[Walddk]

Cascade, on Aug 8 2005, 10:45 AM, said:

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

The Rules of 10, 11 and 12 (leads) have no exceptions, provided that partner is able to find his 3rd, 4th and 5th highest card in the suit he chooses to lead from

Roland

[tysen2k]

Cascade, on Aug 8 2005, 03:45 AM, said:

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

When I was teaching my class of beginning students, I put a bunch of bridge "rules" on the board. The first one was:

1. Every bridge rule has its exception, including this one.

[han]

ArcLight, on Aug 8 2005, 02:45 PM, said:

(lets call these 99% rules)

Here are the 1% exceptions:

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1) Making a Limit raise with 3 trump support.

Most people can systemically make a 3-card limit raise I think. Perhaps you mean "making a 4-card limit raise with only 3 trumps". Usually not a good idea to lie to partner about the number of trumps.

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2) Underleading Aces against suit contracts.  (there may be a rare case against a slam this is worthwhile, to put pard in)

3 years ago I had this hand: Axxxx xx - J10xxxx. Partner had preempted in spades, and the opponents ended up in 6H. The only lead to set it was a small spade. I don't think that I've underlead an ace since then, so I consider it a pretty good rule.

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3) Making a Drury bid (2 clubs) then bidding over pards signoff of 2 of their major.

Some hands become full openers when partner opens your best suit (especially if you have side suit shortness). Bidding drury followed by a short suit if partner signs off might be a good way to show these hands.

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4) Making a preemptive bid, and then bidding again (unless you mid bid the first time around)

Beginners should not do this, I agree. However, many modern experts preempt on such a variety of hands that their partner often involve them in the final decision. For instance, some pairs play that 3C-(3H)-4C says, "feel free to bid 5C over their 4H if you have a suitable hand. Of course, one should discuss this first so that partner won't hit you in the face when you bid 5C, like mine does.

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5) Leading the suit pard bid after they made a Lightner double against the opponents slam.

OK, if it is really a lightner double then I can't think of any exceptions. Darn.

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6) Passing pards takeout double because you are "too weak"

This one is tough to beat too. However, I can imagine situations where you might do this, especially if their doubled contract is not a game. Anybody care to provide an example?

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7) Doubling the opponents voluntarily and strongly bid game/slam because you have lots of points.

Duh.

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8) Play the Ace when the opponents king is singleton. 

There are definitely examples where this does not hold. Imagine declarer (west) holding ♣QJ10x and only one trump (no other entries), dummy has the stif king of clubs. If you take the ace then they make 3 club tricks, if you duck then they make only one.

[han]

tysen2k, on Aug 8 2005, 07:01 PM, said:

Cascade, on Aug 8 2005, 03:45 AM, said:

The bridge rule that has no exceptions is that "All Bridge rules have exceptions"

When I was teaching my class of beginning students, I put a bunch of bridge "rules" on the board. The first one was:

1. Every bridge rule has its exception, including this one.

Yes, I hear this very often. However, this rule has exceptions too, and I thought we might point out some of them.

[helene_t]

As for Lightner doubles: what would you lead after the auction
(5♣)-pass-(6♥)-pass-(pass)-dbl ?

You have a flat hand with KJ9x of clubs, otherwise worthless. Doubleton trumps.

This problem came up in the final of the Dutch pairs championship a couple of years ago.

[bearmum]

1. NEVER pass a FORCING bid -- and if you haven't discussed what IS forcing do not pass what would be a forcing bid in the system you have agreed ( if you haven't agreed a BASIC system -- don't bid ANYTHING unless you agree basics )and if in a tourney and Partner refuses to agree system CALL DIRECTOR:)

2. Trust your partner's bids --- always assuming you have agreed a basic system(see above) cos even if P has made a bad bid you have cemented partnership trust

3. Make all the bids that are those which fit in with the system you have agreed ( i.e no not try to br 'creative')

[ArcLight]

>As for Lightner doubles: what would you lead after the auction
(5♣)-pass-(6♥)-pass-(pass)-dbl ?

>You have a flat hand with KJ9x of clubs, otherwise worthless. Doubleton trumps.


1) If pard didnt double you might lead an unbid suit.

