Chat log of grizz mentoring session with norrito1 at: Sun Nov 04 09:52:47 2007 norrito1 (Lobby): Hi Pete ->norrito1: hiya! norrito1 (Lobby): random is fine unless you have a plan ->norrito1: random is fine norrito1: Hi Kibs H norrito1: we do random hands ok grizz: sure, random is fine norrito1: you can guide me here teach 2or 3 suits grizz: there are 2 possible bids here grizz: most use X as a 3 suit takeout grizz: and NT as a 2 suit takeout norrito1: if fast 4!S yes? grizz: right norrito1: ok grizz: or 4!H norrito1: 4!H? grizz: in the same kind of auction, 1!D-P-4!h-P-P-? grizz: X = 3-suit takeout, NT = 2-suit norrito1: yes I know that grizz: ok grizz: but since you could have made a routine takeout X of 1!d but didn't, and W is long in !s, N assumes you were offshape for a X but have some power norrito1: ok you read it well grizz: so you have an awkward hand norrito1: so play or defend? grizz: if you X, N might leave it in grizz: and it makes :( norrito1: lucky !C grizz: and N must take out 4NT, so here we are norrito1: Mary, good hand here to record grizz: unfortunate result here grizz: down 2 would be a good result norrito1: 4!S makes grizz: we played it all the way out, so it will save norrito1: K!D onside grizz: if S doubles and N leaves it in, that's a worse result grizz: and either X or 4NT leads to 5!H norrito1: I will have to go ->norrito1: go where? norrito1: go !H 5 grizz: right norrito1: score wont be to bad grizz: N has a terrible hand, 4333 grizz: might take a chance on 5!c after the NT bid grizz: but very risky to bid 3 card suits grizz: y, might be about par grizz: ready for another? norrito1: most random hands have something to talk about norrito1: fire away grizz: indeed they do grizz: are you itching to open this one? grizz: consider possible rebid problems norrito1: 3rd seat for sure but no major norrito1: I will pass after grizz: if you open 1!c, you don't want to have to reverse to !d after a major or NT bid grizz: and if you open 1!d, you have a problem after 1!s or 1NT norrito1: not likely game grizz: nope norrito1: Hi kibs nice to see y.all grizz: hi all, thx for coming norrito1: can talk if wish I dont mind norrito1: I will share all grizz: N might be tempted to bid 2NT here, but South's pass of 1!h tipped him off that S is subminimum norrito1: yes let pd know as soon as poss .yes grizz: right, describe your hand as early and as accurately as possible grizz: so pd knows whether to bid, X or pass norrito1: pass then maybe balance IF POSS norrito1: well we tried at least bt !S top suit karinka: why didnt W bid 1NT after S opening? grizz: that was a possibility grizz: !hs didn't look too appetizing norrito1: sounds like even hcp grizz: E might have enough points for game opposite balanced 15 norrito1: half pack grizz: but didn't sound like it on the auction, with N making a free bid after the reopening X norrito1: he likely got !D grizz: ok norrie, your lead grizz: good thinking! ops did not bid NT grizz: and W surely has a !d stop or 2 grizz: here is an opportunity for N to give a suit preference signal grizz: it is obvious that he can't want a !h continuation grizz: so the low !H asks for a !c next norrito1: so !C grizz: which makes sense, with the unsupported K in dummy norrito1: tenace I guess grizz: lucky make on half the deck onluy norrito1: guess we put them off game? grizz: of course, if ops are in 4, N will take the !cA for the set grizz: but didn't want to set up the !CK in dummy for a pitch norrito1: ok grizz: one thought grizz: when you do lead the !c, did you give any thought to leading the J? grizz: since you don't have any entries to lead the !c through a second time grizz: even though you don't have the T, it puts declarer to the guess grizz: N might have it, or could be doubleton in E norrito1: good thinking grizz: either way, if dummy ducks you can run another one grizz: ready for another? norrito1: si seņor grizz: wait, i'm going to poll the kibs on this one norrito1: great idea grizz: anybody think N should reopen? why or why not? norrito1: me no hurry bluehi: x camilleln: x...no defense with hearts grizz: it's not an ideal hand, but the vul is favorable norrito1: balance N'? Fazza: tempting to make a t\o, but bad spade grizz: y, this is one of those judgment hands bluehi: a bit light grizz: might wind up playing 2!s in a 4-3 fit norrito1: pd must have something? bluehi: bit NV grizz: y, S rates to have some stuff rq4mulae: best suits are minors; no balance over 2M? grizz: i think on balance, X is best grizz: wrong shape for NT, minors aren't long enough grizz: and !SK will be useful if pd bids !s norrito1: so we push them to 3!H I guess grizz: just be prepared as N to play in a 4-3 fit norrito1: S grizz: ok norrie, you have 3!hs so N can't be long there norrito1: 2!S cheaper but? grizz: so X must be takeout bluehi: y grizz: but you should never bid a 3 card suit here norrito1: of course a take out grizz: play it straight, and