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Fireside Chat
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FIRESIDE CHAT APRIL 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome and Announcements
Believer's FireSide Kindling
Bidding with Bridgboy
Special Treats
Hand of the Month
Dealing With Dann
Bridge For the Club Player
Moogal's FireSide Log
Treble's Table Talk
And Finally Kaltica
=======================================
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to the April, 2005 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. KALTICA
WED 11:00 A.M. FREDW3
WED 5:30 P.M. DIANEW
THU 11:00 A.M. POOKA
THU 5:30 P.M. WISHTRIK/FIFEE
FRI 11:00 A.M. BLUEBEE
FRI 5:30 P.M. WINTAKA
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 who attend. 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) 2005 by FireSide Chat.
All rights reserved.
===============================================
BELIEVER'S FIRESIDE KINDLING
============================
Hi everybody :)
Usually I try to stay upbeat and positive here when I talk to
you, but today I want to talk about something I've been
seeing more and more of lately that makes me feel angry,
frustrated, and really really sad.
Simply put, I've seen more and more rudeness at the Fireside
sessions, and at OKbridge in general. Oh, nothing really huge
that would jump out and bite you on the nose, but little things
here and there that add up.
For instance, every now and then I see someone in spec at a
Fireside session laugh at a mistake someone makes in bidding.
Yikes! We ALL make mistakes in bidding at Fireside! That's why
we have Fireside! We try to learn from those mistakes, and get
some ideas on how to better communicate with our partners.
There are NO absolutes in Bridge... we have basic guidelines,
and then develop our own style according to what we've been
exposed to and what works for us. Fireside is wonderful because
it's a place we can see new and different ways of bidding -- we
can hear from experts about how they like to bid and how they
think when they are bidding on a hand. We can discuss our ideas,
and ask questions about other people's ideas. There are a lot of
different thoughts out there about what works and what doesn't...
and they are all right :) It's just a matter of finding out what
works for you and your partner, and fine tuning those ideas.
It really bothers me to see someone ridicule someone else's
ideas. We are all learning, and we are all entitled to ask
questions, try new things, and share our ideas. That's why we
get together at Fireside -- to share and learn. Please remember
that the next time you don't agree with what someone is saying
or how they are bidding. Just because it may not be the way YOU
would do it, doesn't mean it's 'wrong' or 'stupid'.
Another pet peeve I have is when folks decide to inflict their
bad mood or attitude problems on fellow Firesiders. At a recent
session, one of us was commenting on the bidding sequence during
the discussion of the hand. This is a good thing :) We are
encouraged to ask questions and discuss the bidding... how else
will we learn?
One of the participants became annoyed at these comments, made a
rude remark to the person who was talking (one of the bidders!)
left the table in the middle of the round, and then evidently
asked his partner to join him because the partner left too!
Beside the fact that someone's feelings were hurt, this created
a problem for the commentator, the table manager, and made
everyone at the session uncomfortable. It was rude, totally
disruptive, and disrespectful. I felt it was a real slap in
the face of the commentator, who was just trying to help us,
and had done absolutely nothing to deserve such rudeness.
Fireside is a friendly table. It is a place to go to learn, to
make friends, and to be part of a very special group of people.
There is no room for rudeness, ridicule, mockery, or delusions of
grandeur -- if you are looking for any of these elements, please
look for them elsewhere! No one at Fireside approves of or
appreciates that behavior.
My last beef is not with Fireside in particular, but with a
behavior I see a lot at OKb that just makes me crazy. That's
the practice of sitting in spec and watching folks play,
(usually an expert table, but not always) and making fun
of the people who are playing. Everyone in spec is an expert,
and would have played the hand perfectly :) Some of this
commentary/ridicule gets downright cruel, and I can't stay and
be a party to it. I get really upset because I don't feel it's
fair that I can't enjoy watching experts play without having to
be bombarded by cruel and demeaning remarks from folks who think
they are being "funny", and/or "having fun".
I know I'm preaching to the choir here :) 99% of you Firesiders
are wonderful people who would never be rude or mean. I want you
to know how much I appreciate that about you -- as I said,
Firesiders really are a special group of people :)
For the very few of you who think laughing at others, making fun
of them, maneuvering to see who can make the cruelest comments
during these spectator sessions is "just fun".... well, you
should hang around more with Fireside folks and learn a thing or
two about what's really important in life -- caring about and
taking care of each other's feelings.
Sara
********************
You can write to Believer (Sara Stobbe) at:
sarastobbe@aol.com or bb@wowway.com
===============================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Pringle for this giggle:
Doesn't it seem that more and more physicians are
running their practices like an assembly line?
Buford walked into a doctor's office and the
receptionist asked him what he had. Buford said,
"Shingles." So she wrote down his name, address,
medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.
Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aid came out and asked
Buford what he had. Buford said, "Shingles." So she
wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical
history and told Buford to wait in the examining room.
A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Buford
what he had. Buford said, "Shingles." So she gave
Buford a blood test, a blood pressure test, an
electrocardiogram, told Buford to take off all his
clothes and wait for the doctor.
An hour later the doctor came in and asked Buford what
he had. Buford said, "Shingles." The doctor asked,
"Where?"
