| Poser (Accepted Claims) |
POSER:. You are defending and pondering your lead to the next trick.. Declarer says: It does't matter the rest are mine making 5.. The claim certainly looks good.. You and partner nod and start to mix your cards and put them in the board. But hey, wait a minute, maybe the claim has a hole in it. Poser 1: May you change your mind about the claim and suggest anoter outcome was at least possible? Yes or No? If so, until when? a) Until both defenders’ hands are back in the board, then you’re done. b.) Score in the Bridgemate and approved by East or West, fini! . )) You make a call on the next board or the round is called for the last board of the set. Poser . Same set up you are admiring your 55% tied for 2-3 in A, when another player approaches you and says “Glad we tied but how did you ever let them make 5 on board …”. Do you? a) Hum the Carole King classic “It’s too Late” and head for the door or b) Check your watch and go looking for the director. Is it “a” or “b”? Why?
Show Answer
First Answer: You have until your side bids on the next board or the round ends, which ever happens first.. Law. . Also you may ask the Director to adjust a score for an agreed result for either a trick you had already won before the claim. (You cash AK and another A. Three tricks later Declarer says Making 5 and you look at his hand and say Yes.) or same thing and Declarer says making 4 and you not only cashed the AK A but hold the Ace of Trump This would be an example of a trick which can not be lost. Law. ..
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| Last updated : Oct 24, 2025 08:48 CDT |
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| Poser II (Insufficient Bids) |
A bid laid is a bid made, right? The auction has gone 1♠ 1♥ followed by a chorus of "insufficient" and finally "Director, Please." So when the Director arrives at the table and after the Director has been given the basic fact of an insufficient bid what is the first thing the Director needs to determine? a) Did LHO to the heart bidder bid yet? b) Did LHO and Offender's Partner both bid? Or c) Did the 1♥ bidder simply pull the wrong card? Poser, part 2, assume the answers are "No," "No," and "Yes" now what can 1♥ bidder do a) They must bid 2♥ b) They can do anything they want except Pass Or Double. (It may be beyond most players power of persuasion to convince the Director they reached into the totally wrong pocket. And finally Poser, part 3 the answers are "No," "No," and "No" Now what?. Does any thing change?. If so what is it? Finally suppose it was 1♠ 1♥ Insufficient 2♥ (by 1♥ bidder) Di-Rec-Tor!! May LHO accept the intended but insufficient bid even after calling attention to it and now calling the director?
As before the answers are elsewhere on this site.
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| Last updated : Oct 24, 2025 08:51 CDT |
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| Poser III (Bidding, Super Acceptance) |
Continuing the weekly series of Q and A and introducing a new Click box to display the Answer.
The quedtion is what do these auctions have in common?. (Opponents kindly passing throughout and not shown.)
1NT---- 2♥ ---- 3♠ 1♥ ---- 1NT (Forcing) ---- 2♦ ---- 2♠ .
And assuming partnership is playing four way transfers, then
1NT ---- 2♠ (Clubs) ----- 2NT & 1NT —— 2NT (Diamonds) —— 3♣
Show Answer
These auctions all demonstrate forms of “super acceptance.” You know the feeling You open 1NT holding AKxx of spades and Partner says 2 ♥ showing 5 spades and “something”
The jump to 3♠ says: I really like this. We will be playing spades, is slam possible? Example 2 is the "Impossible Spade." A full discussion of this can be found under a Thinking Game with an example in the Interesting Hands tab.
The same excitement conveyed by 1NT 2H 3S can be shown if you are playing Four Way Transfers, with minor suits by bidding 1 below the target suit, For example: 1NT 2♠ (NT Opener says ‘Clubs’) then bids 2NT (ALERT) [Partner loves my clubs.] (if asked)
How good of a hand makes super acceptance? Keep in mind the acceptance is being made by the 1NT Opener. The 1NT hand is limited both in total points and distribution. The message to Responder is “This is as good as it gets!” Partners should discuss.
