Quartic

Playing on BBO today: [hv=pc=n&s=sj876hakjtdjckj93&w=sa54h8dqt94caqt64&n=s932h743d7652c875&e=skqthq9652dak83c2&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=p1hp3np4hd4np5ddrppp&p=hah8h7h2c9cac8c2dqd2d3djd4d5das6dkhtd9d6sks7s4s3sqs8s5s2stsjsas9ctc5h5cjhjc4h3hqh6hkdth4cqc7d8c3h9ckc6d7]399|300[/hv] I was very amused when my ♦7 took the setting trick. :D

All vulnerable, you pick up a nice hand in 4th seat: [hv=pc=n&s=saqt54ht42dtcaj62&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1d2d(%21h%20%26%20%21s)p]133|200[/hv] After partner's Michaels Cue Bid, you know you want to play in spades. How do you continue?

[hv=pc=n&e=st65hq65dakjt864c&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=pp1s2d2h3d3sp4hp4n]133|200[/hv] What's your plan now? Would your plan be different at different vulnerability?

I was actually East - I posted this hand from my partner's perspective because I was more interested in what his call should be. ;) On reflection, I think I was probably being a bit too aggressive when I chose to open this.

The full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=st2hakjtda983c752&w=sakq864h84d5cajt6&n=sj93h9dqt742ck983&e=s75hq76532dkj6cq4&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=2h(Weak)d4hppdppp]399|300[/hv] 4♥x wasn't a success, going for 500, with an extra trick available in spades (2 extra by East). I did ask after the hand if the opponents had the agreement that double of a weak 2 was for penalties, but they assured me their agreement was takeout.

Ok, thanks for the advice, I wasn't sure how the risk of playing a bad ♣ contract compared to that of playing a bad ♠ contract. What alternate methods for a passed hand work well?

Same question regarding the 4♥ bid in this auction. I like this treatment of 3♦ though. In the strong jump-shift auction, for me a cue of 4♦ would promise the A or K. I've been burnt before by cueing shortage in partner's suit.

[hv=pc=n&w=sakq864h84d5cajt6&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=2h(Weak)d]133|200[/hv] How do you continue? Partner is generally aggressive when pre-empting. Scoring is IMPs. (Teams of 8)

Playing in a teams match we missed a good game after mild interference. We were playing 4 card majors with a weak NT. [hv=pc=n&s=s74h95dj86ckqjt83&w=sj9hjt3dkq74c9752&n=skt632hq76dt952ca&e=saq85hak842da3c64&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=pp1h2c2hp2s(Game%20try)p3hppp]399|300[/hv] Should East just bid the game, or should West accept the invitation?

That's an optimistic point of view - when I was at uni, we were lucky to have 2 full tables.

At the table I did choose 2♠. Unfortunately, partner's 5 card suit wasn't clubs, but hearts. The full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=saq93hjt952dk84c7&w=sj8ha73dq92cak952&n=sk64hk864djt73c64&e=st752hqda65cqjt83&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=pp1n(12-14)pp2d(4+%21s%2C%205+%20other)p2sppp]399|300[/hv] Double dummy I could have got out for down 1, but I misplayed, losing trump control and conceded down 4.

Thankfully for my partnership, this wouldn't be an issue as we play a weak 1NT opening. We also play 4 card majors, so I know we have at least an 8 card ♣ fit. But, yes, playing a strong NT you do have to worry about the weak NT hand.

Asptro isn't my favourite defence to 1NT, but it is commonly known at my local club. The way we agreed it, if partner has 5 spades, they will always have 5+ in another suit.

[hv=pc=n&n=sk64hk864djt73c64&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=pp1n(12-14)pp2d(4+%21s%2C%205+%20other)p]133|200[/hv] Your partner overcalls West's 1NT opening with an asptro 2♦ showing 4+ spades and 5+ in another suit. 2♥ from you is pass or correct to the 5 card suit, 2♠ is to play, which do you choose?

