tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32334760718465443292024-03-08T19:39:09.610+00:00The Rueful RabbitA discussion of the card game - bridge.Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794972139136119870noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-83236836530045280562012-06-18T21:15:00.000+01:002012-06-19T21:35:22.344+01:00An easy 17 IMPsDear Readers,<br />
<br />
The European Bridge Championships is one of the greatest bridge shows on earth. This year its being held in Dublin. Here is a link to the <a href="http://eurobridge.org/competitions/12Dublin/microSite/Results.htm">web page</a>.<br />
<br />
The match of the morning was Italy Vs Israel. Bocchi and Madala were North-South.<br />
<br />
Board 12 gave the Italians an easy 17 IMPs which was gained by a simple<span style="background-color: white;"> agreement for dealing with 2 suiters after a high level pre-empts.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Here is the hand ...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNOG4ThiTmY/T9-HfKElZdI/AAAAAAAACC0/7rFSysJMKtU/s1600/BM.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNOG4ThiTmY/T9-HfKElZdI/AAAAAAAACC0/7rFSysJMKtU/s320/BM.bmp" width="540" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
West opened 5C which was doubled by North. (Same at both tables)<br />
In the Open room, South simply bid 6D which went down due to a nasty break in diamonds.<br />
<br />
I asked Bocchi about this and the agreement is ...<br />
<br />
Madala bid 5nt to show his interest in slam.<br />
Bocchi bid 6C to show a two suited hand and after this they simple bid their suits up the line until they agreed that spades seemed like a reasonable place to play.<br />
<br />
Rueful R.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-60047820595500672382009-08-10T10:55:00.009+01:002009-08-11T10:11:00.979+01:00Hand VisualisationDear Bridge Player,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Setting the scene</span><br />Some months back, I was playing a teams match in a Dublin league with Ireland's top player Tom Hanlon (Kinder). We were up at half time and we were coasting through the 2nd set. This was the final hand. <div><br /></div><br /><div>Vul All</div><div>4th in hand you hold</div><div>♠ AQ</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♥</span> xxx</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♦</span> Kxxx</div><div>♣ AQxx</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="text-align: left; width: 399px; height: 144px; "><tbody></tbody><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; ">The Banker</td><td style="text-align: center; ">Kinder</td><td style="text-align: center; ">The Judge</td><td style="text-align: center; "><b>You</b></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; ">1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♥</span></td><td style="text-align: center; ">Pass</td><td style="text-align: center; ">1♠</td><td style="text-align: center; ">X</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; ">2NT</td><td style="text-align: center; ">3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♦</span></td><td style="text-align: center; ">3♠</td><td style="text-align: center; ">Pass</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; ">3NT</td><td style="text-align: center; ">Pass</td><td style="text-align: center; ">Pass</td><td style="text-align: center; ">X</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; ">Pass</td><td style="text-align: center; ">Pass</td><td style="text-align: center; ">4♠</td><td style="text-align: center; ">All Pass</td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody></table></span></div><div><br /></div><div>You might say that I was a fool for doubling 3NT and a coward for not doubling 4♠.</div><div><br /></div><div>If so,you may be right.</div><div><br /></div><div>I lead the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♦</span>K and The Banker tabled ...</div><div><br /></div><div>♠ x</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♥ </span>AKQxx</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♦ </span>Axx</div><div>♣ KJxx</div><div><br /></div>The Judge won in Dummy dollowed in hand,then he lead a spade to the King and Ace.<div><br /></div><div>What Next?</div><div><div>When I say dummy I was not hopefull. My thinking at the time was - declarer has six or seven spades stiff diamond. The Clubs are onside and he has a source of tricks, let's call it a night. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Lesson</b></div><div>Mental lasiness. Failure to complete the visualising of the hand.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Solution</b></div><div>At this point I ahould bang down the Ace an another club and give him a ruff for the setting trick.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the full hand ...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><table><tbody><tr><td>Board 32<br />Vul All<br />Dealer West</td><td><span style="color:black;">♠</span> xxxx<br /><span style="color:red;">♥</span> xx<br /><span style="color:red;">♦</span> QJxxx<br /><span style="color:black;">♣</span> xx</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><span style="color:black;">♠</span> x<br /><span style="color:red;">♥</span> AKQJx<br /><span style="color:red;">♦</span> Axx<br /><span style="color:black;">♣</span> KJxx</td><td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://vorticity.org.uk/format/images/nesw.gif" /></td><td><span style="color:black;">♠</span> KJT9xx<br /><span style="color:red;">♥</span> xxx<br /><span style="color:red;">♦</span> x<br /><span style="color:black;">♣</span> Txx</td></tr><tr><td></td><td><span style="color:black;">♠</span> AQ<br /><span style="color:red;">♥</span> xxx<br /><span style="color:red;">♦</span> Kxxx<br /><span style="color:black;">♣</span> AQxx</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Kinder is a entertaining guy and he didn't lose his opportunuty ... </div><div>"I expected you to get that."</div><div>How cutting :)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Reflection</b></div><div>My decision to double was probably marginal knowing that we were unlikely to win the auction holding the minors. This goaded Tom to risk life and limb with 3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">♦</span>. This in turn gave me a blueprint of the hand and failed twice to go positive.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>We played well in general and blasted the opposition into outer space and all I did on the way home was kick myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Very Rueful.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-49854921435817771992009-04-24T11:31:00.007+01:002009-04-24T13:31:08.558+01:00Textbook hand; Bidding best forgottenDear Readers,<br /><br />I was playing with some friends on BBO last night when this hand came up ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SfGWAAYYDEI/AAAAAAAAACs/Svi6HzIBcU0/s1600-h/My+hand.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 122px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SfGWAAYYDEI/AAAAAAAAACs/Svi6HzIBcU0/s320/My+hand.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328204761002413122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let me set the scene</span><br />I was Non Vul Vs Vul and the dealer passed and I opened 1 &clubs<br />My right hand opponent is a talented player and bids AGRESSIVELY - or maybe I should say that his hand does not have to perfectly match his bid - there is a fluidity in his game.<br />My pick up partner had shown himself to bid and play well on the previous few hands.<br /><br />Mr Fluid overcalled 2 <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span> (showing a weak hand with a 6 card suit) and partner bid 3NT. Like a Rueful Rabbit trying to wear a Hideous Hog mask I bashed out 6 ♣ which ended the auction.<br /><br />[The more cultured bid is 4 ♣ (which is forcing) but it was late at night and time was of the essence as the leveretts were about to wake up.]<br /><br />Here was the full layout ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SfGe8PePpAI/AAAAAAAAAC0/F0ewJL3xNhk/s1600-h/hand.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SfGe8PePpAI/AAAAAAAAAC0/F0ewJL3xNhk/s320/hand.