Release 2.19r
Results
Friday Morning Newcomers
Director: Ed Craig
Friday Open Pairs
Director: Ed Craig
Thursday PM Open Pairs
Director: April Uhlenburg
Calendar
August 1, 2026
Mini–Lesson
9:20 AM
Host: Rex Saffer
August 1, 2026
0–299 Pairs (STaC)
10:00 AM
Director: Brendan O'Malley
August 2, 2026
Open Pairs (STaC)
12:00 PM
Director: Ed Craig
August 3, 2026
Club Closed - Philadelphia Regional at Alloy in KOP
August 4, 2026
Club Closed - Philadelphia Regional at Alloy in KOP
August 5, 2026
Club Closed - Philadelphia Regional at Alloy in KOP
Recent Updates
Home Page
Jul 28, 2026 08:04 EDT
Mentor Mentee (July)
Jul 12, 2026 17:24 EDT
Deal Analysis June 15
Jul 5, 2026 08:35 EDT
Lessons
Jun 28, 2026 11:21 EDT
0 0 0 0 0 0
Pages viewed in 2026
Questions and Answers
..... see less

Would you open this hand 1♠ , 2♠ , or pass?

Link to Other Questions from Mentor Mentee (July)

..........
..... see more

This hand should be opened 1♠ . No matter your hand evaluation methods HCP+extra length, Losing trick count , rule of 20, this hand qualifies. Hand evaluation techniques vary widely. What is important is first, that you have one that you are committed to, second that your partner understands (understanding is not necessarily agreement), and that can inform you in a timely manner.

I will open one of a major with a 5+ card suit and 11 HCP 90%+ of the time. Only when they contain mostly Quacks (Queens and Jacks) will I choose to pass.   
AQxxx Qx Kxx xxx yes , KJxxx Qx QJx Qxx no.  I suggest picking a standard evaluation tool, and massage it around the edges to suit yourself

 

Ask the Expert - Mentor Mentee Game Questions and Answers
..... see less

How should this hand be bid?

Link to Other Questions from Mentor Mentee (July)

 

..........
..... see more

2♣ Strong artificial   
2♦ Waiting    
2♥ Natural   ( 6 card suit, or good 5 unbalanced hand). 
3♣ second negative  , but forcing to 3 of major    
3♠ natural   
3NT to play ( since the “double negative” is forcing responder may use it , intending to clarify that it is natural by inviting slam later.  In this case it is unclear.)

  

 

3NT when responder bids again after the second negative, it often means that bid (3♣ ) was in fact natural.  In this auction, it is unclear.

Ask the Expert - Mentor Mentee Game Questions and Answers

To balance or not to balance!  That is the question?

All my values in short suits, opponents suit, argues to let it go. On the other hand I have 10 points, 4♠ NV at matchpoints, so I double. E passes and S must bid with poor choices.

I prefer 1♠ (yes, with 3) in this situation. If this gets passed out it will not end well for NS. But there’s hope that W will chime in with 2 .

Ask the Expert - Mentor Mentee Game Questions and Answers
..... see less

How do you get to 6 after west opens 2♣ ?

Link to other questions from Mentor Mentee (July)

 

..........
..... see more

There is no logical way to get to 6 on this hand.  E choices are a reasonable 3NT and a speculative 4♣ , which might possibly lead to 6♣.  3NT is an overwhelming choice.

This is a good reminder that bidding strategies should only be expected to deliver better than average results over time. Never should they be expected to optimize every hand.