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Fireside Chat
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FIRESIDE CHAT NOVEMBER 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome and Announcements
Believer's FireSide Kindling
Bidding with Bridgboy
Fifee's SolidGold
Moogal's FireSide Log
Treble's Table Talk
And Finally Kaltica
=======================================
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hi all!
Welcome to the November, 2003 issue of FireSide
Chat, our monthly newsletter written for and about
our FireSide friends and events.
We hope you enjoy all of this month's articles and
features. Please feel free to write to us with any
comments, questions, ideas, or whatever, that you may
wish to share. This newsletter is for and about you,
and we want you to feel welcome to participate. Just
email Believer at sarastobbe@aol.com or Moogal
at moocake@bellsouth.net
.
A special thanks to all of you who have been sending
us contributions for our "giggle breaks". We appreciate
everything you send, and use as many as we can. Keep
'em coming, please! :-)
You can find current and past issues of this "FireSide
Chat" newsletter posted at our FireSide web site:
http://www.firesides.net/thechat.htm
If, for any reason, you do not wish to receive
these mailings, please write to Believer at
sarastobbe@aol.com to be removed from our mailing
list.
===========================================
CURRENT FIRESIDE SCHEDULE
Day Pacific Time Commentator
MON 11:00 A.M. POOKA
MON 5:00 P.M.* BRIDGBOY
TUE 11:00 A.M. BRIDGBOY
TUE 5:30 P.M. WINTAKA
WED 11:00 A.M. FREDW3
WED 5:30 P.M. DIANEW
THU 11:00 A.M. POOKA
THU 5:30 P.M. WISHTRIK
FRI 11:00 A.M. BLUEBEE
FRI 5:30 P.M. KALTICA
Commentators may change without notice,
according to their availability.
(*starts 1/2 hour earlier on Monday night)
*******************
Although there is no set fee for participating in
these "open to all" sessions, please note that FireSide
Bidding Practice Sessions operate with the support of
those in attendance. For information about how to
become a supporting member, please contact Kaltica at
kaltica@mts.net, Moogal at moocake@bellsouth.net,
or Believer at sarastobbe@aol.com.
Thanks to all of you for supporting the FireSide sessions
in all the many different ways you have of doing so.
We want to thank our commentators for their dedication
and caring. Please, think of them when you are thinking
of taking private lessons, paying a professional to play
tourneys with you, getting involved in a group session
mentoring program... most, if not all, of our commentators
and contributors to this newsletter are available for those
services. Just think how much easier it is to learn
from someone who's already a friend!
*******************
All articles herein (c) 2003 by FireSide Chat.
All rights reserved.
===============================================
BELIEVER'S FIRESIDE KINDLING
============================
Hi :-)
If you ever want to realize just how much you've
learned about bridge, try teaching someone who is
a total beginner at the game. Frank and I have
just started to teach his brother and sister-in-
law, and it's really hard to go back to total
basics and try to just teach them the fundamentals.
Which conventions are among those basics, and when
do you teach them? When do you introduce weak 2's?
How to explain other preemptive bids?
Needless to say, at this point we have 2 confused
wanna-be bridge players!
We're also playing online once or twice a week
with Frank's sister and her husband, they also
are learning the game, but are quite a bit further
along than the others. It's a lot of fun playing
with them, but it's hard sometimes, staying with
the basics and not using many of the conventions
we've all grown to know and love...
We've all agreed on a book to use for basics, and since
Angela and Rich already had it, we are all using "Bridge
for Dummies" as our guideline. Somehow it suits. :-)
It really is fun to see the enthusiasm of these learning
players -- makes the game more fun for us too. You get
so used to folks taking things for granted, or being
grumpy because you didn't make an overtrick, and so on.
It's fun to see how happy someone can be just to make
their bid :-)
Changing the subject, I want to mention how much I am
enjoying OKb's tourney schedule -- it's so easy to play
a tourney now, there's one available at almost any time
you want to play. If you haven't gotten a tourney
membership yet, all you have to do now is renew your
membership and the tourney membership is still free.
Find a partner and try playing in one of the mini's,
they don't last too long and they really are fun!
********************
You can write to Believer (Sara Stobbe) at:
sarastobbe@aol.com
===============================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Luc for this giggle:
A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a
loud pounding on the door. The man gets up and goes to the door
where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking
for a push.
"Not a chance," says the husband, "it is three o'clock in the
morning!" He slams the door and returns to bed. "Who was that?"
asked his wife.
"Just some drunk guy asking for a push," he answers. "Did you
help him?" she asks. "No, I did not, it is three in the morning
and it is pouring out!"
"Well, you have a short memory," says his wife. "Can't you
remember about three months ago when we broke down and those two
guys helped us? I think you should help him, and should be
ashamed of yourself!"
The man does as he is told, gets dressed, and goes out into the
pounding rain. He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you still
there?" "Yes," comes back the answer.
"Do you still need a push?" calls out the husband. "Yes, please!"
comes the reply from the dark.
Where are you?" asks the husband.
"Over here on the swing!" replies the drunk.
=================================================
BIDDING WITH BRIDGBOY
=====================
I am constantly asked for lessons in 2/1 Game Forcing, as that
seems to be the latest craze in bidding. Whatever the hot
system of the week, few people coming to me bother to ask how
good the method is. Is there one biding method that is totally
superior to another? The answer obviously is no, or all the
experts would be flocking to it, trying to get any advantage
they could over their peers. For us, the vast majority,
we need to find a method that fits our liking and answers two
basic questions -- how do we force and how do we invite? Those
are the only two questions you need your bidding methods to
handle!
Whenever I sit down with anyone I just need to know how I can
make them bid again and how can I invite them. As long as my
bidding methods incorporate those two issues I am all set to bid
effectively. So now let us look at this issue a little more
closely and see if we can find an answer.
Any system can get to the best contract when responder has
opening values and partner has opened. It should be easy to
construct an auction that will allow us to decide what the best
final contract should be. The problem hands are those where game
is possible but not guaranteed. If I have a hand in that 10-12
point range and partner has opened, if he has the top of his
minimum range we could make a game with the proper fit. That is
the harder family of hands to deal with, and those are the hands
that will allow us to win many tournaments if we judge them
accurately. Pushing for iffy games that go down more often than
not will not do us well.
Now, I can hear all those 2/1 proponents saying, but we have our
way! We start with 1NT forcing and then invite from there. Yes,
that is fine, but if you think about it you have to respond 1NT
with too many hands which takes away from your constructive
bidding accuracy. Those that play 1NT forcing lose accuracy with
the minor suit rebid because you don't know if partner has only
3 cards in the minor! You may be missing a much better minor
suit fit and have to play in a weak major suit fit only because
you are guessing as to what partner really holds.
for example you hold:
S Q2
H 432
D KJ42
C J872
Partner opens 1S, you respond 1NT and partner bids 2C. Now
you are caught! Do you pass and risk playing J872 across from 543
or correct to 2S and risk partner having a 5 card club suit
and a 9 card minor suit fit! Is this bidding progress?
