mr1303

[hv=pc=n&s=skhakqt9da5ckq875&n=sat43h3dq972cj632&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1hp1sp3c(GF%2C%20nothing%20special)p4c(Undiscussed)p4d(Cue%2C%20usually%20first%20round)p5c(Slow)pp(Slow)p]266|200[/hv] Not our best attempt at the table. Both NS agreed that 4C was more encouraging than 5C, but 5C would rarely exist in case the 3C bid was a bit manufactured. South thought that North owed a 4S cue. North felt that after having encouraged with 4C, he had bid his hand. Who gets the biggest kicking? At the other table, 2C, 2D, 2H, 2S, 3NT, 4C, 6NT got to a very inferior slam, but sadly it made.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakq7hkt62d7ca872&n=st43haqj3dj632cq3&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=3cppd(Dubious)p3h(Dubious)pp(Dubious)p]266|200[/hv] Result was +2, which was not a great success.

[hv=pc=n&s=sq86542hj7d6cakq8&w=s3h93dakqt75c9732&n=sat7hak84dj943c65&e=skj9hqt652d82cjt4&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=2d(Typical%20GIB%20weak%202)pp2sp3d(Apparently%203%2B%20card%20support)p4sppp&p=dad3d8d6dkd4d2s2s4s3sas9s7sks5d7sjsqd5]399|300[/hv] Diagram includes the bidding, pips and the play up to this point. I chose to run the spades and clubs to play for a double squeeze, which rather failed as the cards lie, and instead I should play a minor suit squeeze against West. Any suggestions as to how I should know this? TYIA

[hv=pc=n&s=s73hakjtdkj853cqj&n=st65h942dq74cat52&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=ppp1s(West%20was%20actually%20dealer)p2s(Constructive)d(Misguided%3F)p3c(Not%20much%20choice%20really.%202NT%20would%20be%202%20places.%20)pp(3!D%20would%20show%20a%20much%20stronger%20hand%20with%20diamonds%2C%20not%20a%204-5%202%20suiter.%20)p]266|200[/hv] West was dealer. Anyway, trumps broke deeply unpleasantly and this went a load off. Suggestions?

2S by North was defined as 3+ cards, 10+ HCP or thereabouts. 2NT was unfortunately natural in our methods, otherwise showing a good 4 card raise would clearly be superior, and then South might well bid a game. X would look for a penalty.

[hv=pc=n&s=sj5haq842dq73caj9&n=sa83hkj95dk5c8642&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1h2h(Michaels)2s(Limit%20%2B%20Heart%20raise)p3hppp]266|200[/hv] South didn't think his minor suit honours were pulling their full weight, and he thought the J of spades was worthless. North thought that 2S had bid his hand. 3H made +1 when the 10 of clubs was stiff on the right, after the King of clubs was led.

Thanks all. My partner's response here was 4NT, which got us to the 5 level, which went down when trumps were 4-1. I held [hv=pc=n&s=sk862hak6dakj92c6]133|100[/hv]

[hv=pc=n&n=sat63htdq8ckq8632&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1dp1s(Forced%20by%20system)p4c(Splinter)p]133|200[/hv] Partner has splintered at game all. What would you call here? Options are: 4D - cue (1st and 2nd round controls - Qx not normally what you'd expect) 4H - cue 4S - not interested in anything further 4NT - RKCB 5C - cue - would deny a control in diamonds or hearts 5D/5H - EKCB 5S - asking for good trumps. 5NT - GSF

[hv=pc=n&s=s6hat98dajt86ca63]133|100[/hv] This was my hand (the take-out doubler's) - pips might not be exact, but everything relevant is correct. A club lead would have beaten 4H, but IIRC the club lead didn't stand out, and on a trump lead and slightly less than optimum, but not terrible defence let it through with an overtrick.

Helene's interpretation of the auction was correct. FYI I was North in the auction. The posted hand was South. It was IMPs but I forget the vulnerability.

