Im not bidding hands where the auction starts off 1M:2D correctly. I am sure I am bidding 2M when I should bid 2nt, worried 2nt should be showing extras or my that hand is not balanced.
Paul responded to my previous post on this auction saying that Mike Lawrence recommends 2nt showing 12-14 or 18-19 balanced. That should be simple enough to remember.
So what is ‘balanced’ - any hand without a 6 card suit or a singleton?
5422 with poor clubs I have an easy 2H, is 2nt better with club honors?
4522 I must bid 2nt
Looking at this is makes me realize why I needed to take a lot more care when I’m opening 11counts and I have improved these openings – less influence of a few forum posters!
1m:2N when you have game, unbalanced do you bid 3m or 3nt?
3nt with 2353 and 3m with 2263 perhaps
Ive not been playing having been busy with so much going on this last while including a trip back to New Zealand but I’m often thinking of these auctions, its good to get it down on paper.
I played a tournament with my brother while I was in NZ and the one thing that stood out is that I need to work on my card play, still! I have to shift my focus but there always seems to be one more nuance that keeps me focused on bidding.
I do not know if I have what it takes to play the hands like an expert, it is a demanding game.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
No Fit Jumps!
I've been working a little on endplays using the BridgeMaster deals, Ive been reading a little of Bob Hammans book, At the Table and am enjoying it a lot. Iwas reminded today of what Mike said about not making bids that are likelt to confuse your partner! I did it again, getting too smart.
The latest expert buzz word Fit Jump! So far I am resisting them, its likely the last thing I need to be doing. Its very easy to get caught up in all these sexy gadgets! Perhaps a public statement of my reluctance to delve into them with prevent me from doing so.
I've only recently managed to get splinters sorted out though I am sure I am still over using them. What I had wrong was 1C:1M 4D is not needed for a splinter, 1C:1M 3D
is a splinter here since 1C:1M 2D is a gf reverse. Im still a little worried trying it, I dont think Im the only one thinking a splinter is a jump to 4m. The next thing I need to get straight and make notes on are doubles, redoubles.
My play is improving but my concentration comes and goes. Sometimes I find myself so focused on a particular plan for the next play that I completely forget what has been played beforehand. Tired and stressed I think, I sometimes play when I know darn well I shouldnt be.
The latest expert buzz word Fit Jump! So far I am resisting them, its likely the last thing I need to be doing. Its very easy to get caught up in all these sexy gadgets! Perhaps a public statement of my reluctance to delve into them with prevent me from doing so.
I've only recently managed to get splinters sorted out though I am sure I am still over using them. What I had wrong was 1C:1M 4D is not needed for a splinter, 1C:1M 3D
is a splinter here since 1C:1M 2D is a gf reverse. Im still a little worried trying it, I dont think Im the only one thinking a splinter is a jump to 4m. The next thing I need to get straight and make notes on are doubles, redoubles.
My play is improving but my concentration comes and goes. Sometimes I find myself so focused on a particular plan for the next play that I completely forget what has been played beforehand. Tired and stressed I think, I sometimes play when I know darn well I shouldnt be.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Time Out
Bidding is driving me nuts. I'm putting my bridge bidding on hold until I have a regular partner who wants to work on a set of agreements.
With plenty of work to do on my play I wont be bored! My counting is improving but still needs work. Something new to work on, after Ive gone down in yet another contract my partners will often say, 'you could have made that if you had end played West" I know what an end play is but have not been able to execute one on purpose. I need to get some books and study, play less.
Snow is sparse this year, after a great start and early dump it has fizzled out. Mt Washington race was postponed and Whistler has little snow. Grouse has a lot of snow but it is quite icey, not the best sort of conditions for this ski bunny. Thinking of snow starts me wondering what we will do next year for the 2010 games - rent our house out at exorbitant prices and take off to Hawaii ? We should start making plans.
With plenty of work to do on my play I wont be bored! My counting is improving but still needs work. Something new to work on, after Ive gone down in yet another contract my partners will often say, 'you could have made that if you had end played West" I know what an end play is but have not been able to execute one on purpose. I need to get some books and study, play less.