Buford said, "Outside on the truck.
Where do you want them? "
===============================================================
BIDDING WITH BRIDGBOY
=====================
More IMPs vs MPs
Even a simple hand to declare can present challenges depending on
the form of game.
Dummy:
S KJ
H KQ1085
D AJ6
C KJ10
YOU
S AQ10
H J9
D Q984
C 7532
3NT is the contract and the opening lead is the 2 of diamonds.
Plan your play.
If you are playing teams the goal is to make sure you finish with
at least 9 winners. There is a fool-proof method for that --
rising with the ace of diamonds and attacking the heart suit.
That way we will win at least 4 hearts, 3 spades, one diamond,
setting up more diamonds or clubs for the needed nine tricks.
Simple and guaranteed! But if we are playing in a
matchpoint event where maximizing our chances of scoring
overtricks is vital to success, this tunnel vision approach would
be folly! You would duck the opening lead hoping that the leader
had the diamond king and we could score extra diamond winners.
The only problem with that is it leaves us open for failure if
the king of diamonds is to our right and the defender does not
blindly lead back his partner's suit but switches to clubs! Now
when we drive out the ace of hearts we might be exposed to
several club losers and could go down in a cold contract.
Now let us be fair. It would take a terrible split of the
enemy's cards to go down on this hand. But it is possible, so
there would never be any reason to allow that to occur playing
IMPs. Playing matchpoints however, a game where overtricks are so
vital, we must sometimes risk the contract to allow us to
maximize our score. The difference between plus 400 and plus 430
playing teams is negligible but playing matchpoints it is a
guaranteed bottom if we do not duck the diamond 2 lead on this
hand.
Defensive thinking must also be altered slightly depending on the
form of scoring. In both teams (IMPs) and matchpoints, the object
is to try and defeat the contract. Often that is not possible,
but if you can't defeat the contract your secondary goal will be
to stop any overtricks, vital in matchpoints. Remember we are
trying to earn our lowest minus score or any plus. Just as the
declarer is trying to maximize his side's score thru overtricks,
ours must be just the opposite -- to prevent him from achieving
his goal! This means cashing out at the proper time, or making
sure your side gets all its tricks. If we can see that we can not
defeat a contract, just making sure we get all our tricks can be
just as rewarding. If all other pairs are allowing one extra
overtrick, our minus score of 420 may earn us a top score vs. all
the other minus 450 scores. Playing teams we need to go all out
to defeat the contract, even if it costs an overtrick, because
the value of overtricks are so minimal in the overall IMP
scoring. If our side is minus 420 or minus 450 that will not
matter much in teams. But if we can somehow be plus 50 instead
of minus 420, that is huge!
Which do you prefer...IMPs or MPs? Whichever it is, just
remember to adjust your play and defense!
********************
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 Lucy for these giggles:
A WASHINGTON POST columnist runs a column each summer listing
interesting WOMEN'S T-shirts observed at the Ocean City, Maryland
beach.
I CHILDPROOFED MY HOUSE, BUT THEY STILL GET IN.
(On the front) 60 IS NOT OLD. (On the back) IF YOU'RE A TREE.
I'M STILL HOT... IT JUST COMES IN FLASHES.
AT MY AGE, "GETTING LUCKY" MEANS FINDING MY CAR IN THE PARKING
LOT.
LIFE IS SHORT. MAKE FUN OF IT.
I'M NOT 50. I'M $49.95 PLUS TAX
PHYSICALLY PFFFFFT!
I'M NOT A SNOB. I'M JUST BETTER THAN YOU ARE.
IT'S MY CAT'S WORLD. I'M JUST HERE TO OPEN CANS.
EARTH IS THE INSANE ASYLUM OF THE UNIVERSE.
WE GOT RID OF THE KIDS. THE CAT WAS ALLERGIC.
EVERY TIME I HEAR THE DIRTY WORD "EXERCISE", I WASH MY MOUTH
OUT WITH CHOCOLATE
CATS REGARD PEOPLE AS WARM-BLOODED FURNITURE.
===========================================================
SPECIAL TREATS
==============
This month we want to thank John (J21) for sending in this
"special treat" -- neat stuff! :)
********************
4x1 Fascination
by John Holcomb
I recently had way too much time on my hands and started musing
about hand distributions, and more particularly, 4x1
distributions. One of the questions that I posed to myself was
"If three hands have 4441 distribution, what distributions are
available for the fourth hand?" The answer(s?) may surprise. On
any combination of the various suits in three 4441 hands, the
most that can be accounted in any suit is twelve cards. Therefore
the first conclusion is that the fourth hand may not contain a
void. Similarly, there are three singletons among the three
hands, and four suits. So (at least) one suit must count to
twelve cards. Then the second conclusion is that the fourth hand
must have at least one singleton. But might more than one suit
among the three hands count to twelve cards? Of course. Following
similar logic, if two suits count to twelve cards, the fourth
hand must have two singletons. And likewise if three suits count
to twelve, then three singletons are in the fourth hand.
