[mtvesuvius]

I like #33. it's fun too

[Trumpace]

pirate22, on Apr 21 2009, 03:35 AM, said:

I will input 2 rules, "Cardinal"and hope there will be more via this forum.


B .... if ones partner opens 1n/t, be it weak/strong,and pard uses stayman (2cl)
response whatever.........if pard now bids 4n/t (ace ask)partner must respond,partner is not allowed to pass

Huh?

1NT - 2C
2D - 4NT

4NT is blackwood here?

Do the "cardinal" rules have to be fundamentally true? Or do they just have to have a religious following?

[Hanoi5]

There the defense golden rules (there's even a book, a good one by the way, third hand high, second hand low, etc) and then the number rules (the rule of 10, 11, 12 for leads of the 5th, 4th and 3rd card, the rule of 20 for opening bids, the rule of 15 for opening at 4th position, etc).

[bill1157]

when in doubt don't lead trumps

Bill

[Ant590]

If in doubt, don't pass.

[jdaming]

How about when in doubt double a junior for penalty?

[Double !]

I have a few rules to consider: aka Don's Rules (lol)

#1) Never get involved in the opponents "discussions" at the table. Wait patiently and keep your mouth shut.

#2) Never get involved in discussion about a hand or play with your partner at the table, at least until the remaining boards are completed for that round. Make notes and discuss the matter at a more private and convenient time. Remember, your partner is trying just as hard as you are.

#3) Pay attention to the time clock during the round just before a hospitality break& try to finish on time. Gives you more time to wait in line at the bathrooms or to run outside for a quick smoke,..... or just to get air and clear your head.

#4) If partner suddenly bids some form of ace/ keycard asking bid and a trump suit has NOT been clearly agreed upon, assume the last naturally bid suit as being trumps for the purpose or responding.

#5) Do NOT take my Diet Coke from me when you leave my table.


DHL

[pirate22]

to "Trumpace" nothing is set in stone---but your partners i hope will back your judgement and reply ))))))))))))))))) ex ample

this is what instigated my topic recently to me, you hold xs--AKQJ98652 h---K2 d--xcl

pick up partner usual sayc But no transfers.

opens first position 1n/t--i responded 2cl(stayman)
2 spades " 4n/t
PASS " ??

opening lead small club Opener holds KQ1096 s--104 h--AJ105d--Q10cl
obviously mis counted his hand,and recovered his mistake by not responding to 4 n/t-------------I never found out what his/her drink was,but he/she watched,my play,losing 6 cl and a spade

[Stephen Tu]

pirate22, you should learn that most people consider 4nt after 1nt opening, either directly over 1nt (1nt-4nt), or directly after stayman/jacoby transfer (1nt-2c-2x-4nt, 1nt-2d-2h-4nt) to be natural, non-forcing, and inviting slam, aka "quantitative". It is not blackwood under standard agreements!

You should have bid 4c, Gerber, directly over 1nt; your hand is one of the few hands that actually qualify for that (should be) rarely used convention, but massively overused by most beginner/ints.

You also have the option of Texas transfer (4d) followed by 4nt, RKC, if you have those agreements in place, but on the actual hand 4c Gerber would be normal.

[matmat]

i thought it was the abbott that ruled.

[whereagles]

Double !, on Apr 22 2009, 12:56 AM, said:

#1) Never get involved in the opponents "discussions" at the table. Wait patiently and keep your mouth shut.

Priceless

[pdmunro]

My favorite rule comes from Culbertson (I'm guessing he adapted it from the game of Whist):

The Rule of Two and Three

"For all 'defensive bids' ... you must be able to win, in your own hand, all but TWO of the tricks you bid for if you are vulnerable; or all but THREE of the tricks you bid for if you are not vulnerable."

Source: Ely Culbertson (1954) "Contract Bridge Self-Teacher" Faber and Faber, Price 6S. 6D. (U.K.)

As the blurb on the front cover says, "Teach yourself! All you need is this book and a pencil." OK The above rule was all I took from the book, but it was worth the price, $6.98, a slight increase from the original.

Another rule I have found helpful comes from Sylvia's Rules of the Rock (1997):

"New suits at the three level are game forcing."

http://jeffgoldsmith.../bridgepro.html

It's strange but I have never seen this rule written elsewhere. Maybe I should read more.

[Gerben42]

Quote

The Rule of Two and Three

For preemptive opening bids that rule is extremely conservative, especially the "three" part.

Quote

"New suits at the three level are game forcing."

I've noticed that some pairs don't play this, some Italians for one seem to play auctions like 1♠ (2♥) 3♣ as nonforcing. Perhaps they are right!

[hrothgar]

Double !, on Apr 22 2009, 03:56 AM, said:

I have a few rules to consider: aka Don's Rules (lol)

#1) Never get involved in the opponents "discussions" at the table. Wait patiently and keep your mouth shut.

This might hold true at MP, but its most certainly not true at teams.

You should be looking for any opportunity to fan the flames. Opponents who are sniping / yelling at each other aren't going to play at all well...

[BillHiggin]

Cardinal rule:
If your partner says he plays SAYC but no transfers, then you ought to prepare to enjoy the adventures that are about to happen - good bridge is not on the slate today.

[Old York]

There are no Cardinal rules

But read "Cardinal Sins" by David Bird and Terence Reese

Tony

[hanp]

I must say I haven't spotted many good rules in this thread, and lots of bad ones. The bridge rules are generally terrible. The social rules are generally overly sensitive and not conductive to winning bridge.

[Apollo81]

When holding 13 cards in a suit, don't sell out below the 7-level.

[awm]

While I agree that most of the bridge rules are fairly silly, I think the social rules are actually good, and that they are conducive to winning bridge.

[hanp]

Maybe to you offering to buy your partner a coke is the best way to get your mind on track again, to me it isn't..

I showed Jeff Goldsmith's If you open a strong notrump with 14 HCP, it's probably good enough to accept a game invitation to a partner. She told me the rule doesn't apply to me.