Snow is sparse this year, after a great start and early dump it has fizzled out. Mt Washington race was postponed and Whistler has little snow. Grouse has a lot of snow but it is quite icey, not the best sort of conditions for this ski bunny. Thinking of snow starts me wondering what we will do next year for the 2010 games - rent our house out at exorbitant prices and take off to Hawaii ? We should start making plans.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Snow
wWe have a lot of snow here in Vancouver! Christmas was a disaster, we had so much snow people could not get to our house, driving was bad and if you did get here there was nowhere to park. Mountains of snow at the side of the road made parking impossible unless you shoveled first. Residents were shoveling a spot and then putting chairs, signs in the parking spot to claim ownership! We could still drive in and out of our car port and we left the Westphalia buried on the street. I love it but I did ache after so much snow shoveling
Skiing is well underway and Jennifer has had 2 races so far, so good. I was a timing official at the first race and attended a ‘level 1’ official course – it is a lot of fun learning about the racing and much more fun than working in the kitchen. Last weekend Jennifer had her first trip and race at Whistler. I think she had a lot of fun, she got a ride in the Peak to Peak (restaurant to restaurant gondola) and came 9th in the speed trap. With 4 or 5 ski clubs there it was a great result for her.
I had my first seasons outing on the bunny hill at Blackcomb and it was great! I am still snow plowing a little but getting much better when there aren’t so many people and crazy snow boarders around. All went very well until then end and one small disaster. On my last run, last slope I saw Bill waiting at the bottom so raised my arms above my head and did a huge whooop, I was feeling good, skiing ok and having a blast. Next minute Im going head over heels ski came off and I crashed into the hill. There is not a lot of soft fluffy snow to break a fall. Ive sprained my wrist, bruised my bum and ache all over now. Far too much exuberance.
My bridge sucks at the moment, enough said.
Skiing is well underway and Jennifer has had 2 races so far, so good. I was a timing official at the first race and attended a ‘level 1’ official course – it is a lot of fun learning about the racing and much more fun than working in the kitchen. Last weekend Jennifer had her first trip and race at Whistler. I think she had a lot of fun, she got a ride in the Peak to Peak (restaurant to restaurant gondola) and came 9th in the speed trap. With 4 or 5 ski clubs there it was a great result for her.
I had my first seasons outing on the bunny hill at Blackcomb and it was great! I am still snow plowing a little but getting much better when there aren’t so many people and crazy snow boarders around. All went very well until then end and one small disaster. On my last run, last slope I saw Bill waiting at the bottom so raised my arms above my head and did a huge whooop, I was feeling good, skiing ok and having a blast. Next minute Im going head over heels ski came off and I crashed into the hill. There is not a lot of soft fluffy snow to break a fall. Ive sprained my wrist, bruised my bum and ache all over now. Far too much exuberance.
My bridge sucks at the moment, enough said.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
adding conventions and other ramblings
This game is incredible and never ceases to amuse, amaze, frustrate me and get my adrenaline going. :)
For the last few months I have been focusing on my card play and judgement rather than trying to understand and add the latest convention to my card. The experts on BBO forums who have long told me to forget fancy conventions, concentrate on getting the basics sorted out and work on my card play are right!
No surprise, I\m enjoying my game a lot more and getting better partners.
Having said that, one convention I am thinking of adding, is Lebensohl – I think Wayne suggested it a while back and my reg BBO partner says that is the next one I should add.
Not related but here is a board I messed up and the subsequent words of advice from my partner:
NV, I held:
QJx
QT9xx
Axx
Kx
RHO opened 3S, I passed, pass, partner doubled – all pass.
quote
" remember this, an important principle: the template hand for a takeout double or reopening is 4441 or something close to it with shortness in opener's suit."
