Hi Bobby,

I don’t know how big the comments field is but any chance you could put the hand and bidding in up front, then we can put in stray thoughts and you can later post the way things actually went? Just a thought.

Regards,

Iain

Hi lain
To quote Aristotle
“Patience is bitter but its fruit is always sweet”
Hope everything gets resolved at the earliest
Regards to you and our Dear Host

I don’t know, Iain. As things are, my analysis and actions are just as good as anyne else’s as things stand.

Bob Lipton

Hi AVRR, Bob,

The column manages to educate (Aristotle!) and amuse even without the bridge hands; some sort of record I suspect.

Regards,

Iain

Hi Iain,

Such as you suggest, I just don’t have anywhere near the right equipment on hand to do anything constructive. Unfortunately, it has always been that way, allowing me (us) no real option, but to sit and wait.

No doubt, what is happening, if only for our personal love for each other,
and for that matter our beloved game, let’s hope the end result will NOT be heartbreaking.

Hi AVRR,

In the next life I will get all of our quotes directly from you, as your choice today, could not be me more appropriate. Much thanks for your hoped for, upbeat message.

Hi Robert,

Bob, our continued experience over so long a time (for a select few) will likely remember (as time goes and has gone, for so many years) will certainly never view any one person or people as better, the same, or God forgive, any less knowledgeable than anyone else, only instead, blending one’s personality with the group in what has always turned out to be (maybe almost) a delightful way.

Let us just hope, (like I am praying) that we are taking just a small break.

Hi Everyone,

At least this outage is allowing us to still communicate. The ones where the page is just….gone…are far worse. No way to talk to anyone, no idea if it will ever come back.

Has anyone been able to track down an email address for the webpage admin? I don’t think anyone here would be disrespectful in emailing them. When something like this happens, I always suspect it is probably an easy fix, but they are unaware there is an issue.

Cheers,

Jeff

Hi Dear Mr Wolff
I am honoured and humbled
Best regards

Hi Jeff,

I did have a contact but haven’t yet tracked it down. I posted it on here some months ago I believe for future use.

Hi Folks,

What about submitting the odd knotty bidding problem for discussion in the meantime? Typical nightmares are of the form 1H (1S) 4H (4S) where you took a decision which misfired badly. WE can still learn from what went wrong.

Regards,

Iain

OK, starter for 10 from the late 1970s. Partner opens 1D, next hand bids 4N (BW presumably), you bid 5S on KJ109xxxxxx xx None x at favourable (Pairs), pard bids 6C and RHO bids 6H. Do you take the save in 6S or not?

Iain

Hi Iain,

What a unicorn hand. Ten spades, can you seriously not be declarer? I think I’d be inclined to pass expecting leftie to hold the AQS (based on his lack of bidding) and hoping to find partner based on his bidding with a spade void. So, lead the KS, hope the AQ show up on the board which gives partner a chance (assuming he really can trump in) to work out that you’d like to see the higher suit returned for your own ruff. It. Just. Might. Work.

Or it just might be a dumb idea on my part as it could easily be that rightie has the void – or both partner AND rightie do. But who really knows? If you bid, maybe you’d just end up goading a 7H “‘save” that makes.

Cheers,

Jeff

In homage to Iain’s, in the 1984 Nationals held in DC (the one when Rosenkranz’ wife was kidnapped!).

Vul – Vul – MPs, you pick up:

10xxxx
KQJ
xxxxx
–

Partner opens 1C (Precision).
RHO overcalls 1H.
Per System, you bid 1S (5 – 8 HCPs and five spades)
LHO bids 4H
Partner bids 6S
[you choke]
RHO doubles (surprising no one)
You Pass {Once the choking subsides]
LHO Passes.
Partner … hesitates long enough for you to realize you just might be at the helm at 6S REdoubled, but passes.

Recapping:

1C – 1H – 1S – 4H
6S – Dbl – All Pass [albeit with a hesitation by partner]

There you are. LHO leads AC.

What does partner put down as Dummy?

Hi Iain,
Perhaps: s. AKxxx, h. void, d. Axx, c. KQ8xx with RHO holding s. QJ9, h. Axxxx, d. KQ, c. 10xx and LHO s. void, h. 10xxxx, d. Jxxxx, c. AJx, partner

Not all slam doubles are lead directing, but rather a command for partner to pass and NOT take the save. Moral: “an extra ace when led, becomes a disgrace”.

I hope I have labeled all four hands, or at least the missing three, correctly! I tried to turn my very old bridge mind into someone much younger.

Hi Folks,

Pass works as pard is 0-1-6-6 and RHO holds A AKQJxxx AKQx x. So a spade is ruffed at T1, D back ruffed, club to the Ace, another D ruff! 6S was bid and declarer misguessed the spades playing to pin the Q and lost 2H and 2S. 4H goes one off on the defence given – shades of old Whist trap hands.

Iain

Hi Jim2,

Well the void H and SAKxxx (or even stronger trumps) are certain r maybe a singleton H, DA(x) and solid clubs although then he might have tried for 7S I suppose. I’m with Bobby here but maybe slightly better clubs or a hole in spade. and (say) KQJxx None Ax AKQxxx.

Regards,

Iain