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| Last updated : Oct 25, 2025 06:45 CDT |
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| Poser IV (Play from Wrong Hand) |
First, an observation, (You are free to disagree!) The most common mistake at the table is for Declarer to play from the wrong hand. Oft times followed by clamorous corrections by both opponents and by the Dummy. Next, most often, Declarer will then correct himself or herself by playing the same suit from the correct hand. Poser 1. How much, if any, of this is required by the Laws? .Poser 2. Does any part of the forgoing actually constitute a further breach of the Laws? You think, I'll wait.
Show Answer
When the Declarer leads from the wrong hand, it is deemed a lead out of turn and Law 53 applies.
[ Law 53A. Lead Out of Turn Treated as Correct Lead: (…) Any lead faced out of turn may be treated as a correct lead (…). It becomes a correct lead if declarer or either defender, as the case may be, accepts it by making a statement to that effect, or if a play is made from the hand next in rotation to the irregular lead. Law 53A needs to be considered in context with: Law 45B. Play of Card from Dummy: Declarer plays a card from dummy by naming the card, after which dummy picks up the card and faces it on the table. Notably the card is played when it is named!! The dummy picking up and facing the card on the table happens after the card has been played. The first option of ether opponent is to accept the lead from the wrong hand. If the Declarer's lead is not accepted Declarer must then lead from the correct hand. But there is no requirement to lead the same suit or to play the same card incorrectly faced previously.
Next, in the senario first posed has a further violation of the Laws occured? Poser 2. Yes! Law 42B provides for Dummy's Qualified Rights.... 2. He may try to prevent any irregularity. If declarer tries to play from the wrong hand, dummy may try to prevent it, calling partner’s attention to which hand won the previous trick. However, once declarer actually plays from the wrong hand, the irregularity is already committed, and dummy cannot prevent it anymore. Thus When Declarer says "Play the King of Spades." Dummy may not say: "You are in your hand." Such a statement is a violation. Declarer playing from his hand is a bit more nuanced and simply detatchig the card and moving it toward the table does not play the card Thus Dummy, on his toes as ever, may then say: "On the Board." No problem.
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| Last updated : Oct 25, 2025 06:05 CDT |
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| Poser V (2S / 1NT) |
Poser, How many meanings can you attribute to the bid of 2♠ in the auction 1NT Pass 2♠ ?. My count is four (4). Can you name them? Any others??
Show Answer
Here are my four:
- Natural, at least 5 spades 7 to 9 HCP.
- Relay to Clubs. Correct to Diamonds.. AKA 3 Way Transfers. [ALERT]
- Transfer to Clubs AKA 4 Way Transfers. [Announce: Clubs]
- Minor suit Stayman. [ALERT]
All four are part of a bigger picture. (1) Playing "Natural" likely no transfers are being used 2♦ and 2♥ are non forcing descriptive bids as well. (2) Part of a 3 Way Transfer System in which the initial Spade bidder may correct to Diamonds after the relay to Clubs. (3) Four Way Transfers: Spades to Clubs, 2NT to Diamonds useful but some what complicates showing a natural 1NT -- 2NT raise. (4) MSS asks for a 4 card minor;
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| Last updated : Oct 31, 2025 12:42 CDT |
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| Poser VI Lead out of Turn |
This week's Poser explores a bit of Law 53, Lead Out of Turn. There are numerous nuances to this occurrence, here are two. First, the simple case. West is on lead and East leads instead, South is Declarer. Law 53A applies. If South does not accept the lead, then the lead reverts to West, East's card becomes a Major Penalty Card and West's lead is subject possible lead restrictions or requirements due to the penalty card. Poser 1: Same situation but suppose South plays to East's improper lead. West says: "Hey, it is my lead! Director!!" What result and why? Poser 2: South is Declarer and is on lead. West leads out of turn. South does not notice and leads from their own hand. What happens now?
