Example #22 - Second chance

Boards presented here are not about 'normal' bridge. If that were the case there would be no need for this blog in the first place.
So, we feel it's fair to give you a second chance - but this time based on the same information we're convinced Aruf based his action upon when this board was played. For a more realistic approach you might contemplate acquiring a second computer, placing the monitor next to the one you're using right now, and studying the hand record presented below on the new monitor.

You're sitting East, playing with a pick-up partner in a 12-board ACBL-sanctioned tournament on Bridge Base Online.
Bidding is based on standard 5-c major systems like sayc or 2/1, unless stated otherwise.

Dealer S Vul All Scoring Imp Lead	♠ 976542 ♥ 9 ♦ 43 ♣ Q653
♠ KJ8 ♥ AQJ743 ♦ A2 ♣ T2		♠ QT ♥ K62 ♦ Q975 ♣ AJ94
	♠ A3 ♥ T85 ♦ KJT86 ♣ K87

West	North	East	South
			p
1♥	p	?

Once you've made up your mind you can compare your solution with Aruf's action, presented in the final post about this board.

Example #22 - Quiz

You're sitting East, playing with a pick-up partner in a 12-board ACBL-sanctioned tournament on Bridge Base Online.
Bidding is based on standard 5-c major systems like sayc or 2/1, unless stated otherwise.

Dealer S Vul All Scoring Imp Lead	♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣		♠ QT ♥ K62 ♦ Q975 ♣ AJ94
	♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

West	North	East	South
			p
1♥	p	?

To achieve maximum appreciation of the Aruf genius we suggest you decide on your action before looking at the full hand record, presented in the next post about this board.

Example #21 - Final showdown

The question 'Plan the bidding' was not a joke ... you really have some work to do here.

6C is cold, provided you play the C suit the right suit around.
That is something you're not going to entrust to some ignorant partner, so instead of a clear-cut take-out double you start by bidding 2C.

Dealer W Vul - Scoring MP Lead ♦A	♠ AKQ973 ♥ 5 ♦ 932 ♣ Q93
♠ 642 ♥ KT2 ♦ Q5 ♣ AT765		♠ ♥ AQ98 ♦ KJ84 ♣ KJ842
	♠ JT85 ♥ J7643 ♦ AT76 ♣

West	North	East	South
p	1♠	2♣	4♠
5♣	p	6♣	p
p	p

The bidding proceeds like one would expect: 4S from South, followed by 5C from partner.
Now you can happily bid 6C. Of course, you don't misguess trumps ... 12 tricks, for another top.

Example #21 - Second chance

Boards presented here are not about 'normal' bridge. If that were the case there would be no need for this blog in the first place.
So, we feel it's fair to give you a second chance - but this time based on the same information we're convinced Aruf based his action upon when this board was played. For a more realistic approach you might contemplate acquiring a second computer, placing the monitor next to the one you're using right now, and studying the hand record presented below on the new monitor.

You're sitting East, playing with a pick-up partner in a 12-board ACBL-sanctioned tournament on Bridge Base Online.
Bidding is based on standard 5-c major systems like sayc or 2/1, unless stated otherwise.

Dealer W Vul - Scoring MP Lead	♠ AKQ973 ♥ 5 ♦ 932 ♣ Q93
♠ 642 ♥ KT2 ♦ Q5 ♣ AT765		♠ ♥ AQ98 ♦ KJ84 ♣ KJ842
	♠ JT85 ♥ J7643 ♦ AT76 ♣

West	North	East	South
p	1♠	?

Plan the bidding.

Once you've made up your mind you can compare your solution with Aruf's action, presented in the final post about this board.

Example #21 - Quiz

You're sitting East, playing with a pick-up partner in a 12-board ACBL-sanctioned tournament on Bridge Base Online.
Bidding is based on standard 5-c major systems like sayc or 2/1, unless stated otherwise.

Dealer W Vul - Scoring MP Lead	♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣		♠ ♥ AQ98 ♦ KJ84 ♣ KJ842
	♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

West	North	East	South
p	1♠	?

Plan the bidding.

To achieve maximum appreciation of the Aruf genius we suggest you decide on your action before looking at the full hand record, presented in the next post about this board.

Example #20 - Final showdown

No game is on, so what's the problem?

Dealer N Vul E/W Scoring MP Lead ♥J	♠ A952 ♥ J9 ♦ T742 ♣ KT3
♠ 876 ♥ Q3 ♦ 85 ♣ AQJ654		♠ KJT3 ♥ A85 ♦ AKJ9 ♣ 87
	♠ Q4 ♥ KT7642 ♦ Q63 ♣ 92

West	North	East	South
	p	1NT	2♥
3♣	p	p	p

You may wonder if E-W had any agreement about 3C being forcing or not.
We don't know - but it's clear West intended 3C to be forcing and anyway ... who would pass 3C playing with a pick-up partner?

Aruf doesn't need conventions and agreements. In fact, he would often be better off without partners altogether - but even BBO management is unlikely to grant him that privilege.
Remember the board where Aruf replied 2NT to his partner's 2C opening and claimed it was a transfer to H? This happens to be the same partner ...

Example #20 - Second chance

Boards presented here are not about 'normal' bridge. If that were the case there would be no need for this blog in the first place.
So, we feel it's fair to give you a second chance - but this time based on the same information we're convinced Aruf based his action upon when this board was played. For a more realistic approach you might contemplate acquiring a second computer, placing the monitor next to the one you're using right now, and studying the hand record presented below on the new monitor.

You're sitting East, playing with a pick-up partner in a 12-board ACBL-sanctioned tournament on Bridge Base Online.
Bidding is based on standard 5-c major systems like sayc or 2/1, unless stated otherwise.

Dealer N Vul E/W Scoring MP Lead	♠ A952 ♥ J9 ♦ T742 ♣ KT3
♠ 876 ♥ Q3 ♦ 85 ♣ AQJ654		♠ KJT3 ♥ A85 ♦ AKJ9 ♣ 87
	♠ Q4 ♥ KT7642 ♦ Q63 ♣ 92

West	North	East	South
	p	1NT	2♥
3♣	p	?

Once you've made up your mind you can compare your solution with Aruf's action, presented in the final post about this board.