Quartic

I feel I have two reasonable choices with this hand - either open 1♣ and rebid 2♣, or open 1NT. I would probably open 1NT - the K♠ looks good if partner transfers to ♠, and I'm certainly happy enough with any other sequence that can follow. I don't think the hand is worth rebidding 1NT, and I hate the idea of opening 1♦ with this sort of hand.

With this hand I would bid Stayman then sign-off in 2♠ if partner denied a 4+ major. (I play a weak NT.) If I had a similar hand with enough strength to invite game, with some partners I would bid Stayman then transfer to ♠ with 3♥ over a 2♦ response. Partner can now complete the transfer to decline the invite, or cue, bid 3NT or 4♠ to accept.

To be fair to my partner, he usually doesn't bid this badly (this was one of only about 3 or 4 bad boards this night and at least one of the others was all or almost all my fault). I agree he could do with working a bit more on his hand evaluation though.

I was North - I was asking about my own bidding, not my partner's.

Ok, so I was partly at fault for this hand too, though I think my partner has to take most of the blame: [hv=pc=n&s=skqt65hq632d6cq83&w=sa432h4dkj52c9762&n=shajt87da83cakt54&e=sj987hk95dqt974cj&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=pp1hp1sp2cp2hppp]399|300[/hv] Making 12 for 230 was not a good score - only beating the pair who went off 1 in 6♥. Edit: I was North.

[hv=pc=n&n=shajt87da83cakt54&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=pp1hp1sp2cp2hp]133|200[/hv] Matchpoints. Do you think you're worth another effort?

What strength 1NT opening are the opponents playing? If a weak NT, I like pass best; if strong I might consider dbl and 2NT.

[hv=pc=n&n=st7642hkdqjt743ck&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p2h(%21h%20and%20a%20minor)2s6h]133|200[/hv] What do you do now? (Matchpoints)

[hv=pc=n&s=sak62haj62d9cj975&n=sq97hkq843dat82c2&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=6hppp]266|200[/hv] Playing matchpoints? Teams?

[hv=pc=n&s=shkq962dkqjt9c542&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=1sp2s]133|200[/hv] What should South bid now?

[hv=pc=n&s=sj4hk2d97ckt76543&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=p1s2dpp2h3d]133|200[/hv] Bonus question: What should partner's bidding show?

[hv=pc=n&s=saj62hjt63dkj85c5&w=st854hk72d92ct764&n=s73hq94daqt764c32&e=skq9ha85d3cakqj98&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=pp2d(weak)d3dpp4cp4sppp]399|300[/hv] Can EW avoid a bad game?

I assume you're playing a 4 card major system. I think responder should have a 5th spade when he rebids 2♥, but isn't promising a 5th spade when he rebids 3♥. This is assuming a style where you bid 2♥ with 6-9 and 3 card support.

Click next on the diagram to see dummy.

[hv=&s=sk87hak73dat5cak8&n=saqj932h862d9cqjt&w=dk&d=e&b=22&v=e&k=s&a=p2n(20-22)p3h(%21s)p3sp4dp4hp4np5dp5np6cp6hp7sppp&p=dk]399|300[/hv] You get to 7♠ after a very optimistic sequence. Plan the play on the K♦ lead.

[hv=pc=n&s=st93hq2djt632c965&w=sq82hakj86d74ck82&n=s765h975dak985c43&e=sakj4ht43dqcaqjt7&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=p1cp1h2d2sp3d(forcing)p3hp4cp4dp4hppp&p=da]399|300[/hv] ATB for missing slam?

With my regular partner I play that 2♣ shows a strong 2 in a major, or 23+ balanced or any GF hand. For our responses, we have 2♦ as a semi +ve relay, and both 2♥ and 2♠ as negatives. 2♥ showing a complete bust or a trick for ♠ only, and 2♠ showing a trick for ♥ only. Based on Chris Ryall's methods, but not playing the 3-suited bit.

At the table I chose pass, then doubled South's 2♦ rebid. We played in 3♥, which wasn't a success. The full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=s9ht54daqjt842ca8&w=sa82hq972dk93c532&n=sj765hk86d765cq94&e=skqt43haj3dckjt76]399|300[/hv] I think 2♠ is probably best, but I'm not certain my partner would take it as natural.

[hv=pc=n&e=skqt43haj3dckjt76&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1dp1s]133|200[/hv] Any ideas?

Assuming double of 2♦ showed interest in penalising them in a major, I have no problem with either of the first two doubles. The third I think is really bad though. As for finding 5♣, we need to know how many clubs East has shown. If East will usually have 5+ in this sequence, I think West can bid 5♣. Otherwise West should pass and let East bid on. I also wonder if the director's ruling is correct. I can see more than one potential issue here: North's explanation of 2♦ could be misinformation (was 2♦ systemically the majors, or natural?), and I think there's also the question whether South has used unauthorised information from North's explanation. What should 3♥ from North show over a natural 2♦? Splinter? Fit jump? Natural? Opposite some of these meanings there might be reason for South to pass or to bid 5♦.

The full hand was: [hv=pc=n&s=sq63ht964d952cj62&w=s8hj5dakqj874caq7&n=sk542hq3dt6ck9854&e=sajt97hak872d3ct3&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=1sp2dp2hp6dppp&p=d6]399|300[/hv] As you can see, the ♠ double finesse works, where going after ♥ and falling back on the ♣ finesse doesn't. At the table, both sides went after ♥, but one made when North failed to cover the ♥J.

I was planning to splinter with 3♥, but North's 2♠ spoiled that plan. I didn't think I could justify a 4♥ splinter, so I just bid 3♥. I notice a lot of support for 4♠ from West, but is 4♣ not better? It leaves East room to cue 4♥ before West cues 4♠.

[hv=pc=n&s=sqjt87hj75d73ck43&w=sa954hk8dkj6cqj96&n=s3hq943dat98542ca&e=sk62hat62dqct8752&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=1n(12-14)3dd(Takeout)p3sppp]399|300[/hv] 3♠ was 2 off for -200. Was East's takeout double too aggressive? Or should West convert to penalties? Or can we find 3NT somehow? Assign the blame?

[hv=p&b=18&w=sha876dkqj974ck83&e=sjt2h5dat53ca9764&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=p1h2d2s3h(Good%20%21d%20raise)3s5dppp]266|200[/hv] Should West make an extra effort to find 6♦?

[hv=pc=n&w=s8hj5dakqj874caq7&e=sajt97hak872d3ct3&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=1sp2dp2hp6dppp]266|200[/hv] You arrive in 6♦ after an unscientific auction. North leads the ♦6, plan the play.