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328214591938733058" border="0" /></a>Mr Fluid led a heart to the Queen and Ace.<br /><br />I played the ♣ J to the Ace and a ♣ to the king to finesse the diamonds.<br />Cashed the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span> Ace discarding a heart and ruffed a heart. Then I entered dummy with a trump to play a spade towards my hand, playing the 8 when West played low. No matter how the spade honours are distributed, the contract is cold.<br /><br />The holding in spades is quite a well know holding for producing and endplay situation. (It was part of the reason I had confidence in bidding the slam.)<br /><br />Like I said, nothing to fancy merely textbook stuff.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-72395642817366032142009-02-02T16:43:00.005+00:002009-02-02T17:15:26.595+00:00Slam ZoneDear Bridge Player,<br /><br />Fortune favors the brave but it is frequently kind to the foolhardy ... thats me!<br /><br />Here are a few hands from BBO. Playing with Michael McDonagh (Sharkirl)<br /><br /><table class="firmit_template_deal" style="width: 250px;"><tbody><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_info"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Dealer</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">S</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Vul</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">All</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Scoring</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Imp</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Lead</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td"><span style="color:black;">♠</span>4</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T65</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AK98</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AK</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AJ53</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">942</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">8654</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">652</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K8</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><img style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://firmit.awardspace.com/v2/img.php?value=2&dealer=4&vulnerable=3&font=2" /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQ73</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">JT73</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T94</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">96</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">KJ8</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Q4</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">QJ72</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">QT72</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table class="firmit_template_auction"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">West</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">North</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">East</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">South</td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>1</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>1</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>1</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NT</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>2</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>2</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>6</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />2 Clubs was New Minor Forcing - I thought we agreed 2d to be minimum no feature but it showed 5/6 Diamonds. 1370 in (12.5 imps) as trumps and clubs break with the King onside.<br /><br />I didn't apologise because I was playing against a journalist. The fecking Mejia have ruined this country!<br /><br />In this session, we started out with the following hand which set the tone ...<br /><br /><table class="firmit_template_deal" style="width: 250px;"><tbody><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_info"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Dealer</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">N</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Vul</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">-</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Scoring</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Imp</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Lead</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td"><span style="color:black;">♠</span>7</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">3</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AT42</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">54</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQ9852</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AKJT65</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Q2</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">96</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K72</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><img style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://firmit.awardspace.com/v2/img.php?value=2&dealer=2&vulnerable=0&font=2" /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Q98742</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">J96</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">KJ8</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Void</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K753</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQT732</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">J64</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table class="firmit_template_auction"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">West</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">North</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">East</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">South</td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span></span><span style=""> </span><br /></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>1</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>2</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>3</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>4</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>5</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>5</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>6</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-89575707128784299022008-12-31T21:05:00.004+00:002008-12-31T21:55:23.159+00:00Happy New YearDear Readers,<br /><br />Firstly, I want to thank all of you this past year for coming in such numbers an so frequently. Many page loaders come from overseas - I hope you continue to drop by. Needless to say I have web stats on the site and I've been very pleasantly surprised.<br />For stats I use an Irish company - www.statcounter.com<br /><br />There are two reasons for being so slack bridge wise over the last two months - raising my two bunnies with my wonderful wife (lots of fun) and because of work (not always fun).<br /><br />I find it hard to come up with material when I'm not in circulation. The good(?) news is that I'll be returning to the tables on 17th Jan starting the CBAI mens pairs and teams. The womens equivalents are run over the same weekend. (Details on www.CBAI.ie) In the meantime I'll be dropping in to BBO between now and then. (James_H is my username for those who don't know - don't forget to say hello)<br /><br />Here is a situation that occurred a few months ago in the Regent's Sean Stack League.<br />This was the trump suit...<br /><br />(W) AQTxxx opposite (E) 9xx<br /><br />I lead from the short hand and South played the King. Without breaking tempo, I played the trump Ten which scored and the contract came home.<br /><br />I'm not looking for praise, I wan't to alert you to defensive false card.<br /><br />If you can trust my bidding(?), I had shown a 6 card suit so North should have figured out how to play holding Jxx in trumps.<br /><br />Lets replay this suit this time <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span> are South and hold the KJ of trumps - You should play the king and hope West does not give you credit and makes the same play as I did at the table.