Hands from Friday June 19th

First, I think a consensus card of "Pattaya Standard" should be derived from the current checklist and if an individual competition is deemed the format that everyone should adhere to it. This would streamline the play and eliminate lengthy and often ambiguous partnership discussions for what is likely to be 2-4 boards. I think I made that point before today's game and it seemed to have some support. We have a friendly club with everyone locally knowing everyone else and very few conflicts. I think a consensus card would be easy to arrange. I'll be happy to do so if you wish. The difficulty of arranging a satisfactory movement with an uncomfortable number of players is not lost on me, I was a Tounament Director in the U.S. more than thirty years ago, and an individual is certainly an acceptable format. The difficulty here arises in differing styles and agreements which could be resolved with a standard card.

In looking over the hands from today (Friday, 19/06) I see a couple that merit attention. After P, P (by you), 2D Multi by LHO partner passes and RHO holding

J10762
K1043
9
1043

bid 2H, unaware of what opener held. I now stuck a 3C call in (white vs red) with 8, J42, 7543, AKJ42. This is why I dislike Multi two diamonds . Opener holding K953, AQ, AKQJ2, Q8 had to bid 3D. His partner, not knowing WHAT was happening (as he admitted at the table) though it should be obvious, a strong balanced hand with D and no C stop, bid 3H and was raised to 4. A 5-4 but doomed spade fit was missed, (-1) instead playing in a 4-2 heart "fit" (-3), but wouldn't this be easier if the opening bid was 2NT?

Your partner doubles a 1C opening, which is raised on your right to 2C. Do you bid or pass holding:
K65
9862
Q32
J103

The player holding this miserable collection elected to freely bid 2H! One has to wonder whether this was to direct a lead, to show a suit, or if he was thinking about what he'd had for breakfast and dropped the 2H card by mistake! Never mind that he had not a thing in hearts, Hell, he paid his entry fee!! This led to 3C to his left, 3D by partner, P, P, 4C to his left, 4D by partner, P ....
and now, having what rated to be TWO useful cards for a player who had bid to the 4 level essentially on his own this person ... PASSED! An easy 5D was missed. If the 2C call had been passed, as it should have been, it would been easy to bid 5D. The 2H on trash bid had made the auction untenable.
He had to consider that his partner might actually be playing him for some values when bidding 4D.

Well Terry, have I pissed off enough folks with this one?

Your opinionated friend, who by now has alienated about 90% of the club,

Paul Quodomine