I will leave it to the reader to demonstrate to his or herself
that these are all the possible cases. The fourth hand has either
one, two or three singletons and no voids. The obvious fourth
hand distributions are the expected complimentary 4-4-4-1 hand
and the uncommon 10-1-1-1 hand. The third but not quite so
obvious hand has 7-4-1-1 distribution.
But think about it this way: if the fourth 4-4-4-1 distribution
is, instead, to have two singletons and remain compatible with
three other 4x1 hands, three cards of one four-card suit must be
moved to another four-card suit, hence the 7-4-1-1 case. And if
that hand is then morphed to accommodate three singletons and
maintain distributional compatibility with the other 4x1 hands,
then again, three cards must move from the four-card suit to the
non-singleton suit...the 10-1-1-1 hand. Neat how it all comes
together!
********************
If you have a "Special Treats" story you'd like to share
with us, we'd love to include it in one of our future
issues! Just send it to Sara at sarastobbe@aol.com or
to Janice at moocake@bellsouth.net. Don't worry about it
being "perfect" -- we'll fix it! Just type it up and send it :)
================================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Hector: Just think, thirty years ago I was into acid rock.
Miguel: What are you into now?
Hector: Acid reflux.
================================================================
HAND OF THE MONTH
=================
This month we are thrilled to present our 'Hand of the Month'
feature, with a big "thank you" to Gail Wix for formatting it
for us.
>From The 2005 Daily Bridge Calendar. For more information
call 1-888-453-1976, or email: calendar@interlog.com.
********************
Vul: none North
Dlr: W S Q8
H AQJ4
D J98
C KQJ3
South
S --
H T765
D K63
C AT9652
West North East South
1S X 3S* 4C
4S 5C All pass
*Preemptive raise
Opening Lead: S6
South wended his way into the wrong game. When West bid 1S and
North doubled, East jumped to 3S, a preemptive raise. South
decided that his hearts were not so terrific that he wanted to
bid 4H so he bid a safer 4C. West went on to 4S and North raised
to 5C. South rather liked his 4C bid now because he had a very
good hand for clubs and since he was playing at the five level he
liked the idea of having lots of trumps.
West led the S6 to the SQ, SA, and South's C2. What should South
do on this hand? Be specific before reading on.
*****************************************
S Q8
H AQJ4
D J98
C KQJ3
S KJ96543 S AT72
H K H 9832
D A74 D QT52
C 87 C 4
S --
H T765
D K63
C AT9652
Contract: 5C Lead: S6
********************
South should draw trump and then attack hearts. He must be
careful not to lead the HT, however. West could have a singleton
HK and leading the HT would cost a trick in that event. When
South leads his H5 West produces the HK, so South has done well
thus far. But there is still a hole in the diamond suit. Losing
three diamonds is within the realm of one's imagination. But the
hole is not very deep if you know how to get out of it. After
winning the HA, ruff the last spade in your hand. Run the rest
of the hearts ending in dummy. Now lead the D8 (any diamond will
do) and if East plays low, you play low, too. West will win and
no matter what he wins with, he will have to give you a diamond
trick or a sluff and a ruff.
It turns out that you would have made 5H too but it would have
been more exciting.
********************
Hand and analysis by Michael Lawrence, courtesy of the Daily
Bridge Calendar, published by Ashlar House Inc., Brampton, ON,
Canada. Reprinted with permission. (Special thanks to Lee
Daugherty and Dann Kramer.)
===========================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Arrow for this giggle:
The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers
to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding,
subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.
Here are this year's winners:
Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until
you realize it was your money to start with.
Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stop
bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately,
shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the
person who doesn't get it.
Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running
late.
Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease.
Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day
consuming only things that are good for you.
Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when
they come at you rapidly.
Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after
you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into
your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a
worm in the fruit you're eating.
=============================================================
DEALING WITH DANN
=================
Hi All
Sorry for this not being the promised article from last issue -
I'm still mulling the topic over.
While trying to cover a lot of bases for this month, I want to
cover a few little points that have arisen from questions at
Firesides.
First - playing 2/1, we open 1 of a major and partner bids a
game-forcing 2/1 response. I hold a hand that I might have
opened 1NT with (15-17). What do I do to show it?
A simple treatment for this hand is to rebid 3NT with 15-17 hcp
over a 2/1 response, showing responder a 5-3-3-2 pattern and NT
opening points.
A 2NT rebid becomes 11+-14/or 17++ to 19. Partner bids as
opposite a 12-14 opener, and if we own the 18/19 pt hand, we
bid one more over signoff:
eg: 1H-2C-2NT(2 way) - 3NT-4NT(18/19)
- Pass(12/14)
Another question that arose: Jacoby 2NT - it is only for use in
response to partners opening bid, and not over any interference.
After interference we cue bid the opps suit to show pard a good
hand. 2NT is invitational to a 3NT game, denying a fit for pard.
(As an aside, if we love Jacoby 2NT we could use it over a minor
suit opening -- make sure pard agrees before we spring it on them
tho!)
I hope this answers some questions before!! they turn into
problems.
Happy Bridging all
Dann POOKA Kramer
********************
You will find Pooka (Dann Kramer) doing his FireSide
sessions on Monday and Thursday mornings, at 11:00 a.m.
OKbridge time.