<br /><br />Happy New Year to you all.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-42159387346255105782008-11-24T22:52:00.002+00:002008-11-24T23:13:29.929+00:00At Long LastDear Bridge Players,<br /><br />I've got two things to tell you, one important, the other not so important.<br /><br />It's with great pleasure that I'm announcing the first publically available <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bridge Hand Database</span>. This is something that I've wanted for years and in the end I had to create it myself.<br /><br />This bridge tool allows you to search through hands played by the world's top experts. It should prove invaluable to system designers who want to copy or build on the best of current expert knowledge.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Whats the web site???</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.bridgehandpro.com">Bridge Hand Pro.com</a></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How does it work? </span><br /><br />You simply register with a Username and Password and your email. An activation link is sent to the same email address which, when confirmed allows you to login and search.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Credit</span><br />I want to pay credit to Fred Gittleman & Bridge Base Online for the data, Richard Pavlicek (for his article on bridge databases) and Nickos Sarantakos (Viewgraph Project)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">End Bit</span><br />Finally, the useless piece of information - My real name!<br />My apologies to all of my friends that I've lied to (saying that I am not the Rabbit) over the last 18 months.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">James Heneghan aka Rueful</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-54805471636743852392008-11-20T22:55:00.003+00:002008-11-20T23:05:48.499+00:00AnnouncementDear Bridge Players,<br /><br />Apologies for my silence over the while. I've been hard at work burrowing for carrots and looking after the family.<br /><br />In my spare time, I've been working on a bridge application. This bridge tool will (to the best of my knowledge) be the worlds first publically available application of its kind.<br /><br />Once launched on my website, I'll take off my rabbit mask.<br /><br />I'll be relying on my followers to beta test and report on bugs etc.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-85261537788140724692008-10-26T19:33:00.004+00:002008-10-27T21:50:03.467+00:00New man in town ...Dear Bridge Players,<br /><br />There is a new player in town! And he has a blog! Any idiot can start a blog but it takes effort, talent and a fresh view to maintain an audience. I enjoy this new one for the quality of the writing and humour. I wish him the very best and I'll be checking in regularly.<br /><br />http://bridg2nowhere.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Here is he raison d'être :<br /><div id="header-wrapper"> <div class="header section" id="header"><div class="widget Header" id="Header1"> <div id="header-inner"> <div class="titlewrapper"> <h1 class="title"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Bridge to Nowhere </span></span></h1> </div> <div style="font-style: italic;" class="descriptionwrapper"> <p class="description"><span>Why should the bridge superstars get all the coverage? Bridge to Nowhere is for all those journeymen in the middle ranks who love the game enough to obsess over it, but at the same time know that all they'll get out of it is joy, laughter and human companionship - not a bad deal, if you ask us!</span></p> </div> </div> </div></div> </div>Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-29977155417688270042008-10-01T23:02:00.002+01:002008-10-01T23:05:26.589+01:00Vitruvian ManDear Bridge Players,<br /><br />Todays I feature another Italian artist at work. Leonardo Cima (nickname 100dog) played this hand on BBO on the 28the Sep 08. He was playing on the Stars team Vs Jimmy Caynes team.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hand:</span><br /><table class="firmit_template_deal" style="width: 250px;"><tbody><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_info"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Dealer</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">S</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Vul</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">-</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Scoring</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Imp</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Lead</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td"><span style="color:red;">♦</span>8</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">KJ87</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T943</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">86</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T76</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">6543</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">5</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">J32</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">98542</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><img style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://firmit.awardspace.com/v2/img.php?%20%20value=2&dealer=4&vulnerable=0&font=2" /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQ9</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AK762</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AKQJ</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T2</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">QJ8</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQT9754</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">3</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bidding:</span><br /><table class="firmit_template_auction"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">West</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">North</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">East</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">South</td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>3</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(221, 0, 0);">X</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>3</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>4</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Play:</span><br />North lead the D8 and South (Jimmy Cayne) won the Ace and switched to his singleton club and<br />all eyes were on on Leonardo. He won the club perforce in dummy and cashed the HA and ruffed a H and finessed with the trump queen.<br /><br />At this point Leonardo realised that the contract was makable. South has 7 diamonds and most likely to have a singleton club. If he holds two trumps, Leanardo was cold for the contract.<br />Accordingly, he cashed the ace of trumps, cashed the HK and two more top clubs, ruffed a h and scored a diamond ruff.<br /><br />The crowd went wild.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-56868461156419209622008-10-01T21:07:00.005+01:002008-10-01T23:15:54.672+01:00Lorenzo The MagnificentThis deal comes from BBO and was played on 28th Sept 2008.