Next what do you do with the invitational minor or major suit
hands that have good to excellent 6 card suits and yet not enough
to open?
For example you hold:
S 2
H AKQ432
D 432
C 432
OR
S 32
H J32
D KQJ1042
C K2
Both hands, and many like them, have great potential but are
certainly not full opening bids and even if partner opens we can
not guarantee combined game values. We would like to invite
without forcing to game with these, but we also have to be able
to differentiate between these forward going hands and those that
are pure signoffs in our own suit. For example:
S 2
H QJ10942
D KXX
C XXX
We want to play in 2H exclusively as the best option with this
hand and not think partner is going to keep bidding without
substantial extra values.
In my opinion, it is much easier to play any two over one
response as forcing for one round. That allows you to bid at
the two level and still stop below game. That will free up the
auction of 1M-P-1NT into a more well defined structure. This
goes back to my basic questions of how do I force and how do
I invite.
There have to be guidelines in a 2/1 partnership that will allow
for us to make a 2/1 to an opening bid and not have it be
exclusively forcing to game 100% of the time. These clearly
defined auctions will allow us to respond with something other
than 1NT on some hands that do not have trump support for the
major suit opened. Too many hands have to be started with
1H-P-1NT or 1S-P-1NT and that bid is like a black hole in
space -- you never know what is coming out of it!
Playing any two over one response as a total game force is nice
on paper and will relieve the pressure on the partnership when
we have opener across from opener. We do not have to jump and
we can bid knowing we will not be passed in the middle of an
investigation. All these advantages exist and are good, but they
miss the point as to what do we do with these hard to deal with
10-12 point hands. I do play 2/1 game forcing with some players,
but we do have some auctions clearly defined that allow us to
stop below game. More on these in a future article.
********************
You can find Bridgboy (Bob Lavin) doing his FireSide
sessions on Monday evenings at 5:00 p.m., and Tuesdays
at 11:00 a.m. OKbridge time.
Anyone interested in one-on-one lessons on any topic of
the game may contact Bob at bridgboy@charter.net
===================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Wheels for this one:
California Laws
Makes you wonder about what are legislators are
doing: Enjoy
Animals are banned from mating publicly within
1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.
It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game
from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.
No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per
hour.
Nobody is allowed to ride a bicycle in a swimming
pool.
(Baldwin Park)
You are not permitted to wear cowboy boots unless
you already own at least two cows.
(Blythe)
It is illegal to own a green or smelly animal hide.
(Chico)
Detonating a nuclear device within the city limits
results in a $500 fine.
(Chico)
No person may show his or her buttocks on a
playground.
(Hermosa Beach)
It is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep
down Hollywood Boulevard at one time.
(Hollywood)
Drinking intoxicating cement is prohibited.
(Indian Wells)
It is illegal to curse on a mini-golf course.
(Long Beach)
It is illegal! for a man to beat his wife with a
strap wider than 2 inches without her consent.
(Los Angeles)
You may not hunt moths under a street light.
(Los Angeles)
Toads may not be licked.
(Los Angeles)
All persons wishing to keep a rhinoceros as a pet
must obtain a $100 license first.
(Norco)
It is illegal to molest butterflies.
(Pacific Grove)
It is illegal to walk a camel down Palm Canyon
Drive between the hours of four and six PM.
(Palm Springs)
Motor vehicles may not drive on city streets unless
a man with a lantern is walking ahead of it.
(Redland)
The owners of houses with Christmas lights on them
past February second may be fined up to $250.
(San Diego)
Prohibits elephants from strolling down Market
Street unless they are on a leash.
(San Francisco)
It is illegal to wipe one's car with used
underwear.
(San Francisco)
Persons classified as "ugly" may not walk down any
street.
(San Francisco)
=============================================================
FIFEE'S SOLIDGOLD
=================
More Troubles with Doubles - Support Doubles continued
By Patricia Anderson
Last month we discussed Support Doubles. Support Doubles are used
by Opener only when the opponents have interfered after responder
has bid! Opener can show exactly 3 card support for responder's
major by using a support double. Ex:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1C pass 1S 2D
?
Now, because we are using Support Doubles, if opener bids 2S, he
promises 4 card support. If instead opener doubles (Support
Double), it shows exactly 3 card spade support (Responder's
suit). We have turned opponent's bid to our advantage again with
Support Doubles.
Rules:
Support Doubles show exactly 3 card support for Responder's suit.
Support Doubles are made by opener only.
Support Doubles are made only after Responder bids and then
opponents interfere.
Support Doubles are only made through 2S level.
We can use Support Redoubles when the bidding is:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1C pass 1S Double
?
Now Redouble by Opener will show exactly 3 card support for
Responder's Spade suit. If Opener raises to 2S, again he promises
4 card support.
A common error when learning Support Doubles and Redoubles is to
mix up who can make a Support Double or Redouble and when.
Remember our rule, only Opener can make a Support Double or
Redouble and only when Responder has bid a suit and then
opponents interfere.
Support Doubles turn opponent's bids to our advantage, but there
are problems associated with Support Doubles as well. Let's look
at a problem.
You are Not Vulnerable vs Vulnerable and you are Opener and have:
S 7
H AQT8
D A85
C AQJ74
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1C pass 1S 2H
?
You want to penalize the 2H call! You cannot double because it
shows 3 card support for partner.
So we have a rule:
If Opener passes when he could have made a support double, and
next opponent passes, then Responder must double with any hand up
to a hand which has slam interest. Even the weakest hand!
Trust Opener to take the double out if he does not have a Heart
stack! Opener could be passing because he has a minimum and no 3
card support for Spades. If that is the case, Opener will bid
again after the double. This is a great spot for partnership
trust! You must not forget this auction if you are playing
support doubles.
Take this quiz and when you make 100% correct, then you are ready
for support doubles!
1. You are Vulnerable vs Vulnerable, you are Opener and hold:
S AT5
H K83
D 63
C KQJT43
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1C pass 1S 2H
?
Opener should bid: ________
2. You are Not Vulnerable vs Not Vulnerable, you are Opener and
hold:
S JT64
H KQ6
D AQ876
C Q
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1D pass 1S 2H
?
Opener should bid: _______
3. You are Not Vulnerable vs Not Vulnerable, you are Opener and
hold:
S JT64
H KQ6
D AQ876
C Q
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1D pass 1H 1S
?