I hesitated on the first pass (TD, don’t shoot me) and was paralyzed on the 2nd, 4Hearts is blatantly obvious now. These hands always seem to trip me up, I double when I shouldnt, I bid when I should double or pass. At least here I think I got the first pass right, I need to study these hands more.
Still waiting for the snow and Christmas is around the corner, now where is that tree.
Back to the dentist on Monday to try another screw in my jaw!
For the last few months I have been focusing on my card play and judgement rather than trying to understand and add the latest convention to my card. The experts on BBO forums who have long told me to forget fancy conventions, concentrate on getting the basics sorted out and work on my card play are right!
No surprise, I\m enjoying my game a lot more and getting better partners.
Having said that, one convention I am thinking of adding, is Lebensohl – I think Wayne suggested it a while back and my reg BBO partner says that is the next one I should add.
Not related but here is a board I messed up and the subsequent words of advice from my partner:
NV, I held:
QJx
QT9xx
Axx
Kx
RHO opened 3S, I passed, pass, partner doubled – all pass.
quote
" remember this, an important principle: the template hand for a takeout double or reopening is 4441 or something close to it with shortness in opener's suit."
I hesitated on the first pass (TD, don’t shoot me) and was paralyzed on the 2nd, 4Hearts is blatantly obvious now. These hands always seem to trip me up, I double when I shouldnt, I bid when I should double or pass. At least here I think I got the first pass right, I need to study these hands more.
Still waiting for the snow and Christmas is around the corner, now where is that tree.
Back to the dentist on Monday to try another screw in my jaw!
Friday, November 14, 2008
1H:2D now what?
A
Txxxx
AKx
QTxx
Holding this hand and with some trepidation you open 1H, what else!
Playing 2/1 partner responds 2D (gf) and you realise that you haven’t discussed continuations in any detail, chose your bid.
2H The hearts give me a headache but I like this bid. It does NOT promise 6 It says whoa partner, I’ve opened on one of my less than fabulous hands. Lets go easy to game, I want to stay out of slam. Of course if partner has a suitable hand they are still free to go slamming but my 2H bid is an early warning.
3D This is ok, support at the cheapest level. Partner has shown 5. Note this is a very different auction to 1H:2C which can be made on xx.
3C I have 54 so it describes shape perfectly but I think it should show a much better hand, one with slam interest and a hand more suitable for NT.
2N Wild horses wouldn’t get me bidding this but I put it in for completeness.
I sent this question to Mike Hargraves who,with his sound advice and kind approach has helped my bridge tremendously.
This is his response;
I agree with the 1H opening. There are two schools of thought on the rebid.
Some would raise to 3D... Doug Fraser, a Grand Life Master and multiple CNTC champion, with whom I play a lot, would raise to 3♦ and think it to be a non-problem. This is within a 2/1 method, btw, which is important.
If not playing 2/1, then the usual approach is that 3♦ is forcing for one round, and hence should promise more than a minimum hand.. altho the 'more' may and often will be in the form of shape rather than hcp.. thus to raise on a minimum requires 4 card support. If playing that method, I would rebid 2♥.
Of course, bridge players being what we are, you will undoubtedly find some who say that you cannot rebid such a suit... and some of them will also say (not on this hand, but if you independently asked them what 3♦ shows) that 3♦ shows extras.. in other words, they will have an incoherent, unplayable set of rules.
And still others will say.. well, bid 3♣ (if any of them approach you...run! Unless they are playing a strong club method, where the 1H bid is limited, they don't know what they are doing)
My own preference is to rebid 2♥ within either a SA or a 2/1 method.. this is the 2nd of the 2 mainstream schools of thought.
Txxxx
AKx
QTxx
Holding this hand and with some trepidation you open 1H, what else!
Playing 2/1 partner responds 2D (gf) and you realise that you haven’t discussed continuations in any detail, chose your bid.
2H The hearts give me a headache but I like this bid. It does NOT promise 6 It says whoa partner, I’ve opened on one of my less than fabulous hands. Lets go easy to game, I want to stay out of slam. Of course if partner has a suitable hand they are still free to go slamming but my 2H bid is an early warning.
