mr1303

3S absolutely has to show a better suit than this. 2NT looks right on in all senses.

Ah yes. I agreed to charge £5 per class to non-students, split 50:50 between me & the club. Although my contract hasn't been renewed for next year: -(

I would open 2D, showing an minimum opening with 4-5 in the majors. Now I show a limit+ raise in spades, however it is I do that.

Yeah, 2NT is fairly automatic. If I had a less solid heart stop with 4 diamonds, I might show the limit raise (e.g. Kxx in hearts), but this hand is all about no trumps.

2D first time round. If LHO bids 2S, passed back to me, I double second time round (assuming I bid the first time round).

Pass this one. I need more than a random 8 count to be able to make something here.

No-one appears to have discussed the Ashes yet. All I can say at the mo, is that it's very bad for my health, forcing me to operate on about 4 hours sleep a nigh as I stay up to 3 AM listening to it. What a knock from Strauss, Cook & Trott in the second innings at the Gabba

Yeah, agree with double here. Probably end up in 4H one way or another.

This was what I tried, going off when East ruffed the second club. I was wondering if there was a better line out there, or if I was just unlucky.

[hv=pc=n&s=sk53hkjdq72cakt95&n=saq98742ht5da4cj6&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1np2hp2sp6sppp]266|200[/hv] West leads the Ace of hearts and plays another to your King. You cash the Ace of spades and all follow. What is the best line for 12 tricks?

A Qx KQxxx Kxxxx Bidding proceeds 1S 2D 3NT 4C 4NT Partner has shown 18-19, 5 spades and presumably wasn't excited by your 4C bid. Yes, I know this isn't a good way to show 18-19 balanced. Your call?

Ick. I hate this hand. I wonder if there's a case for a simple 3 diamond overcall, to leave 3nt in the frame

What's NLHE?

Thanks for the advice. I have called a committee meeting for tomorrow night. I'll let you know how it goes...

Hi all I currently offer my services to a university bridge club for free. I was happy to do this without issues. However, they have started advertising free bridge classes to the wider community, and some have started attending. I feel a bit agrieved at this, as I could (presumably) earn money for teaching these non-students. Any suggestions? Say I were to insist on a fee, what is the going rate for a 2 hour bridge lesson?

I might have enough to bid 4H if possible, but I have too many losers to bid at the 5 level. Pass, fairly happily.

I fully agree with the principle of not bidding 5C here once partner has made a penalty double of 4S, but given I was going to bid 5C the first time around, I can't make myself not bid it second or third time

1) Pass, hoping a make a take-out double of a club contract 2) Umm and ahh about it, probably bidding 2S, but being tempted to pass. 3) Yes, unless I have specifically agreed 11-14 NTs 4) I bid 3H, looking for a heart stopper for NT. If partner doesn't bid 3NT I let 4D go.

South. He has a 2C opener and knows of 4 card heart support opposite. I guess you can conceive layouts where game might not make, but they are almost certainly odds against. I might bid game regardless as North, but South takes 99% of the blame here.

The trouble as I see it, if we can make 4C, we'll be in 5 or more, probably doubled, and even 1 off is more than I can afford. Sorry, gotta pass this. 4C for me (and I think most people) shows a better all round hand.

This ruling is a shocker, and I would recommend appealing this to a higher authority if possible. Let's give the appeals committee some credence and say that East does have UI that West's double is sound. This point is highly debatable in itself, but for the sake of argument lets go with it. What does this UI suggest? That this contract is going off, so therefore East will do better to pass. So the UI suggests a pass. The laws state that a player may not choose from a number of possible options one which is suggested by the UI. East has not done this. By bidding 6S, he has made a call that is NOT SUGGESTED BY THE UI.

North, for passing the take-out double with a perfectly reasonable 6 card suit and only Kxx in defence.

Well I generally hate opening 2C with primary diamonds, but this is a hand that I'll make an exception on. 1) 1D 1 banana 3D is not forcing 2) 1D 1 banana 3C is an aberration 3) 1D 1 banana 4D shows 4 card banana support 4) 1D 1 banana 3NT shows a solid diamond suit. Besides which, this has too much slam potential for this bid.

I think pass is clear now. Been wrong before though.

That dull a hand?!?