mr1303

3NT is vastly superior here. In 4H I would not be surprised to lose 2 spades, a ruff and a club.

[hv=pc=n&s=shq965da95432ck64&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=2s3h4s]133|200[/hv] How best to continue? What would you have to say about a 5H bid here?

I vote for 2D here as well. I actually think this is best, since whatever partner bids next, we will continue with spades at the lowest level, and we have described our hand very well. The problem with 2H is that it's ambiguous (some strong hand with no clear direction), and 3H definitely requires a 4th trump, which we don't have.

Going for the special prize for 5nt making exactly. C.f. 1100 hat, 1C prize, Gerber prize.

What's wrong with 2H? Looks pretty automatic to me.

Depends on how take-out an X is, but 4S is too rich for my blood.

Is 1D anything special, e.g. 4+? But I think I pass regardless.

Incidentally, is there much future in a pre-emptive 3S bid when RHO has made a limited, weakish raise of his partner's suit? Surely mixed would be more appropriate here.

I must be very loose, because I thought it was automatic to open.

I would ring Gordon and ask what to do...

Pass. This was closer to a 2S bid the first time round.

Too good for 3C at these colours, and I prefer my suit to be solid for 3NT, so 1C is all that's left. At least the bidding will be easy - I just keep rebidding clubs until partner gets bored.

I'm posting this one in the offline bridge section since I think it's only relevant to offline bridge, but maybe a rules thing so the L & R forum may be better. In a match played privately (as the EBU does for various competitions), you're playing in the 3rd set of 4, where there's a hand where the opponents have UI which requires a ruling. You make a note of the hand and agree to speak to a director at the end of the set. The board as it happened was pushed (if this is relevant, which I think probably not). At the end of the set, you score up and are about 50 IMPs up, and so decide it's not worth bothering a director, especially as you have a long drive home and are keen to get the match finished and done with ASAP, and so you tell your opponents accordingly. In the 4th set, the opponents come out and swing heavily, and manage to overturn the deficit, and win by a few IMPs. Can you now demand a director call having previously rejected it?

I really can't bid here. If I do bid every one of partner's values, how will he know what to do if I have a 16 count and KQJ to 6 hearts, which is something like what my bid should show

Hmmm, for me it was a choice between 3NT and pass. Double didn't occur to me, since the most likely calls are 4H and 4D, neither of which appeals. 3NT is hoping we can isolate the spades and hopefully make something of the clubs with a few off the top elsewhere. But if partner has a hand where that is doable, he might well reopen with a double anyway, and then we can bid 3NT or 5C (or?) without feeling like we've overbid.

Do GIBs play Lightner doubles?

I don't get this hand. I bid 4S automatically and don't consider anything else even remotely sensible.

There has to be a case for 3NT here surely.

2D looks automatic. 3H should be about a 4-5 count with 4 trumps and a bit of shape, not a 9 count with 4333

I initially thought this was a WTP 3S, and then I thought, and I thought, and realised that 4S is going to have play any time partner has his bid. 2S shows a fair hand at this vulnerability. So I bid 4S

If partner has a stiff heart, I need him to have 3 key cards to make slam. I will try 3S after 3H and thereafter make no further moves. If partner has the 3 aces outside of hearts and the queen of spade (or length) then he will take control.

What Helene said. Play anti-percentage when you have better information that it's the right thing to do, and that isn't the case here. I'm leading the A of hearts on this auction most of the time regardless here.

Playing a strong club at 14+ HCP is too low IMO. But having said that, opposite a normal precision 2C opener, I would try 2D if I can get out in 3C or 3M.

This sounds like the bidding of a weak player to me. One of these "everyone plays Acol" types won't have an agreement to open 3C on a 14 count, they just think that a 3C opening shows a hand with 7 clubs. Note that "experienced" doesn't mean the same as "good"

7S is not the best contract. A contract that requires a 3-3 trump split with Qxx in the slot is not a good contract.