, I could not convince the director that I had psyched.  It
was an "understrength weak two" - and illegal.  Zero for us, average
plus for them!!!

Of course, it's really a win for me 'cos I get a story to tell :-)

PS  I've made more tricks with singleton twos (2) than I've held
    Yarboroughs (0).  Is that unusual?

PPS  How do you open KQJT98 765432 - A?  What is par if everyone holds
     this hand (suits cyclically adjusted)?
From: lopez@ils.nwu.edu (Chris Lopez)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Fixed
Date: 13 Apr 92 21:40:46 GMT
Organization: The Institute for the Learning Sciences

jao@megatest.UUCP (John Oswalt) writes:
> The following bidding occured against me by a weak pair
> in a strong club game:
> 
> S	N
> 
> 1S	3N(1)
> 4S	4N
> 5H(2)	6S
> 
> 1) When asked, S said she had no idea what this meant.
> 2) Vanilla Blackwood response, showing 2 aces.
> 
> The hands were:
> 
> 	S KTx
> 	H Kxx
> 	D KQTx
> 	C KTx
> 
> 	S AQxxxx
> 	H AQxx
> 	D xxx
> 	C -
> 
> The ace of diamonds was onside, the jack of diamonds was
> doubleton, and the slam made.
> 
> At first I suspected N of cheating.  But then I applied the
> rule "Never attribute to malace that which can be adequately
> explained by stupidity."  I think that N just wanted to bid
> slam, and thought that 4NT was a magic incantation which must
> be uttered on the way to all slams.
> 
> Comments?
> -- 

Looks screwy to me.  I would assume that (1) was a gambling 3 NT.
4S should have been a correction and signoff.  4NT may have been under the 
mistaken assumption that 4S showed extra values, but how can they justify 
6S knowing that they are missing 2 Aces and not knowing about the club void 
when 5S is still available?


Chris Lopez
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
From: valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty)
Subject: Re: Bid these hands
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 22:54:18 GMT

bs@gauss.mitre.org (Robert D. Silverman) writes:
> 
>1H (1)   1NT(2)
>3C (3)   7NT

>Can anyone else find a shorted auction to 7NT?? (2 bid apiece!!!)

I actually think that we would bid this:

	3N (1)	6N (2)
	7N (3)

1) Solid minor + 1 outside card (A or K)
2) 8 + 4 = 12
3) If he's got 12 w/o the heart Q, surely he has 13 with it.

	W T P ?
****************************************************************************
The Slug		valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu

Be a better psychiatrist and the world will beat a psychopath to your
door.

(THis [sic] message should be assumed to have been smiley captioned for the
humor impaired)
From: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Bob Sloane)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Director calls (was Re: Cheating?)
Date: 17 Apr 92 13:15:33 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <2937@sol.deakin.OZ.AU>, doug@cm.deakin.OZ.AU (Douglas Newlands) writes:
> You can have some fun here tho as well;

How about giving every player with one of those party whistles that
unrolls when blown?  The only way to call a director to the table
would be to blow your whistle.  It might take some of the
confrontational atmosphere out of director calls. :-)
-- 
USmail: Bob Sloane, University of Kansas Computer Center, Lawrence, KS, 66045
E-mail: sloane@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu, sloane@ukanvax.bitnet, AT&T: (913)864-0444