<br />It features Lorenzo 'The Magnificent' Lauria who sat North and declared the hand. His partner was Jimmy Cayne the high flying financier who lead Bear Stearns until recently. I always enjoy kibitzing Lauria and he never lets his fans down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hand:</span><br /><br /><table class="firmit_template_deal" style="width: 250px;"><tbody><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_info"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Dealer</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">W</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Vul</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">All</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Scoring</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Imp</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Lead</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td"><span style="color:red;">♥</span>A</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AK652</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">QJ</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQ8</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQ3</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Q98</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">743</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">74</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T9542</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><img style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://firmit.awardspace.com/v2/img.php?value=2&dealer=1&vulnerable=3&font=2" /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">7</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AT985</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K532</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">J86</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">JT43</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K62</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">JT96</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K7</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bidding:</span><br /><table class="firmit_template_auction"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">West</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Lorenzo</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">East</td><td class="firmit_template_auction_th" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jimmy</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>1</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>3</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>4</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>4</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♥</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>4</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NT</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>5</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♣</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>5</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span>5</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">♠</span></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td><td class="firmit_template_auction_td"><span style="color: rgb(0, 85, 0);">p</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Scene:</span><br />Some kibitzers were tickled that the contract would fail because it looks like declarer has to lose a Diamond a Heart and a Spade. In isolation, in a 9 card fit missing the queen, the odds marginally favor dropping the Queen.<br /><br />Needless to say, you would not see this hand unless Lorenzo had the last word.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Play:</span><br />The HA was lead and a heart continued. Lorenzo cashed the SA and played a club to the king, Club to the Ace and ruffed the QC low. Then he cashed the HK, discarding a diamond and finessed in trumps.<br /><br />At this point he has guaranteed the contract. If East wins from Qx of spades, he is endplayed - facing the prospect of giving a ruff-sluff or playing into the AQ of diamonds.<br /><br />Lorenzo Lauria could have played this hand in his sleep such is his skill but I like the aggressive bidding and clever play. His reward? 1 IMP! The opponents bid and made 4 at the other table.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-16073545605546001722008-09-23T22:15:00.005+01:002008-10-01T19:38:21.193+01:00My 543 of trumps were too powerful partner (West)<pre><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is a nice deal from <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >McGloughlin</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I doubt that anyone will believe you that this hand came up last evening. The play</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> was not found by<br />whoever played 6D and the result was I off losing 2 Spades when the</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> left hand opponent held AJ8xx<span style="font-family:monospace;">.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I was looking through my archive of hands that I had experienced when this little</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">gem came up. It arose<br />in one of the Dublin region teams about 2 years ago where I</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> was playing South and defended 7 Clubs<br />scoring a just 500 when a Spade lead allowed</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">declarer shed a Heart but the real drama arose at the<br />other table when after a </span><span style="font-family:arial;">sequence over which a Veil can be drawn they ceclared just 6 Diamonds Red<br />with West </span><span style="font-family:arial;">having bid Clubs to the 5 level</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">6 Diamonds is not a happy resting place but unless your methods are sufficiently </span><span style="font-family:arial;">flexible to permit<br />South to declare it is the only slam that can be made. Hearts</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> fail on Spade Ace and Spade ruff.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Anyway against the slam your right hand opponent leads his Singleton Heart (rather</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">than the Club<br />King) surely seeking a Ruff or some such thing and you win draw two</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> trumps somewhat fortunately<br />dropping the QJ doubleton on your right and ?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Too late you realise that in your haste to extract the Trumps and relieved when they </span><span style="font-family:arial;">split 3/2 with<br />QJ coming down you had played the 2 to the Ace and now the contract</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> is no longer makeable<br />when the Spade Ace beats the Queen (or ducks when you play the</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">King)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Note however the effect of playing the Diamond 9 and 8 to the first two rounds of </span><span style="font-family:arial;">trumps and now<br />you can exit with the trump 2 to the player who started with<span style="font-family:monospace;"> -</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Void x 543 KQJ109xxx </span><br /><br /><table class="firmit_template_deal" style="width: 250px;"><caption class="dealheader">The Deal</caption><tbody><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_info"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Dealer</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">N</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Vul</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">-</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Scoring</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Imp</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Lead</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td"><span style="color:red;">♥</span>x</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Qx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQJ1098xx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">A6</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">A</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">x</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">543</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">KQJ109xxxx</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><img style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 50px; height: 50px;" src="http://firmit.awardspace.com/v2/img.php?value=2&dealer=2&vulnerable=0&font=2" /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AJxxx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">xxx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">QJ</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">532</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><br /></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tbody><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K1098xx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:red;">♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">K109872</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span style="color:black;">♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></pre><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-15222612045789395332008-09-17T13:59:00.001+01:002008-09-17T14:01:48.844+01:00Rueful ResourceDear Bridge Players,<br /><br />If you want to post notification or results of your competition, please email ...