Charles Bentley
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None of the juniors taught at our club are taught Benji. Having played Benji for 15+ years I absolutely do not regret changing to 3 weak twos 10 years ago.
As a wildlife photographer I too know the problem of carrying heavy lenses.
I’m surprised at David’s explanation. Is ‘Weak’ enough of a response? We say (in 3rd seat) ‘Weak to intermediate’. Why is the obligation on the enquirer to have to say ‘what do you mean by weak?’ or whatever. Would a weaker playres be brave enough? Isn’t this like when players respond (after 1NT-2H-) ‘multi-landy’ when it is more helpful to respond ‘5 hearts and 4+ of an undisclosed minor’? In our clubs, most of the better players are very good at explaining level-2/exotic conventions.
David, I though the correct way to ask was ‘Do you play standard leads?’ i.e. the ones printed on many club scorecards.
You used to be a wedding photographer in Hampshire, Sean?
With your sense of humour you might appreciate the caption in a recent issue of my wildlife photography magazine (from the early days of Bernard’s broadcasts):
Not being able to get a haircut, Bernard had to use a stronger hairbrush
I think Barbara is asking about your own photo, not inserting one into a discussion. No idea how to do it, though Sean has managed it.
I am surprised that Julian says you ‘nearly always have 5-card support’. We play 4-card majors and raise to 4 with 4-card support and 7 losers (< 12 HCP). Julian’s hand is 7 losers (no ace, but an extra trump). I thought eveyone did this. With 4 supporting trumps in a major, there is (I think) a better than >60% chance that 1H opener has 5 cards and >70% chance when she opens 1S.
I guess Bertnard is constrained by not wanting to use Checkback at the moment. Hopefully he will cover this widely-used convention in future seminars. Using 2C checkback to find 5/3 and 3/5 major fits allows the bid of 3D in our partnerhsip agreement to show 5 good diamonds.
Here’s Julian explaining Checkback:
https://mrbridge.co.uk/library/single-magazine.html?issue=190#190/page/48-49
We play double for take out and implying the other major (Hs). Even if you played Lebensohl 2NT, this hand would be too strong (more than 9 HCP). Without Lebensohl, a 3H bid is tricky to assess – is it weak and long or game-going? We play 3H as game force with 5Hs and 11+ HCP, but for me this hand = 10 HCP
Julian (and polite Brian) – as a matter of establishing BMB forum etiquette, are you happy to assume we are grateful and not post thank yous? It will keep the forum tidier!
I agree Brian – for me at teams and at pairs, the 2D bidder may have borrowed a King. So are we wrong? I would prefer to defend against 3D than 2D.
We don’t psych, but surely the whole point of a legitimate psych is that partner has no idea? We felt Bernard was being too tough on his partner for not working out what his 3NT bid (doubled) meant. I don’t think Bernard should have blamed him for doubling by being so dogmatic about it. Pete will watch the recording and perhaps he can tell us what he was thinking. Did he belatedly realise that he was actually a 1H opener and that if partner could bid 3NT it was their contract?
