slipped again

One thing I have noticed is that it is very hard to keep posting to this blog!
Whats been happening here? Plenty, busy with the new school year. Would you believe I have been getting ski equipment arranged for this coming season. It seems very early but Ive learned that you have to get to the ski shop this early to get the best (leased) equipment. I want to get the accomodation booked for SunPeaks early this year too, what a fantastic ski resort it is! I can ride to the very top of the mountain and take the 5mile run all the way down - and yes, its a green run, bring on the snow.

Bridge -- I played at a local sectional a few weeks ago, played very well and came in 4th in "D" - very good considering we were a pickup partnership with very different bidding ideas! I love playing in these tournaments.

I have been playing 2/1 for a couple of months now and like it very much. When I say Im playing 2/1 I am playing forcing 1nt over partners 1Major opening, inverted minors
and 2/1 gf. Nothing else. I have also been playing with better partners and it is fantastic knowing that my forcing bids wont be passed and I can stop jumping around when I have a gf hand..lol. My play seems to have improved a LOT - nothing to do with 2/1 of course, Im not sure why it has suddenly improved.

What next? Im looking at adding the next gadget to my CC. I think others have suggested LEBENSOL - I'll have to look back in my notes. I can always work on my counting and hand evaluation anyway. :)

Bill and I are playing at the club tonight, a rare treat.

1M responses - revised

1M:2M “constructive” 7(8)-10 3 or 4card support
1M:1N* 2x:2M Weak 6-10 3(2) card support
1M:1N* 2x:3M Exactly 3 card support, 10-11
1M:3M 10-11 4 card support

I had 1M:3M wrong

I played at the VBC on Sunday with a BBO'er and we came 3rd in A! Im chuffed.
I had a great time and I think my partner did too,
couldnt have asked for a better partner or a more relaxed, fun game.
(Once I got over my first round nerves that is) I want to play more live games.

responding to partners 1M 2/1

So I have started to play 2/1, its funny the experts forget to tell new players the most basic things such as 2/1 is only game forcing after a major opening.
So 1D:2C is not gf.

Starting off with the basics Ive been learning the responses when supporting partners 1M opening.

1M:2M this is what they call “constructive” 8(7)-10 3 card support
1M:1N* 2x:2M Weak 6-10 3(2) card support
1M:1N* 2x:3M Exactly 3 card support, 10-11
1M:3M 6-9 4 card support

What do you do with 10-11 4 card support 2x then support?

Baby steps.

Im off to play at the club today, yipee.

Too much time has elapsed

..since my last post.
I’m not sure where all the time has gone! I’ve been busy with my daughter skii racing and I learned to ski last winter! My poor knees but what a lot of fun, love it. We are hosting 4 international students at the moment and often an extra dog, I have been working a lot with my trainer, focusing on strengthening my knees and dealing with the other aches likely resulting from old motorcycle crashes. Bill has started working day/evening shifts, mainly evenings so that throws everything out.
I am working a little extra at the Homeless Shelter to cover summer but after some changes there Im finding feeding 60 is not the daunting task it was to start with. The crew is fantastic and its much more like fun than work.
Oh and I am providing before and after school care for a friends 2 children. All this keeps me out of a real job but also doesn’t leave much time for bridge and even less to write about it.

I have started to play 2/1 so in my next post I will start some notes.

Slammish with minors

Partner opens 1nt and you have slam interest and 55minors, what are you going to do?

SAYC deals only with slam hands containing 1 minor

1nt:2C
2x :3m

Discussion points

Here's a list of sequences I need to discuss with my p's


1S:2D
2S

1S:2D
2NT

1S:2D
3C

1D 1S
1N 3C


1M (X) 3M
1M (X) 2N

1x (X) XX

Feb24th

Unusual vs. Unusual
Forcing minor raise, criss cross?

Things to think about

"it can be dangerous opening lightish distributional hands when vulnerable"

Dont rebid 5 card minors

Dont cue shortage in suit partner has shown length ! (1st round)

A 2 over a 1 by a passed hand does not promise a rebid
or should it?I think I would like to play that it does promise a rebid. More rules to break, alter and discuss with a partner!