TWO4BRIDGE

No compliment, just a memorable moment. A few years back, I went to the Nationals in Dallas, TX... for a day. I was finally able to meet ftf some of online players ( most from the now defunct Zone Bridge and the associated MSN Message Board ). And I also kibitzed Meckstroth and Rodwell. In what other sport can a perfect stranger "sit in the dugout" without a pass !

My summary gleaned from the replies ( and some of my own thoughts ): 1) With NO ♠Q forget about the grand. 2) In the following auction: 1S - 2H! ( 5+ cardss, GF ) 3H - 3S 3S shows a 3+card FIT ( and is NOT a cue per se ) 3) In double-fit auctions, 4NT is best used as 6 Ace key card ( which includes the highest rank Q only }. The lower rank Q is "rolled into" the specific K-ask . 4) Give Opener the ♠ Q and take away either one of the minor Kings and the GRAND is odds on ( see MrAce's post just above this one ): Opener Q T 9 x x K J x A x K x x 1S - 2H! 3H - 3S 3NT! - 4C 4D - 4NT ( 6 Ace ) 5S ( 2 + sQ ) - 5NT 6C! - 7NT ( counting 5s, 5h, 1d, 2c )

I've mentioned this before: The partner holding sidesuit KINGS should do the asking -- It's easier to find Aces than Kings. Now, whether the Opener with 10-5th of trumps will do so is a different matter. Anyway, using your initial sequence, Opener is in the position to settle in 6NT. However, one other key ingredient is missing -- Opener doesn't know about the Ht suit as a source of tricks. Sooo, that auction ( w/Opener asking ) will also end up in 6S when the trump Q is determined to be missing . 1S - Jac2NT 3NT! - 4C 4D - 4H 4NT - 5D ( 1/4 ) 5H!( sQ-ask) - 5S ( nope ) 6S

I too thought the DBL was a T/O of Spades, but East had a Red 2-suiter that he apparently did not want to show immediately with an Un2NT over the 1C opening . ( They were red vs white ) . I felt my DBL and then jump in Spades ( to 3S ) would show my strength and shape in a GF context . ( Any number of bid Spades over the DBL would have been NF/invitational ). And apparently from the posts here, the question of whether NMF is ON or OFF over the DBL must be discussed w/partner . I do like Aquaman's System ON principle ( which I would apply to a DBL ONLY for System ON ): "...a call which takes up no room should not prevent you from doing what you wanted to do " . [hv=pc=n&s=skq9632hq3dt63caq&w=sj754haj82djct876&n=sat8hk6da84ck9542&e=sht9754dkq9752cj3&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1cp1sp1ndrpp2d3sp4sppp]399|300[/hv]

One method that I like is: -- Minorwood if suit agreement is BELOW the 4-level . ( eg: 1m - 2m!( inverted ), etc, etc 4m = Minorwood; by either partner ) -- Kickback if suit agreement AT the 4-level. So in your case: 1D - 1S 3N* - 4D ( suit agreement ) 4H! ( Kickback )

Look at those trump spots. If the opps ( and you ) don't lead a trump after you lead a Club at trick 2, and you can ruff once in each hand with a low trump, then the opps' can't overruff after that during the subsequent X-ruff . Winners are sA, dAK, and 9h. Edit: As for an auction: 1H - 3C! ( lower Bergen ) 3D - 3H 3S - 4C 4S!( kickback-RKC ) - 5C ( 1 key ) 6H

Partner ( North ) deals and opens 1C ( 3+ cards... playing 2/1 ). pass You ( South ) respond 1S pass Partner rebids 1NT You are poised to rebid 2D! ( NMF ), but East sticks in a DBL . 1C - ( p ) - 1S - ( p ) 1NT - ( X ) - ?? What do you think the DBL means ( I didn't ask... I figured I knew what it meant ) ? And what is your action now ? Your hand: K Q 9 x x x Q x T x x A Q

Deleted.... Reading-challenged

Have you tried Ginko ?

I'm interested in your "other story" . 3C was a GF. How could partner pass out your 3D bid ( as bad as it was ) ? Justin's remarks about SJS still hold true today ( see my signature ) .

A more efficient artificial GF is a 2S-jump over a 1H response.... ( just ask Gnasher ).

