About today’s Bid with the Aces item:Wow! Shape-based discipline, patience, best-description and the importance of balancing in one example. Thanks so much, from a grateful intermediate club player.

Hi Clarksburg,

Your enthusiasm and kind words, I appreciate and certainly wins the day.

Yes, once South decides to pass the first time all those adjectives you use, exactly fit his actions, however, I DO NOT approve of his original pass instead of making a TO double.

My reason is that sometimes, (too often) by the time the bidding gets back to him it will be at too high a level (even the 2 level) for him to risk coming in, and by not doing so, may possibly (probably) have the hand stolen from him. If partner has a decent 5 card unbid suit, and only a few HCP’s, along with a bit of unbalanced distribution, our side should be competing, if for no other reason than to drive the opponents to a higher level, possibly beatable contract.

South’s original pass reminds me of the way high-level bridge used to be, at least played that way by some very good players, but world-wide bidding judgment has proven to me (and for a long time now) that initial positive acts get better results.

Thanks again for writing and keep your inquisitive bridge mind, so that you can decide for yourself which method works.

Thanks for added insight. Is there a limit to how far one should deviate from the old-fashioned requirement for the TO double? If it were Jxx, Kxx, KQxx, KQx is it still TO? Overcall in the 4-card diamonds? If it got to Jxx, Kxx, KQx, KQxx is it then a pass, or does “initial positive act” still rule the day?

On the lesson hand today, why not make a negative double with the south hand? With my partner, the sequence 1C/D-(1H)-1S would promise 5+ spades. Of course, the lesson today is about the play and not the bidding and I would think that playing this from with North as declarer would make little diffrence.

A non-bridge related comment: At least for me the suit symbols have not been appearing in the hand diagrams and bidding lately. The columns posted prior to December 15 have them, but the later ones do not. Makes it hard to read the columns. It could be me and my computer, but that would not explain why they appear on the earlier columns.

I have had the exact same issue with the suits not appearing at the exact same time. For me, they do not show up on an older computer that still uses Internet Explorer 7 so I have been assuming it is related to that.

Hi Clarksburg,

Yes, yes, and yes are the three answers. I would double on the first two and initial action does rule the game of today. The 4 card suit overcall at the 2 level comes way behind the double and pass with either of your examples. Bridge is a bidder’s game, but there is a limit.

Hi Jeff H,

Bidding one spade over an overcall and after partner has opened the bidding usually should show 5, except when one has a big fit (like this example, 5 card support) then I find it better to bid a 4 card major first and support later unless partner shows big support for my suit.

The reason is that my hand goes way up in value offensively, enabling me to start showing my other suit right away, otherwise if I double and LHO then raises or jumps in his partner’s overcall, partner may play me for 4 spades, but a balanced hand outside and not as good support for him as I will probably show him next round.

The result might influence partner toward defense rather than offense, the opposite impression my hand should tend to convey.

Jeff H and Jeff S,

Since my suit symbols do appear, perhaps it is related to the specific computer. At any rate, I am very non computer savvy, so I will refer your comments to the bridge blogging site and get back to you if any information of value appears.

Meanwhile perhaps you can also inquire around. Also, Jeff S may have the answer with his Internet Explorer 7 reason.

Bobby,

A change of subject inspred by a discussion of a Pairs Trials vs Team Trials for the WBF team events.
Why not have a Blue Ribbon Teams as well as a Blue Ribbon Pairs? Players would get their BR qualifiaction noted pairs or teams. Maybe the NA Swiss could convert to a BR Teams.

You may consider my high point in Seattle was bidding slam when the other guy stopped in 2 Hearts as a sign of my overbidding before you reply. At least Shannon gave me a hug.

Bobby,

Two things – wouldn’t the normal bidding sequence go 1C – 1H – X – etc and the contract be played from North rather than South? Of course that might have prevented the posting!

Secondly, the symbols have only recently stopped coming through in your posts. So something has changed within the last week or two to prevent this.

Hi Bill,

Your creative idea of a Blue Ribbon Teams event to go along with the well-known Blue Ribbon Pairs is perhaps a good idea.

However, it could be thought by some that the Vanderbilt in the Spring, the Spingold in the summer, and both the Open Board-a-Match teams and Reisinger as well as the 6 session Open Swiss Teams (mentioned by you) in the fall are enough to satisfy the craving for showing high level team skills throughout the year. Basically all the above events are open to any and all who desire to play, but in reality the entrants tend to be made up of mostly our best and brightest players with a sprinkling of those who, while anxious to learn, do not mind losing early in order to either achieve that playing lesson or to, at the very least, have a hand or two to talk about later.

BTW, a hug from Shannon is well worth whatever the result achieved on the hand which you admittedly overbid in Seattle.

Bobby,

I won 16 IMPS on the overbid. Shannon’s hug is just as valuable. At least she did not punch me this time.

Merry christmas to you and Judy.

Bill

Hi Ian R,

When it is early in the bidding, it is usually a random thing as to which person, for column purposes, North or South, but at the table any of the four, to be the declarer in the most advantageous position. Result of that is usually no or very little factor in bidding choices.

From what I have recently heard, Bridge Blogging has gotten the suit symbol corrected.

Very happy holidays and a great or close to 2012, to everyone.