[the hog]

Played this hand yesterday in stage 2 of the Butler open team trials.
All vul, not that it matters.
This was a heap of fun.

A97
862
10963
K86

K53
K7
AKJ
A10943

(2H) 2N all pass

Weak 2H opening. I made a heavy 2N bid passed out. Lead was the T H ducked to the K. I guess you cash CA to see if righty drops a stiff honour? No such luck. You to play.

[mike777]

Understand "stage 1" and the way it is set up may very well not be best?

Something about Swiss pairs without separate fields and "luck".

Could you explain more for a new USA bridge player please?

[the hog]

mike777, on Oct 25 2004, 12:45 PM, said:

Understand "stage 1" and the way it is set up may very well not be best?

Something about Swiss pairs without separate fields and "luck".

Could you explain more for a new USA bridge player please?

OK Mike.

We, (Victoria in Australia), select 3 pairs for to represent the State in the Australian National Championships, where each state plays in a round robin to determine the championship team.

Representatives are decided as follows.
Stage 1 is a 4 week Butler Pairs event, where you score against a datum. On the posted hand for example, the Datum was -100, so if you make 2N here you will get +220 for this board. The top 10 Nth and Sths go to stage 2 which is a similar format. The top 5 Nths and Sths and the best 6th then go to stage 3 to decide the top 3 pairs.

These 3 pairs then play as a team against the winners of the Pennant - a 6 week Swiss Teams, knockout and repechage - to decide who represents the State.

Does this help?

[mike777]

Thank you for very prompt reply. As a newer player, terminology such as Swiss pairs and separate or combined fields and the "fairness" of such is beyond me. I only understand Klinger and others are complaining about the "methods" of stage 1.

I ask since I played for first time in BBO private club where we played MP Swiss pairs and had no idea what strategy is best compared to "normal" MP.

[the hog]

To answer some of the points you raise.
MPs - you know
Swiss pairs - teams scoring, IMPs, the 2 teams closest in scores play each other.
Butler - scored against a datum scored across the field - usually have the best and worst scores eliminated to stop skewing.

Klinger complained about a change in format in Stage 1 of the Butler. This butler - part of the ANC - gives you play off points to make the Australian team. Points are determined by various events during the year. Marston has raised similar issues.

Strategies in scoring.
Very briefly, becauise there is a lot more to it than that -
MPs - get as many tricks as you can
Imps - Bid very tight games, especially when vul. Make sure of your games, overtricks are irrelevant.

Now
How do you play this hand, Mike?

[inquiry]

Lucky your partner passed, but ok.. he trust your play...

Trick three, play a heart.... suicide is painless.....

Ben

[mike777]

I am quite sure at the table, I would cash one D, then just finesse the d and play for 3-3 with little real hope in 3nt....in 2nt I would return h and pray.

[the hog]

Ben is right, return a H and your lho is suicide squeezed. Best is actually to drop the low H on the table and say "Oh, damn, sorry pd the card slipped out of my hand", watch your rho pounce on it with glee and then watch your lho's discards get slower and slower.