Opener should bid: _______
4. You are Not Vulnerable vs Vulnerable, you are Opener and hold:
S 3
H A8
D AQT76
C KJT87
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1D pass 1S 2C
?
Opener should bid: _______
5. You are Not Vulnerable vs Vulnerable, you are Opener and hold:
S 2
H AQJ9
D K63
C AK865
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1C pass 1S 2H
?
Opener should bid: _______
6. You are Not Vulnerable vs Not Vulnerable, you are Opener and
hold:
S KJ
H J87
D AQT76
C KT3
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1D pass 1S 2H
?
Opener should bid: ______
7. You are Vulnerable vs Not Vulnerable, you are Opener and hold:
S AT84
H J87
D 3
C AQJ63
The bidding proceeds:
Opener Opp Responder Opp
1C pass 1H 2NT
?
Opener should bid: ______
Send your answers to the bidding quiz and reasons why you made
these bids to andersonscorner@charter.net. I will be happy to
respond and discuss your bids with you.
Good luck at the tables :)
==============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to BobW for these:
Laws of Life
Murphy's First Law for Wives: If you ask your husband to pick up
five items at the store and then you add one more as an
afterthought, he will forget two of the first five.
Kauffman's Paradox of the Corporation: The less important you
are to the corporation, the more your tardiness or absence is
noticed.
The Salary Axiom: The pay raise is just large enough to increase
your taxes and just small enough to have no effect on your
take-home pay.
Miller's Law of Insurance: Insurance covers everything except
what happens.
First Law of Living: As soon as you start doing what you always
wanted to be doing, you'll want to be doing something else.
Weiner's Law of Libraries: There are no answers, only
cross-references.
Isaac's Strange Rule of Staleness: Any food that starts out hard
will soften when stale. Any food that starts out soft will
harden when stale.
The Grocery Bag Law: The candy bar you planned to eat on the way
home from the market is always hidden at the bottom of the
grocery bag.
Lampner's Law of Employment: When leaving work late, you will go
unnoticed. When you leave work early, you will meet the boss in
the parking lot.
===========================================================
MOOGAL'S FIRESIDE LOG
======================
FIRESIDE NEWS
Sometimes we have to cancel a Fireside session at the
last minute, and really no way to let people know.
So, if you don't see a Fireside table, check the
'stats' for BELIEVER and MOOGAL -- we will put the
relevant information there.
We know there will be cancellations during the
New Orleans Nationals -- please check there
for the schedule later this month.
Thanks for your understanding -- we do our best to
cover every session. Sometimes it just isn't
possible.
******
My email address has changed -- please make a note of the
new one:
moocake@bellsouth.net
HOWEVER -- Bellsouth will not let me send out an email to
more than 25 people at once. So I cannot use Bellsouth
for the Mentor Cup emails -- those will change also, but
to:
firesider@aol.com
So, use moocake@bellsouth.net for anything but Mentor
Cup business. I apologize for this complexity, but I have
been having problems with missing mail on my old email
address, and am trying to get this all sorted out.
****************************************************************
OKB Tourneys
Well done to all our Fireside friends who excelled in
the tourneys this past month!!
Sun Oct 12 21:00 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 Grommet_/jw7 69.40 12
Mon Oct 13 06:00 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 queenhrt/smilee 2.47 12
Wed Oct 15 17:30 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 ask1/karljk 3.65 12
Sun Oct 19 06:00 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 fifee/marvind 74.01 12
Thu Oct 23 14:00 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 Kaltica/moogal 68.44 12
Sat Oct 25 19:00 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 tuna/wyp 4.10 15
There are now 12 tourneys a day, not possible for me
to check each one....so if you win a tourney, let me
know! We want everyone's name up in lights!
****************************************************************
NOVICE MENTOR TOURNEYS
Congrats to our winners of the two Novice-Mentor tourneys in
October.
And well done to all our top finishers:
Thu Oct 9 18:00 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 chy1/maureen1 69.18 18
2 fifee/taxlady 61.49 20
3 claire/HelenT 59.46 20
4 bobsmith/BridgBoi 52.68 20
5 gpark/Sage 52.44 20
6 oliviah/paige_R 50.20 18
Sat Oct 18 12:00 2003
Rank Team Score Boards
1 bvb/helgee 65.58 20
2 andreado/murad 65.54 20
3 Kaltica/Tara 57.83 20
4 Fleurene/lee_g 55.79 18
5 buzzlevi/juliebt 51.04 20
6 marion/mmoti 50.56 18
****************************************************************
FIRESIDE'S MENTOR CUP GAME
Our September winners are:
10-26-2003 Team BELIEVER: Believer, CaptHook, Petunia & Hasty
10-12-2003 Team ANDRE55: Andre55, JanetE, Tara & Hoki
Visit our website at www.firesides.net/mtc.htm for info and
lists of all our top placing stars. To get on the email reminder
list for these games, contact us at firesider@aol.com - all
welcome!
****************************************************************
We are learning from a Bridge Bulletin STAR!
Out of all the bridge teachers around the country, the ACBL
Bridge Bulletin saw fit to feature our own Bob Lavin
(BRIDGBOY)... and a fine choice it is -- I know any of us
who have attended his Fireside sessions over the years would
agree!
The write-up on how he progressed from having to search for the
on-off button on his computer, to logging over *800* on-line
lessons last year with students from all over the world, includes
a great picture of Bob with one of his prize students, PATRICIA.
Make sure you check this out on page PB-7!
****************************************************************
A few months back, Ben (BENSON), a loyal Fireside Chat
supporter, sent in birthday greetings to his partner, Albert
(ALBERTB) on Albert's 88th birthday.
Now, he sent me this, which is just too wonderful not to
print here:
You printed the facts about my partner AlbertB celebrating his
88th birthday and a little of his history. Well, here is another
"adventure" that he had.
BACKGROUND: Like I just said, he is 88 years old
(birthday:4/4/15) and an EXCELLENT bridge player. Been my
bridge partner on OKB for 2 or 3 years -- Lucky me!
Anyhow, Al lives in Wisconsin. He has one son who lives in
Colorado, and who he, occasionally, DRIVES out to visit. He
just came back from a week's visit -- and aside from fishing,
playing golf and getting his fill of "Rocky Mountain Oysters",
he went to a tavern with his son and....RODE A MECHANICAL
BUCKING BULL!! When I "gave him the devil" for doing that
at his age (remember, he's 88 years "YOUNG" LOL) because
he might have fallen off and broken a hip or something, he
said that they put huge cushions on the floor. When
I asked him how he did, he answered "I hung on, like crazy,
with my arms wrapped around the horses neck....But, I HUNG
ON!!"
