[mike777]

Please list and discuss any advanced or higher auctions that seem to have geninue World class agreement(not 100%), but lower rated players mess up time after time.

[awm]

I think one topic where there's some confusion is high-level doubles. For example:

5♣ - X
1♥ - 4♠ - X
1♠ - 2♣ - 4♠ - X

The consensus among advanced and expert players is that these doubles essentially have to be "cards." They're normally fairly flat hand types with a lot of values, lacking a great fit for partner or a strong single suit. They don't show a "stack" in the opponents suit (that would be incredibly rare) nor do they necessarily imply classic takeout shape. The intent is that partner sit with most hands and pull with a very shapely hand.

Among intermediate players, I see a lot of confusion about these doubles. Some people term them "penalty" and will never pull them under any circumstances (nor bid them without a trump stack). Others think they are "takeout" or "negative" or "responsive" doubles and bid frequently with the wrong hands. Personally, I believe that experts have muddied the waters by ascribing a lot of names to doubles that don't really reflect the meaning of the call. Despite the fact that virtually all experts agree on the meanings of these doubles, we'll see them assigned different names on different expert CCs.

[keylime]

I agree with Adam, with the addition of competitive bidding being an area of opportunity.

Also, slam bidding is nearly automatic for the greats.

[Free]

2♦* - (5m) - ??? (2♦ = multi)
What's Dbl, 5♥, 5♠,...? Many players just don't know. I'm not even sure what the best treatment is.

And another high preempt:
1M - (4NT) - ?
Dbl = hammer!
5♣ = strong hand with ♥ (if M = ♥, general slam try with fit)
5♦ = strong hand with ♠ (if M = ♠, general slam try with fit)
5M = competitive, no slam try
5OM = competitive, natural, no M support
This is called "unusual vs unusual", but many intermediates don't play it this high (they know it after 1M-2NT, but not after 1M-4NT ).

[pclayton]

1. Reopening with length after 1x - (overcall) - pass - (pass) - ? I have seen many club players reopen no matter what their hand looks like. For example: Axx, AQxxx, x, Kxxx. and you open 1♥; 1♠ on left - check to you. The reasoning is usually "....But pard might have had a penalty double of 1♠"

2. Not balancing enough in fit auctions at pairs. The auction (1 grape) - pass - (2 grapes) - pass - (pass) - pass should happen perhaps 2 in 10 times.

3. Balancing in non-fit auctions: (1 grape) - pass - (1N) - pass - (2 grapes) - pass - (pass) or (1 minor) - pass - (1N) - pass - (pass) - ? are potential minefields and must be handled gingerly.

4. The overuse of blackwood / key-card. Learn to trust pard and cue bid when its appropriate.

5. The overuse of 2 suited overcalls. I'm as guilty as anyone on this matter.

6. Trying to over-optimize after a preempt. The best players sometimes miss slams when they are preempted. Learn to stay fixed and take your profit.

[Walddk]

1♣ 1♠ pass pass
1NT

1♥ 2♣ pass pass
2NT

1NT and 2NT respectively show 18-19 balanced. Many non expert players get this wrong. They think along the "NT as cheaply as possible" (12-14) line which does not apply when partner has passed after the overcall.

In both instances, partner can have very little, and that's why you need a "safety net", e.g. very strong balanced. What if you have 12-14 balanced, some may wonder.

Pass! Then we have no errand. On rare occasions, you have a doubleton in the suit LHO overcalled, and partner could have a trap pass. If you have, you can re-open with a double.

Roland

[paulg]

Responding to a takeout double.

(1 Grape) - Double - (Pass) -

The strength and hand required for 1 Plum/1NT/2 Plums/2 Grapes/2NT/3 Plums seems to come up repeatedly in BIL sessions.

Which is a little strange since it is not difficult, but I sometimes think that the (huge) focus on conventions means that even simple things become overcomplicated. And this is made worse by on-line bridge, where teaching the basics is overrun by teaching conventions so that people can cope with their partner's profile.

Paul

[Walddk]

cardsharp, on Oct 5 2006, 12:14 PM, said:

And this is made worse by on-line bridge, where teaching the basics is overrun by teaching conventions so that people can cope with their partner's profile.

Paul

Spot on! Double reverse Smith peters seem to have higher priority than responses to take-out doubles.

Roland

[Elianna]

Not a specific auction, but I've noticed players (from beginning to advanced levels) have problems with bids changing meanings. What I mean is that they believe that certain bids mean whatever they want them to mean, to describe what's in their hand.

The only difference I've seen between beginners and advanced is how complex the auction has to get before they change meanings. I've seen beginners do this on "book" auctions, and advanced players usually do it in the third or fourth rounds of bidding, or in competition. You also see them do it frequently in bidding polls.

I wouldn't consider someone an expert who does this kind of thing.