Edmunte1

At the table i would definitely bid 2♥. Considering we're playing in a IMP's tournament i think that over 70% of the field will be in game. That means: a) If games makes the average score will be: for 3nt: 400*.7+150*.3=325 meaning 5 IMP's loss for not being in game, 2 IMP's win for bidding the game for 4M: 420.*7+170*.3=345 meaning 5 IMP's loss for not being in game, 2 IMP's win for bidding the game b ) If game goes down the average score will be: for 3NT: -50*.7+120*.3=0, 2 IMP's loss for being in game, 3 IMP's win for staying in 2NT If we add to this the probability that sometimes 4♥ makes and we will be in 2NT, and that sometimes when we go down in 3NT we will go also down in 2NT, 2♥ seems clearly a better choice, even if maybe this isn't the 'technical' bid. In a team match, the problem will be different.

I've played the Swiss teams in Pula, finished 10th, being in the ending. My general impressions were: - The accommodation was good and very affordable; - The food wasn't so great, definitely our croatians guests should work on that; - The sea and weather were great; - The field was pretty strong; - The prizes were small compared with the fees; - The open pairs tournament, were i kibbitzed, was badly organised, the tables were too close, there were too many empty seats, the movement was permanently delayed; - The was a general impression of crowdedness

1. 1♠ for me, but at this vulnerability and form of scoring i don't consider 4♠ a killer, 1♠-1NT-4♣ (autospl) -4♦-4♥-5♥-6♥-6♠ is possible 2. I would have bid 4♠ if you play decent preempts. Missing 2 honours partner should have 7 cards, so on a non trump lead we are home. Even on a trump lead we have some chances, East's pass increases the probabily for partner to have an extra king 3. Diamond 4. I won't be too opthimistic about this hand: my trumps are not so good, the clubs are badly placed, partner has 5+♥ in my void and almost certainly only 3 trumps. If 2♣ was forcing i'll pass, if it wasn't i'll try 3♣ and sign off over 3♥ 5. 3NT

Yes, Justin line works and is the only working line. Well done

I've played: -2♦=5+♥, constr+ -2♥=5+♠ constr + -2♠=inv+ fit ♦ -2NT=nat -3♣= fit ♦ constr -3♦=weak This method worked very well

1♠ ---- 4+♠ and forcing one round. 2♠ would have been GF denying 4♠, usually with bal with 5♦ or with ♣ fit or good long diamonds

1) 1NT OK 2) 2♠ - wrong, promises some values we don't have. If we want to make their life tough 3♠ otherwise pass 3) 4♥ -wrong, we should be at least in a small slam 4) 4♠ - worst bid, awekining the corpse 5) dbl - confirms firs bid - beginner

I agree with Ulf here. We have only 2 controls and need an average of 4-5 from partner to make the game, when partner has usually 3-4. About double and 3♥, i play x as an invitational bal/semibal hand, and 3♥ shows shortage.

Here is my predictions: BERMUDA BOWL. Winners: Italy Runners up: China Losing semifinalists: USA2, Sweden Losing quarter-finalists: USA1, Norway, Poland, Netherlands VENICE CUP. Winners: USA1. Runners up: Netherlands. Losing semifinalists: China, France Losing quarter-finalists: England, Germany, USA2, Egypt SENIORS BOWL. Winners: USA2. Runners up: Poland Losing semifinalists: Australia, Brasil Losing quarter-finalists: Canada, USA1, Germany, France

I'm in the ♥A camp too. Anyway seems more a guess than a logical option

I completely agree with 4♠. Mr. Benito Garozzo says that you should treat a 7-5 hand as a one suiter, not as a two suiter. The reason is simple: playing in a 7-1 (7-0) fit you won't lose control, playing in a 5-3 fit after 2 club ruffs you can easily lose control of the hand.

Why only comparing Axxx with Qxxx when the ten and the nine are missing? I think that lead from Q10xx is a good lead vs. 3nt and from A10xx isn't and also a lead from Q9xx is better than from A9xx. So i think Jack is the normal card.

The bid untill now is fine. I'll continue with 4♠ cue-bid, and over 5♣ i'll bid 5NT (asking for good trumps for 7)

3NT for me

Double, and 2nt over 2♠, 3nt over 2NT

I liked Benlessard post, he constructed some hands and saw what happened, though the were too unidirectional conceived towards making 5♠. For example in all hands partener has singleton in ♥, though doubleton is possible. In example a) 5 isn't safe, and i would have definitely overcalled without ♣Q too (let's say that 8 hcp and singleton heart is a minimum overcall). About LOTT: LOTT works extremely bad on this kind of boards with huge fits, so forget about it. In fact when the 2 sides have huge fits (10-11 cards) one in ♠, other in ♥, they are preety balanced in other 2 suits and the number of losers is big (6223 vs 5143/5134/5233/5242/5224). So i won't be opthimistic about making a lot of tricks on this hand. My first move will be trying to buy a cheap cow with 4♠. Another problem: There's a big chance that the bid won't end here. LHO or RHO may bid 5♥. What should i do now? Is partner's pass forcing? Any thoughts?

1. Pass 2. 3♥

- It's now important to win, but it's important how to win, to do it ethically and with grace, it's the only way you can enjoy the victory, and to feel that you did the right thing. Congrats to Brad for this. - I would have played count in clubs in tempo and let partner in hot seat, he should work it out. - Declarer should have covered the Queen, giving you a blind guess (0-2 or 1-1?)

Obvious pass for me

Green card now, i've described my hand (2♣ shows 6+ cards) and my hand is a defensive one. I hope we might beat them

No results from 1/64 round. It seems usual ACBL precedure

This thread should have been about balancing or not 1NT, not about overcalling 1♥. I won't balance, i have the obvious ♥ lead, and hope that even 2♥ makes, i can bring them down in 1NT. Reopening 2♥ with that poor suit can be risky.

I searched on ACBL site, looking for results from 1/64 round, but i didn't find any. Can you give me a link? Thank you

Usually 3rd is OK from 6, and sometimes when third is a pretty important card (let's say 9+) i lead 4th. Fifth is too ambigous (only one small card missing,can be easily hidden by opps), and anyway rule of 10-12, similar with rule of 11, are usually useless. The importance to lead 3rd or 4th is that it removes quickly the ambiguity about the number the cards in the suit, considering that is much easier to deduct from bidding if you have 4 or 6 cards in the suit

I would have never passed 3♠ x-ed. Second double shows a strong hand which wants to play. I think 4♥ si obvious. Also i wouldn't have doubled second time with West hand, i don't like playing 4♦ in a (4)5-2 fit.