Dann is available for one-on-one lessons, group mentoring
sessions, and/or tourney play.
For more information, write Dann at: pspeard@telusplanet.net
============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Bezel for these giggles:
These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and
are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken
down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of
staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15th.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.
Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that
you've forgotten?
Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.
Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he
woke up that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Doris?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.
Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
A: He's twenty
Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?
Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?
Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?
Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male or a female?
Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition
notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.
Q: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go
to?
A: Oral.
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an
autopsy.
Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
===============================================================
BRIDGE FOR THE CLUB PLAYER
==========================
NEW MINOR FORCING
In many ways, "New Minor Forcing" (nmf) and "Fourth Suit Forcing"
(4sf) are similar conventions. Both are used by responder. They
are both in the "I have a good hand but I need you to tell me
more about your hand" category.
New minor forcing works like this:
Opener starts with one of a minor. Responder bids one of a
major. Opener now rebids one notrump. Responder now bids the
other minor as a completely artificial bid. It is alertable, and
asks for more information. ((If asked about the alert, I suggest
you say "New Minor Forcing: it says nothing about the suit bid,
partner is just asking me to describe my hand further. He should
have at least eleven points.")) And it's true -- responder must
have at least 11 points to begin this sequence over a 1NT rebid.
Opener's priorities after having rebid 1NT are, in order:
Bid two hearts.
(This either shows a four-card suit if responder originally bid
spades, or it shows three-card support if responder originally
bid hearts.)
Bid two spades.
(This will only happen if responder originally bid spades, and
will show three-card support. Opener would have mentioned a
four-card spade suit on the one level with a 12-14HCP hand if he
had one.)
Bid two diamonds.
(This will only be possible if opener started with a 1D bid. It
shows 5 or 6 diamonds.)
Bid notrump.
(With a minimum 12-13, bid 2NT. With a maximum 14, bid 3NT.)
I like to remember the order of priority as being similar to that
of Stayman. Hearts, then Spades, then Diamonds.
If you search bridge literature, you can find more detailed and
complex responses. Entire books have been devoted to them! But
until you feel the need or urge, this is a simple and
straightforward approach that works.
This auction/situation confuses many people:
Responder's Hand Opener's Bid Responder's Bid
KQxxx 1C 1S
Ax 1NT (12-14) 2D! (nmf)
Kxxx 2H (4 hearts, may or may 3NT
Qx not have 3 spades)
???
What will opener do now? He will tell himself that "partner went
through new minor forcing, but apparently was not interested in
my four card heart suit. He must have five spades. I should bid
four spades with three of them." Note once again the similarity
to Stayman.
If opener's hand is Jxx, KQxx, QJx, Ax he will now bid four
spades!
If opener's hand is Ax, KQxx, QJx, Jxx he will pass!
When the responder initiates New Minor Forcing, the auction must
continue until AT LEAST 2NT. Here are some annotated auctions:
1C - 1S - 1NT - 2D! ("tell me more")
- 2S ("I have 3 spades, but not 4 hearts")
- 4S ("Thanks, partner -- that's what I wanted to hear")
1C - 1S - 1NT - 2D! ("tell me more")
- 2H ("I have four hearts, and may or may not have three spades"
- 4H ("Great! We've found a 4-4 heart fit so it doesn't matter if
we have a 5-3 spade fit.)
1C - 1S - 1NT - 2D! ('tell me more)
- 2H
- 3H ("We have a 4-4 heart fit but are you closer to twelve or
fourteen?")
- Pass ("Sorry, I'm on the bottom.")
1C - 1S - 1NT - 2D! ("tell me more")
- 2H - 2S ("I was really only interested in spades. Remember to
keep bidding, though, as we are committed to at least
2NT.")
- ?? Opener's next bid is logical, as below... remember that
"minimum" now means 12-13 and "maximum" is a good 13 or 14:
2NT (2 spades, minimum) 3NT (2 spades, maximum)
3S (3 spades, minimum) 4S (3 spades, maximum)
1D - 1H - 1NT - 2C! ("tell me more")
- 2H ("I have three hearts")
1D - 1H - 1NT - 2C! ("tell me more")
- 3NT ("I have only two hearts, but I have fourteen points!")
1D - 1H - 1NT - 2C! ("tell me more")
- 2D ("I don't have three hearts, but I have five -- rarely
six -- diamonds.")
- 2NT ("mini or maxi?"), etc.
1D - 1H - 1NT - 2C! ("tell me more")
- 2NT ("two hearts, minimum points), etc.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It is also useful to use New Minor Forcing over partner's rebid
of 2NT (18 or 19 points, balanced). The order of priorities
changes only slightly for the opener...
Bid a four-card major
Support partner's major with three of them
Rebid a 5- or 6- card diamond suit
Bid 3NT
Here are some auctions:
1C - 1S - 2NT - 3D! ("tell me more")
- 3H ("I've got four hearts, and may or may not have three
spades")
- 3NT ("Hearts was not what I was looking for")
- Pass (with two spades) or 4S (with three)
1C - 1S - 2NT - 3D! ("tell me more")
- 3NT ("I don't have four hearts OR three spades")
The next two are interesting...
