l milne

I would bid 3♥ over 3♣ and rip partner's 3NT on first problem. As bid, I would double and lead a diamond. Second problem, I assume 2♠ followed by 3♠ would be non-forcing? That is what I would do. As to what I would do to increase the probability of a bad result, I can think of many ways.

4♥ any vul any form of scoring

FWIW, I think best (and most likely 'expert standard', whatever that is) is that 'final' bids are very rare. Most of the time, due to the difficulties in passing information with such limited language and time, the situation will be that one of the partnership will have a fair idea what is best (based on his hand and the bidding so far) but cannot be certain - his partner could still have a very unusual hand for his bidding so far. So, if you do have this unusual hand, you should not assume that partner knows this or that you have shown it - most of the time you haven't (think of other hands you would bid this way). This leads to the conclusion that if you think partner has made a decision on incomplete information, you are justified in bidding again, sometimes. One example I remember from earlier this year was when a very strong opponent of mine bid 3♠ on ♠QT98543 ♥J2 ♦- ♣KJ76 over a strong 1NT on his right, nil vul. His partner bid 3NT, and he passed on the reasoning that he had shown a preempt and that preempts don't bid again unless forced. His partner had ♠AJ7, the spades broke 3-0, the king was held up and he went 3 off when 4 spades was gin for 11 tricks. He hadn't really shown the nature of his hand, so IMO the preemptor should have bid 4♠. Hopefully this makes some sense (??)

First problem pass, second 3NT

heart finesse is closer to 0% on this lead. Draw trumps first then club.

6♣. I agree with nigel, mike and Fluffy, and while I generally agree with the "you've limited your hand so don't kick, partner isn't interested" school, I think here that is using a maxim in place of thinking. Construct some hands!

Hi there. Would be good to have some idea of what methods are in play here, so I don't have to think as much ;) Was 3♦ GF? invitational? weak/to play? Do you lead 3rd from 3 small or the top? 3/5 or 4th from length? Anyway:

Yeah agree that defenders will play hearts (I've read Marshall's books on defense). My instinct was heart and a ruff, but running the Ten is better. Good line nige1.

... or pass, or 1NT, or 1♥, or 2♥, 2♠, 3♠... also, agree with gwnn, although nat preempt is my preference over 1♦ could be as short as 3 (or less)

I'm not passing unless opps are vul, they can easily just have 6 or 7 trumps and we don't get adequate compensation. Dislike double as it misrepresents our hand in a constructive auction. 3♦ for now for lack of any better alternatives. 6NT is obviously terrible, and I don't think it merits any further comment.

I don't have enough space over 1NT as it is, no way am I throwing away 3♣ too! Much better to play each bid as having a large range of possibilities and using gadgets like re-transfers etc. to make those bids work hard then have very tightly defined single-purpose responses. But then again, Meckwell played some form of puppet response at least for a while, so what do I know :blink:

Wow. You are my new favourite poster. Awesome.

100% East, for mis-describing their hand on the second round of the auction (with 2♣ instead of 2♥) and subsequently slam-forcing opposite 2 keys when partner has a limited hand. I completely agree with West's 4♥ bid. Slightly depends on style I guess, but I think it is standard to play that East is pretty much barred from bidding after 4♥, as West would bid something else with a slam try. Yes, you will miss some nice slams (give West the same hand and East the doubleton QJ of spades and some other stuff, for example) but you can't bid em all, and this will prevent the partnership from taking frivolous adventures to the 5-level one off.

Opposite 3 diamonds, I don't think our chances of making 3NT are that bad, and opposite 4 card support, 5♦ seems like it would have some chances. I understand the fears but we still have a good hand and don't have to assume the worst hands for partner.

pass, 2♠. Not too close.

What's the contract?

Results: The trick 1 duckers get to go one off with me. I've since reviewed the hand and now think ducking at best accomplishes nothing, and at worse, well, the real hand is below. Mind you, my perception may be skewed that this was on the way to losing the final of a major event. [hv=pc=n&s=sk4ha87d9842caq73&w=sat52h62d7cjt8654&n=sj9873hkqj94daj3c&e=sq6ht53dkqt65ck92&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1sp2np3hp3np4hppp&p=dkd2d7d3d6d4h2djh6h9h3h7s3s6sksas2s7sq]399|300[/hv]

The major advantage is that partner does not have to worry about you having an intermediate balanced hand in other auctions, I find. Now 1♠-2♣ (GF)-2NT/3NT are both more tightly defined. Also, you notice that in this 1M-1NT-2♣ auction you end up playing 2♥+ when your partner doesn't have 8+HCP? This is instead of playing a fairly likely 1NT contract on your misfit. I don't know how many matchpoint sessions you play, but your opponents will be thanking you for not having to defend more 1NT contracts. My personal preference: 1. open 1NT on virtually all 5M332 shapes; 2. simple (4-card) stayman; 3. if responder has game values, have a way to ask if opener's major is 5 cards. e.g. 1NT-2♣-2♥-3♦: how many hearts do you have?

Wow passing to me seems really wrong. We don't even know they have psyched (without looking at the hand diagram). Partner is just supposed to guess we have this when it comes back around to him with his 3334 8-count, vul vs not? (this assumes, of course, that they haven't psyched). I'm probably rebidding 3NT next, as any king gives us play (and wouldn't raise 2NT), we are likely to get a spade lead (possibly even the king!) if they've psyched, and I love vul games. Maybe it's a bit over the top though.

It seems there is a fair chance the opponent holding your cards at the other table might have a similar decision to make over 4♠. Do you think doubling will work more often than not on a hand where you have 1 likely trick and 2 or 3 possible tricks?

Yeah, as soon as I posted the hand I knew it looked a bit dumb. But I was too lazy to correct it. :rolleyes:

And at MP 5♥ over 5♣?

[hv=pc=n&s=sqj9haq2dj64cajt5&n=sak3hk96daq9ck974&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1cp1dp1np5np6nppp]266|200[/hv] West leads the 6♠. Their leading style is ostensibly 4th from an honour and top or second from small cards depending on holding. The first trick goes 6, 3, 10, Q. At trick 2 you lead the diamond jack which is covered by the king and ace. At this point I decided to guess the clubs, as I didn't want to mess around and possibly go off more than one. Reasonable? Keep in mind that these opponents aren't going to give count or anything dumb, and are also quite capable of false carding on opening lead etc. What inferences are available to pick up clubs, and who do you play for the Queen?

I don't think so. I set up the diagram poorly so North is declarer, East led the ♦King.

[hv=pc=n&e=s4hk87632dakj5cak&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=pp1s]133|200[/hv] After your bid, if possible South will bid How do you bid this hand?