What a man!!.....BEN (BENSON)
Thanks, Ben, I suspect you made us all smile today!
****************************************************************
Another ANGEL we all cheer!
The Angelfish for November is RAIJA, an ex-Fireside commentator!
Here is what Tuna had to say in the November Spectator:
Our Angelfish for November is Raija Reisig of Florida, USA. Her
husband "Pomo" was a previous Angelfish himself, so we can only
assume it is infectious!
Several people nominated Raija. Clearly she has a well deserved
and adoring fan-club!:
"Such a sweetheart......good to all people"
"The classy bridge player on OK"
"Always willing to share her bridge knowledge, she is very highly
regarded on OKb"
"Everything you would want from an online bridge player, helping
one and all, gracious, impeccable ethics."
"One of the most principled players I have ever met. She will
never take advantage of her opponents and will always give them
undos whenever asked. Kind and friendly to everybody and I can
think of no one more deserving of this award."
"The most polite and delightful tablemate you would ever hope
for".
"One of the nicest people on OKbridge. Always a friendly
welcome. Never a bad thing to say about anybody. I have
played with her a few times and enjoyed those occasions
immensely."
Note of interest: While kibitzing on OKb many years ago Raija
met Pomo, who was practicing with Barnet Shenkin. From then on
there was no looking back; dating, marriage and even playing
bridge together!
*****
I'd also like to commend two of our friends for making the
nominee list: Bob (GLYDER22) and Guy (VOX).
****************************************************************
Remember that time you played on OKB and were made to feel
like a complete doofus? I know I do, and I remember how badly
it hurt. I read something recently which I wanted to share
with you.
Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles have
found a physiological basis for social pain by monitoring the
brains of people who thought they had been maliciously
excluded from a computer game by other players. The shock and
distress of this rejection registered in the same part of the
brain that also responds to physical pain. In other words,
those stinging "why's" or "????" really did hurt.
The study suggests that the need for social inclusiveness is a
deep-seated part of what it means to be human, and that the
need to be accepted as part of a social group is as important
to humans as avoiding other types of pain.
Maybe this is part of why we all love Fireside so much. :)
****************************************************************
Do you enjoy jigsaw puzzles? Have you ever tried doing them
on-line? It's fun!
If you would like to give this a whirl, I'd like to suggest
the sites created by Dotty Storer (DottyS -- who has recently
resigned her OKB account as she is too busy with her sites.
We miss you Dotty!)
Take a look at:
http://www.jigcardgallery.com/
http://www.dottysvirtualjigsaws.com/
There are plenty of free jigsaws to play, changing daily.
Plus, the beautiful photos on which the puzzles are based
were taken by Dotty herself!
We hope to see you back on OKB, Dotty, and happy jigsawing!
****************************************************************
Upcoming KALEIDOSCOPE Series Schedule
Wed Nov 5 8AM Kaleidoscope #1: Bidding Light
Thu Nov 6 8AM Kaleidoscope #2: Maximum Flexibility
Wed Nov 12 8AM Kaleidoscope #3: Defensive Doubles
Thu Nov 13 8AM Kaleidoscope #4: Law of Total Tricks
Wed Nov 19 8AM Kaleidoscope #5: Squeezes - Part I
Thu Nov 20 8AM Kaleidoscope #5: Squeezes - Part II
Wed Nov 26 8AM Kaleidoscope #6: IMPs vs MPs
ALL are welcome!
ALL TIMES are PACIFIC !
For more information, Contact Colin at kaltica@mts.net
********************************************************
Have you missed Colin at the Saturday morning 5th Chair SAYC
team games? Well, they have coaxed him back -- no more sleeping
in on Saturdays for him! (Colin's schedule varies a little from
the rest of us -- many days I can chat with him before I go to
work as he is just heading to bed!)
So novices and intermediates, look for him and the other
dedicated commentators on Saturdays at 8:00 AM OKB time.
The game will be eight boards and all will be accommodated,
if not for all 8 hands then at least for 4.
****************************************************************
Our friend PASCHA is looking ahead to the Reno Nationals next
March 18-28, 2004. He'd like to find a compatible partner
here, so as to avoid the partnership desk -- like many of us
on-line players, the lack of face-to-face ACBL masterpoints
will hinder finding a suitable partner at his level.
He'd love to find someone to practice with -- maybe including
some coaching at Fireside! -- in order to work out a CC ahead of
time.
He's a true gentleman -- contact him at khussain@calweb.com
P.S. If anyone else would like to 'advertise' here, drop me a
note at moocake@bellsouth.net
****************************************************************
Big Brother Is Watching by Richard Pavlicek
Will the Ministry of Truth be impressed with your performance?
Or does anyone really care? Find out in this new bidding poll
open to all bridge players. Just click a checkbox next to the
call you prefer on six problems from a past tournament. As a
side challenge, you're invited to guess when and where the
tournament was held. Try it! It's fun.
http://www.rpbridge.net/7y57.htm
Results of the October play contest "The House on Phantom Lane"
(ending October 31) will be posted November 3.
Contest/Quiz: http://www.rpbridge.net/7x49.htm
Analyses: http://www.rpbridge.net/7x56.htm
Scores: http://www.rpbridge.net/7x55.htm
Overall: http://www.rpbridge.net/7v97.htm
Bot Results: http://www.rpbridge.net/7x97.htm
Or try this little word quiz:
What adjective, when used pertaining to bridge, has a meaning
opposite to its normal English meaning?
Answer at end of the column.
****************************************************************
Some of us will be heading to New Orleans this month for the
Nationals. I'll be there the first Saturday and Sunday as
will Eric (ETSAND)...so make sure you look for us if you are
there! I'd love to try to get together for dinner one of
those nights if someone has a suggestion for a place close to
the site for a gathering spot -- and maybe we can spread the
word. I'll be staying at the Marriott if you want to get in
touch with me there.
Have a good month, and Happy Thanksgiving to our US friends.
Hugs.....Janice
**********
Answer to word quiz:
Conventional! In bridge, a conventional bid is one with an
unusual or nonstandard meaning. Compare this with its non-bridge
usage, such as "conventional manner" or "conventional warfare,"
where it means usual or standard.
****************************************************************
While we list the lessons offered by the commentators who
write for The Chat, we want to note that our other
commentators also give lessons in most shapes and
sizes....mentoring games, tourney play, partnership coaching,
just about whatever type of lesson you could envision.