1D - 1H - 2NT - 3C! ("tell me more")
- 3S ("Yes, I really have four spades. I just jumped to 2NT to
show the 18-19 point balanced hand.")
- 4S ("That's what I wanted to know!")
1D - 1H - 2NT - 3C! ("tell me more")
- 3S
- 3NT ("That wasn't what I was looking for."
- 4H ("Then you must have been looking for hearts!")
Playing New Minor Forcing over 2NT, opener has the option to
rebid 2NT over a one-heart response with 4 spades and a balanced
18 or 19 points without fear of missing the spade fit. Extending
this further, a jump-shift to two spades now shows an unbalanced
hand!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This may seem like an overwhelming number of examples. But the
idea is NOT to memorize these as some sort of "chart", but rather
to try and understand the dialogue that is occurring. NMF simply
means "tell me more", and the rest, as they say, "just logically
follows".
Remember these rules:
NMF is always RESPONDER'S SECOND BID. NMF is after a NOTRUMP
rebid by opener. You need 11+ points to initiate NMF after a 1NT
rebid. If and when you want to expand your bidding complexity,
there are many other sequences that NMF opens up. Until then...
Happy Bidding!
Jack Brawner
(Trojanowl@AOL.com)
********************
Jack welcomes students of all levels for lessons.
Contact him for information at trojanowl@aol.com
============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to De for this giggle:
IF MY BODY WERE A CAR
If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about
trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and
scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull,
but that's not the worst of it.
My fenders are too wide to be considered stylish. They were once
as sleek as a little MG, now they look more like an old Buick. My
seat cushions have split open at the seams. My seats are sagging.
Seat Belts? I gave up all belts when Krispy Cremes opened a shop
in my neighborhood!
Air bags? Forget it! The only bags I have these days are under my
eyes. Not counting the saddlebags, of course. I have sooooo many
miles on my odometer. Sure, I've been many places and seen many
things, but when's the last time an appraiser factored life
experiences against depreciation?
My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see
things up close. My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I
slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of
weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.
It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns
inefficiently.
BUT...hers the worst of it- almost every time I sneeze, cough or
sputter....my radiator leaks!!
===========================================================
MOOGAL'S FIRESIDE LOG
=====================
OKB Tourneys
Well done to all our Fireside friends who excelled in
the tourneys this past month!!
Tue Mar 8 12:30 PM
Rank Team Score
1 Kaltica/ulrika 61.81
Thu Mar 10 04:00 PM
Rank Team Score
1 nancor/POOKA 65.38
Mon Mar 14 08:30 PM
Rank Team Score
1 rex1/tuna 77.65
Fri Mar 18 11:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 mgr777/tuna 2.42
Mon Mar 21 12:30 PM
Rank Team Score
1 Kaltica/moogal 70.00
Wed Mar 23 11:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 deckhand/frank-1 68.45
Thu Mar 24 11:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 jbot/jkh 3.36
Sat Mar 26 11:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 hawes/riggin 60.76
Tue Mar 29 04:00 PM
Rank Team Score
1 frank-1/kiniluka 76.39
Tue Mar 29 05:30 PM
Rank Team Score
1 peter-1/sam143 3.61
Some of our Flight B and C tourney stars:
ALBERTB, BENSON, BOBT, RIGGIN, BIRDIE, FLEE, JULIE, POTTS,
ASK1, ESJUB9, MARYS, KITKAT, NEOPHYTE, POLLYE, TODD, ELGRINGO,
LSSCOTT, DESIREE, JUDYDEE, MACAVITY, BELIEVER, DLOYE, LEE-1,
WILSE, GARYI, ARROW, IMOGENE, HAWES, FRANK-1, NANCOR, DSLT
We encourage you to change your flight to B or C so that you are
competing on an appropriate level -- you can do this on the OKB
website home page. Look for "Change my flight" in the box where
your icon appears. This is OKB's way of letting everyone have a
chance to get some pond points. And, as more and more of you
change your flights, the flighted results will be more realistic.
And, remember, if you do place in the overalls, you are still
eligible for the higher awards!
I know I must have missed a few of your names here. I can't check
every result -- believe it or not I do have a day job :)) Please
email me and let me know about your good results. We want
everyone's name up here in lights!
**********************************************************
FIRESIDE'S TEAM GAME
Our February winners are:
03-13-2005 TEAM SKILLICK: Skillick, Frodo, Peter_5 and Tomass
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!
**********************************************************
Get well wishes to Betty (BRINKER) who has had foot surgery and
is facing more this month. We wish her well, and hope that she
will soon feel comfortable enough again to play bridge.
**********************************************************
The March Spectator noted that my good buddies Eric (ETSAND) and
Jonathan (JHARRISH) were angelfish nominees -- I was in spec when
they impressed the opps with their sense of fair play. Well done,
my friends.
**********************************************************
Jane (NEOPHYTE) is lamenting that she has to work harder at
bridge just to keep up with her daughter Jenny!
Two weeks ago, Jenny (16) took part in the Harry Scully Trophy.
It was a youth Swiss team event and she and her teammies came
first! The following weekend, Jen and her partner Amy went to
London as they had qualified for the under 19's National finals!