Show Answer
South's play to (acceptance of) East's improper lead as set up in Poser 1, changes the dynamic from the initial situation. West makes his normal lead to the trick but both South and East are allowed to pick up their cards. (Law 53B) East's improper lead does not become a penalty card but Unathorized Information (Law 16) may apply.
Poser 2 resolves thusly: South’s lead stands, West’s card is picked up and is Unauthorized Information for East (Laws 53B and 16C). Why? Because Declarer's play, even though a proper lead, acts to wave rectification. Had South noticed the lead, and called the Director then South would have been given the option to accept the lead and if not accepted the lead out of turn would become a Major Penalty Card. In some cases, like this,one, the exact sequence of events may change the outcome.
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| Last updated : Nov 8, 2025 22:23 CST |
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| Poser VII. (Bid out of Rotation) |
This weeks Poser explores bids out of rotation the example comes from Duplicate Decisions by the ACBL. The "normal" situation is a player who bids out of rotation must either repeat the bid if previous players all pass or when it is their turn to call, make a comparable bid. (Fairure to make a comparable bid will bar partner and lead penalties may attach.) However this Poser explores an alternative occurance... South is dealer. East opens out of rotation with 1♣. South bids 1♠ and West calls the director after noticing the opening bid out of turn. What happens next?
Show Answer
The Director must ascertain (away from the table) if South thought that they were calling over 1♣, in which case they accepted the bid out of rotation under Law 29A (the auction continues normally), or if they wanted to open 1♠ (maybe they didn’t notice the 1♣ bid). If this is the case, 1♣ is canceled, the auction starts with 1♠, no lead penalties, but 1♣ is UI for West. This result is required by LAW 28B which provides Call by Correct Player Canceling Call Out of Rotation: A call is considered to be in rotation when made by a player whose turn it was to call before rectification has been assessed for a call out of rotation by an opponent. Making such a call forfeits the right to rectification for the call out of rotation. The auction proceeds as though the opponent had not called at that turn. Law 26 (lead penalties) does not apply, but see Law 16C2. Law 16C2 is the Unathorized Information and is discussed on the Eductation Page.
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| Last updated : Nov 14, 2025 18:57 CST |
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| Poser VIII (UI) |
This week a two part Poser. First, what is Unauthorized Information? (UI) What must you do should you be the receipiant of UI? First, which of the following is NOT an example of unauthorized information?
- You open 1♣ and the auction continues 2♥ , loooong pause, Pass, now it is your bid....
- A missed alert.
- A penalty card from partner's hand, face up on the table.
- A penalty card which has been picked up and replaced in partner's hand after a lead restriction has been exercised.
- An overheard comment clearly referring to the current hand from another player?
Show Answer
They certainly all LOOK like UI. Law 16C2 is the principle Unathorized Information law and lists some specific actions and occurances which may convey Unauthorized Information. Not withstaanding Law 50 Disposition of a penalty card provides a specific rule dealing with a faced penalty card Law 50E provides: Information from a Penalty Card 1. Inforamtion derived from a penalty card and the requierements for playinng that penalty card are authorized information for all players for as long as the penalty card remains on the table. Laws 50E 2. and 50E 3. deal with after the card has been picked up and after it has been played, respectively. However the answer to this week's Poser (part 1) is 3. the face up penalty card is not UI
Part 2. If you have UI what is your standard of care? In other words, what may you do or not do?
- You have to pass at every opportunity during the auction especially in the case of the afformentioned long pause. (Also refered to as a break in tempo.)
- You dig in your ethical heels and take extra care to make the right bid or card play under the circumstances ignoring the UI.
- During the auction or play you need to consider what logical alternative choices you have then select one NOT suggested by the UI.
- You just go ahead and bid or play your hand, opponents need to look out for themselves and call the director if injured.