Playing in my local club with an infrequent partner, we had this tricky hand: [hv=pc=n&s=s63hj854d9742c954&w=sq9hkq7dk3cakqt32&n=skjt54ht9632dt85c&e=sa872hadaqj6cj876&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1c2c(%21h%20%26%20%21s)2hp2sp4cp5cp6cppp]399|300[/hv] Unfortunately, we hadn't discussed any defence to two-suited overcalls, so all bids from 2♥ onwards were complete guesswork. Assuming a natural 1♣ opening, how would your auction continue after a 2♣ overcall? What about over 3♣ also showing both majors? (This was the bid at some other tables.)

Playing on BBO, I pick up a beautiful 2 loser hand: [hv=pc=n&k=e&s=st7hjt6532d752c54&w=skqj653h8dkt964c9&n=s842hq94dqj83c832&e=sa9hak7dacakqjt76&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=2s(weak)p4n(RKC)p5d(1%20keycard)p5h(Q%20of%20%21s%3F)p6d(Yes%2C%20and%20K%21d)p7nppp&p=hj&c=13]399|300[/hv] If my partner doesn't have the Q♠, how should I continue? 5NT to ask for the K♦, or should I be asking for a third-round ♥ control?

If I had 1♣ - 1X; 3NT available to show this hand, that's what I'd choose. Otherwise I open 2♣ and rebid 3♣.

I think we still have room for single-suiters - 1NT - 2♠; 2NT/3♣ - 4♣ would be a slam try, as would 1NT - 2♠; 3♣ - 3NT (mild). 1NT - 2♠; 2NT/3♣ - 4NT could be Quantitative. 1NT - 2♠; 2NT/3♣ - 4♦♥♠ could be a splinter. Second round transfers look interesting, though I see we lose quite a lot of space on the minor two-suiters.

I'm not convinced you're right here - I think anyone who can calculate their weighted score themselves should also be able to cope with calculating their Cross-imp score themselves, it just might take a bit longer. Also, I think the number of "lesser customers" who care about being able to quickly calculate their scores by hand is actually not that dissimilar to the number of "clever people" who understand the theory and would prefer it to be done "correctly".

In my methods I would transfer to ♣ with 2♠. When my partner denies Qxx or better by bidding 3♣ I would just sign-off in 3NT. Unlike mgoetze, I prefer a transfer to a minor followed by a bid of a major to show 5-4 shape or better. Bidding stayman first, then the minor hides useful information from partner (which major I have) which he might need to know to place the contract. For example, with: [hv=pc=n&s=skj86h9dq75ckqt85&n=saq3hj6dak94cj976]133|200[/hv] we want to play 5♣ or the moysian 4♠, but if we swap North's majors, 3NT is the better contract. Starting with stayman, I don't see how we could avoid 3NT when it's wrong.

I was South. I had been planning to bid 4♥ after partner's 2♥ bid, but I didn't think I was good enough to try 5♥ over 4♠, so I doubled instead. I was expecting a much better hand from partner for his 2♥ bid.

Playing on BBO with a pickup partner, this hand occurred: [hv=pc=n&s=sq5hk86dtcakt7632&w=skh32dkqj875cqj98&n=sa96hjt975d942c54&e=sjt87432haq4da63c&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=1s2c2d2h4sdppp&p=cac8c4s2s3s5sksac5s4c2c9sjsqh2s6h6h3h9hqstc3cjs9s8c6cqd2hah8d5h5s7c7d7d4&c=11]399|300[/hv] Assign the blame?

Instant double if it's takeout, instant pass if double is penalties.

I think the bidding on this hand should go something like: 1♣ - 1♠ 2♥ - 2♠ 3♥ - 4♣ 4♦ - 5♣ With a ♠ control, South would go on with 4♠, and the ♣ slam would be found.

I have the same issue in firefox.