The truth is, Responder should bid the Grand after the ♣Q-ask ( my post #13 )-- no matter what is used to "ask". Why? Because he can count to 13 tricks: -- Opener has confirmed all of the key cards including the trump Q.... so Responder's ♦J is golden. -- Responder assumes partner has the ♠Ace because of all key cards confirmed. -- Responder HAS the ♣Q -- Responder can count four ♥ tricks because Opener had shown the K . So.... Responder counts: 1s, 4h, 3c, and at least 5d Although the reasoning was slightly flawed ( no Sp Ace, but a void ), the Grand then hinges on something favorable happening in Clubs.

Admittedly, I didn't. I didn't see the word "notrump" . I guess I just saw the word "trump" and glossed over the other word "no" preceding it. So my reply makes no sense.

Thx, Mike... .... I saw the answer ( my EDIT ] as you were typing your reply.

Mikeh..... I: still see the same problem about not being able to stop in 3NT ( when you want to ) after the 3D reply by Opener : [ EDIT: I think I see the answer ...that I show below ] 2NT - 3C 3D - ?? 3D = no 4M, no 5h, but may have 5s ?? Responder, say, has 4h and only 2s and wants to play in 3NT; but your 3NT now is 4h and longer Sp. EDIT: I think I see your answer: Responder bids 3H with all non-Smolen hands.... then Opener bids 3NT to play or 3S with 5s and Responder can then sign-off in 3NT.

Duh.....You are right....since trump Q question has been answered already.

Playing 2/1 ( since I am Big Club/relay-challenged ): 1D - 1H 3C ( GF ) - 3D 3H - 4C ( Cl Ctrl, denying Sp Ctrl ) 4D ( Minorwood RKC for Diam ) - 4NT ( 2 - dQ ) no problem with Sp-void since no Sp Ctrl for Responder 6C ( cQ-ask since by-passed 5H which would be kickback for Kings ) - 6NT ( cQ ) 7D ( committed to the grand with the 6NT reply )

deleted... since I missed that it was a NOTRUMP contract.

There is no Jac2NT because of the DBL, right ? Thus, 3D! = limit raise +, so it is no crime to raise to game after partner shows a minimum. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Side bar: If Bergen is ON after the DBL, you don't need 2NT!( Jordan ). A different structure of Responses after a "helpful DBL" is what I call a Bergen-Jordan "Meld": 1) Upper Bergen = jump-in-other-Major [ eg: 1H-(X)-2S! or 1S-(X)-3H! ] 2) Lower Bergen = 2NT! ( allows for more gametry bids by Opener than w/Bergen only ) 3) 3C/3D = fit-showing jumps ( not available if Bergen only ).

I'm losing sleep over this. If 3D = no 5M, but MAY have 4M, how do you handle the problem 5s/4h hand with Responder ? 2NT - 3C 3D - ??

Playing 2/1, Hardy Style ( as I often have quoted and been "poo-pooed" over it ): 1D - 2C! ( 2/1 GF ) 2H ( showing 4h/4d; a 2D rebid would show 5+d and not deny 4h ) - 2S ( 4s, no 4h ) 2NT - 3NT

I have another question.... for both ZEL and AQUAman ... In your structures, does the Puppeteer ALWAYS guarantee at least one 4 card Major ? Or can Responder bid 3C on say 3-3 in the Majors -- looking for a 5 card Major with Opener ? Because as I see it, there seems to be a problem with stopping in 3NT when Responder does NOT have a 4M and no 3-5 fit..... and that is because 3NT! is systemic showing some type of Major holding.

I didn't know about the 3D reply ...( I know aboout Muppet to solve the 5s/4h problem... and I knew about the 4M/6m problem with Puppet and Muppet ). I like solution to the 4M/6m problem. But what is the bid after 3D to show BOTH Majors ? [ I assume 3NT! = both Majors, pick one if you have one ]. It used to be: 2NT - 3C (Puppet) 3D( no 5M, but at least one 4M ) - 4D! ( I have both, pick one )

My 4M preempts in 1st/2nd are normally 8 cards and no outside A or K . If partner has at least 2 cards Diam, that comes to 13 tricks with a ruff. If partner has 7 cards Hts, you need 2 Diam ruffs, not implausible, and hopefully he has at least the Ht K.

White vs Red MP 3rd seat K x 10 x A K J x x K Q x x