Please feel free to contact any of them for lessons:
Colin/Kaltica kaltica@mts.net
Bill/Wintaka btreble@shaw.ca
Lynn/Wishtrik lynn@lynndeas.com
Dann/Pooka pspeard@telusplanet.net
Bob/Bridgboy bridgboy@charter.net
Diane/DianeW diane@walkersweb.org
Bernard/Bluebee Bernardh@btinternet.com
Fred/FredW3 Please msg on OKB
The lessons can be more affordable than you might
think, especially mentoring games. We think our
commentators give you your money's worth when you
chose private lessons, and they really value your
business. Maybe you can hint to a loved one what
you would like for your next birthday!
***********************************************************
We know that it isn't always easy to find a 'friendly' game.
We hope this new site will be a plus in your OKB experience
by helping our friends schedule games with each other.
Visit:
http://www.firesides.net/playdate.htm
and follow the directions to set up a table others can join, or
to join a game someone else has scheduled. You'll receive emails
notifying you as others join the same games.
If you wish to reserve a seat in one of the listed mentoring
games, which are supported by the people attending, we
suggest you do so, and also contact the mentoring commentator
for info.
We have tested this site, but we won't be surprised to hear
of a bug or two. Please let us know at kaltica@mts.net if
you encounter any problems serving, joining, or canceling a
game, or if you have any suggestions.
Have fun!
********************
Have a comment you'd like to make about the FireSide program?
An event or announcement you'd like to share with the rest of
us? A question you'd like answered? Here's a great place for
us to visit every day and keep up with each other:
http://www.firesides.net/chatline.htm
********************
Can't remember if this is a Mentor Cup week or when the next
Fireside session is? Get the complete schedule of events at:
www.firesides.net/whatsup.htm
Bookmark this page, and check back often. You don't want to
miss anything!
For those of you who use a credit card to support Fireside,
it's easy now! Go to:
www.firesides.net/support.htm
*********************
FIRESIDE UTILITY SITES
http://www.firesides.net/checker.htm
http://www.firesides.net/dealhand.htm
********************
And if you haven't had a chance to check them out yet,
here are some links to some of the quizzes that Colin has
developed to enlighten us:
www.firesides.net/staymantest.htm
www.firesides.net/sayctest.htm
www.firesides.net/sarctest.htm
www.firesides.net/spectrumtest.htm
www.firesides.net/bidstest.htm
www.firesides/net/IGITSAP.htm
(Note that IGITSAP must be in CAPS.)
Give them a try! They are fun and instructive.
**********************************************************
November Events: (All times Pacific)
===============================
NOVICE/MENTOR TOURNEY:
Thursday, November 13, 6:00 P.M. and Saturday,
November 15, at 12:00 P.M. A low-key introduction
to the tourney experience, sponsored by Fifth Chair...
see www.fifthchair.org for more info on this and
their other services, including getting a mentor.
FIRESIDE MENTOR CUP TEAM GAME:
Sundays, 5:00 P.M. November 9 & 30.
See www.firesides.net/mtc.htm for info and lists
of past winners. To get on the mailing list for
this game, email me at firesider@aol.com
.
OKSCRIPT SEMINAR:
OKScript seminars are held as demand warrants.
Email Kaltica to schedule a session, usually available
on the same Sunday as the Mentor Cup Game, at 2:30 p.m.
OKScript is an add-on program that saves you many
keystrokes while playing on OKB by sending
prepared text to the table, opps, or lobby at the
push of a button. Try to download the program BEFORE
the seminar by going to www.firesides.net/okscript.htm.
For more information, email Colin at kaltica@mts.net.
FIFTH CHAIR INSTRUCTIONAL EVENTS:
=================================
Interested in getting a mentor to play with you periodically
in your learning of this wonderful game? Please contact
tarsh1@mindspring.com and ask for a mentor.
SAYC Novice Team Game:
Saturdays, at 8:00 a.m. PACIFIC. Newcomers very
welcome! In addition to the team game, there will be
an open table for those waiting to join the team game.
This table will also have a commentator.
2/1 Team Game for intermediate players:
Saturdays, 1:30 p.m. Pacific. Novices are welcome in
spectator mode.
Look for the words FIFTH CHAIR beside the server's name,
in the table notes, to attend either of these sessions
You can also go to the Fifth Chair Foundation webpage:
www.fifthchair.org if you have any bidding questions.
After clicking on the webpage, find the Ask Anything section.
Write an email to Lucy, and she will be most happy to answer
your questions.
OKbridge offers us an email discussion opportunity,
the Discuss List. You can join that list by emailing them
at Discuss-Request@okbridge.com and put the word 'subscribe'
in the subject line. You can also participate in the
discussions via the OKbridge web site now, just go to the
members area at www.okbridge.com and you'll find the Discuss
List there at the bottom of your opening page.
********************
Moogal (Janice Kofman) stays busy collecting all sorts
of news about our FireSide family members to share with us.
Please help her out by emailing her any news or stories you
are willing to share with the group.
Janice's email address is moocake@bellsouth.net
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Benson for these, too!
English Is Grand
On a California freeway:
Fine for Littering
In the window of an Atlanta clothing store:
Sid's Pants is Open
On the wall of a British Columbia cleaning service:
Able to Do the Worst Possible Job
In a New York jewelry store:
Genuine Fauz Pearls
In a Boston fast-food parking lot:
Parking for Drive-Through Customers Only
Billboard on Florida highway:
If You Can't Read, We Can Help
On the Triborough Bridge in New York:
In Event of Air Attack Drive Off Bridge
On a Lockhart, Texas, gas station and minimart:
We're out of Rolaids, but we've got gas.
At the basketball court in a Gastonton, North Carolina, YMCA:
Anyone caught hanging from the rim will be suspended
On the door of an Ellsworth, Maine, restaurant:
The Indian Trading Post will be closed for Yom Kippur
In a Grand Rapids restaurant:
Half baked chicken
In a Dayton barbershop:
During vacation of owner, a competent hair stylist will be here
On a Jacksonwille, Florida, bookstore:
Rare, out-of-print, and nonexistent books
On a library in Marlboro, New Hampshire, honoring Robert Frost:
Frost Free Library
========================================================
TREBLE'S TABLE TALK
===================
The Pitfalls of "Expert" Bridge
In my bridge infancy, one of the players that made an
indelible first impression on me was David Sokolow. It was
mostly because he used to beat me like a drum, but there was
more to it than that. Whereas a lot of the top experts were
spicing up their bidding systems with the newest flavour in
conventions, Dave would cling to prehistoric SAYC. His
compatriots would pontificate on the elegant sequence, replete
with asking bids that they had to reach the cold 6S, and he
would respond, "That's great, but it just went 1S:6S at our
table."