No wonder Jane is beaming with pride. Congrats to Jen and her
partner and teammates!
**********************************************************
Congratulations to our old friend and Fireside commentator Lou
(LouisG) who finished 4th in The Bridge World Master Solver's
Club in the March edition (for last November's problems), scoring
a whopping 770 out of 800. We always knew he was good! :)
**********************************************************
If you visit the ACBL web page (www.acbl.org) to check on
masterpoints or other things, you will notice a new feature....a
fun poll. As of today, there is just the results of the previous
poll (on number of masterpoints won in Pittsburgh), but they
promise a new poll each week so check back.
**********************************************************
A well done to our commentators who did battle in Pittsburgh in
March at the Spring NABC.
Lynn (WISHTRIK) placed 2nd in the mixed pairs and ninth in the
Women's Swiss. Diane (DIANEW) placed 3/4 in a Bracket 2 KO. Bob
(BRIDGBOY), with PATRICIA, and Bill (WINTAKA) were mentioned in
the bulletin for their performances in qualifying rounds and
pairs games. Congrats all!
**********************************************************
Gamebusters! by Richard Pavlicek
If there's somethin' strange in your neighborhood, or you wanna
beat four spades and it don't look good... Who ya gonna call?
You got that right! See if you're a qualified gamebuster by
trying to defeat these six contracts. But be careful! You might
get slimed.
http://www.rpbridge.net/8x25.htm
Results of the March poll "Swan Song Nets Huge Loss" will be
posted April 4, 2005 at 21:00 GMT. For these, and everything
related to the monthly events, go to:
http://www.rpbridge.net/rppc.htm
**********************************************************
If you read OKB Discuss group on the home page or via email, you
may have seen a post Sara made concerning the first masterpoints
won by her brother- and sister-in-law.
The author of a web page on masterpoint reform found the story so
instructive that he has included it on his own very detailed and
thoughtful discussion of the subject.
Read Sara's story at
http://www.masterpointinfo.com/heartwarming.htm
If you would like to read about the theories behind masterpoints
as awards and/or measures of merit, and the need for some reform,
start with the home page -- I think you will find it very
interesting:
http://www.masterpointinfo.com
And congrats to Sara for becoming a published author! :)
**********************************************************
Thanks again to those who send me their news...I hope you had a
Happy Easter to those that celebrated, and a Happy Passover for
those celebrating this month. And a Happy Birthday, to my
daughter, today!
Hugs...Janice
**************************************************************
While we list the lessons offered by the commentators who
write for The Chat, we want to note that some of our other
commentators and newsletter contributors 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
Patricia/Fifee andersonscorner@atlanticbb.net
Nightowl/Jack trojanowl@aol.com
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
choose private lessons, and they really value your
business. Maybe you can hint to a loved one what
you would like for your next birthday!
***********************************************************
Rainbow and Spectrum Series Online!
The popular Rainbow (SAYC and play) and Spectrum (2/1-GF)
series have been automated for your convenience. You can take
any of the lessons at your leisure simply by clicking on either
of these links:
http://www.firesides.net/rainbows.htm
http://www.firesides.net/spectrums.htm
Enjoy!
***********************************************************
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 with PAYPAL! 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.
*****************************************************
April Events: (All times Pacific)
===============================
NOVICE/MENTOR TOURNEY:
======================
Thursday, April 14, at 6:00 PM, OKb time.
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. April 3 and 17.
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, 11:00 a.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 this giggle
What is this?
When the waitress in a New York City restaurant brought him the
soup du jour, the Englishman was a bit dismayed. "Good heavens,"
he said, "what is this?"
"Why, it's bean soup," she replied.
"I don't care what it has been," he sputtered. "What is it now?"
============================================================
TREBLE'S TABLE TALK
===================
Jacoby Transfer Bids Revisited
In the last week, I was asked to do a pre-game lesson at a novice
duplicate club, and I knew that about half of the players used
Jacoby Transfers over a 1NT opening and the other half, fresh out
of the Audrey Grant Club Series lessons, did not. So I had to
explain why they have gained in popularity to such an extent that
it's unusual to find a pair that was NOT using them in local
duplicate
games.
The most common reason given for using JTBs is that they place
the declarership in what is usually the strongest of the two
hands, where anything the opening leader does might give up a
trick. One thing that isn't emphasized nearly enough is that it
conserves a lot of valuable space on certain hands. For example,
you pick up:
S-KJ9xx H-x D-AQxx C-Jxx
and partner opens 1NT. Without Jacoby Transfers responder has
only one option, a forcing 3S, since two-level responses (except
2C) are natural and weak. If partner were the co-operative sort,
he'd have three-card support and raise us to game. But no, the
stick-in-the-mud bids 3NT instead, showing a doubleton spade.
