Re: What's wrong with the Roth point count?

henrysun909@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:

> It an interesting thing to recall that in the 1958 edition of 'Bridge
> is a Partner****p Game,' there are so-called Roth-Stone-isms (around a
> couple dozen, if I remember it right) where in the R-S experience
> point count did not apply.  One of them that I remember went along the
> lines, if you have a 5-5 two suiter and partner has 4 cards in one of
> your 5-baggers, you should assume he has at most a doubleton in your
> second suit.

This is part a of sub-Rothism #1 of Rothism #13:
1. When a trump fit has been established, the laws of probability are
    affected as follows:
    a. If you have a side suit of five cards or longer, your partner is
       likely to have no more than two of that suit.
    b. If you have a singleton or doubleton, your partner is likely to
       have three or more cards in that suit.

> If someone has them, it might be worthwhile just to post the 'isms'
> without any expanding text or examples (that way, Matt Granovetter
> won't be able to go after someone for copyright infringement rofl).

Granovetter's copyright applies only to the his forward and the "Modern 
Roth" appendix to his 1989 edition.  Luckily, it applies to nothing in 
my 1st edition copy.

[My personal favorite is #4, which some RGBers seem to not know.  Some 
of these have multiple subsections and do not yield their sense in the 
list below, #8, for example. And some RGBers seem to think #14 applies 
to _every_ hand. "R-S doubles" in #16 are negative doubles.]

1. Plan your second bid before making your first bid.
2. Plan different bidding sequences for hands of different strengths.
3. Don't lie about your point count.
4. Third position is not forcing.
5. A passed hand must not tem****ize.
6. A plus score (or even a small minus score) in an apparently bad
    contract is better than a minus score in the best spot.
7. If you do not want partner to pass, be sure to make a forcing bid.
8. Handle your p***** with care.
9. Describe your hand with one bid, whenever possible.
10. Too many bids spoil the broth.
11. A no-trump bid directly following a no-trump bid is never Blackwood.
12. Don't be slam-happy.
13. Pay no attention to point count on some hands.
14, Some hands require one-sided action.
15. Freaks require special strategy in competition.
16. Keep the big hand on opening lead.
17. Take-out doubles (including R-S and responsive doubles) are meant
     for take-out.
18. Don't sell out too cheaply.
19. Stay fixed.
20. Sacrifice prematurely or not at all.
21. Team of four is a four-man partner****p.
22. Don't worry if you have your values.