Just this summer, Dave played on our team for the Canadian
National Teams Championships (CNTCs) and despite not
playing more than a handful of times a year, STILL played
circles around guys that live and breathe the game. He is, in
short, a natural cardplayer whose analysis is brilliant and
incisive, not mincing words at all. And most of all, his
approach to the game is straight-line, bidding aggressively
and directly rather than taking the long, meandering path..
Dave and I have a healthy and mutual respect, and he's often
gently admonished me for creating a bewildering labyrinth of a
system. "Treble" he says, "For as long as I live, you'll
always be chasing rainbows instead of just reducing it to
basics and letting your ability do the talking." Dave always
scoffs at the frequent and injudicious use of "science" and
lays the blame for my heresy at the doorstep of Colin
"Kaltica" Ward, who he regards as the serpent in my Garden of
Eden.
In the last month, a few hands have cropped up that would have
Mr. Sokolow shaking his head with disbelief, as the slam
bidding judgment was, to be quite blunt, execrable. We start
off with Exhibit #1 for the prosecution:
East: S- Q109xx H- KJxx D- A10 C- A10
West: S-Kxxx H- Axx D- KQJx C-Jx
E-W were playing a 2/1 system with lots of toys, and the
auction started benignly but gained momentum until it steamed
along like a runaway locomotive:
East West
1S 2D
2H 2S
3D 3H
4C 4D
4H 5S
6S pass
East's 5S was asking for good trumps, and was so interpreted
by opener. On the marked club lead, declarer has to play for
an immediate discard on three rounds of diamonds. Even if
that works, there are still problems to deal with in both
trumps and hearts, so it's not a very good slam at all. The
two players agreed that the cuebidding got out of hand and
that at some point, a limiting action should have been taken
since BOTH hands were minimum. The divergence in opinion was
on which partner should have applied the brakes.
So why did this auction get out of hand? There are several
reasons:
i) Since a jump to 3H by opener in this auction would be a
splinter with diamond support, the 2H rebid by West is
unlimited, as is responder's 2S.
ii) West's 3D cuebid now prompted East to show the heart Ace with
3H, which is a convenient action. Since everything is forcing in
this 2/1 auction, opener had two other choices after partner's
2S. One would be a 3C cuebid, following the guideline of showing
the cheaper of touching aces. The other would be a "mark-time"
2NT, whereby opener declines to cuebid but is still taking more
progressive action than an immediate signoff in 4S.
iii) Cuebidding is an OPTION, not a requirement. I don't really
have a huge quarrel with the auction up to 4C. At this point,
however, West COULD refrain from the 4D cuebid and sign off in 4S
instead. By the same token, East's 4H seems a bit much. Opener
still needs the trump King and a major suit Queen for slam to
have a play, and responder will surely be taking further action
if he has those goodies.
iv) Finally, West's 5S is doing nothing to curb the aggressive
tone of his earlier bidding. And East's 6S is just ludicrous.
Whatever the jump by partner is asking for, opener doesn't have
it. West has poorish trumps, no heart Queen, and no second-round
club control. Once opener bid 4H, every relevant card in his
hand was shown, so unless responder can bid a slam or ask for
keycards at this point, West should be declining any and all
invitations.
In short, there were a host of questionable bids made in this
auction. Given that after 1S:2D:2H:2S, both partners were still
unlimited, there has to be a point in the auction where one or
both players have to get off the cuebidding merry-go-round.
After getting overboard on the previous hand, the same twosome
ground to a premature halt on the following hand:
East: S-AK H- QJxx D-xxx C- AQxx
West: S- Qxxxx H- AKxxx D-x C- Kx
Here's the scoop on how this auction transpired:
East West
1NT 2H
2S 3H
4C 4H
pass
West transferred to spades and then bid 3H, showing at least 5-5
in the majors and 12+ HCP. Opener cuebid 4C, which agrees hearts.
To set SPADES as trumps, opener would have bid 3S instead. Now
responder, with a minimum game force, signed off in 4H, ending
the auction.
Opener assumed partner had no diamond control. Responder wasn't
comfortable with 4H, but a Keycard 4NT would not be that useful,
since the partnership could have sufficient keycards for slam but
may have two losers in spades. West considered 4D, which gets to
slam on THIS hand, but if opener has:
b) S- AJx H- QJxx D- KQxx C-Ax
he will assume partner has a high-card control in diamonds, i.e.
the Ace, and will get to a 6H contract that will need K of spades
onside AND doubleton to make.
This, by the way, is one of the downsides to Euro cuebidding,
where no distinction is made between first and second-round
controls. If West HAD bid 4D, a high-card control would be great
news for opener's hand, but a shortness is the worst news
possible.
Too bad in Euro cuebidding there is no way to directly ask for
what the NATURE of the control just shown was.
At any rate, I've gotten off-track here. The answer to how to
bid slam isn't that difficult. Consider the actual West hand.
You know partner has 5-5 in the majors and 12+ HCP. Now partner
might not have a diamond control, but it doesn't matter, since
the 5-level will be safe unless partner has three small diamonds
and a void in clubs.
East should therefore make one more try with 4S, as he can assume
there will be no major suit losers and the ONLY issue revolves
around the diamond suit.
Now, a hand that I was asked for my opinion on from a club game:
West: S- QJxx H- AQJxxx D- AKx C-void
A nice looking hand that gets even better on the auction:
West North East South
1H pass 2H 3C
?
With the raise from partner and the overcall on your right,
there is some chance that responder might have the right cards
for a slam to roll home. How best to approach it? West could
bid naturally, with 3S. Alternatively, he could cuebid 4C,
with first-round control of the enemy suit. At one table, West
bid 3S, while the other opener bid 4C.
Responder signed off in 4H, and slam was cold as partner had:
S- K10x H- Kxx D- Qxxx C- xxx
All the right cards, but no appealing cuebid to make. Yet it's
actually a very easy slam to bid IF opener makes it clearcut
what he is looking for. Opener HAS first and second round
controls in both minors, but is looking for help in spades.
Sooo.....how do we get responder to tell us what we need to
hear? Glad you asked.
West North East South
1H pass 2H 3C
3D pass 3H pass
4C pass 4D pass
4H pass 4S pass
6H pass pass pass
Alternatively, responder could cuebid 4S instead of "supporting"
with 4D. Regardless, the partnership should be able to get to 6H.
But note what opener did.
He bid 3D, which may have just been a help-suit game try but in
this case is the prelude to a slam try. Responder is borderline
as to whether to accept, with the red queens working but the K of
spades a nebulous card. So we'll assume he declines with 3H.
Now opener cuebids 4C. So West keycarded but seems to be in
cuebidding mode. The one thing he hasn't shown a control in is
spades, and responder can help out there.
