TWO4BRIDGE

What does 5533 mean ??

duhh... I overlooked the strong option ; so, I guess I'm forced to bid 2H .

I think I'd PASS too. Opps have one or both majors . I don't think we want to play in 2H or 2S doubled .

Transfers anyone ? Transfer Advances by Jeff Rubens is another option. For this hand: 2C = forcing 1 round 2D! = a transfer to 2H which, if simply accepted by partner, could be passed. 2H! = a transfer to 2S which is a stronger than a natural raise . 2S! = natural raise

For starters, check the Karen Walker and Ron Anderson websites . There is also a Norwegian Defense .

Is it Justin ( JLall ) ?

If you don't super-accept with a minimum NT hand, it could go like this : 1NT - 2H! 2S - 3C ( 2nd suit, 4+ cards, GF ) ?? A new suit ( 3D! ) would agree ♣, so a 4C bid is idle.. so why not have it agree BOTH ? 4C! ( double fit ) - 4NT ( 6Ace-RKC ♠& ♣ but ♠ is the preferred fit) 5C ( 0/3 ) - 5D ( ♠Q-ask ) 5N ( ♠Q ; no outside K ) - 6S EDIT: I probably should have some cue bidding after 4C! : 4C! - 4D 4H - thennn 4NT

Spades are agreed. North isn't supposed to cue a stiff in partner's suit ( ♣ ) , but with any of the top 3 honors, you are allowed to with the Italian cuebids..... the ♣Q just happens to be stiff. After 4C, South might just cue 4H ( denying a ♦ cue ), and it might be enough for North to press on with 4NT-RKCB.

---Note that Responder starts all game forcing auctions with NMF. ---The jumps are all invitational or weak. Not only reasonable, but easy to remember . Here, Responder has 2-ways to bid 3H: 1D - 1S 1NT - 2C! ( NMF ) 2H - 3H = GF 1C - 1S 1NT - 3H jump = invitational or weak

♥A and another led . How does it make ( setting up the ♠ route ) if ♣ are 4-1 and you have to ruff 2nd ♥ in South hand ? Don't you need 3-2 ♣ split ?

[hv=pc=n&s=sj2hj63d2cakt9854&w=st9874hqtdt954cj7&n=s65h942dqj63cq632&e=sakq3hak875dak87c]399|300[/hv] West p - ( p ) - 2C - ( DBL ) RDBL-( p )- 2H - ( p ) 3H - ( p ) - 4H - all pass Making 6H or 7S

Partner opens a strong, artificial 2C. With NO interference, a 2D response is waiting, but positive; whereas 2H = super negative ( no A or K or 2Q's ). But 2nd seat DBLs 2C ( showing clubs ) and you RDBL to show your super negative : 2C - ( DBL ) - RDBL! - ( pass ) 2H - ( p ) - ?? Partner bids 2H ... What would you select as your next bid : ♠ 10 9 8 7 4 ♥ Q 10 ♦ 10 9 5 4 ♣ J 7

Phillip Alder's favorite topic ( newspaper bridge columnist ) : - - If you HAVE supported, and have 3+ cards, lead low from an honor or lead top-of-nothing . - - If you have NOT supported, and have 3+ cards, always lead LOW ( not promising an honor ) .

I've been toying with the idea ( surely not new ) of using Jac2NT to ask for a 2nd suit ( 4+ cards ) rather than shortness. Here it hits paydirt : South 1S - 2NT! 3D - 4NT 6Ace KC( North violating RKC-ask with a void and an open suit ) 5D( 1 or 4 ) - 5H ( ♠Q-ask ) 5NT ( ♠Q and no outside K ) - 7NT ( counting 5s, 6d, and 2 Aces [ ♥ & ♣ ] = 13 )

Certainly, it is a rare instance to arrive at a grand slam ( in any deal ) without a keycard-ask ... ... especially here with no cuebids ... and a VOID complicating matters.

What do you use the 3-level Responses for? One partner I have likes: 1NT - 3S/3H = 5/5 strong/weak This hand would be: 1NT - 3H

Both deals, N/S don't have a suit fit but make 6NT .

Playing 2/1 .... a 2S bid is 8, 9 hcp exact . Bidding 1NTF with this 7 hcp hand ( 9 LTC ) is not too far-fetched ...probably borderline with the A x doubleton .

For what it is worth... Here's a structure from the May 2006 ACBL Bulletin : 2NT - 3S! = relay to 3NT 3NT - ?? then: ........ Pass = to play, ( Needed since direct 3N is major 44 ) ........ 4C = slam try in clubs ........ 4D = slam try in diam ........ 4H = ♥ splinter, both minors ........ 4S = ♠ splinter, both minors ........ 4N = invitational to 6N ( both minors , no shortness?? 4/4, 4/5 or 5/4 ) ........ 5N = forcing to 6N, invitational to 7N

After 2C! Michaels ( showing both majors ) you have 2 cuebids available : 2H! or 2S! . Typically, 2H! , the lower cuebid, would show ♣, and 2S! would show ♦. Eventho I would rather have at least a 5 card ♦ suit, I'd cue 2S! anyway with such a strong hand .

[hv=pc=n&s=sk986hk743dtcq983&n=sahajt852dakj98c2&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1hp3cp4np5dp6hppp]266|200|3C = lower Bergen 5D = 1 key card[/hv] Knowledge of the 4th trump can make a game bid or slam bid, as in this case , worthwhile . Even if South's lone key card was the ♣Ace ( and not the ♥K ) , North felt that even if the both the ♥K and Q were missing, the 10 trumps made losing 2 trump tricks much less likely . Only 3 of 10 tables bid slam.... making. The others were just in game. We were the only Bergen users.

Thanks ... But doesn't a GSF bid ask for 2 of the top 3 to bid 7 ?? ( implying that the "asker" has at least 1 of the top 3 ) . In other words, if South only had 2 of the top 3, they would be in an "unmakeable" slam .

Can you show your entire auction ? I'm interested in your GSF version .

As much as I like constructing slam auctions, I'm not too thrilled with this one : 1S - 2H ( 2/1 GF ) 3D - 3H 3S - 3NT 4D - 6D 7D where: bidding ♠-♦-♠ ostensibly showed a 6s/4d hand stronger than bidding ♠-♠-♦ 4D now showed a 6s/5d hand

What squeeze ? You have three ♥ and three more Aces .