Now we have to decide whether to leave it in with our singleton
heart. We could be sitting opposite a 1NT opener of:
a) S-Ax H-Jxx D-KJxxx C-AQ10, or..
b) S-Qx H-AKJx D-Kxx C-K10xx
We are down in 3NT, but cold for 11 or 12 tricks in diamonds on
the first hand, but on hand b), 3NT is a walk in the park and
removing it may give us a minus score in a suit game. It's much
easier sailing in a Jacoby Transfer sequence:
Opener A Responder Opener B Responder
1NT 2H* 1NT 2H*
2S 3D 2S 3D
4C 4D 3NT
5D
Since a new suit by responder is forcing after a Jacoby Transfer,
we just show our good four-card diamond suit. Now opener a) will
steer clear of 3NT, landing in a contract of 5D or perhaps even
6D. Opener b), on the other hand, will bid 3NT, having the two
unbid suits well stopped.
Changing responder's hand a bit, what about:
S-K10xxx H-x D-A10xx C-Jxx
Since a new suit is game forcing after Jacoby, some players would
transfer and then raise spades to invite on this one. That's
actually somewhat of a distortion, as the transfer followed by a
raise should promise a six-card suit where you are willing to
play spades opposite a doubleton in opener's hand. Here you
would transfer and then invite with 2NT. If opener has three of
your suit, you'll get back to spades, otherwise you'll play 2NT
or 3NT. Moving on, what about this one?
S-K10xxx H-xx D-AQxx C--Qx
Just transfer to 2S and then bid 3NT as a choice of games on this
one. With no singletons or voids, playing 3NT as a game contract
isn't as scary as it was on the earlier hand. Moreover, your
only concern here is to find the most playable game, as you have
no real slam interest.
S-AQxxx H-Kx D-KQxx C-xx
Here you would transfer and bid diamonds, as there could be a
slam in the offing for your side. Using Colin "Kaltica" Ward's
4-point principle, where you take the dream card of your choice
for every four points partner is marked for, the three missing
Aces and the K of spades will give slam a play if your side has
an eight-card fit in either pointed suit.
A fair number of people get confused about whether to use Jacoby
transfers if you have both majors. The general rule of thumb is
NOT to use a transfer with exactly 5-4 in the majors unless you
have 7 or fewer points, and to ALWAYS use them with 5-5 or
better in the majors.
S-Axxx H-Jxxxx D-xxx C-x
Transfer to 2H and then pass. If you Stayman and then bid 2H
over a 2D rebid by opener, you should have invitational values.
Even if you have an eight-card spade fit, a few club ruffs should
get your side to eight tricks in hearts.
S-Axxx H-Q10xxx D-QJ C-xx
Now we can make a Stayman enquiry with 2C as we have enough
values to follow up with 2H if partner denies a major. There is
a fair chance at game if partner is on a max for his 1NT opening.
S-Qxxx H-AQxxx D-Kx C-xx
With enough for game, we again Stayman with 2C and jump to 3H if
opener bids 2D. Some partnerships would jump in the four-card
suit to 3S instead, the Smolen convention. Smolen uses the same
principles as Jacoby, since there isn't a 4-4 spade fit, the only
possible trump suit is hearts, and we'd like to make partner the
declarer if we have a fit there.
S-J10xxx H-Q9xxx D-xx C-x
On this one we'd transfer, but there are two schools of thought.
One is to head towards the better of our five-card suits,
transferring into hearts. The other would anticipate possible
competition by the opponents later on, and transfer to spades.
We'd then pass, but if the opponents balanced with three of a
minor, the opportunity is now there to compete with 3H, and now
we'll have shown both our suits in a way that opener could take a
preference to the three-level. It would be a trifle more
difficult had we transferred to hearts and then the opponents get
in our face, as it wouldn't be as convenient to show our second
suit without maybe forcing our side to the four-level.
S-J10xxx H-Axxxx D-Kx C-x
The correct route on this hand is to transfer to hearts and then
bid 2S. One common principle that applies to both Stayman and
Jacoby auctions is that a two-level rebid by responder is
invitational and a three-level bid in a new suit is forcing to
game.
S-KJxxx H-AJxxx D-Qx C-x
Another transfer, but this time to spades and then jumping to 4H
as a choice of games but no real slam interest. Compare the
above hand to:
S-KJxxx H-AQJxx D-Jx C-x
Same number of points, but here we transfer and then bid 3H, not
4H. Why? Slow arrival in a game forcing auction suggests a
possibility of slam, which definitely exists here. Using the
four-point principle yet again, four dream cards and a fit in
either major will give slam a fine play.
Next month we'll take up the Jacoby theme again, with a
discussion of "super-accepts" by opener, Texas Transfers, and
whether to use transfers in competition. See you then!
********************
You will find Bill doing his FireSide sessions on Fridays
at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Bill is available for private/group lessons and/or
supervised play sessions. Email Bill at (btreble@shaw.ca)
for more information.
================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Dloye for these:
One Liners
A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.
Anyone who thinks old age is golden must not have had a very
exciting youth.
How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the
dark to become a teen-ager who wants to stay out all night?
Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how
many people a company can operate without.
Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone
else looks?
Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job.
No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a
car.
There are no new sins....the old ones just get more publicity.
There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at
4 AM. It could be a right number.
Think about this..... No one ever says "It's only a game" when
his team is winning.
Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag
his tail.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to
make them all yourself.
One of the quickest ways for a young man to fail in life is to
work so hard the boss will think he's after his job.
A backyard barbecue draws two things....flies and relatives.