3D This is ok, support at the cheapest level. Partner has shown 5. Note this is a very different auction to 1H:2C which can be made on xx.
3C I have 54 so it describes shape perfectly but I think it should show a much better hand, one with slam interest and a hand more suitable for NT.
2N Wild horses wouldn’t get me bidding this but I put it in for completeness.
I sent this question to Mike Hargraves who,with his sound advice and kind approach has helped my bridge tremendously.
This is his response;
I agree with the 1H opening. There are two schools of thought on the rebid.
Some would raise to 3D... Doug Fraser, a Grand Life Master and multiple CNTC champion, with whom I play a lot, would raise to 3♦ and think it to be a non-problem. This is within a 2/1 method, btw, which is important.
If not playing 2/1, then the usual approach is that 3♦ is forcing for one round, and hence should promise more than a minimum hand.. altho the 'more' may and often will be in the form of shape rather than hcp.. thus to raise on a minimum requires 4 card support. If playing that method, I would rebid 2♥.
Of course, bridge players being what we are, you will undoubtedly find some who say that you cannot rebid such a suit... and some of them will also say (not on this hand, but if you independently asked them what 3♦ shows) that 3♦ shows extras.. in other words, they will have an incoherent, unplayable set of rules.
And still others will say.. well, bid 3♣ (if any of them approach you...run! Unless they are playing a strong club method, where the 1H bid is limited, they don't know what they are doing)
My own preference is to rebid 2♥ within either a SA or a 2/1 method.. this is the 2nd of the 2 mainstream schools of thought.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sectional
Well, Bill and I did play in the sectional here last weekend.
Friday night IMP Pairs game was a complete disaster, we came last.
Saturday 9am game was canceled, only 1 other pair showed up. I know bridge players arent morning people but I do think they could make the effort once or twice a year.
Saturday afternoon game we came 4th in our section, the evening game we dropped to 6th. Not great but not bad considering we hadnt played since the last post.
We were playing stock standard SAYC, nothing fancy at all which made for an easy game. I messed up a few hands when I lost track of what was going on, Im not counting consistently. It was ok bridge.
Please DON’T bid 4card suits at the 2 level. Bill responded 2S over opps overcall with 4 and I happily forced to game thinking we had a 9 card fit – bottom board.
On one board we were defending against 3nt when declarer called for a “club” from dummy. Dummy asked “which one”
I should have called the TD right there. Dummy is not permitted to communicate with declarer and should have picked up the lowest one and waited for declarer to correct immediately.
3nt was set if declarer had played low.
My bridge is in limbo and I keep on making some stupid mistakes. I wish I could give this game up but no matter how poorly I play Im still back the next day to try again. The snow will be here soon so I am looking forward to skiing and hopefully getting away from these cards. (dont believe that for one minute - Im hooked)
Friday night IMP Pairs game was a complete disaster, we came last.
Saturday 9am game was canceled, only 1 other pair showed up. I know bridge players arent morning people but I do think they could make the effort once or twice a year.
Saturday afternoon game we came 4th in our section, the evening game we dropped to 6th. Not great but not bad considering we hadnt played since the last post.
We were playing stock standard SAYC, nothing fancy at all which made for an easy game. I messed up a few hands when I lost track of what was going on, Im not counting consistently. It was ok bridge.
Please DON’T bid 4card suits at the 2 level. Bill responded 2S over opps overcall with 4 and I happily forced to game thinking we had a 9 card fit – bottom board.
On one board we were defending against 3nt when declarer called for a “club” from dummy. Dummy asked “which one”
I should have called the TD right there. Dummy is not permitted to communicate with declarer and should have picked up the lowest one and waited for declarer to correct immediately.
3nt was set if declarer had played low.
My bridge is in limbo and I keep on making some stupid mistakes. I wish I could give this game up but no matter how poorly I play Im still back the next day to try again. The snow will be here soon so I am looking forward to skiing and hopefully getting away from these cards. (dont believe that for one minute - Im hooked)
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