mr1303

Awkward. You want to raise clubs without inviting 3NT, and I don't know of a way to do that. So I suppose I have to pass.

If partner can't bid 4C, then it increases the likelihood that partner might have taken a position and bid 5C, so 5S then pass 6C looks right. I never get these problems right at the table. 5C should be the Rock of Gibraltar, but we all know partners who take views...

Actually going plus here is a good score, as I can easily imagine 6H-1.

Awkward. Would 4C be strong or Leaping Michaels? The problem with 5S is that you *know* you're just going to hear 6C coming back and you aren't any better off. I presume you pass that since bidding 7 is a complete guess.

Last time I played Acol vaguely seriously, we agreed to open all hands like this 1NT. Hearing the arguments for 1D (rebidding 2D) or 1H rebidding 2D, I am convinced that 1NT is best.

We don't have much to go on here. The double as "takeout" could mean anything, but given that there isn't much left for RHO to have, I'll give him the 3 kings and take the heart hook followed by an elimination.

As much as I hate it, pass seems the best of a bad job. If the 1H overcall was an unfavourable psyche, congratulate the opps.

When I play, if I discount KQJ in the splinter suit and I would still have my bids, I can co-operate. 4NT is quite inappropriate with my hand so I cue-bid 5C, and await developments. If partner bids 5D, do I bid 5H or 5S... tough one. Probably 5H to show 1st round control, but partner is in control. I do not go past 5S.

Last time I had this auction partner had a flattish 10 count and passed, missing game.

2S. I hope partner takes this seriously.

What about a preference to 3D? This will allow us to keep the auction alive without going past 3NT (4C sounds forcing to me, which is an overbid.

(2H) P P 3D P 3S P 3NT Looks likely. Been in worse.

If you never concede a doubled contract, you aren't doubling enough. I double 2S. I've been wrong before. I expect 1 off to be mostly likely, with 2 off possible if partner has a fair hand.

I'm red. I pass.

I bid 2D. I expect my next bid is 3D. My bid after that will probably be 4D.

When competing in challenges, I like to claim the rest, and I like the claim feature. However, sometimes I claim when opponents lead. The fact that the only option is to concede all the tricks is frustrating, even more so when I make the offer to concede the rest rather than claim the rest. Can something be done, either making claiming the rest impossible on opponents lead or allowing me to select the number of tricks as if it were my lead? Or at the very least make conceding an impossible number of tricks (e.g. if I'm the only one with trumps left) impossible?

Hmmm, at MP do I not want to play this in NT? I have a funny feeling partner misexplained my redouble...

I bid 4H expecting to bid 5C if 4S came back to me, so I follow through. About the hesitation, what does it suggest? If partner was thinking of doubling? Or bidding 5H himself? Not clear. In any event, I think the only bid disallowed here is double, so I bid 5C.

Well, our auction continued like this: 1S (4C) 4D 5D 5H 6S. Not the best I suppose.

Thank you Phil G, that had occurred to me...(!)

[hv=pc=n&s=st2hak7dakq876c74&n=sakj953ht62dj2ck6&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1s4c]266|200[/hv] I managed to get to 6S, which went off on the A of clubs followed by a club ruff. 6NT by North was cold.

Hi all Next February I have some spare time (14th-24th Feb) when I need to go away by myself, and I thought a good bridge cruise might be fun. Anyone know of anything suitable?

I really think 2H is poor here, since partner will count heart values as positive should he have slam interest, when in reality heart values are not wanted.

Nick was entirely right. I thought that in a borderline case, 3NT might have play, but 4S going off on bad breaks or club ruffs. I could've gone a few fewer off if I didn't pitch a club on the run of the first 6 diamonds, but life...

KQ9xx AQx Qx Q10X (3C) ? Vul is love all.