[jillybean]

I played at the club ‘Christmas Party’ on Saturday, lots of fun, food, wine, music, and Bridge. I was paired up with a new partner, we sat down to discuss our bidding and he announced that he played ‘ASBIF’
Any Strange Bid Is Forcing, this should be a fun night.

On the 5th round one of our opponents was a guy apparently well known for his extreme gruffness and disregard for the rules. Forgoing the usual pleasantries we pick up our cards. LHO opens 1♦, my partner passes, RHO bids 1♠ and I overcall 2♣ holding K,xx,xx,AQJ87642
The bidding continues (2♠) P (4♠) all pass.

I led A♣, dummy goes down AQxx,Kx,Axxx,Txx and declarer says ‘Ive got 7’ as he folds his cards, puts them back in the bidding box and leans back in his chair! My partner calls for the director, I’m sitting there speechless. The Director comes to the table, obviously used to handling this guy and has him remove his hand from the bidding box and lay it on the table JT9xxx,AQJx,KQx,void
After the second board my partner asks to see their convention card, they have none. I’m glad to move onto the next table.

Another board holding Kx,ATxxx,AQxx,Tx I had trouble bidding, misbid, but ended up in a good contract. (V vs NV)

(P) 1♠ (P) 2♥
(P) 3♠ (P) your bid? (strong jumps were not discussed)

[han]

Wow, I don't think I've seen that kind of behavior before. I'm glad your partner called the director.

Playing with a regular partner I would bid 4D, cuebid for spades. Not having that agreement I might just bid 4S. I have a very nice hand, but I don't think that it is good enough to go beyond 4S.

[Al_U_Card]

I like 4S.

4 NT asking (for trouble) is out for me as I won't ask with 2 quick losers in a side suit. 4D has merit as you have promised the GF hand and have nice trump support and also get to find the 4-4 D fit when it is needed. 5C (slam try in spades and asking about C losers with pard) might also work to show the nature of your hand for spades but will really help the opps with the opening lead.

[skjaeran]

Al_U_Card, on Apr 3 2007, 01:13 PM, said:

I like 4S.

4 NT asking (for trouble) is out for me as I won't ask with 2 quick losers in a side suit. 4D has merit as you have promised the GF hand and have nice trump support and also get to find the 4-4 D fit when it is needed. 5C (slam try in spades and asking about C losers with pard) might also work to show the nature of your hand for spades but will really help the opps with the opening lead.

4♦ would be a cubid agreeing ♠'s for me and 5♣ would be exclusion.
I'd probably bid 4♦.

[mycroft]

1) That's the way to handle him - especially pulling that stunt on newbodies. If the TD gets called, every time, quietly and calmly, either TD gets annoyed and starts hinting at (and applying, if necessary) penalties, or he stops doing it.

He was probably annoyed that they didn't get to slam and was taking it out on partner. You just got caught in the middle. Although, if partner's spades were Kx instead of xx, you'd get making 6. If partner's spades were stiff K, he'd probably get making 6 and a PP for trying to game the decision.

As the TD, with the spades unknown, I'd give declarer a good talking to anyway.
If, however, he'd ruffed the club, led a spade and seen the K drop, then stuck his hand in the board, I'd just remind him that you have to show your cards for a claim, and save that kind of gameplaying for against <well-known experts>.

Hey, it's fun. I've done it. I've even done the "partner has 6 spades to the AK, the HK and the DA. Making 7?" claim before the opening lead. But I wouldn't do it if the opponents weren't capable of handling it - and it's really bad form to do it to intimidate or to avoid making a guess.

Keep staying calm and letting the TD fight your battles for you. Those kind of newbie-intimidators win by rattling their opponents (right out of the game, sometimes). It doesn't work against you, I see; and I can't do anything if I'm not called, neh?

Michael.

[GeeGee]

Exactly as Michael says

Geoff

[jillybean]

I was asked if this really happened Yes and I am not embellishing!
I’m a newbie to live bridge but my partner certainly wasn’t, this guy was just being arrogant and a bully.
Call the TD!