Show Answer
Coming to grips with UI is hard to do. Some situations are more complex than others. However the Laws proscribe a solution and it isn't an option, it's the LAW. Number 3 above is the closest to the required course of action. For example imagine the auction: Pass, Pause-Huff-Pass, Pass, ??your call?? 23 of the finest HCPs and 4-4-3-2 distribution. This is a classic 2 Club opener to be followed by 2NT. There is no other logical bid only one. You may open 2 Clubs and rebid 2NT. OTOH suppose you have the 4-5-2-2 distribution, 10 HCPs and are in third or fouth seat, play Durry and parter made the same "Pause-Huff-Pass." Now you have some logical choices (1) Open the Hearts see if partner either bids spades or makes a Drury call or even passing Partner's NF 1NT all of which might work out if you open the Heart. Of course some folks might just Pass. What to do?? Here the UI Law kicks in. You MUST take an action not indicated by the UI. You Pass. You Pass, even when most folks with your skill and experience would open One Heart. Why? there are alternatives, and "Pause-Huff-Pass" could be seen to suggest a hand with some values.
About calling the Director... as a defender you should (but not must) wait until the play of the hand has finished to avoid adding to the UI at the table. For example consider the Auction (North Deals) 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass; 3♠ All Pass. Partner leads, dummy (North) comes down with a stiff club. There were no alerts. If you call the Dirctor now it might certainly imply you are holding the club suit.
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| Last updated : Nov 22, 2025 09:02 CST |
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| Poser IX (forcing bids) |
This is more of a "What bids does your partnership have available?" type question. After I have initially passed I tend to rush the auction, lacking confidence I can keep the auction going. When the auction has gone Pass Pass 1 ____ (any suit), Pass, what bids are forcing at least one round?
Show Answer
A passed hand cannot force to game (since you’ve already limited your strength to < 12 HCP). But you can still make one‑round forcing bids — the same natural bids that would be forcing if you weren’t a passed hand.
✅ Forcing Options for a Passed Hand
- New suit at the 1‑level — always forcing for one round, even by a passed hand.
Example: Partner opens 1♦, you (passed hand) bid 1♥ → forcing one round.
- New suit at the 2‑level (non‑jump) — also forcing for one round.
Example: Partner opens 1♥, you (passed hand) bid 2♦ → forcing one round.
- 2/1 response (like 2♣ to 1♠) — normally game‑forcing if you’re unpassed, .
- As a passed hand, it’s only one‑round forcing (since you’ve already denied the strength for a game force).
- Conventional Bids such as Drury or Bergan
❌ Not Forcing
- 1NT response → Non‑forcing (6–10 HCP).
- Simple raises of partner’s suit → Non‑forcing (limit or preemptive).
- Jump raises → Invitational at best, not forcing.
- Jump shifts (natural)
- Partnership agreement comes into play. If your response to partner's first and second seat open is a Weak Jump Shift (WJS) Then this should change for third and fourth seat opens.
As a passed hand, they’re limited, most partnerships treat them as invitational or preemptive, not forcing.
Unless you’ve specifically agreed otherwise, don’t rely upon a jump shift as forcing by a passed hand
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| Last updated : Nov 29, 2025 09:22 CST |
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| Poser X A bit about Squeezes |
What do these terms have in common, "One loser," "Threat card," "Entry" ?? Okay there is one more term which mostly gives away the question, "Squeeze card."
Show Answer
- One loser → the condition that makes a squeeze possible (you must be down to exactly one potential loser).
- Threat card → the card that will become a winner if the opponent is forced to discard its guard.
- Entry → the way to reach the threat card once it’s established.
- Squeeze card → the card you actually play that forces the opponent into the bind.
These four concepts together with the preface to "One loser," "Correct the count" were the basis for Love's book, Squeeze Play (by Love) reportedly a best seller before people found out it was a bridge book, The overall theme of the book was squeeze plays either "are" or "are not." (In the words of Yoda, "Do or do not, there is no try.") You see the possibility, correct the count, and run the long suit containing the 'squeeze card.' Ether the card covering the threat card has popped or it has not, if not sluff the threat and hope the other maybe card will grow up. Take the classic case, Dummy AJ and K missing the KQ in the AJ suit and the A which is covering the King. You lead the 2 of something which defenders are out of and wait .... did the King grow up?? No then ditch the King and lead toward the AJ and pop the A either the J grew up or it did not. The book Squeeze Play by Love is not very long but contains multiple examples and many more elaborate plays. You can put it on your Holiday gift list, up to you whether you identify it as a bridge book or not.