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">rabbit.rueful@gmail.com</span><br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-80460665128295064682008-09-08T22:01:00.002+01:002008-09-08T22:05:22.568+01:00Combining Long and Short suit trialsDear Bridge Players,<br /><br />Generally the requirements for a trial over a simple raise is when you have a 5 or 6 loser hand.<br /><br />Typical examples are -<br /><br />1<span style="color:red;">♥</span> - 2<span style="color:red;">♥</span><br /><br />1♠ - 2♠<br /><br />Over 1<span style="color:red;">♥</span> - 2<span style="color:red;">♥</span>, I am going to suggest that you use<br /><br /><pre>2♠ A relay to 2NT - The start of showing a short suit trial<br /> 2NT Relay<br /> 3♣ Short in Clubs<br /> 3<span style="color:red;">♦</span> Short in Diamonds<br /> 3<span style="color:red;">♥</span> Short in Spades<br /><br /> 3<span style="color:red;">♥</span> No interest, bad hand all round<br /> 4<span style="color:red;">♥</span> Will accept all trials, Probable showing Max<br /><br />2NT Help suit trial in Spades<br />3♣ Help suit trial in Clubs<br />3<span style="color:red;">♦</span> Help suit trial in Diamonds<br />3<span style="color:red;">♥</span> Barrage, To play, Extra length, not showing extra.<br /><br /></pre>The same structure applies over 2♠ except 2nt is the relay showing a<br />SST.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-60881524145664088732008-09-05T11:40:00.011+01:002008-09-05T23:22:06.114+01:00Trial Bids<style type="text/css">.nobr br { display: none }</style><br />Dear Bridge Players,<br /><br />Its time for a little theory so today I'll rabbiting on about Trial Bids...<br /><br />Most people know what trial bids are but when I consulted my bridge library and did a web search, none of the sources explained what range of suit holdings are good to initiate a trial bid or what you should accept the try and bid game.<br /><br />Most examples only give idealised LST hands like Kxx opposite AQx. However if you restricted LST to this holding you would rarely use them. My objective is to help partnerships make a decision on what holdings to make these bids.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Definition</span><br />A trial bid is a game invitational sequence (usually in a major) where your partner has limited their hand. It shows a specific range of holdings in that trial suit and asks partner to bid game if they are –<br /><br />A) Maximum for their bidding<br />B) Hold complementary cards in last suit bid.<br /><br />There are two types of trial bids –<br /><br />1) Long Suit Trials (LST) – Where you have 3 or 4 cards in a suit and you are asking partner to accept if that have high cards in that suit to complement you mediocre holding.<br />2) Short Suit Trials (SST) – Where have 1 or 2 cards in a suit and you are asking partner to accept if that have few wasted values in that suit to complement you poor holding. The theory being that if partner’s limited points are not there, they are helping your holdings in other suits.<br /><br /><div class="nobr"><br /><table style="width: 501px; height: 425px;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"> <tbody> <tr><br /> <td style="font-weight: bold;">Holding</td><br /> <td style="font-weight: bold;">Initiate a LST? (Y/N)</td><br /> <td style="font-weight: bold;">Should you Accept LST?</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>xxx(x)</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>Txx(x)</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>Jxx(x)</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>Qxx(x)</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>Kxx(x)</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /> <td>Borderline case</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>Axx(x)</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /> <td>Borderline case</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>JTx(x)</td><br /> <td>Borderline case</td><br /> <td>Borderline case<br /></td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>QTx(x)</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /> <td>Borderline case</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>KTx(x)</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>ATx(x)</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>QJx(x)</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /> <td>Borderline case</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>KJx(x)</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>AJx(x)</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>KQx(x)</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /></tr> <tr><br /> <td>AQx(x)</td><br /> <td>N</td><br /> <td>Y</td><br /></tr> </tbody></table><br /></div><br /><br />You should also accept a LST with a doubleton with 2 of the top 4 honours.<br /><br />Where I say a holding is a borderline case, then it up to you and your partner to decide whether it is OK to include or not. To make trial bids more useful, I’ve included more holding than might be used normally. The reason is that you rarely need 3 losers compressed to no losers. In the play of most hands, reduction to 1.5 losers (out of 3) is enough for practical purposes.<br /><br />SST’s are easy, initiate a SST with a doubleton of singleton (non honours).<br />Accept if you are maximum or hold no values in that suit.<br /><br />Soon, I'll provide some detail on how to combing LST's and SST's into you bidding and the situations you can use it.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rueful.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-46498331039346647912008-09-01T17:19:00.014+01:002008-09-02T14:19:07.459+01:00Trials entry updatePaul Porteous has provided the official list. The schedule is due soon.<br /><br /><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>1.</td> <td>Mary Finn & Cian Holland, Anna Onishuk & Peter Clifford</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td> <td>Peter Pigot & Mark Moran, Terry Walsh & Derek O'Gorman, Ciaran Coyne & Donal MacAonghusa</td></tr><tr><td>3. </td><td>John & Lucy Phelan, Jim Sexton & Jim Doyle</td></tr><tr><td>4. </td><td>Teresa Rigney & Jill Kulchycky, Katherine Lennon & Kathleen Byrne</td></tr><tr> <td>5.</td> <td>Diarmuid Reddan & Louise Mitchell, Bob & Maureen Pattinson</td></tr><tr> <td>6.</td> <td>Brid Kirby & Gerri McMahon, Joan Kenny & Emer Joyce, Carol Ann Cummins & John Noonan</td></tr><tr> <td>7. </td><td>Willem Mevius, James Heneghan, Richard Boyd, Brian Sharkey, Norbert van Workoem & Marcin Rudzinski</td></tr><tr> <td>8. </td><td>Ranald Milne & B J O'Brien, Pat Barry & David Jackson, Another</td></tr><tr> <td>9. </td><td>Tom Hanlon & Hugh McGann, John Carroll & Tommy Garvey, Nick & Adam<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Got a message from Eamon ... fair play to man, he does not mince his words and not afraid to put his name to it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Galligans View ...</span><br /><br />Those poor devils are going to spend two weekends bashing each other so that Team 2 can qualify to play against Team 9.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Galligans Team Analysis</span><br />Team 2 seems to have plenty of latent class in its ranks. I expect they will outlast the beatable Team 8 who will suffer some losses along the way.<br />Team 8 All capable players but their best bridge days are behind them although a rumour of a 5th younger and capable player exists as a possibility among their ranks.<br />Team 3. 2 regular partnerships who don't lose many imps. However both these pairs will have a bad board in every match.<br />Team 1. Cian Holland a hardworking player who has some unused potential still. Peter Clifford a very steady thinking player. Anna Onishuk a fine player but likes the risk a little much for imps bridge. Mary Finn quietly competant. Could place 2nd.