mr1303

Unless I'm at unfavourable vulnerability, I'd bid 4S, otherwise 3S (as South). Having seen partner only bid 3S, I would pass as North. Almost all my values are defensive, I'm balanced, and opponents are even likely to be in a dodgy spot. Hence I'm quite happy to defend 4H. Bidding in position *** would not occur to me in a million years. It would be a great breach of partnership discipline to do so.

I've noticed a number of posts recently with people saying that. Maybe I'm finally getting better at this game.

I play that doubles of 4S openings are "primarily for take-out, but partner may convert if his hand seems unsuitable for declaring at the 5 level". So I'd happily take this out to 5H

I think I'll pass this one. 1) I don't think my heart stop is good enough to bid 3NT. If partner hits with Jx too bad. 2) Partner is entitled to play me for around 7-8 HCP. Discounting the Q of hearts, I don't have anything more than that. Partner is still there, if he has more than a minimum he can try again.

Definitely declare. I have 10 off the top, with the diamonds all coming in. Actually, there's a diamond missing from somewhere. I might need to have a second look at the hand.

Just out of interest, why does anyone have to write down the distribution? That never has to happen at any bridge club I've played at, even those that don't use pre-dealt boards.

6H looks like at best being on a heart guess, assuming trumps don't break badly. So I'm not going to bid that, especially as I always get those guesses wrong. Out of interest, what would a 5S bid after 5H be? Hopefully not a grand slam try, but just interested in other contracts besides 6H. If so, I might try that, otherwise I think 6C looks a good bet. However, partner would be playing that one, so that wasn't the bid that Fred made.

The answer is it depends. If you play 1D P 2H as a weak jump shift, 3H on the auction you described is forcing. If you play 1D P 2H as something else, so that weak hands with hearts go via 1D 1H 2C 2H then 3H is invitational.

Hi all. I've just spent the weekend commentating on the Junior Camrose. Shortly after the tournament finished, I received a message from someone playing in the event (I won't say who, since he doesn't read these forums) saying that I'd offended a lot of people by my comments. I'm not sure what it is that I'd said that was so offensive. However, I have the following to say. 1) When I commentate, I try to commentate subjectively. In other words, if someone does something good, I say that the player did something good. On the other hand, if someone makes a "dubious" action, I also point that out. In the course of an event, I try to be fair and even with my commentary, without bias. 2) My comments are designed for the vugraph audience. They are not designed as feedback for the players for after they finish the event. 3) When I teach young inexperienced players, I try my hardest not to give them any undue criticism. However, when they reach the standard for playing on vugraph, I feel that they should be able to take a certain amount. 4) Vugraph commentators, operators, and co-ordinators give up a lot of their free time in order to make these broadcasts possible. We get little thanks for this. Comments from readers on this issue would be very helpful, particularly those who frequently commentate on vugraph. Mark

Tell that to Ron Klinger. His Keri super-accept structure is designed exclusively to get to 3NT.

I bid 3D, and wouldn't consider any other action.

Be careful though. If you're going to be declarer, it's safe for you to cue-bid a king, since the lead is going to come round to your king. If you're going to be dummy, this isn't the case, since your king is vulnerable to attack from the opening lead. A holding such as KQ is always safe to cue-bid.

Presumably, something like 1C 1S 2H 2S all out, for +110 and that proved to be the limit of the hand. I'm a firm believer that a reverse should be able to control the auction. In other words, the reverser has a prepared rebid when making a reverse.

I can live with something like AKJTxx or so, but AJTxxxx is too broken for my liking.

4C shows a solid suit, does it not?

I'll bid 4D. I think this should show a void, since I can bid 3D to show a singleton (2D would be a forcing reverse). If so, after 4NT I'll just bid 5H showing my 2 key cards. If partner then bids 5NT, I'll just bid 7H. I won't bother with showing kings.

It sounds to me as if your analysis is spot on. 1) A 2D opening that is strong and artificial requires an adjustment. 2) In order for an adjustment to occur, the Non-offending side needs to show that there is damage. The correct procedure is for the board to be played out, and if the NOS was damaged, an adjusted score is assigned. 3) An artificial score such as this is an illegal adjustment. This should only occur if it was not possible to get an actual result. 4) Kibitzers should be seen and not heard. In other words, no, you shouldn't have said anything.

I would double with that last hand. If partner had made a penalty double you'd sit for it, would you not? With most opening hands, if double is even remotely an option I'll try and make one, as it annoys me if I have a huge trump stack over their overcall and partner doesn't reopen with a double, just because he has some 5-5 shape or similar. My rule: If you would sit for a penalty double (had he been able to make one) then you should try to reopen with an X rather than something else if at all possible.

If 2NT is 16-18 then I bid 3NT. I'm not doubling then cue-bidding then bidding no trumps. Partner might think I'm interested in playing somewhere else.

I double every day of the week, at whatever format of the game, at whatever vulnerability in this situation. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

Clear-cut 3H for me. I may have a maximum for it, but I'm allowed to have a maximum on occasions. As Paul Bowyer (England U25 coach) said, 6322/7222 shapes are not worth that much on pre-emption. Too many losers. I'm not counting the J of spades or the Q of clubs as having much value.

I'll lead a heart. 4th highest of my longest and strongest.... A club lead can be eliminated straight off. I leave leading from KJx to others, so it's between a heart and a diamond. If RHO had long strong hearts he might have bid them, whereas he probably wouldn't bother bidding diamonds, so it's that that makes me favour a heart.

If we have a combined 25 count, I'm going to be in game, Mrs Guggenheim (or however it's spelt) is going to be in game, everyone and his auntie are going to be in game. I'm just going to go one less off than everyone else....

Almost anything could work. Certainly I'd expect most of my partners in an individual to try Blackwood. But I try bidding normally if at all possible, so I bid 1H.

Just wondering, are there any fledgling plans to show the World Junior Pairs (held in Piestany, Slovakia) on BBO vugraph this summer? Dates are towards the end of June/early July. Mark