Given that East rejected the game try, he can't have a better
hand, so can safely bid 4D to show the fit in opener's second
suit, THEN cuebid 4S once partner signs of in game.
So there you are. Note the flaws in the other choices, 3S and 4C:
a) 3S gets opener nowhere, as the only cuebids below game
available to responder are 4C and 4D, and it's unlikely he will
have a control in either minor.
b) similarly, 4C leaves only 4D available as a cuebid for
partner, and looking at the AK of diamonds, West knows the only
thing he'll get over 4C is a 4H signoff
c) so, opener cuebids both minors instead, and responder is
pretty much duty-bound to show a spade control if he has one.
Finally, another hand where an Fireside contributor achieved a
silly result by being far too cute:
S- x H- Axxx D- Ax C- AQ10xxx
You are West at matchpoints, and the bidding unfolds:
West North East South
1C pass 1S pass
2C pass pass dbl
?
Opener decided now to bid 2H, completing the description of his
shape. Well that's fine if the there's a strong indication you
should be PLAYING the hand. Actually, the reverse is the case
here as the bidding suggests you should be defending, and could
actually have a sizeable plus available by doing so. IF partner
has club support or tolerance, she'll take the push to 3C when
the opponents bid. However, if partner has the same shortness
in your suit that you do in hers, you should clearly be
defending. Responder had:
S- KQxxxx H-10x D- Kxxx C- x
The opponents have no eight-card fit, and probably would have
settled in 2D, warmly greeted by a red card from responder. The
defense gets two clubs and a spade so have the contract beat in
top tricks. In addition, both East and West can score a ruff.
So the net result from the 2H bid was turning +500 into -100.
What these hands all have in common is that expert players
messed up big time. And all four of the disasters were easily
avoidable, just though the use of some common sense. As Dave
would say, "Leave the flash and dash to your opponents, just
bid what's in front of you and grind it out and you'll come up
smelling like a rose." Or at least not with the noxious odor
emanating from the "heroes" that bid these four hands.
See you next month.
********************
You can write to Wintaka (Bill Treble) at: bbtreble@mts.net
You will find Bill doing his FireSide sessions on Tuesdays
at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Wintaka and Kaltica present classes on:
SAYC (Rainbow Series)
2/1 (Spectrum series)
Precision (Prism Series)
and other selected bridge topics (Kaleidoscope series).
They also offer private/group lessons and/or supervised play
sessions. Email Bill (bbtreble@mts.net) or Colin
(kaltica@mts.net) for more information.
================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Gail37 for this one:
Double dog dare
Remember when all the girls had ugly gym uniforms?
Remember when it took five minutes for the TV to warm up?
Remember when nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids
got home from school?
Remember when a quarter was a decent allowance?
Remember when you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?
Remember when your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?
Remember when all your male teachers wore neckties and female
teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?
Remember when you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked,
and gas pumped, without asking and all for free, every time?
And you didn't pay for air? and you got trading stamps to
boot?
Remember when laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or
towels hidden inside the box?
Remember when it was considered a great privilege to be taken
out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?
Remember when they threatened to keep kids back a grade if
they failed--and they did?
Remember when a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to
cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and
people went steady?
Remember when no one ever asked where the car keys were
because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the
doors were never locked?
Remember lying on your back in the grass with your friends
and saying things like "That cloud looks like a...", and
playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules
of the game?
Remember when stuff from the store came without safety caps
and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a
perfect stranger?
And with all our progress...don't you just wish, just once,
you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace...and
share it with the children of today
Send this on to someone who can still remember Nancy Drew,
the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut
Gallery, the Lone Ranger, the Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy
and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk.
As well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball games,
bowling and visits to the pool, and eating Kool-Aid powder
with sugar. Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say,
"Yeah, I remember that"?
I am sharing this with you today because it ended with a
double dog dare to pass it on.
And remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old
enough to know better and young enough not to care.
How many do you remember?
Candy cigarettes. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar
water inside.
Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles. Coffee shops
with tableside jukeboxes. Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry
chewing gum. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with
cardboard stoppers. Party lines. Newsreels before the movie.
P.F. Fliers. Telephone numbers with a word prefix. (Axminster
1-4685). Peashooters. Howdy Doody. 45 RPM records... green
stamps
Hi-Fi's. Metal ice cubes trays with levers. Mimeograph paper.
Beanie and Cecil. Roller-skate keys. Cork pop guns. Drive-ins.
Studebakers. Washtub wringers. The Fuller Brush Man. Reel-To-
Reel tape recorders. Tinkertoys. Erector Sets. Lincoln Logs.
15 cent McDonald hamburgers. 5 cent packs of baseball cards.
with that awful pink slab of bubblegum. Penny candy. 25
cent a gallon gasoline .
Do you remember a time when . . .
Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-moe"?
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do Over!"?
"Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest?
Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire
evening?
It wasn't odd to have two or three "Best Friends"?
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was
"cooties"?
Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a
slingshot?
A foot of snow was a dream come true?
Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute commercials for
action figures?
"Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense?
Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for
giggles?
The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team?
War was a card game?
Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a
motorcycle?
Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin?
Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?
I double-dog-dare-ya!
===================================================
AND FINALLY KALTICA
===================
Stayman and Pistola
*******************
Next to Blackwood, Stayman might be the most misused
and misunderstood convention in bridge. Indeed, arguments
arising from such disasters often get very heated--pistols
at dawn! This seems odd, since both SEEM (and there is the
rub!) to be such simple procedures. One partner asks the
other for Aces/Key Cards or, in the case of Stayman, a
4-card major; the other one answers the question. What's
the problem? Seriously, what could be simpler?
Well, the most salient bidding difficulties usually
crop up AFTER the request. For more on how to avoid these
calamities, check out our sites devoted to these topics:
For Blackwood and Roman Key Card Blackwood:
http://www.firesides.net/rkc.htm
For Stayman:
http://www.firesides.net/stayman.htm
To test your knowledge of Stayman:
http://www.firesides.net/staymantest.htm
In this article, we deal with the challenges that
crop up for Responder BEFORE the 2C bid. If we do not
have the proper requirements for Stayman we may well be
doomed regardless of whether we make the proper rebids
or not.
Stayman comes in two forms: Garbage Stayman and
"real" Stayman (usually just called "Stayman" as opposed
to "Garbage Stayman").
Garbage Stayman involves Responder making the 2C
(or, over 2NT, 3C) response and passing whatever Opener
replies--even an artificial Diamond bid, denying a major.
In terms of strength, this suggests a weak hand (e.g. 0-8
points opposite an SAYC 15-17 point 1NT). In terms of
distribution, it shows "support for any non-Club suit".