<br />Team 2. The class of the field anchored by the recent Galway individual winner. Favourites I expect.However I have reservations about the partnership work this team has done. It could be their undoing. They should use biddingquest.com. Obviously Pigot and Moran are a serious and capable partnership with plenty of exerience.<br />Team 4. An all female team. Jill and Theresa both played Camrose last year. Katherine Lennon has been a stalwart Wexford area player for many years. Kathleen Byrne I don't know so well but this pair played for CBAI a few weeks ago in Malahide versus NIBU.<br />Mid table finish<br />Team 5 I am not making any comment about this team as I am afraid of Louise Mitchel.<br />Team 7 Backboned by the James Heneghan and another I think.This team can take some scalps but a few on the team severely overrate their bridge skills.<br />Team 6. Emer and Joan are doing the most work of any pair in Ireland at the moment. However is it good work? 30 failing putts is not good practice.<br />Brid Kirby has been a capable performer for many years. Gerri McMahon first came on my radar last year and seemed to survive pretty well. Went well in last years Camrose Trials for a long time. All these 4 players are BBO users. John Noonan and Carol Ann Cummins are a regular partnership of many years and are capable of inflicting damage when the wind is blowing well for them.<br /><br />Team 4 to win ...with several crushing wins.<br /><br />Projected placings<br />1. Team 2<br />2. Team 1<br />3. Team 8<br />4. Team 3<br />5. Team 6<br />6-8 Teams 4 ,5 ,7<br /><br />That should drive Team 7 on to greater effort.<br /><br />No offence is intended here.<br />All estimations are based on teams published originally by Rabbit. An extra piece of class on Team 1 might help.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-54446279954656000612008-09-01T01:01:00.000+01:002008-08-30T20:33:56.401+01:00What do you return?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SLmcVoFP-TI/AAAAAAAAAB4/B27SD--8Kyw/s1600-h/hand.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240391536772905266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SLmcVoFP-TI/AAAAAAAAAB4/B27SD--8Kyw/s320/hand.bmp" border="0" /></a><br />Dear Bridge Players,<br /><br /><br />I was watching some trialists the other night on BBO and the following hand croped up.<br /><br />East is an experiended player but didn't get this right. So I suppose the problem is not that easy.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The Bidding</strong><br /><br />S.....W.....N.....E<br />1C...1S....3C...3D<br />4C...P......5C All Pass<br /><br />I really like Easts 3D bid for the lead and indicating Spade support.<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Lead</strong><br /><br />West lead the D6, small, Ace and 7.<br /><br /><strong>The Problem</strong><br />What sould East play next? Spade, Heart, Diamond or a Club?<br />I also need your reasoning and I'll publish best explaination.<br /><br />Email: <a href="mailto:Rabbit.Rueful@gmail.com"><strong>Rabbit.Rueful@gmail.com</strong></a><br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><em>Rueful</em><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-37401984158613481452008-08-26T16:30:00.006+01:002008-08-27T13:24:00.950+01:00Irish Trials NewsDear Bridge Player,<br /><br />After much burrowing for information, I've come up with the following entry list for the Open Camrose Trials. This is not official as I've sourced the names from friends of friends of enemies of friends ...<br /><br />1. Pat Barry & David Jackson, Ranald Milne & B J O’Brien<br />2. John & Lucy Phelan, Jim Doyle & Jim Sexton<br />3. Cian Holland & Mary Finn, Anna Onishuk & Peter Clifford<br />4. Mark Moran & Peter Pigot, Terry Walsh & Derek O’Gorman, Ciaran Coyne & Donal MacAonghusa<br />5. Teresa Rigney & Jill Kulchycky, Katherine Lennon & Kathleen Byrne<br />6. Bob & Maureen Pattinson, Diarmuid Reddan & Louise Mitchell<br />7. Willem Mevius & Norbert van Workoem, Richard Boyd & Brian Sharkey<br />8. Joan Kenny & Emer Joyce, Brid Kirby & Gerri McMahon, Carol Ann Cummins & John Noonan<br />9. Tom Hanlon & Hugh McGann, John Carroll & Tommy Garvey, Nick & Adam<br /><br /><strong>A Controversial View </strong>by Anonymous<br />"A mixed bag" is how one trials commentator put it. He went on to say that "Many players say they are entering for the practise. I don't like this as a reason when it comes to representing your country. It implies that these players care less than those who have expectations of competing. The result of caring less is skewed results. If the IBU/CBAI had PROPERLY stratified competitions during the year there might be less incentive for players to use the Open Trials as a practise session. The IBU/CBAI have no incentive to change this as it means they collect more entry fees and they don't have to go to the trouble of organising a better stratification system."<br /><br /><strong>End Bit</strong><br />Teams 1 through 8 will fight it out over the weekends of 12 and 19th of September. Then the winner of the first 2 weekends have the pleasure of facing team 9 in the final on the 7th November.<br /><br />You will also notice a changed lineup in the Open team playing in Beijing - the O'Briains taking the place of Nick and Adam.<br /><br />Ciaran Coyne is the NPC of the Open team going to Beijing - We note he will be vieing to represent Ireland in the Camrose.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><em>Rueful</em><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-79974229792460034852008-08-06T16:05:00.005+01:002008-08-11T11:10:11.954+01:00Irish Senior practise matchesDear Bridge Player,<br /><br />As you will see from my picture (top left) that I have a magnificent set of ears - What you may not know is that I put them to good use not only at the table but also when I'm sipping my sherry in the bar.<br /><br />Last night I overheard that The Irish senior team (who qualified for Beijing) will be playing some practise matches on BBO over the next few weeks. The first is tomorrow starting about 8 PM (GMT).<br /><br />Senior Lineup :<br />David Jackson - Pat Barry<br />Rex Anderson - Pat McDevitt<br /><br />Their intended victims will be :<br />Terry (Bad Boy) Walsh - Peter (Good Boy) Goodman<br />Michael (Crazy Man) McDonagh - James (The Boy) Heneghan<br /><br />Edit: A member of the public suggested the chalengers nicknames so I was happy to oblidge. I'm sure I'll get others!<br /><br />Not sure how the betting should go ... But John Comyn will probably run a book on it.<br /><br />I've no other details as of yet.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><em>Rueful</em><br /><br />Result: The Senior team handed out a comprenensive thrashing to the youth team.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-6477434058567016942008-07-21T17:15:00.007+01:002008-07-21T20:52:01.017+01:00Rueful HandDear Bridge Players,<br /><br />I thought it was time to show you how my mistakes turn to gold sometimes...<br /><br />Here is a hand from the club a few nights ago. As usual I was playing with the Hideous Hog but this time I was unlucky enough to be declared. The defenders were Karapet on my left and the Unlucky Expert on my left.<br /><br />Here is the hand ...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225556941388985634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SIToWh0RNSI/AAAAAAAAABs/WAZgG2twE1o/s320/hand.bmp" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p>The bidding was simple transfer sequence followed by an invite to game.</p><p>P - (P) - 1NT - (P)</p><p>2D - (P) - 2H - (P)</p><p>2NT - (P) - 3NT Passed out.</p><p>Karapet lead the DT, UL following the 8. I played the H5 from dummy UL played low and I accidently droped the 2 from hand. I waited some time for Karapet to lead but he was just looking at me! Eventually I found out that I had won - Strange! I know from experience that when in luck you continue the same suit. West discarded a couple of black cards which later turned out to be spades.</p><br /><p>I thought the Heart suit was setup so I decided to cash out my DK and run for home and enter dummy on the 3rd round of clubs. Surprisingly UL won and played another diamond followed by the SA. Then he said you had the rest.