mr1303

5C. More is excessive and hanging partner at this vulnerability. Who knows, they may bid over 5C, after which I start licking my lips :)

[hv=pc=n&s=saqj63hq6daq3caj3&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=p1hd2hp3d]133|200[/hv] What do you say here? Options are double again 3S Pass?

Hang on, the 1NT by 4th hand showed 15+ HCP? I think I bid 2S here regardless of what it means. I presume double from partner would deny 4 spades?

Yes, 3NT is the only choice here.

The reason I asked was that 3S usually shows 4 hearts and a spade stopper (if playing fast shows, the more common way). Anyway, assuming that partner doesn't have a spade stopper (else double is automatic) then I like pass as well. Partner can double himself if he wants to defend, otherwise 5 (6?) of a minor might be good.

Does partner have a spade stopper here?

Given that double is takeout, you have no choice other than to pass. Partner already knows he's short in diamonds and so hasn't raised, doubled for take out or done anything else sensible. Partner is almost certainly broke. Take +200 gratefully. If you double and partner bids 4H, what do you do then? 4S is asking for the axe.

He who is short in opponents suit must strive to take action. My partners usually have something like QJX in hearts here rather than a singleton.

I miscounted when I voted 2nt. 1nt is clearly right. Although it might play better by partner.

I bid an invitational 3C. Which I think is close to what I have. 1D 3C should not be a weak jump shift even if 1D 2H or 1D 2S is.

I would double - if partner has Qxx I want the Ox to play NT rather than me. If partner bids clubs I pass.

If you want to be able to stop in 4NT, you need to bid 4NT now, IF you bid 4C then after 4 of a red suit bid 4NT partner will take it as Blackwood. Staying out of slam was correct here. 3NT made + 3 after a heart lead into the AQJ, but against 6C you'd need to take a heart finesse which loses.

4S worked nicely, getting us to 6C opposite [hv=pc=n&n=sk3hqdakj652cqj63]133|100[/hv]

[hv=pc=n&n=s97542ht3d842ca63]133|100[/hv] was the North hand.

Partner held 5 small spades and a doubleton heart, so 7S was cold. I raised directly to 7, but didn't like the auction.

Yes, that seems reasonable. I'll post partner's hand later to see if you think he should bid the grand.

[hv=pc=n&s=sat9h83dj5cak8642&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1n(16-18)p2s(Transfer%20to%20clubs)p3c(Good%20hand%20for%20clubs)p3s(No%20agreement%2C%20but%20you%20hope%20this%20is%20a%20good%20way%20forward)p3np]133|200[/hv] Do you carry on? Or settle for 3NT. Bidding after 3C shows a game forcing hand, but you might well do this on a hand that is just looking for the best game. 4C would force a cue out of partner.

[hv=pc=n&s=s9ha8642dq84cak82&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1d2sd(13+%20not%20suitable%20for%20raise)p3cp3h(Forcing)p3s(Can%20we%20play%203NT%3F)p]133|200[/hv] You couldn't bid 3H the first time as it would be not forcing. What do you want to call this time? Comment on the bidding if you would have done something differently so far.

No published agreement :) Sorry. I wouldn't know what I meant by 6C. A void and a grand try that has all first round controls I think I would mean, but that needs something extra to bid the grand.

My anti-virus package is blocking a lot of these at the moment, all of which relate to the bridgebase website. Just wondering if there's any likely reason for this? I'm using the old version if it helps. Attacker URL: Category: Intrusion Prevention Date & Time,Risk,Activity,Status,Recommended Action,IPS Alert Name,Default Action,Action Taken,Attacking Computer,Attacker URL,Destination Address,Source Address,Traffic Description 2012-11-26 12:52:00,High,An intrusion attempt by www.bridgebase.com was blocked.,Blocked,No Action Required,Web Attack: Exploit Toolkit Website 4,No Action Required,No Action Required,"www.bridgebase.com (65.254.56.174, 80)","adserver.bridgebase.com/openx/www/delivery/ajs.php?zoneid=2&cb=65874195775&charset=utf-8&loc=http://ads.bridgebase.com/common/ads/location2_inner.html&referer=http://ads.bridgebase.com/common/ads/location2.html?ra=1736950616&rb=977799023&c=GB","MRREEVE-PC (192.168.2.5, 49262)",65.254.56.174 (65.254.56.174),"TCP, www-http" Network traffic from <b>adserver.bridgebase.com/openx/www/delivery/ajs.php?zoneid=2&cb=65874195775&charset=utf-8&loc=http://ads.bridgebase.com/common/ads/location2_inner.html&referer=http://ads.bridgebase.com/common/ads/location2.html?ra=1736950616&rb=977799023&c=GB</b> matches the signature of a known attack. The attack was resulted from \DEVICE\HARDDISKVOLUME3\BRIDGE BASE ONLINE\NETBRIDGEVU.EXE. To stop being notified for this type of traffic, in the <b>Actions</b> panel, click <b>Stop Notifying Me</b>.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakj63hakj752dakc&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=pp3c4cp4sp]133|200[/hv] Swiss Pairs, 1st match, not the world's strongest opponents, competent but non-expert field. Assume 4C showed both majors. What do you bid here? 4NT would be Roman Blackwood (Not RKCB). 5C would be a first round control in a slam try, but partner will bid 5S over that.

No, double would not be pure penalty, but it would be less take out than 4NT. Double would be cards, but partner wouldn't expect a heart void and 4 card diamond support.

[hv=pc=n&n=sj532hd9854cakj52&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1h2d4h]133|200[/hv] What do you call here? 4NT would be 2 suited take out, 5C would show a fit as a passed hand, but not as an unpassed hand. Or what about a simple 5D?

[hv=pc=n&s=sht532dakq653cq63&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1h2d4h5dp]133|200[/hv] Any thoughts here? Is pass automatic?

In answer to this question, this one was (again hypothetically) appealed after the director ruled 2H making by North. The bar appeals committee reinstated the table score and gave a PP to East West, refunding the deposit. I've been asked to hang around after play has finished in case of a potential appeal a few times recently. I want to make sure my judgment is right in case someone actually does appeal (as opposed to moaning about the ruling)