the_clown

I would bid 3N, with pass being close second choice. I dont like double with a stiff heart, partner may well have something Jxx AQxxx xxx AQ and jump to 4♥. Besides I doubt he will ever pass with no spade card.

J♥. I will try to hit partner's suit and the bidding makes it more likely that its ♥ rather than ♦. Second choice is a ♣

I disagree I dont think people pass 1♦X for no reason. They made a limited opening, partner doubled, next hand passed, you are broke. Putting this together I think there is a very good chance partner has some strong hand, (maybe even game in his hand). So bidding will give him a chance to describe it. Obviously with 2263 0 count you will probably pass because every other bid feels horrible, but other than some rare and specific hands passing 1♦X is taking a huge chance. I agree that people dont pass 1mX very often. But the reason is that they need a very suitable hand to pass for penalties. And when they have it, its usually not a good idea to defend.

What he said. Playing strong club I might be tempted to open 1♥

There is no way I am stopping below slam. I would bid 5♦ now and 5♠ if partner tries to sign off in 5♥.

I like 4♣ as a slam try with no shortness. Over that I suppose 4N is to play and 4x is cue (unless you play kickback). If opener wants to RKCB he should cue and then bid 4N

100% bad luck IMHO, I would have duplicated your bidding.

Sry, fixed now.

[hv=pc=n&s=s32ha975da63cak64&n=st95hj86dq75ct973&d=s&v=n&b=5&a=1nppp]266|200[/hv] Jec leads a low club and your 9 holds, while 3rd hand follows small. Your play.

[hv=pc=n&n=saq5h7dqj75432c64&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=p1c1s3c]133|200[/hv] Playing sound openers you choose to pass in first seat. Your call now? Partner will take 3♦ and 4♦ as a fitbids. Will follow up for the next round

Same but I may open 1st seat fav if I feel like it.

Hi, I and jfaria are available.

Pass followed by 5♣. Normally I dont like to punish partner for balancing but this hand is so good that 5level should be safe.

No and its not close at all.

I would lead a diamond. It looks like it wont be hard for them to set up spades quickly so I would try to be aggressive. If I were sitting over the 1♠ bidder I may well lead ♣

If anyone still thinks 3♦ is even a remote possibility please scroll up and read the posts of Phil, Timo and mcphee. I like to think that I am a good and understanding partner, but if the person opposite me bids 3♦ on this I may throw the cards in his face. My scores: 1N -10 2N - 6 2♦-5 1♠-4 2♣-2 3NT-1 3♦-1

As a part time working university student (and someone who is clearly not good enough to be sponsored) there is no way I can afford to spend a week in Norway. I can imagine there are a lot of other juniors feeling the same way.

I would pass both. No spot cards and no spades in both hands. The first one is closer, I may open if I can open 1♥ systemically. On the other hand I have perfect shape to make a takoeut double of spades in the next round. Admittedly if it goes p-p-1♠-p I have a real problem. When playing weak NT I like 12-14 vul and 11+ - 14 NV so I would open the second only NV.

Double for me as well.

I would bid 3♠. If partner cant bid 3N I would rather play 5♣ (Partner didnt bid 3♦ so he wont have a ton of wasted values)

I think 4♣ should be excellent hand for ♥s and 4♥ more like 5242 or very min hand with stiff club.

3♦ -good ♦ 3♥ - Hx (Ax Qx Kxxxx Qxxx). It makes a difference if this would be a 1N rebid or how often you raise on 3. If you always rebid 1N with Hx Hx 54 and with 31(54) I dont think I will ever bid 3♥ 3♠ good question - probably not great spade stopper. 3N double stop 4♣ great hand for slam in ♣s partner should cuebid except when he is dead min.

Well as Timo said having a stiff club will increase the chance that we can get a ruff or that they will have several club losers. With a hand like you cant do anything but pass and hope they are going down. Obviously sometimes they will make and you get a 0 but thats life. But imagine that you have a trick and short clubs. Now you are delighted that partner doubled and you will hope to score at least 200, probably 500 or more. Doubling yourself could be quite dangerous as partner is allowed to have a distributional hand. Or when you have the actual hand you are also happy that partner doubled so you can pull to 5♠ and expect to make or be down 1.

Its nice that we have HCP but I dont see many tricks for our side (except for ♥A). Strong hand is behind us so finesses will probably work for them. And partner has no idea what to lead.

Partner doesnt know our actual hand. We may have a double fit hand like this or just good fit for spades and 1-1.5 defensive tricks. Bidding when we have defence and a stiff club will be a disaster. What his double says is just that he doesnt think its right to defend 5♥ undoubled. I am actually happy that he doubled since I may well have passed 5♥ and now I can confidently bid 5♠ and expect to be at most -1.