TWO4BRIDGE

I think you meant a 4H! cue, and not 4D!, since Opener has no ♦ control ?

Andy .... On the 2nd one, what do you use 2m! for ? [ if you use the 3m!-jump as a limit+ ]

All I know is that it fails the Rule-of-15 by 1.

W N E S - - 1C DBL P 2C DBL 2D P 2H P 2S P 4S P ? For "spaces", click on "Other Styles"... scroll down to "Non-breaking Space" and click ( you have to repeat the procedure for added spaces )

4-suit transfers also will get you "better placed" since Opener can accept or not at the 3-level. Then Opener can eventually show the needed ♣ cue, then Minorwood-RKC , etc.

Without a Dbl, partner will lead your bid suit. DBL says: "Don't lead my suit".... and from the bidding, the logical one to lead is ♠.

I think dwar0123 has it . You need to find East with 4 cards Diam. But you only need 1 Ht trick: 2s, 1h, 4d, 2c ( already taken ), then X-ruff last 3 Cl = 12 Edit: [ East needs to have started with 2 2 4 5 ] .

1)In the following auction: (1M) - 2m - ( p ) - 3M! = ?? a ) stop-ask b ) splinter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2) How about the following: ( 1m ) - 1M - ( p ) - 3m! = ?? a ) stop-ask b ) splinter c ) mixed raise ( 2m! would be a limit or better raise )

You are right...again. Since I was going to commit to 6 anyway, I might as well use 6Ace-Exclusion as a chance for the Grand. It should look familiar. [ I had picked up the method from IanD -- circa Dec, 2005 ] . When I mentioned it here in earlier posts, you suggested an "optimization" of "right-siding" the minors ( rebid 3C! to show Diam ). But with opening hand - opposite - "opening hand+ ", it probably doesn't matter. Also, there is the possibility of using 3C! as "could be artificial" when holding a long Major and needing subsequent cuebid(s) before committing to slam .

I think I posted this a bit confusing . I meant Declarer is South ( Dummy , North ) and "YOU" are West : i.e. , you play BEFORE Dummy .

Even if 2S does not guarantee 6 cards, why not support with K J , and you might get a courtesy cue of 4C! , which would take the slam beyond "hopeless": 1S - 2D! ( 2/1 GF ) 2S - 3S 4C! - 4D! 4H! - 4NT 5S ( 2 + sQ )- 5NT 6C ( cK, so 4C! cue was not shortness ) - 6D ( 2nd K-ask ) 6S ( no more K's ) - pass [ still no guarantee if opener has 3 small ♦ ].

I have a system ( not my own ) that I have posted before, but sure to be criticized here in the B & I .... but here goes anyway: 1NT - 2H! ( transfer ) 2S - 3D ( commonly used as 5+ cards, GF/slammish .. nothing startling here ) ?? ..3H! ( cheapest new suit = 4 or 5 cards ♦ and only 2 cards ♠ ) ..3S ( 3 cards ♠, but less than 4 cards ♦ ) ..3NT ( agree neither: 2 cards ♠ and less than 4 cards ♦ ) ..4C! ( agree BOTH : 4 or 5 cards ♦ AND 3 cards ♠ ... SWEET !) ........[ In it's original form the convention used 4m! ( 4D! here ) to agree both -- I changed it to save "space" ] After: 4C! - ?? because of the void, I think I would just blast to 6D, not 6S because of increased probability of ♦ ruff . ...........[ without the void, I would use a 6 Ace RKC ] .

All the above are correct. It is tempting to draw the last trump, but you will lose a vital tempo. Because of the trump taps w/♥ when you attack ♦, you shouldn't draw the last trump. You guess the ♦ wrong, as usual, but luckily ( a lower probability of failure ), the 3rd ♦ can't be ruffed, and your careful play is rewarded when you have enough trumps to ruff the last ♥ tap AND draw the last trump. Losing 1h and 2d .

[hv=pc=n&w=sjt5h974dkj2ca943&e=sakq72h3dt97ckqj7&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=p1sp2sp4sppp]266|200|Ht K lead; Ht Q continued, which you ruff[/hv] It looks like only 3 losers, and you will find a 3-2 trump split. What can go wrong ?

It's interesting that even the Sp K ( and no Diam K ) also provides the 13th trick -- so it is SAFE to ask for specific Kings ( by South ) with 5NT ( I'm assuming the "straight forward Blackwood " was 4NT ) .