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| Last updated : Dec 6, 2025 17:12 CST |
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| Poser XI Quiz Time True of False |
This week we have True or False Quiz on the question of Unauthorized Information pursuant to Law 16. There are a number of misconceptions about UI. Here are a few of them. This list is NOT exclusive.
True or False? Unauthorized Information is only a factor when something happens during the auction like a long pause for thought followed by a Pass.
T or F ❌ False. UI can arise both in the auction (as described) and the play such as when an unestablished revoke creates a penalty card. Hide Answer
True or False? When a player has UI their sole obligation is to act ethically and determine what they would do without the information.
T or F ❌ False. When you have UI which suggests a bid or play you must select a different action if one exists which some players of your experience level might consider and some might select. Hide Answer
True or False? The use of Unauthorized Information will be penalized by the director.
T or F ❌ False. The use of UI will result in an adjusted score (Law 16B(3)) pursuant to Law 12. Law 12C(1)(c) excludes the outcome suggested by the UI from consideration. However a procedural penalty is still possible in addition. Hide Answer
True or False? A penalty card is initially authorized information for both pairs, but after it is played or returned to the hand, it becomes unauthorized information for the offender's partner.
T or F ✅ True. While a penalty card is authorized information for both sides while visible, once it is played or returned to hand, it becomes unauthorized information for the offender’s partner. This distinction is important for determining legal actions and leads. Hide Answer
True or False? A card which has been played and returned to the hand without becoming a penalty card, may still be considered UI for the offending side.
T or F ✅ True. For example when correcting a revoke. Suppose a low heart is played from dummy. (North) East ruffs, South plays low. West plays low. East says: "Oh fudge" and produces a heart. South may change their card. If South changes, so may West. West's original card becomes a penalty card. But the knowledge South has an additional heart is UI for West. NB East and West both have a penalty card. West on lead. South may direct a lead of the suit (trump) shown by East's penalty card. If so East picks up the penalty card and may play any card in that suit, if not West leads his penalty card. Hide Answer
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| Last updated : Dec 13, 2025 00:01 CST |
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| Poser XII Score Adjustments |
The Posers thus far have had short answers hopefully worth some thought.. This one a bit longer deals with a Director's powers to Adjust Scores. There are actually four and half ways to adjust results in a duplicate game and only two (well one and a half) are intended to act as a penalty. Think a bit before clicking the "Continue" box. How many ways to make an adjustment can you come up with? (To shorten the display I have also inserted several "More" boxes to expand on individual subparts. I told you this was a long one.)
Continue
The four ways are a Trick Adjustment, an Adjusted Score, a Weighted Adjusted Score, and an Artificial Score. The "half" is a Procedural Penalty (Law 90).
A Trick Adjustment occurs after an established revoke. More...
LAW 64A provides for an automatic transfer of zero, one or two tricks to the non-offenders depending upon the circumstances. However, LAW 64C provides the Director shall assign an adjusted score in favor of the non-offending side when the automatic trick adjustment does not fairly compensate the non offender. Neither the adjustment nor the adjusted score is intended as a penalty, rather the purpose is to restore normal.
Less...
An Adjusted Score is a bridge result in which the score assigned is determined as the most probable outcome if the infraction had not occurred. More...
As a "bridge result" it is match pointed along with all the scores on the board. An Adjusted Score may also be split. Suppose N-S fail to alert a bid, E-W are damaged and possibly feeling the failure to alert could result in an adjusted score take a "flier" at a slam. Down 2. E-W will keep their table result of Down 2. But N-S may be awarded a minus 420 for the game E-W would likely have bid had the alert and explanation been made available to E-W at the time. (Yes, the perfect result, everyone is unhappy.)
