mr1303

Yes, I would invite. I would prefer to make a Keri-style invite where I could've stopped at the 2 level opposite most minima. I'd expect to go down if partner passed or bid 3H though

[hv=n=saqt9hkqdqjtxckjx&s=sxxxhtxdakxxxcaqx]133|200|[/hv] Playing Acol, the bidding was: 1S (4 card majors) 2D (Acol style) 3NT (18-19 bal) 4NT (nat inv) 6D all pass As you can see, this needed the double spade finesse to make, which unsurprisingly wasn't right. Who's fault was it?

When you first heard partner bid 1NT, did you ever want to play this in 3NT? No, you always wanted to play it in some number of hearts, so bidding 4H here is certainly allowed, and without the slightest bid of doubt.

Pass. I think bidding would be crazy. I have a lot of losers and no reason to expect a fit. Indeed, they might find their way to a 4S contract with a 5-0 trump split.

I pass here. Partner might be able to double 4S with an appropriate holding, and I have a lot of losers. Incidently, what's the reference to diamonds on the topic title? I'm not meant to be bidding 5D as a lead direct or something equally daft am I?

1) I strongly disagree with the choice of 2C here. 1S is a much better bid 2) I think bidding on is absolutely mandetory with your hand. Missing games is criminal at IMPs scoring, and slam is not impossible if partner has the right 13 cards. 3) The V of hearts is the clearly the most powerful card in the deck. As a result any hand containing it must be upgraded and 7NT bid (Note: all this is tongue in cheek. I haven't a clue what he's meant to be talking about either)

No, me neither. In fact I'm more than happy at finding a making game rather than missing slam on these cards

Oh to be able to play Keri, which solves these problems for you straight off. Anyway, I'm going to try 3NT, since 4333 opposite 5332 usually makes the same number of tricks, and if that number = 9, then I want to play 3NT.

Not sure you've got this one right. My bidding looks much more like being South than being West. Bidding 2S here on three small does not really appeal. But assuming I'm South and 2C was not GF, then I'm happy with pass. Mind you I wouldn't have bid 2H on the previous round over the double.

Dare I say it: Hamman's rule as always applies. I'd quite like to double them for penalty, but I don't think a double here is penalty, and I'm not too confident about partner reopening on this one.

I'd like some sort of competition if the competition is realistic. I.e. we won't have someone bidding 1H showing 0-3 H on xxx xxx xxx xxxx since one thing I discovered when attempting to put some interference in for the partnership bidding was that we just made a whole load of penalty doubles and took some telephone numbers.

Yeah, 3NT is horrible with 2 low diamonds. Playing SAYC I'm going to punt, since I don't have the science to make this slam good. Something like: 1S 2C 2H 3C 3D 4C 6C out

Answer: it doesn't. I end up in 4H, or possibly 5 or 6H depending on how lucky I'm feeling. But lets assume I fudge a bit: 1C 1S 1NT 2D 2H 2S 2NT 3C 3D 3H 3S 4C 4D 4H 4S 4NT 6S Explanation: 1C (strong) 1S (balanced, 3 suited or diamonds) 1NT (relay) 2D (4+ hearts balanced) 2H (relay) 2S (both majors) 2NT (relay) 3C (4423 shape) 3D (relay) 3H (4 slam points, where A = 3 K = 2 Q = 1. This would usually show 5 slam points but I'll happily admit it's a fudge) 3S (relay) 4C (1/2 top honours in spades, 0/3 in hearts) 4D (relay) 4H (0/3 in clubs) 4S (relay) 4NT (0/3 in diamonds) 6S (realising that you need to pitch a diamond loser on the hearts, and this doesn't help if hearts are trumps). What would actually happen: 1C(strong) 1D (negative) 1H (Kokish) 1S (relay) 2H (min with 6 hearts) 4H (go away)

The second one, by quite a long way. Partner doubled because he didn't want to hear you bid 5H

I would double here, but consider this a complete minimum, and won't accept any invitations.

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=skxxxhaqtxxdqxxxc]133|100|[/hv] Partner opens 1S, passed to you. Your choices are 2H (not GF), 2NT (GF raise), 4C (splinter) or 5C (exclusion RKCB). Which does everyone else think is best? I really can't see what's wrong with 4C splinter, but I've been told this is too strong for that.

The reference to jump shifts was to do with the negative inference when he partner doesn't make one. I.e. is 1S 1NT 3H 100% GF, or just showing a goodish hand. If it is game forcing, then opener can have plenty of good hands (sometimes up to 18-19 HCP) and only bid 2H. Whereas if it just shows a goodish hand with (presumably) 5-5 shape, then 2H would usually show a minimum opening.

The day when the use of the X card to say "this is going off" requires an alert is the day I give up bridge. What's wrong with (as I do whenever I have an agreement that I play them) alerting negative doubles?

Another key point, I've been told in good faith that MisIry is not permitted in EBU land, even at level IV. The paragraph Since a MisIry bid (I'll use 3C, showing either diamonds or a strong hand without diamonds) does not fit into any categories, it's disallowed.

Just a thought: You hold: QJxx QJxx void Kxxxx LHO opens 1NT (12-14), and bidding procedes: 1NT X P P XX P 2D ? Pass by RHO forced redouble, 2D now shows diamonds and a major (likely 4-4, but possibly more shapely) What do you do here? You can double for take-out, but partner will sit for it. Or, if you play that double would be penalty, do you pass (forcing) and when partner doubles, now what do you do?

I think partner here is asking for HK for 7NT. If I've denied DQ already then I'll try 7D to show playable diamonds (presumably showing DJ here) and probably denying HK. If partner now bids 7H I'll bid 7NT, otherwise I believe he can pass 7D and I'll pass 7S here.

LHO overcalled 2S, and partner has shown up with a stop. Is LHO Mike Bell? (BTW I pass 4NT, since my hand hasn't improved as the auction's gone on)

I should also add that 19-22 ish hands go in our multi 2D.

I don't. Who was it who said "Take-out partner's take-out doubles"? Probably Kaplin, but it was well said either way. Here I expect to make something, likely at the 6 level.

With my points in my suit, I might try 3 or 4H, but on this hand, I don't see any urgency to attempt anything fascinating. 1H is therefore plenty.