I'll show Max Hardy style ( as I have so often before ... and often "poo-pooed" ) which adds simple clarity to the discovery ( or not ) of a 4-4 Major fit: : 1D - 2C! ( 2/1 GF w/4+clubs...does not deny a 4 card Major ) 2D ( first obligation is to rebid a 5+ ♦ suit .. and does not deny a 4 card Major; Bidding 2M would show 4 cards M and only 4 cards ♦) Now the entire 2-level is available to find a 4-4 Major fit...and you ONLY bid the Major w/4 cards . continuing: 2D - 2S ( 4s, denies 4h ) 3C ( at least 4c ) - 3D ( cue or double fit ) 3H ( cue ) - 4C! ( Minorwood for ♣; 4D! would be Minorwwod for ♦ ) ?? .. 4D = 0/3 .. 4H = 1/4 .. 4S = 2 - cQ .. 4NT = 2 + cQ .. 5C ( 5th step ) = 2 + void somewhere ( has to be Sp ) After: 5C - 6C

Do you ( most ) always give COUNT ( if possible ) when Declarer LEADS a suit ? [ contract is in NT ... if it matters ]. For example: ............. Dummy ( North ) ............. A K 4 2 You ( West ) J 6 5 3 Declarer leads the 8 ( early in the hand...) . What would you normally play? ... Do you start a hi-lo to show EVEN ? ..... or do you feel that this might give more useful information to Declarer than to partner ?

Could this be posted any any more confusing ?

1♥ ... I'm willing to show my 5-6 shape with this hand.

As mike said, after the 2H Reverse , just agree ♦ with a forcing 3D bid. And since agreement is BELOW the 4-level, I would use 4D! as Minorwood RKC . [ This avoids confusion even in Phil's 2nd example ]. If ♦ suit agreement were ON the 4-level, then 4H would be kickback. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - When ♥ are agreed, I prefer 4S-kickback if no confusion. But in the following auction: 1S - 2H 3H - 3S .... this shows a double-fit ( 3S is support - - not a cue for ♥ ) Now, I would think only use 4NT as RKC and 6 Ace at that ( which would include the ♠ Q but not the ♥ Q in the replies ... The ♥ Q can be included in the Specific King Ask - 5NT if it gets that far ) .

I had not thought about this sequence until you brought it up. I think you are right, but maybe a 3 ( or 4 ) card ♥limit raise with either a 5 or 6 card ♠- - and definitely a hand w/flaws that you normally would not open 1, 2 or 3♠. But partner here, will still probably pass 3H - - wanting to protect his Kings on the opening lead.

Since it is IMPs, check for key cards ( to play in either 5C or slam ) . [ But even if it were MP, 3NT most likely would be in jeopardy if 2 key cards were missing ] . Partner has shown a GF with his 2S reverse. So, East can't have much if West had a worthy overcall. Thus, eventho you think the guarded ♦K is not much of a stopper, West probably can't get to East for a lead-thru. I'd go 4C-Minorwood RKC. If 2 key cards are missing, and even if you have the ability to stop in 4NT -- don't -- too dangerous ( West can knock out your ♦K and get in with the missing key card to run the ♦ . Settle in 5C. With only one key card missing -- bid 6C.

You are right. ( I knew I posted this in the right forum ). I think I could have done it if I were able to cash the 4th Spade earlier, but there were transportation problems.

EDIT: Flawed analysis... thx to posts #2,3 and 4 . [hv=pc=n&s=skq8htdaqj6cjt742&w=st43hj652d52cq653&n=sj752hak743dkcak9&e=sa96hq98dt98743c8&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1dp1hp1np2c(NMF)p3cp6nppp]399|300[/hv] Sp 10 lead I'd never find this at the table. Opps have their "book" ... the Sp Ace at trick one.... I win the Spade return w/Q. I have 11 top tricks. To finesse or not to finesse ( Clubs ) for the 12th after East plays the Club 8 under my Ace lead. Take the A and K of Hts.... both Opps follow ( key point as you shall see later ) Clear Diam K. Back to hand w/Sp Q ....all follow , so Opps were 3-3 in Spades. Now play the rest of the Diams. - - West shows out on the 3rd Rnd, so East started with 6 cards ( another key point ). - - So West now known to have 1 even and 1 odd ( number of cards in a ) suit. This means East must have started with a stiff Cl. - - Why? Because it is impossible for East to have 1 odd/ 3 even suits.. - - so, East is 3 odd/ 1 even.... - - and since East has already shown 2 cards Hts, s/he must have started w/ 3 cards ( no room for 5 cards ). - - ie: 3 3 6 1 The HOOK ( for the Cl Q ) is 100% ON !

Yes, the Bourke Relay was written up in BW a few years back ( I believe ) . Here is an example: To take the easiest auction: 1c 1s 2c ? 2d = art GF 2h = natural, constructive 2s = to play 2nt = natural, invitational 3c = natural, invitational 3d / 3h = I am not sure but I think Bourke plays this as an invitational two suiter 3s = natural, invitational 3nt = natural, to play - - - - - - - - - - - To take the hardest auction: 1h 1s 2h ? 2s = to play 2nt = natural, invitational 3c = art GF 3d = natural, invitational 3h = natural, invitational 3s = natural invitational 3nt = to play