</p><p>For this 3NT + 1, I got all the matchpoints. I'm not really sure what happened at the other tables. I know the HH was very pleased with events. I went to the bar and rewarded myself with a sherry.</p><p>Have a good game, </p><p><em>Rueful</em><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-91163081764894696562008-07-08T14:24:00.005+01:002008-07-09T12:10:40.528+01:00The Rueful Rabbit is pleased to welcome a new contributor to my Blog from Britain<div align="center">From Our English Correspondent<br /><em>Anthony Woodcutter</em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br />Column á Clef</div><div align="left"><br />“Would the loquacious Lancastrian like to enlighten his country cousins from across the Irish Sea with a column?” emailed the Rueful Rabbit. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">As a strong supporter of building bridges between the Home Nations, I just couldn’t resist, particularly in view of the deleterious impact on Anglo-Irish relations of Ireland’s recent return to the Camrose. In the last three years I have heard more than one English International mutter that it is about time the stupid bloody competition was abolished. Perhaps the Camrose should be replaced by something a little less divisive, such as a qualifier for an all-British Isles Bridge Squad. What could we call such a team? Bionic – Bridge Isles Of the Northern Island Chain? But I expect the Scots would prefer a combination of Team Ireland and Team Scotland, while the Welsh might well decide it is time they learnt to swim!</div><br /><div align="left">Aficionados of my column in the <em>Cablegram</em> will know that I often feature brilliancies by my former bridge partner. What can I do? He sends me so many wonderful hands, and his own paper can’t be expected to publish them all. But to balance the books here is a rare example of blundering by the Big Boy. As I know only too well, even the great and the good can fall from grace. The other players’ names have been disguised to protect the innocent so let’s just say it was a case of Our Kid versus the Wunderkind, the Long Fellow versus the Mick on the Make.</div><div align="left"><br />Mercifully, the bidding is unknown to me. Modern bidding methods leave me as cold as Yorkshire Pudding. Pointless overcalls. Preempts on any five-card suit. Conventions that give the oppo more info than partner. Slam tries on hands that in my day as an International would have barely qualified for a limit-raise. These days you don’t bid what you think you can make but anything that will raise the hacketts of your long-suffering correspondent. In life no good deed goes unpunished; in Bridge no sin goes unrewarded, as the following hand will demonstrate.</div><br /><div align="left">The contract was 7H Doubled, played by South, Wunderkind, in partnership with “Dr Who”. Our Kid, the doubler, was sitting East and was partnered by “Miss Moneypenny”, who led the 3 of trumps. As soon as dummy appeared “Dr Who” immediately announced that he was going to get a drink and, viewing dummy, Our Kid could see why. How many times a week do you find yourself doing that, Whoie boy? I’ll never know how they managed come second at Stratford.<br /><br />This was the hand layout from East’s point of view:<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">North</span><br />AQ102</div><div align="left">A102</div><div align="left">AQ106</div><div align="left">A2<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#3333ff;"> East</span></div><div align="left"> K984</div><div align="left"> J5</div><div align="left"> K9875</div><div align="left"> KQ</div><div align="left"><br />Wunderkind won the first trick in hand and then played the ace and the 2 of spades at which point Our Kid paused for thought. Partner’s play to the first spade indicated four cards in the suit, which meant that Wunderkind had a singleton and was trying to induce the play of the King. But “Miss Moneypenny” loved deceptive plays herself and given Our Kid’s double might have thought she had the luxury of messing about. If so, the boy wonder might have the Jack and was trying to steal a trick. If I play the King, Our Kid must have thought, it will cost a trick if Wunderkind has a singleton spade but it will cost two tricks if I duck and he has Jx because then the King can be trapped by playing the Q10. So the odds favoured playing the King.</div><div align="left"><br />Wunderkind ruffed Our Kid’s King and then played a trump to the Ace of hearts. The Queen of spades quickly followed, declarer discarding a club. Then came the ace and six of diamonds and Our Kid found himself on the horns of the same dilemma. Did declarer have the Jack? Partner’s play to the first diamond trick (the 2) indicated that she had one or three. Wunderkind’s discard of a club rather than a diamond on the spade queen suggested that “Miss Moneypenny” had three diamonds and that playing the King would enable declarer to ruff, cross to dummy with the ace of clubs, drop the Jack of diamonds on the Queen and discard his final losing club on the 10. On the other hand, if declarer has three diamonds there would still be time enough to win a trick in that suit.</div><div align="left"><br />So, going with the odds once again, Our Kid played low, Wunderkind, needless to say, won with the Jack and then played three more rounds of trumps, discarding the Queen and 10 of diamonds. This was the position after 10 tricks:<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">North</span><br />10</div><div align="left">Void</div><div align="left">Void</div><div align="left">A2<br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#3333ff;"> East</span></div><div align="left"> Void</div><div align="left"> Void </div><div align="left"> K </div><div align="left"> KQ<br /><br />Wunderkind led his last trump, “Miss Moneypenny” played the 10 of clubs and declarer discarded the 10 of spades. If Our Kid threw a club the A2 would bring home the bacon and discarding the diamond King would establish declarer’s last diamond. At this point Our Kid’s thoughts must have turned to the post-mortem. What do you call a double deception followed by a double squeeze? A Chump Coup? And what would Wunderkind’s ghostwriter make of this little performance? He could see the hand heading in the next book: “How to Rob Sonone” or maybe something more sardonic: “Finally, after 800 years of hurt…” Worse still, what will the sponsor think?</div><br /><div align="left">For the record the full hand was:<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SHN1MoY3CbI/AAAAAAAAABc/wJjjVFERfsA/s1600-h/hand5.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220645252913105330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SHN1MoY3CbI/AAAAAAAAABc/wJjjVFERfsA/s320/hand5.png" border="0" /></a> <div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">If this hand seems familiar to you, dear reader, it is because it is, and it is not because it has been featured by six other Bridge columnists this week. Bridge Base Online, you see, has a new feature – Feast of Fictional Fun (www.bbo.com/foff.html ) – which allows you to download and play fictional hands from satirical bridge books. I kid you not, and if you don’t believe me you can feck off. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">This particular hand comes from a classic of the genre, but for copyright reasons I am not allowed to identify its source. Amazingly, the play of the hand at the “table” went exactly the same way as in the book! As Terence Reese liked to say, in the Bridge world life often imitates art, especially when you are accused of cheating. Or, as I am fond of saying myself, it’s a case of wheels within wheels within wheels. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-14691534802988673272008-07-01T12:29:00.002+01:002008-07-01T12:37:26.435+01:00Eamon's hands 1 & 2<strong>Hand 1</strong><br /><br />Great, a friendly lead ... I hope I can keep west in lead for the remaining 31 boards in this match!<strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Analysis</strong><br /><br />Unless hearts are 3-3 (very unlikely), you have a heart loser.