ewleongusa

I would open 4D. Forget about a heart fit. If our side has a good heart fit the opponents can make a game themselves. On the other hand, by opening 4D it is more likely LHO is going to make a mistake and maybe a big mistake. Eric Leong

Well, partner's double certainly didn't ask you for your opinion. Really, how can he have a takeout double at the three level when he didn't have a takeout double at the one level? Eric Leong

I would bid 2D to show my good six card diamond suit. 2D may not be the best contract if partner has a weak hand and five hearts. However, slam pays a bonus so if partner has a stronger hand that can move on it is important to describe the best feature in your hand so partner can visualize six diamond tricks when he holds something useful in the suit. Also, avoiding bidding 2H doesn't raise partner's expectations on your heart support. Eric Leong

I like opening 2D to show where my hcp are at and then competing in spades. Eric Leong

Probably, especially at pairs, the opponents would be doubled in 4D and our side would defend. Eric Leong

Pass is automatic. You don't have anything extra. Partner is allowed to be broke. Partner is also allowed to show some sign of life if he thinks game is possible. Eric Leong

Why wouldn't you bid the straight forward 3C? You do have six decent clubs which is what your bid says and you keep the bidding open is case partner has a good hand that is not strong enough to make a forcing jump shift. Eric Leong

When your partner responds 1NT he is showing six to a bad 12 in hcp. You decide if you should bid on or not. If you decide to bid on it may be with a three card minor. Typically, if you are 5-3-3-2 minimum and you would reject any game try then you might as well pass now. Partner might have a three card limit raise but if you were going to pass being on the one level instead of the three level has something going for it. Eric Leong

A strong 2C bid is defined as a balanced 22+ or a suit oriented hand that can take at least one trick below game on your own with about four defensive tricks. The first two hands are not a strong 2C bid. Clearly, if partner could contribute one trick for you game would not be cold. If fact, in many cases you would need a little luck. However, if partner has a minimum response game would be more or less cold. The third hand qualifies for a strong 2C bid because if you would expect to make at least nine tricks in spades. The fourth hand doesn't qualify for a strong 2C bid because you can't make at least ten tricks in clubs on your own. Eric Leong

What is "Multi Landy"? Eric Leong

A popular approach seems to be "Systems on". Eric Leong

But even if partner has a stiff club you still need to find out more. For example, give partner: S KQ109x H Kxxx D KJx C x. You would probably end up in a hopeless 6S after a Jacoby 2NT bid. Still if you start with 2C the partnership has a shot to stay out of a bad 6S. But in this auction, the bidding would go: 1S 2C 2H 2S 3D 3H 4C 4D 4S ? Certainly, you know partner has club shortness. But with H KQxx partner might have bid 4H so now one might suspect a heart loser and a club loser. Eric Leong

In Mike Lawrence's book: The Complete Book of Overcalls 1S is not forcing. 2S is not forcing and the bid is preemptive. You only route then is to cuebid 2D and then bid spades. Your partner's 3H bid changes everything. My partners would not bid 3H unless their hearts were very good. Certainly, one could expect at least H KQJxxx from partner. I think I would bid 4NT RKC. If partner can show two key cards and the trump queen, I would bid 7H. I don't want to show my spade suit as I don't want to make it easier for the opening leader to lead a club which might give partner problem. Eric Leong

I don't think your side is going to get rich defending 1D doubled when the opponents have an eight card diamond fit when our side has an eight card spade fit. I would bid 2S now which would pretty much tell partner my whole story. Eric Leong

Why is it obvious 4C is not Gerber? Eric Leong

Partner would certainly bid this way with: S xxx H AKx D A C AJ10xxx or S x H AKx D QJx C AJ10xxx. So possibly passing partner in 4H when he could have less than four hearts is out. I see little alternative then but to bid 5C. Eric Leong

I would not use Jacoby 2NT here. With lots of controls and good trumps and 18 hcp you need a very good excuse not to get to 6S. In particular, you have to find out if you are missing a key card and the queen of trumps or the opponents can cash two top club tricks. Further, if partner has a more distributional hand your side should be investigating a grand. Consequently, I would keep the bidding as low as possible and bid 2C. I could see the auction going: 1S 2C 2NT 3S 4S ? Now in 2/1, my 3S bid is unlimited and I am asking partner to cuebid something. In particular, one would think with the club ace or club king he would bid it over 3S so now you have a good case for passing 4S. Eric Leong

I would pass for penalties even if our side was vulnerable and the opponents were not vulnerable. The most likely hand partner has is a balanced 22-24 hcp hand. Opposite such a hand our chances are good to collect at least +800. Eric Leong

Bidding 6S is the odds on call when RHO opened 1S? Eric Leong

The problem with bidding more than two hearts is you don't want the partnership to get too high when partner eventually bids 4NT with something like: S KQxx H AKxx D xx C Kxx and the partnership is too high. Eric Leong

I would bid 3NT. I do have diamonds well stopped. Also, partner knows I promised at least 10 tricks in my own hand so partner is not going to drop the ball when he can contribute something in clubs or diamonds. Eric Leong

Just count your tricks. With as little as S xxx H xxxx D xxx C AQx, 3NT is virtually cold while 4H is a pitiful contract. Eric Leong

And what would you bid? Eric Leong

Game is far less wonderful if opener doesn't have the spade ace which you don't promise and partner doesn't expect. I really don't like preempting with a shabby suit and a side ace. If you go for a number the opponents will probably not be able to make a slam. Eric Leong

I would think after this start opener has a clear 5C cuebid. Responder will bid 5H to say I am interested in 6S but I am worried about diamonds. Opener can now bid 6S. Eric Leong