Yu18772

1. 2S 2. Pass, no way I am opening this in 4th seat 3. Pass 4a. 1NT 4b. 2♥ is not forcing, 3♣ is fine 4c. Nor forcing - partner is at least 6♦:5♥, would bid 4♣ 4d. Not forcing - would pass

partner is not supposed to double on 4333......

I am not sure I wouldn't open 4♥, QJ doubleton and 7:2:2:2 are minuses imo. Though, once you opened 1♥, 4♥ sees pretty automatic.

Not sure at all, but my (severely impaired) logic syas its some kind of very maximal hand with 4 clubs and showing- something like AT9, QT, KJTx, Txxx, or even AKx, Tx, AT98, Txxx? I dont have though much faith in robots.....http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I dont see a lot of problems later, even if not playing 2-way bergen (which would make 1♥ -1♠ 1NT/2m-3♥ gf and slamish with 3 card support ) If partner rebids 1. 1NT - I just rebid 4H (dont think there are many slam options opposite balanced 12-14) 2. 2♣/♦ - 3 ♥ if its gf for you, or 4 ♥ 3. 2NT (18-19) - 3♥ (if gf and support), then RKCB, if not - 3♣ (checkback/nmf if available), and then 3♥ over 3♦ (must b gf and support, if direct 3♥ isnt), thenRKCB - If none of the above is available - 4♦ - this also must be controls and ♥ or self sufficient ♠ looking for ♣ control - 6NT/6H 4. 2H - 4H or 3♣ (can totally be artificial) and then 4H (shows some slam interest) I really dont like Jacoby with 3 card support, so.....http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif

Well, if responder thinks 1NT makes it will be 1NTXX....but in this system there is certainly the disadvantage that we cant play 1NTx opposite a weak 4432/4441/4333 - yet, I think that even with these distributions when responder is 0-3 HCP playing a suit is sometimes better, sometimes it doesn't work out though http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

After penalty Dbl the assumption is that we dont have game....so there are many methods that people employ. My personal favorite is everything but pass is transfer (5+card suit): Rdbl -> ♣ 2♣ -> ♦ 2♦ - > ♥ 2♥- > ♠ Pass is forcing rdbl from the 1NT opener, if the responder is relative strong (4/5-6 HCP) - he will leave 1NT rdbled, if he has less than 5 HCP he will look for the best fit (basically bidding 4 card suits up the line)- till 4-3 fit is found. Jumps to 3 level, are rare, strong and game invitational. Texas transfer is on.

Any scoring - 2♣ and no, although in MP i would consider opening 1NT for 15-17 range.http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

1. min opener with 3 hearts (also depends if you play serios/unserious or not) 2. It is different from 1 because 2♠ is still available, imo "standard" for 4♠ jump is 3 card support, good clubs and absolutely nothing on the side. 3. Subminimum opener with long hearts, but just a little too good to open 4♥.

Imo, it is common to play "system on" after 1NT-X (not penalty) or 1NT-2♣, in the latter X becomes stayman, and all other bids are system on. Also texas transfer is on, if the intervention is 3♣ or lower. If the intervention is 2♦ or higher transfers are usually off, and 2 level bids are sign off.

Not sure how optimal it is, but in my regular partnership I would take it as slamish in m, in a random as invite to 5m.

Any particular meaning it should be attributed? I just happen to like it http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif

Isn't it always the partners fault? http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif Seriously - I could be much better if I had enough time and will to invest, to me it seems to be just a matter of two things 1. investing a lot of time in reading and practicing - basic "mathematical" view of the world is a must - i.e. in general statistics works, and like in cooking - deviate form the recepie once you know what you are doing, not the first time you cook it. 2. Finding a good partner that you will feel comfortable to learn with, and make mistakes with.

1. Clear pass 2. Dbl - suit not enough to foce or enough to force no suit? May be useful to agree though that partner rebids spades with any minimum hand without stopper - so 1♠-2♥-X-P 2♠-P-? 2NT=invitational, shows pick a minor 3♣/♦ - invitational with suit etc...http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I was described as gambler when I played first time with one of my friends. Unfortunately she was a beginner and she was very late, so we did not discuss anything - not even 1430 or 0314. Of course on the first hand my partner opened 1♥, while I was looking at AJx, x, AKTxx,AQxx and I simply put 6NT on the table. My LHO (who happened to be a mediocre bridge teacher) frowned something about "young gamblers" "dont you have bids between 1♥ and 6NT" etc...but still had to lead, and led the wrong card. The bid gained IMPs, as at the other table the bidding was very scientific, which allowed for the correct lead and -1. Was 6NT a gamble? Yes, but it was a calculated one. Over all i think that there are two types of bridge players that are truly "gambling" - 1) Good or very good players that take "calculated risks", they forsake the available tools for another scientific reason (most often either there is no way to obtain information needed or if the inquiry process may give too much info to the opponents). This may occasionally lead to bad results, but would often gain. 2) Lesser players which dont have the tools or the patience or both for slow bidding, and for these the "blast bids" are common and tend to loose more. Funny enough, the first kind are described as gamblers more often, because they make bids their ops dont understand, but it worked, while if you gamble and go down the ops are usually not complaining. Personally, I consider a bid to be gambling if there is a reasonable alternative of scientific investigation, or if it is based more on "card feeling" than on information received from the bidding.http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

In matchpoints, imo, 1NT semi forcing has a definite advantage of playing 1NT and not minor

I often play the rule of 20, and both hands qualify (in 3rd seat I would open the first hand as a preempt (3♣) rather than 1, and would be very tempted to this in 1st/2nd seat as well). There is no explanation here on what went wrong subsequently to the opening, but I am not sure that would be the openers fault - if you play that rule you should bare such hands in mind when you bid, if you dont like it, dont play that rule.

I play 1NT SF, in a very similar system - except 1NT cant have 3 card support invitational (2way bergen), and like it much better than the forcing 1NT, even in IMP.http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

I would bid ♥ - I dont want to partner to play it, because a lead through Kxx♣ would not be helpful, and I dont want to pool partners 5♦ to 5♥ because I dont like the hand that much (K♣ doesnt seem to be a good card) 5 or 6? 5 is not forcing, but its not a weak preemptive hand either (not x, AKxxxxxx,xxx,xxx) 6 is tempting, but I need specific cards or very good distribution from p to make, while if I need to finesse its likely to be off, and the distributions are not going to be friendly. so 5 for me.......yahoo http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

Wests psych just told N that NS have a fit in ♠ and probable slam. So X, 5♦ or 5♠ all come to mind, pass does not. X seems the most flexible......

Not invitational, with ♣ length for me

Not really, but if you want an objective answer dont post both hands.http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

1)Shows values, at least 8-10 HCP (pending vul) in the unbid suits at least 4-4, not very distributional (5-5 or better is 1NT/cue/2NT - depending on agreements). 1a) If a is minor and b is spades, 5 card hearts is a real possibility, while if a is minor and b is hearts, 5 card spade is rare. 2) XX is3 card support, and 1NT (or any other bid) denies 3 cards in the responders suit. Some play it as support for b if b is major, and general extra on 1♣-P-1♦-X.

3♣, none said they have game......

What would be 3♠ ove 3♥ from your partner?