the !c bid stands out grizz: now we know something more about the hand grizz: W opened in 2nd seat, but passed twice. grizz: probably a subminimum opener norrito1: I am being a bit careful SURE grizz: and E doesn't have much to talk about grizz: N is happy not to be in a 4-3 !s fit grizz: and E with his average 4333 won't push the issue norrito1: well N V grizz: sure, lose a !d, a !h and 2 or 3!s grizz: for making or down 1 grizz: undoubled, so no disaster norrito1: I am happy down 1 if has to be grizz: the !HQ is a very loud card norrito1: !C now I guess grizz: asking for a switch to the higher suit, !s wodson: spade switch grizz: and the T is led, based on same logic as last hand norrito1: hey that was fine NO UNDOS lol grizz: lol norrito1: Call T D grizz: not a bad result, since 2!h make 3 grizz: rofl grizz: one other point on this hand norrito1: probably an ave or near? grizz: sure grizz: no top, but no disaster either grizz: experts tend to play for averages and tops, avoiding bottoms norrito1: I think you had to balance yes grizz: the other point was in the reopening grizz: in the reopening position, such as North after 2!h-P-P-? grizz: North has only 10 hcp grizz: and a little shape grizz: darn little! norrito1->Club: but duty yes more or less with 2 only !H grizz: when making the decision whether to reopen, he 'borrows' about 3 hcp from pd grizz: in effect bidding his partner's points too norrito1: yes grizz: and S must remember that pd has 'borrowed' that king, and subtract 3 points or so when responding norrito1: & push em up works many time too grizz: keeping in mind that partner is already bidding some of his points grizz: exactly grizz: since only about 1 hand in 4 makes game grizz: 3 hands in 4 are part scores grizz: and the war is won or lost on close part-score battles norrito1: y grizz: the reopening X is one of your most valuable tools in the part-score battle grizz: and 'borrowing' points is a key concept bluehi: tu grizz: but always keep an eye on vulnerability when making the decision grizz: one more? norrito1: ye pete my stew on the pot grizz: kibs: that's norrie's code for "the beer is in the fridge" lol norrito1: we decided 1hour all ok a bit short sorry lenia1: lol beryl8: lol... norrito1: he does not lie lol grizz: what kind of interference do you play over ops' NT? norrito1: I like dont (maybe capp grizz: ok, i like DONT grizz: with one wrinkle grizz: playing regular dont, you often play in a 4-3 minor fit when a better major fit is available grizz: but the risk of exploring is high grizz: one good solution is Revised DONT grizz: where !s and !h are natural grizz: !C and !d are same as regular, showing that and a higher suit grizz: but X is either a long minor or both majors grizz: and is usually a relay to 2!c to ask pd for further description norrito1: can try it bluehi: are the responses the samehttp://homepage.mac.com/bridgeguys//Conventions/DONTrevised.html grizz: responses are the same, except that major bids do not show another suit norrito1: ok got it will check it out later grizz: so 2!d is !d and a major grizz: and you have a perfect hand now, bid !hs to discover which major pd has norrito1: was sorting alert grizz: now East is fuming grizz: since NS have hijacked his side's strong NT auction grizz: but he didn't have the shape or strength to X the 2!d bid grizz: is itching to X 2!s norrito1: yo will have abot 12 hcp yes grizz: yes, should have about 12+ to operate like this over ops' NT rq4mulae: 2D is ok in DONT, no? grizz: right, Revised DONT: http://homepage.mac.com/bridgeguys//Conventions/DONTrevised.html grizz: E would like to X, but it is very dangerous grizz: since it's a big score if it makes, doubled into game grizz: would score 700-odd grizz: so East passes and pouts grizz: and without !s control, and with East passing throughout, and since East is the captain, West can't bid any more grizz: so he must pass norrito1: can they swear here Pete? grizz: (&$*)$@!! norrito1: dont know that one grizz: and NS are in the garden spot here norrito1: great help Pete tks for lesson.......... and all kibs tks for coming grizz: now, how should N attack the hand? grizz: go to work on trump? grizz: if so, where are the winners? grizz: best to cross ruff this one grizz: and the defense to cross ruff is to lead trump norrito1: wd sir grizz: ty, ty beryl8: VERY valuable lesson for me......never understood importance of "reopening x" or sac bids in general....probably stems from NO duplicate experience.....thanks!! grizz: any questions on that one? bluehi: n norrito1: it looked fine to me norrito1: tks all & Pete !H grizz: when you are red, especially red vs. white and white opens NT, you should have some power in the hand grizz: N has a very nice hand for NT interference here, and made the best use of it grizz: so thx all, we will see you next week. grizz: and this lesson will be on my website shortly grizz: thx all, bye now norrito1: adios all!