[kenrexford]

My head about exploded.

I decided to tune in to watch some friends who were at a table playing a few on BBO. I signed in hidden or whatever, so I was not seen. Wow.

I only watched one DEAL (smartass!!! LOL) and then ran for my life.

Dealer had a nice 4423 11-count, and passed. I would have opened 1♣, but whatever.

Second hand had a nice 4432 and minimum Opening values, but passed. Weird.

Third seat had a weak 5-5 minor hand. I thought I'd probably bid 2♦. Nope -- pass. Three passes in a row when I'd open each.

Fourth seat did have an opening bid, with five hearts, four spades, and 12 HCP. He did open 1♥.

Dealer now had the right hand to overcall 1♠. Pass.

Responder had a good hand for hearts and any number of ways to bid this. Drury stood out. 4♥.

Third seat had a good reason to make a 4NT sacrifice. Pass.

Opener passed. Normal.

Dealer had no logical call other than pass. 4♠!!!

Second seat Responder had a clear double. Pass.

Third seat finally advanced with a decent 4NT call, despite NOW having an argument against it -- a stiff heart and a doubleton in support. But, surely 4♠ showed a two-suiter with spades and a minor right (nope -- both majors)?

Opener doubled.

Dealer picked the right minor, and played there doubled.

One or two Imp's changed hands, nothing remarkable.

[helene_t]

Come kibbing me some time, Ken. Yesterday I doubled a 2♠ opening holding a 4243 14-count. On another deal, against 3N, declarer lead ♦4 while p had shown out in that suit. I played the 3 from HH53 so the 4 was allowed to hold (declarer played the 2 from dummy). Guess I shouldn't play bridge while sleeping.

[inquiry]

First surprise, if you log on "hidden" (i assume you mean invisible), when you join the table as a kibitizer, everyone at the table (players and other kibitzers) can see you in the kibitzer box if they bother to look. Your name will be in white letters. An exception to that is if you are a yellow. When an invisible yellow is at the table, if he is there for pleasure (ie, just to watch for entertainment), he is suppose to at least announce his presence. Sometimes yellows are at tables invisible to see if they can catch or confirm reported inappropriate behavior. Sometimes they forget they are invisible.

On to another subject, for only watching 1 hand, it sounds like you saw quite a few of them. Maybe i am not the only one with counting problems. BTW, unless i am playing weak notrump, I tend not to open balanced 11 counts... .where you watching me....? ? ? (ok, i haven't played in a few days, so it wasn't me.... )

[matmat]

seems normal, wtp?

[Rossoneri]

I think I've done worse. =)

Granted, I can understand your POV as a kibitzer when the "fog of war" is lifted from your eyes...I get that sometimes too when I kibitz my friends.

[Cascade]

helene_t, on Feb 22 2008, 02:53 AM, said:

Come kibbing me some time, Ken. Yesterday I doubled a 2♠ opening holding a 4243 14-count. On another deal, against 3N, declarer lead ♦4 while p had shown out in that suit. I played the 3 from HH53 so the 4 was allowed to hold (declarer played the 2 from dummy). Guess I shouldn't play bridge while sleeping.

That's my record too Helene only I was the recipient.

I once won the first round of trumps with the four ...

I was defending ...

I led the suit!!!!

Was I playing against you?

What actually happened was that I had five or six trumps and when my partner showed out declarer fell off her chair (almost literally) and in the same motion contributed the trump two having played the three from dummy.

[Cascade]

kenrexford, on Feb 22 2008, 02:42 AM, said:

My head about exploded.

I decided to tune in to watch some friends who were at a table playing a few on BBO. I signed in hidden or whatever, so I was not seen. Wow.

I only watched one DEAL (smartass!!! LOL) and then ran for my life.

Dealer had a nice 4423 11-count, and passed. I would have opened 1♣, but whatever.

Second hand had a nice 4432 and minimum Opening values, but passed. Weird.

Third seat had a weak 5-5 minor hand. I thought I'd probably bid 2♦. Nope -- pass. Three passes in a row when I'd open each.

Fourth seat did have an opening bid, with five hearts, four spades, and 12 HCP. He did open 1♥.

Dealer now had the right hand to overcall 1♠. Pass.

Responder had a good hand for hearts and any number of ways to bid this. Drury stood out. 4♥.

Third seat had a good reason to make a 4NT sacrifice. Pass.

Opener passed. Normal.

Dealer had no logical call other than pass. 4♠!!!

Second seat Responder had a clear double. Pass.

Third seat finally advanced with a decent 4NT call, despite NOW having an argument against it -- a stiff heart and a doubleton in support. But, surely 4♠ showed a two-suiter with spades and a minor right (nope -- both majors)?

Opener doubled.

Dealer picked the right minor, and played there doubled.

One or two Imp's changed hands, nothing remarkable.

What happened on the next deal

[gwnn]

Ken if these measly things shocked you, you're clearly not kibitzing enough. Try looking at some of those "♥♥♥EXPERTS♦♦♦" team matches, for starters.