[David Stevenson]

When I was playing about fifty years ago I first saw someone pass a hand which had three aces only saying “only three tricks”. That is what is wrong with passing three aces: it is worth more than three tricks. Consider:

Kxx Kxx Kxx Kxxx

Opposite

xxx xxxx xxx xxx

it is worth about two tricks: on average two of the kings will be over the opposition’s aces.
Opposite

Axx Axxx Axx xxx

it is worth about three and a half tricks: on average the club king will be over the opposition’s ace half the time.

Three aces opposite has added one and a half tricks to the value of the hand with kings because aces combine well with kings.  Similarly Qxx is not worth much opposite nothing but is worth half a trick opposite an ace or king.

So a hand with three aces combines very well with any honours in partner’s hand and is definitely worth more than three tricks. The thought of passing a 4432 12 count with three aces is anathema to me because it is such a better hand than a lot of 12 counts.

 

[David Stevenson]

Several different questions here.

Can he make a judgement in a judgement decision? Certainly, he is the director.

Should he make such a judgement? Usually the answer is yes. There may occasionally be an alternative director available in which case one could call for another director. I have experienced in live bridge where I was playing but not directing where I was asked to  give a ruling at the director’s table which is sensible. But normally there is no alternative anyway.

Is such a judgement binding? The laws give the right to appeal any judgement ruling and there is no difference whether it is a director at his own table or at another table. The problem is that very few clubs have any method of dealing with an appeal. So if there is no practical method of appealing then the ruling is binding.

[David Stevenson]

I don’t jump on very poor suits.  I don’t jump on two suiters where I might pass 3NT in an unfortunate fashion.

KJxx

AJ9xx

Ax

Ax

After 1C I bid 2H. Now if partner does not rebid 2S we have no spade fit so I can bid 3N in comfort.
Kx

AQJxx

AQTxx

J

After 1C I have to respond 1H. But I do so reluctantly because slam bidding will now be extraordinarily difficult.

[David Stevenson]

I play on BBO and RealBridge and each has advantages and disadvantages. I like screaming abuse at partner when she ruffs my winner and she tells me that she also screams at me!

I think we are very lucky to have a game that we can play during lockdown and with some of us not being that young I think that even after lockdown ends a lot of players will stick to online bridge.
I prefer playing on BBO for the following reasons:

#1 All previous sessions are available in the history without having to find a link

#2 The method of paying is easier

#3 BBO is less susceptible to poor connections

#4 Matches can be played easily and are free

I prefer directing on RealBridge for the following reasons:

#1 The BBO directing software is awful

#2 If something is wrong, RealBridge listens, BBO ignores you

#3 When you need to find something out from the players, talking to them is easier and more effective than texting which is often ignored

#4 There is more flexibility in moving the room in pairs movements

#5 You do not have to do a lot of adjustments when tables run out of time

However I am glad both exist and BBO may improve as they take notice of the competition.

One comment about tournament direction: it is not really as easy as Alexander thinks, which may be why forum is still getting a lot of queries even when nearly everyone is playing online. You try it, and wait until East is saying the other pair were texting and could not have reached the grand slam without it, to which North retorts to ask how East found that wonderful lead on the last hand if West had not smiled when diamonds were bid!  You will want my phone number then!

[David Stevenson]

I am always interested in why people who play strong jump responses restrict them to two types of hand as Brian says which makes them fairly rare as he also says. I play them as a reasonable 5+ card suit and a good 15 points or more, which is much more frequent and in my view more useful. Describing your hand to partner is what this game is all about and if I have a 5332 16 count and respond 2S to 1C I have described my hand and can leave partner to make the decisions.

I am not decrying the use of weak jump shifts as described by Charles and Brian, just saying that it is much better if playing strong jump shifts not to limit them to two types of hand.

[David Stevenson]

Another use for 2C – 2D – 2N which you might consider is an 8 playing trick hand with 5-5 in the minors.  Playing without this it is impossible to show both suits without passing 3N if you start with 2C.

[David Stevenson]

My experience suggests that bidding 7-5 hands with a major and a minor by bidding the 5 card major first is losing policy unless the system really does not allow it, for example with 5 points in response to 1D with 7 clubs and 5 hearts you have to bid 1H. People who bid the 5 card major first find it impossible to describe their hand to partner.  I have even known someone who opened 1H with 5Hs and 8Cs and just managed to make a lucky 4H contract with 7C cold!

[David Stevenson]

Julian’s advice on bidding is very valuable. However if you wish to ask Julian a question this really is the wrong forum.   May I suggest you transfer your question to the Ask Julian forum.

[David Stevenson]

This rather depends, Angela, on whether you are asking what is the minimum point count playing good bridge, which is a question for the Ask Julian forum, or whether you are asking what you may legally play.
If you are asking the latter then all artificial strong two level openings must contain at least 16 points, or at least 12 points with at least five controls, where an ace is two controls and a king is one control.

[David Stevenson]

When playing live bridge you do not alert bids above 3N after the first round so Gerber and Blackwood are not alertable unless they are directly in response to the opening bid.
Fourth Suit Forcing is always alertable.

[David Stevenson]

No. Your opponents have an absolute right to know your agreed methods through answers to questions, alerts, announcements and system cards (aka convention cards). On the other hand they have no absolute right to know what is in your hand. So theoretically your friend should have corrected the explanation to what the system actually shows even though it would not be helpful in this instance.

[David Stevenson]

To go back to your original question “is there a name for it” the answer is no, unless you consider “transfers in response to a penalty double of 1N” a name!

[David Stevenson]

To be honest I do not think this hand is an advert for a 5 card major system.  I play this sequence the same whether playing 4 or 5 card majors.
If you want a serious discussion about 4 or 5 card majors I suggest a new thread here. I have played both over many years and have reached no firm conclusion yet.

[David Stevenson]

I play 3♥️ as non-forcing but a game try.

I have discussed the sequence with my partner and I am sure she would agree with me.

If 3♥️ is forcing then 4♥️ is weaker, or shows a specific discussed hand.

——-

Note that in the example hand my partner and I play 3♣️ as guaranteeing five ♥️s so we would bid 4♥️ on the second round.

[David Stevenson]

I expect hearts did not break 3-3.  Nevertheless 4H looks the best contract and yet very few pairs would reach it.

[Author]

Posts