Less...
A Weighted Adjusted Score is used in place of anAdjusted Score when the results of a board could be one of several possible outcomes depending upon the non-offender's choices during play. More...
For example, eight ever nine never but still sometimes a hook just feels right and sometimes the drop feels better. If the offense stops play before the non offender had to make a choice of a course of action then the Weighted Adjusted Score is used. For example, if possible outcomes are 3NT= or 3NT+1 and the choice is a toss up. The director match points 3NT= say that is 3 MP and 3NT+1 say that is 6 MP. Then awards 50% of 3 plus 50% of 6; or 4.5 MPs. However if the director think 3/4's would make the play for 6 then the Director awards 75% of 6 (4.5 ) + 25% of 3 (.75 ) MP for a total of 5.25 MPs.
Less...
Fourth are the Artificial Adjusted Scores, Average+ Average and Average-. Artificial Scores are used when an adjusted score or weighted adjusted score can not be determined with reasonable certainty. They are the exception, last ditch alternatives. More...
The non offenders are award average+ on the theory, at a minimum, they have lost the ability to compete for a good score. Offender's may be awarded Average or Average- depending upon the situation. Sloplay or a second late play due to a medical condition may warrant an Average. Slow play or a second late play due to too much time at the snack table or talking between boards then Ave- may apply. An interesting point, Average+ is nominally 60% of the match points on a board. However, if a pair is having an exceptional game and their average on all other boards is more than 60% then the Average+ is their actual average on the other boards. Likewise a pair receiving a 40% for Ave- with a game of 35% will receive a 35%. (LAW 12C 2(c)). Finally occasionally a Director's ruling will be wrong and cause damage or make a board unplayable. (Act in haste, regret at leisure.) In this case Average plus may be awarded to both pairs. (Everybody wins, except the Director.)
Less...
A Procedural Penalty found in Law 90, provides the Director with flexibility to assess a penalty related to procedures or decorum not related directly to the play of an individual board. I'd call this the "You should have known better," penalty.. It applies to the final match points of the contest as a whole. Between a half to a full board may be assessed in the sole discretion of the director. The range may be set by the sponsor but absent such a setting the director is not limited to a full board.
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| Last updated : Dec 19, 2025 19:47 CST |
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| Poser XIII NMF |
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New Minor Forcing (NMF) is one of those quick "Check the box", "Do you play..." questions. However, maybe not everyone has the same expectations of when it applies. Because it is alertable you should be on your toes for both the correct time to use it and the alert when it happens. Here are some sample auctions.
1.
| N |
E |
S |
W |
| 1♣ |
P |
1♥ |
P |
| 1N |
P |
2♦ |
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2.
| N |
E |
S |
W |
| 1♦ |
P |
1♥ |
1♠ |
| 2♦ |
P |
3♣ |
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3.
| N |
E |
S |
W |
| 1♦ |
P |
1♥ |
P |
| 1♠ |
P |
2♣ |
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4.
| N |
E |
S |
W |
| 1♥ |
P |
1♠ |
P |
| 1NT |
P |
2♣ |
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5.
| N |
E |
S |
W |
| 1♣ |
P |
1♠ |
P |
| 2NT |
P |
3♦ |
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Which ones are NMF?
Continue
#1, #4 and #5 are New Minor Forcing as the auction involved Opener Bidder's second bid being No-trump, followed by Responder bidding the new minor suit. #2 and #3 would be examples of 4th Suit Forcing (FSF). The NMF bid promises nothing about the new minor suit but does show 5 cards in the original major allowing opener to now raise with a three card fit. In addition the NMF bid shows an invitational hand with real values at least 9 HCP.. #5 is a bit unusual as we generally think about NMF over just 1NT but where it was your intention to show both a 5 card major and extra values you should not be dissuaded by partner's strong showing with the jump to 2NT!
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| Last updated : Dec 27, 2025 14:31 CST |
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