2) Typically the Lightner double calls for the lead of dummys first bid suit (but not always) or make an unusual lead.

In this case you are indicating that you dont have a very long other suit, so its unlikely there is another void.

Lead a club.

Maybe pard can ruff Declarers Ace.

[helene_t]

Yes, that's what all the experts did so it's probably not an exception.

The problem was that declarer was void as well.

[Free]

bearmum, on Aug 9 2005, 01:17 PM, said:

3. Make all the bids that are those which fit in with the system you have agreed ( i.e no not try to br 'creative')

1. and 2. ok, but disagree with 3. Sometimes you NEED to be creative in order to bid to the right contract. This doesn't mean you have to psych, but sometimes a little deviation from the system is better than the system itself.

[ArcLight]

>Yes, that's what all the experts did so it's probably not an exception.
The problem was that declarer was void as well.

Aha! That was part of the plan. You see pard ruffed with his highest trump, forcing Declarer to overruff, promoting your J for a trick, coupled with the side suit ace, down one. 100% match points.... Next board ...

[dogsbreath]

hi
Rule 1 : when y have a problem..
always ask yourself 'What would a GOOD player do?'

Rgds Dog

[Double !]

dogsbreath, on Aug 9 2005, 09:13 AM, said:

hi
Rule 1 : when y have a problem..
always ask yourself 'What would a GOOD player do?'

Rgds Dog

A good player would say, "I wouldn't get myself into that situation." lololol
sorry

[FrancesHinden]

All catchphrases "never pass a forcing bid", "third hand high" "eight ever nine never" "don't underlead an ace" "4th highest of your longest & strongest" have exceptions.

Here's a more general rule for the auction that I can't think of any exceptions to:

"Don't bid your hand twice"

When you are deciding what to bid, think about what you have already shown in the auction. A very common mistake that less experienced players make is to forget what they have already shown. Here are some typical examples:

- Opening with a pre-empt, then bidding again next round (without a truly exceptional hand)

- Bidding such as
1S - 2C (FG)
2S - 3C
3S - 3NT
4S

OPener has already shown lots and lots of spades. There was no reason to pull. Responder is likely to have 9 tricks without a single spade trick.

- Pulling partner's penalty double having already shown your hand
1S (2C) P P
2H (3C) x P
3H....

Opener had already shown a hand totally unsuitable for defending 2Cx, so should respect partner's double of 3C.


- And finally, every beginning player bids strong (2C strength) hands at least twice, but often ends int he right contract because every beginning player underbids as responder to a 2C opener.

[ochinko]

FrancesHinden, on Aug 10 2005, 01:53 PM, said:

"Don't bid your hand twice"

I vote for this one too. Unless you get lucky enough to hear that opps repeat your mistake, and overbid their hand, it often costs much.

Some players believe that being strong gives them the right to bid again. This is wrong, though, if you've already shown your strength.

We had this argument after a disaster:
me: "Partner, 1NT is the most limited bid. How can you bid again in a free position after my pass?"
partner: "But it is 15-17 points. I had to show I had 17."

Petko

[Chamaco]

"Never put parmesan cheese over pasta with seafood sauce"

[Fluffy]

Hannie, on Aug 9 2005, 04:10 AM, said:

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5) Leading the suit pard bid after they made a Lightner double against the opponents slam.

OK, if it is really a lightner double then I can't think of any exceptions. Darn.

What if you have only trumps and cards in partner's suit?

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6) Passing pards takeout double because you are "too weak"

This one is tough to beat too. However, I can imagine situations where you might do this, especially if their doubled contract is not a game. Anybody care to provide an example?

I know of a few, normally at the 1 level, you decide to let them score +180 against -200 or more, or +380 against sure 500 or 800. I had one of those in Tenerife, ,my partner passed 1NT doubled, and the stupid of me let them make the overtrick, in a stupid effort to put it down. 180 was about 55%, 380 was 5%.

[Fluffy]

dogsbreath, on Aug 9 2005, 02:13 PM, said:

hi
Rule 1 : when y have a problem..
always ask yourself 'What would a GOOD player do?'

Rgds Dog

OH no, no no, when I get to this situation I always ask myself, what would the field (composed of weak players) do?, and I systematically make the opposite, I've been ver succesful with these .