For the majors, this means 4-3 or better. Since 1NT:2C:2D
might, on a bad day, be bid on 3=3=2=5, Responder really
doesn't want to "fudge" on the requirement of 4+ Diamonds.
The ideal shape for Garbage Stayman would be 4=4=5=0, then.
Here are some others:
4=4=4=1
4=3=4=2
3=4=4=2
5=4=4=0
4=5=4=0
4=3=5=1
3=4=5=1
3=4=6=0
4=3=6=0
Other than the Garbage Stayman scenario, the Stayman
inquiry requires at least enough strength to INVITE game.
Facing a 15-17 1NT opener, this suggests 9+ points. All
of the remarks which follow will presume that Responder
has at least invitational strength.
In standard methods (i.e. where 1NT:2NT is a natural
invite), the Stayman request guarantees a 4-card major
AND/OR slam interest with an UNBALANCED hand (else just
raise Opener's NT bid quantitatively). For the purposes
of our discussion here, we will concentrate on those cases
where Responder DOES have a 4-card major and enough to
invite or force game, but not enough to consider slam.
So the question becomes:
"Should I always use Stayman with a 4 card major?"
ANSWER: No.
"Okay, then, assuming that I have a 4-card major,
when should I NOT use Stayman?"
For starters, do NOT EVER use Stayman with a
4=3=3=3 or 3=4=3=3 hand. Just raise the NT bid.
Always use Stayman if you have 2+ Short Suit
Points (i.e. where a void is 3, a singleton is 2
and a doubleton is 1 "SSP"). This means that any
hand with a 4-card major and a 5+ card second suit
should use Stayman, as should a 4-4-4-1 shape. The
latter are the WORST for No Trump play, by the way,
since you have to worry about the singleton and yet
have no long suit to offer Partner as a source of
length tricks.
So what does that leave us? The 4-4-3-2 type
hands. Here is where things get interesting.
If both 4-card suits are majors, use Stayman;
the odds of finding a major suit fit are good enough
to risk exposing yourselves with a 2C artificial bid.
This brings us to the 4-4-3-2 types where only
ONE of the 4-carders is a major. For example:
S- KJxx H- Ax D- J10xx C- xxx
Should we Stayman with THIS hand opposite
Partner's 1NT opening bid?
What are we worried about here if we bid 1NT:2C
versus 1NT:2NT? Well, if the opponents are not
vulnerable--at Matchpoints, especially--they might
be able to bid 2H over 2C, alerting their partner
to a Heart lead which might sink an eventual 3NT
by our side. Vulnerable opponents may be less
frisky, as might opponents at IMPs. So we have
Rule #1 for 4-4-3-2's (i.e. close decisions about
Stayman):
#1. Tend to use Stayman when the opps are vul,
raising directly when the opps are NOT vul.
This is especially true at Matchpoints.
The next consideration requires that we see
things from the DEFENDER's side for a moment.
When your opponents raise No Trump directly,
do you tend to lead MAJORS or MINORS?
Majors, right?
Now, if the opponents DO use Stayman but end
up in No Trump (e.g. 1NT:2C:2H:2NT) do you tend
to lead MAJORS or MINORS?
Minors, right?
Knowing this as bidders, our decision as to
whether to use Stayman or not revolves around our
DOUBLETON. That is, we presume, the suit that we
hope to DISSUADE the opponents from leading. Thus,
if our doubleton is a MAJOR, we tend to employ the
Staymanic inquiry. These shapes tend to bid 1NT:2C:
4=2=3=4
4=2=4=3
2=4=3=4
2=4=4=3
If the doubleton is a minor, though, we might
prefer to raise the No Trump directly. To wit, these
shapes might go with 1NT:2NT, 1NT:3NT or 2NT:3NT in a
close decision:
4=3=4=2
4=3=2=4
3=4=2=4
3=4=4=2
This is especially true if our doubleton is CLUBS.
1NT:2C or even 2NT:3C might expose us to a cheap lead
directing double. Those are harder to punish than an
overcall. In 2C redoubled we'd need to take EIGHT
tricks--likely with them holding the majority of trumps.
Against an OVERCALL, we can beat 2D, 2H or 2S by taking
SIX tricks.
Thus, we have Rule #2:
#2. Tend to use Stayman with 4-2 in the majors.
Tend NOT to use Stayman with 4-2 in the minors.
For all shapes OTHER than 4-4-3-2's, then, the
decision is easy: do NOT use Stayman with 4-3-3-3's,
DO use it with all others that contain a 4-card major.
Hey, I TOLD you bridge was an EASY game, didn't I? :)
**********************
You'll find Kaltica (Colin Ward) doing his FireSide
sessions on Friday evenings at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Kaltica and Wintaka present classes on:
SAYC (Rainbow Series)
2/1 (Spectrum series)
Precision (Prism Series),
and other selected bridge topics (Kaleidoscope series).
They also offer private/group lessons and/or supervised
play sessions. Email Colin (kaltica@mts.net) or
Bill (bbtreble@mts.net) for more information.
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
And thanks to Kaltica for this:
KNOWLEDGE QUIZ
A quiz for people who know everything...or think they do until
this test
(1) There's one "sport" in which neither the spectators nor the
participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
What is it?
(2) What famous North American landmark is constantly moving
backward?
(3) Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own
for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be
replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
(4) Name the only sport in which the ball is always in possession
of the team on defense, and the offensive team can score without
touching the ball?
(5) What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
(6) In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real
pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the
bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the
pear get inside the bottle?
(7) Only three words in standard English begin with the letters
"dw". They are all common. Name two of them.
(8) There are fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar. Can
you name half of them?
(9) Where are the lakes that are referred to in the "Los Angeles
Lakers?"
(10) There are seven ways a baseball player can legally reach
first base without getting a hit. Taking a base on balls - a
walk - is one way. Name the other six.
(11) It's the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen,
canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh. What
is it?
(12) Name six or more things that you can wear on your feet that
begin with the letter "S.
(Scroll down for the answers. Don't cheat!)
1. Boxing.
2. Niagara Falls. The rim is worn down about two and a half feet
each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush
over it every minute.
3. Asparagus and rhubarb.
4. Baseball.
5. Strawberry.
6. The pear grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over
pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the
tree. The bottle is left in place for the whole growing season.
When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.
7. Dwarf, dwell, and dwindle.
8. Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe,
question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, brackets,
parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
9. In Minnesota. The team was originally known as the Minneapolis
Lakers and kept the name when they moved west.
10. Batter hit by a pitch; passed ball; catcher interference;
catcher drops third strike; fielder's choice; and being
designated as a pinch runner.
11. Lettuce.
12. Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, snowshoes,
stockings.
...Well, now you know! Feel any smarter?
=====================================================
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