Quartic

I chose 4♠, and partner bid 5♦. The full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=s952hj9754dt2c953&w=sa7643h2dq984ct72&n=skqjt8hkq6d73caj8&e=shat83dakj65ckq64&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1sd2s3d3s4sp5dppp]399|300[/hv] Making 12 tricks. My plan had been to bid 6♦ if partner could show the ♣A, and be satisfied with 5♦ otherwise. South suggested that he would have bid 6♦ with my hand over 3♠.

No problem - my original question has been well answered, and I'm finding this discussion rather interesting too. Moving some posts probably does make sense though.

At the table I played for the drop, though I was tempted to finesse. North did have Qxx, so I went off one instead of making.

[hv=b=22&k=e&s=st93d7c9&w=sq76hq954d93ca843&n=s2h6dq2c5&e=sak854h7da5ckjt72&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1sp2sp3cp4sppp&p=d7d3dqdasas3s6s2s4s9sqh6s7d2skstc2c9cac5]399|300[/hv] Do you finesse North for the ♣Q or play for the drop?

[hv=pc=n&e=shat83dakj65ckq64&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1sd2s3d3s]133|200[/hv] What do you bid now?

I would jump to 3♦ with this north hand (strong jump shift) and then support spades next round. Partner should now be able to bid the grand.

I pass too - hopefully partner will double again and I can pass for penalties. If he passes I think we probably haven't missed game, so I'll content myself with defeating their partscore. Otherwise, we will probably play 4♠ or 3NT.

Not every natural system is SA or 2/1 - I for one play Acol. I don't think Interesting Bridge Hands is appropriate for all my I/A level questions, so I tend to ask here. I do agree that there is a large gap between Novice/Beginner level and the level (I think!) I'm at. I think a Novice/Beginner forum is a good idea, and that posts there should be kept away from more advanced topics that I would find appropriate in answer to my I/A questions.

South would have passed 2♣, to give partner the opportunity to double for penalties. North would have bid 2♦ had it been passed round to her. NS aren't sure how they would have bid from there.

[hv=pc=n&s=sjt4hqjt854dqt5c9&w=sk985hk32d843caq3&n=saq3ha6dkj972cjt2&e=s762h97da6ck87654&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=1n(12-14)d(Penalty)2c(*)p2spp3hppp]399|300[/hv] 2♣ was announced as stayman, but the agreement was actually that 2♣ was a natural escape. South made 11 tricks in 3♥. Were NS damaged by the MI?

I was East, and I did think 5♥ was forcing - I was trying to show the ♥K, thinking since we'd agreed clubs it should be a cue. I knew that the ♥K was probably the card partner would most like to know I had. If I had bid 5♦, should West bid 7?

Thanks Frances, that's a lot of food for thought.

Playing with a pickup partner on BBO (so no detailed agreements): [hv=pc=n&s=s76h853dkt86543c7&w=s43haqt762djcj965&n=skqj985hj9dq72c42&e=sat2hk4da9cakqt83&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=2cp2h2s3c3d5cp5hppp]399|300[/hv] Who should have done more?

What about our other calls? Should a new suit be forcing or non-forcing? What should pass show?

The vast majority of players where I live play a weak NT. Strong NTs aren't common enough for us to consider playing a different method against them.

My partner and I play a penalty double of 1NT. What are our options for follow ups when the opponents try to escape? Should our doubles be penalty or takeout? Which bids should be forcing and which non-forcing?

My partner chose 2♥, then unfortunately passed 3♣ (clearly wrong). I wasn't certain our other bids were optimal though. I made 11 tricks in 3♣, while the field were making 3NT. The full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=sqt65hq43dkt964cj&w=sak983hjt98d7ck96&n=sj42hk762d53ct853&e=s7ha5daqj82caq742&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1dp1sp2cp2hp3cpp(Oops%21)p]399|300[/hv] 6♣ isn't makeable (double dummy), but I'd have preferred to try than to stop in 3♣. :)

At the table I chose 2♣. What should partner bid now if he has: [hv=pc=n&w=sak983hjt98d7ck96&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1dp1sp2cp]133|200[/hv] What if he has: [hv=pc=n&w=sak983hj432d7ck96&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1dp1sp2cp]133|200[/hv] Our agreement is that 4th suit is game forcing.

Sorry, the diagram was right (1st seat opener).

Vulnerable against not, you pick up in 3rd 1st seat a nice 17 count. You open 1♦ and partner responds 1♠, what's your rebid? [hv=pc=n&e=s7ha5daqj82caq742&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1dp1sp]133|200[/hv]

I do think the beginner/intermediate forum perhaps spans too wide an ability range. Personally, I'm not quite sure whether I should rate myself as a high intermediate, or a low advanced, so I generally err on the side of caution and post here instead of in advanced/expert. But this does mean that sometimes the topics that interest me are not really appropriate for beginners who may read them too.

I hadn't discussed forcing passes with this partner (or any follow ups to 2♦). I tried 5♠, which was down 2 for -200: [hv=pc=n&s=saqt54ht42dtcaj62&w=s6h93dakqj864ck98&n=sk8732haq865d2c74&e=sj9hkj7d9753cqt53&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1d2dp3d4d4h5d5sppp]399|300[/hv] Unfortunately, 5♦ would have been down 1.

At the table I chose to bid 3♦, attempting to show a slam try by rebidding 4♠ at my next turn. Unfortunately the bidding continued: [hv=pc=n&s=saqt54ht42dtcaj62&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1d2dp3d4d4h5d]133|200[/hv] What now? I like the look of using 3♣ and 3♦ as limit+ hands - I may well suggest this to my regular partner.

I think I'm going to start with double, then rebid spades unless partner shows hearts. I'm not certain this plan is best. Edit: I'm certain this plan was not best! I prefer 3♠, then 5♥ as suggested below.

Given the quality of the auction, I'm really not surprised he misplayed so badly. :)