The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts
tomorrow.
If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any
sense at all.
Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
and:
I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap!
===================================================
AND FINALLY KALTICA
===================
Free Raises Over Forces
Suppose you plan to raise your partner's suit over RHO's
forcing call. Which is stronger? To raise immediately or to
pass and then raise?
Let us start with a simple example:
1a) 1S Dble 2S
The double is forcing (i.e. takeout). In this case the
answer is easy: the simple immediate raise (5-8) is weaker
than a Pass followed by a raise (9 points).
Here is a similar situation:
1b) 1S 2S! 3S
2S was a Michaels overcall by RHO. Here, again, the
immediate 3S is weaker than a Pass followed by 3S.
Over cuebids and takeout doubles, then, the faster we
raise the weaker we are. The further we get from these
examples, though, the less clear things are. For instance,
what if RHO makes an Unusual 2NT overcall and we are not
playing "Unusual Over Unusual"?
1c) 1S 2NT! 3S
Which is stronger now? This direct 3S or a Pass of
2NT followed by 3S on the next round?
This is close enough to the previous two examples to
play an immediate 3S as weaker than Pass-then-3S.
Now let us say that the opponents have found a fit.
This may come in a simple, standard auction like this one:
2a) 1H 1S 2H 2S
3D ??
Had Opener bid 3H we might have a Maximal Double to
show hands where we are inviting 4S. But a double of 3D
here will sound like Diamonds.
Occasionally we will hear some esoteric auctions
where our RHO has some gadget for supporting their partner.
For example, we might hear a lead directing suit bid from
pairs who play "Defensive Doubles":
2b) 1H 2C 2H 2S! = Lead directing with Clubs.
3H = Extras, or not?
Other pairs might play "fit jumps" against us:
2c) -- 1H 1S 3C! = Clubs with Heart support.
3S = Extras, or not?
In these three auctions the free bid shows extras,
while a Pass-then-raise denies them. But why are these
three sequences different from the first three?
The difference is in declared fit. After the first
three auctions the opponents have not found a fit yet:
1a) 1S-Dble
1b) 1S-2S
1c) 1S-2NT
Thus, we want the pre-emptive effect of a quick raise.
In the second set of auctions, though, the opponents HAVE
demonstrated a fit. It is too late to pre-empt them. Our
concern now may be to limit our own hand--lest Partner get
overboard--and perhaps learn more about the opponents'
holdings. For example, if we pass the forcing bid we get
to see if the opponents stop below game. Now, knowing
that Partner may have some extra values, we can compete.
So how can we remember this? Easy. We compete with
values, we pre-empt with lesser holdings. In this sense,
pre-empting is what we do BEFORE the opponents have found
a trump suit, competing is what we do AFTERWARDS.
There is a slight wrinkle, though. Consider this
auction:
3a) 1H 1S 2D 2S - Weaker than Pass-then-2S?
Responder's 2D is natural and forcing but does
not establish a fit. Thus, we might expect 2S to be
more "pre-emptive" (and thus weak) than "competitive"
(i.e. stronger) and, in a sense, it is. So would a
Pass then a Spade raise be stronger? In this case,
not necessarily. Note that Responder is showing a
good hand here, such that our chances of winning the
hand in 2S [undoubled] are slim. Chances are good that
Advancer is bidding 2S for lead directional purposes on:
S- KJx H-10xxx D- Kxx C- 432
...in case 1H Opener declares the hand. Switch
the black suit values to:
S- 432 H-10xxx D- Kxx C- KJx
...and Advancer might Pass with the idea of raising
Spades if and when the opponents run out of gas and need
to be pushed up a level.
This area of free raises over forcing bids may be one
of those gray areas that even established partners forget
to discuss. Don't let that happen to you and yours!
**********************
You'll find Kaltica (Colin Ward) doing his FireSide
sessions on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Colin is available for private/group lessons and/or
supervised play sessions. Email him at (kaltica@mts.net)
for more information.
Rainbow and Spectrum Series Online!
The popular Rainbow (SAYC and play) and Spectrum (2/1-GF)
series have been automated for your convenience. You can take
any of the lessons at your leisure simply by clicking on either
of these links:
http://www.firesides.net/rainbows.htm
http://www.firesides.net/spectrums.htm
Enjoy!
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Kaltica for this giggle:
WORDS
A husband read an article to his wife about how many
words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000.
The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we
have to repeat everything to men...
The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"
=============================================================
Fireside Chat Issues
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Ocbober, 2001
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November, 2001
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December, 2001
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January, 2002
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February, 2002
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March, 2002
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April, 2002
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May, 2002
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June, 2002
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July, 2002
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August, 2002
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September, 2002
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October, 2002
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November, 2002
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December, 2002
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January, 2003
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February, 2003
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March, 2003
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April, 2003
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May, 2003
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June, 2003
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July, 2003
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August, 2003
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September, 2003
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October, 2003
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November, 2003
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December, 2003
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January, 2004
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February, 2004
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March, 2004
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April, 2004
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May, 2004
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June, 2004
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July, 2004
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August, 2004
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September, 2004
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October, 2004
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November, 2004
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December, 2004
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