S: KTx H: KQJxx D: 9X C: XXX After the sequence 1D 1S 1NT (12-14) 2S from the opposition, partner balances with a takeout double. How many hearts do you bid? 2NT would offer 2 places, so you can't bid a "good" 3H? Sorry for not using the hand generator - I'm away from my computer.

[hv=pc=n&s=s52hat94dqj9ckq83&n=s6hkqj63d63cat742&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1h2h(Michaels)2s(Limit%20%2B%20raise%20in%20%3C3)4sp(Not%20forcing)p]266|200[/hv] It was fully agreed that the pass over 4S was not forcing, and that there was no sensible alternative to 2S at the first go (2NT would not show 4+ hearts). Apart from changing the methods, what would you do with this one?

[hv=pc=n&s=sa3hkqj3daq8ckqj9&n=sha852d643cat8754&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=pp2c(Strong%2C%2022%2B)p2d(Waiting)3s(Somewhat%20unexpected)d(Take-out)4s5cp]266|200[/hv] North was a bot. What do you do now?

Back in my slight-more-serious-than-now days, I have always remembered Poorbridge.com. In particular, I remember this hand here: http://www.poorbridge.com/?pbotw=18 I bring this up, due to this hand here: [hv=pc=n&s=sakq8642h5d2ckqj3&w=shdaca&n=s73hkq962dkqj4c72&e=shadc]399|300[/hv] This time, both rosewwf and I ended up in 7S, although for some reason neither of us were doubled. EW hands are irrelevant save for the presence of the 3 missing aces. Anyone else ever had two grand slams bid at both tables both missing 3 aces?

[hv=pc=n&s=sk432hkqdj853caj6&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1d1hd2hppd(Dubious%20-%20please%20comment.)p3dp3h(Uncertain)p3s(Undiscussed%20but%203%20spades%3F)p]133|200[/hv] So you have the above auction. The first double just showed 4 spades, the second was just "more take out". 3H was undiscussed but interpreted as "do something sensible", and partner decided that 3S was sensible. 4D from you would not be forcing. So what do you decide to do?

If I pass first, I limit my hand, and if I bid aggressively later partner should know I have something like this. If I open 1D, partner won't have any idea what I have, and might misjudge. FWIW, IFF I have to open, I only consider 1D. 2D or 1S are abominations IMO.

I can live with 2D here - a vaguely positive noise. I won't do anything more encouraging though.

What about 2D? If partner has a singleton club I don't want to discourage, whereas diamond shortage is unlikely to be good news. Probably won't matter but it might get us to a good slam.

Insane is a bit much, but only a bit. Some 2632 10 counts are automatic, but this one is pretty ragged. So poor is about right. Any time partner is going to take a close decision, he will hope for you to have more than this, and that doesn't rate to end well.

Whenever I bid 4H on these cards, I get bad breaks and good defense, and invariably go -1

Fred wrote a good article about using the impossible 2S a while back. Most people don't use it very efficiently.

Apologies for no hand diagram - on holiday this month and I only have my phone. AJxxxx AJxx Kxx - Opposite KQ10xx KQx Ax Kxx Simple auction: (North dealer) 1S 2NT (Gf raise) 3C (shortage) 4NT (RKCB) 5S (2+Q or extra length) 6S North thought that you shouldn't show a void in response to RKCB after showing shortage. South expected a missing ace. Who should have bid differently?

I like 2NT to be a "I want to bid 3C but 9 tricks are required in clubs or NT, so if you have some extra length we may get to 9 in NT. It is therefore forcing. Partner is asked to choose 3C or 3NT.

The hands could fit well, or they could not. I suppose partner could pass 1H with real dross, but 3H isn't safe. Also when vul partner will accept easily, and that might not be good, so I shall pass cautiously.

The hands could fit well, or they could not. I suppose partner could pass 1H with real dross, but 3H isn't safe. Also when vul partner will accept easily, and that might not be good, so I shall pass cautiously.