<br />Our only obsticle is when trumps are not 3-2. If trumps are 5-0, you have no chance. So we must come up with a plan to discard a heard should the 4-1 trump break materialise. <br /><br />The obvious source for a H discard is in clubs. To best use our 3 remaining entries to dummy, we should come to hand withthe DK and bang down the CA. After a diamond to the ace we'll know about trumps. Ruff a club and playthe QD andgive the opponents there trump if they break 4-1.When trumps are 4-1,you will make your contract if clubs are 3-3 or the CK drops doubleton.<br /><br /><strong>BUT WAIT</strong><br />This only works less 50% of the time? Why now go for the best line?<br /><br />Cash the DA and play a heart, if righty ruffs, he ruffs air! Later you re-enter dummy to lead another H up.<br /><br />Agail this relies on a trump break no worse than 4-1<br /><br /><strong>Hand 2</strong><br /><br />Again Mr.Friendly on lead - Has he backed us to win?<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Analysis</strong><br />Win the HK, lead the CA and duck a diamond. This will establish the diamonds while keeping control of clubs. No return can hurt us now. When we cash the CK, we can ditch a spade and run for home.<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><em>Rueful</em><br /><em></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-79944664243618610992008-07-01T11:57:00.004+01:002008-07-01T12:28:19.378+01:00Congratulations to Norway<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SGoQDmjGDfI/AAAAAAAAABM/upSx1NMlXBc/s1600-h/result.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218000772335537650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SGoQDmjGDfI/AAAAAAAAABM/upSx1NMlXBc/s320/result.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Dear Bridge Player,<br /><br />Norway have done the double. After winning the Bermuda Bowl last year, they have followed it up by winning the Europeans. Dislodging the long seated Italians. This is also the first time Norway have won the Euors. What makes this extra special is that only 2 members of the Bermuda team played this time. (Helgemo and Brogeland)<br /><br /><br /><br />More here: <a href="http://www.eurobridge.org/bulletin/08_1%20Pau/pdf/Bul_15.pdf">http://www.eurobridge.org/bulletin/08_1%20Pau/pdf/Bul_15.pdf</a><br /><br />It is remarkable that a country with a population of under 5 million can produce such strength in depth! Also, their youngest menber Espen Lindqvist is only 24!<br /><br /><br />Brogeland and Lindqvist also lead the cross IMPs in Round Robin 2. (However, it is sometimes possible to read too much into that metric.)<br /><p>One further piece of credit to the Norwegians is that their system cards contained some of the best explanations particularly Brogeland/Lindqvist. You can see all system cards here ...</p><p><a href="http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/ebl/2008PauFrance/syscards.asp">http://www.ecatsbridge.com/Events/ebl/2008PauFrance/syscards.asp</a><br /></p><p>The top 6 played will represent Europe in the Bermuda Bowl next year.</p><br />Also of note is that the its the first time since 1993 that Italy have not been on the podium.<br /><br />Because I've had too much time on my paws, I decided to calculate the VP average across the field in Round Robin 2 Versus the top 6 teams ... here are the results.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SGoS0csb8sI/AAAAAAAAABU/nnyBo4zagrE/s1600-h/field.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218003810527212226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SGoS0csb8sI/AAAAAAAAABU/nnyBo4zagrE/s320/field.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p>Thats quite an achievement by Bulgaria and Turkey.</p><p>Have a good game,</p><p><em>Rueful</em><br /><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-92209255414209516182008-06-27T17:08:00.002+01:002008-06-27T17:54:46.637+01:00Have I got news for you?Dear Bridge Player,<br /><br />Major commotion in the European Bridge Championships in Pau.<br />And yet again it involves the Italian squad!<br /><br />Angelini has not played in the Round Robin 2.<br /><br />Here is why .... <a href="http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=26120">http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=26120</a><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Now for the really juicy stuff!</span></strong><br /><br />The RR2 match between Norway and Italy at the Europeans Championships was allegedly unpleasant at times.<br />Here is a Google translation of an article on the NBF website:<a href="http://tinyurl.com/6fcf93" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/6fcf93</a><br /><br />However, remember that<br />-1. This is a literal translation with special Norwegian words even Google can't interpret.<br />-2. This is how it happened as experienced by the Norwegian camp. We have not heard the Italian version.<br /><br />Both these snippets are provided by Roland Wald (BBO viewgraph coordinator)<br /><br />More to follow!<br /><br />Have a good game,<br /><em>Rueful</em><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-13707755698289986892008-06-17T09:11:00.002+01:002008-06-17T09:15:36.285+01:00Irelands ProgressStart day 3, here is the results and line up for the first 19 rounds ...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SFdyTodX8MI/AAAAAAAAABE/TgnMZwFn-RU/s1600-h/results.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212760775308341442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SFdyTodX8MI/AAAAAAAAABE/TgnMZwFn-RU/s320/results.png" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233476071846544329.post-80649377332654764042008-06-11T17:47:00.002+01:002008-06-11T17:55:32.416+01:00Great Expectations<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SFADHb6-cfI/AAAAAAAAAAc/C2WwQP2jOu0/s1600-h/Michael2.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210668195156750834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3zGBVAgwc0I/SFADHb6-cfI/AAAAAAAAAAc/C2WwQP2jOu0/s320/Michael2.png" border="0" /></a> From <em>Michael McGloughlin</em><br /><em></em><br /><br />Some readers will recall this further horror story from one of the National Team events last year. I do not have good memories of it and the reasons will become clear when one reads what happened.<br /><br />With both sides Vulnerable I sat South hand and was contemplating the various bids that I might have were Partner to open I of Minor or I Spade. We had recently added a new feature to our slam bidding ( Exclusion Key Card Blackwood ) and I was wondering whether we might get the chance to show off our new toy but unsurprisingly Hearts were in the action ahead of us with West starting the ball rolling via a Weak 2 Hearts which was Passed back to me. After some thought to weigh up the various possibilities I decided to compete with a Take-out Double (always a bit risky when holding a trump void as became evident very soon<br />Partner holding 7 trumps to the AJ10 sitting over the opener understandably saw no reason to think that he was not in the running to be entering a very substantial penalty against a Doubled Part score holding AJ10xxxx trumps sitting over the bidder even though he was conscious of the fact that the trumps were 6/7/0/0<br /><br />The Club King was led and held the trick after which there was no defence to the contract The Spade switched was won in dummy and declarer wasted little time winning the Ace cashing the Diamond Ace ruffing a Spade crossing to the Diamond King and ruffing a second spade reducing his hand to KQ98 of trumps and three small clubs. All that needed to be done thereafter was await his three further trump tricks with the KQ98 all sure to score as North helplessly ruffed each Club as it was played scoring just 3 low ruffs and his Heart Ace to add to the Club King which won the first trick and entering –670 on the sheet<br /><br />Some readers will no doubt criticise the take-out Double and suggest that a simple 2 S is more descriptive but it seems to me that this is being wise after the event and some will also see that overtaking the Club King with the Ace and giving a ruff suffices to break up the ending and allows the defenders to emerge with 200 + but then there would be no story.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(c) Rueful Rabbit 2009</div>Rueful Rabbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249743953644896133noreply@blogger.com0