mr1303

So no-one considered passing then? Interesting, because I was strongly urged not to appeal by the TD as I would almost certainly lose my deposit on this one. Partner hesitated for quite a while before passing, I reopened with 2D, which was raised in competition after RHO took the push to 3C, who then doubled 3D which was cold. Partner's hand was AJx Kx xxxxx xxx Director was called and board was adjusted to 2C making however many....

Keri sequence: Presumably: 1NT 3S(singleton club) 4C (no wastage) 4H? would get passed 4D, get's 4H from opener. Now what? I'm not convinced that a submarine splinter solves all the problems here. The continuations after the cue-bid don't seem well defined to me.

Yes, if partner had that hand he should pull the double of 4S ( if one was made) to 5H. Unfortunate that partner has 3 small diamonds, with 2 small 6 would have excellent play.

Pass, not even close. I have a 7 count.

Does this "no alerts above 3NT" apply to competitive auctions as well?

That's impressive. We managed 2 tables of each at our first session (Bristol University). Still, it's quality, not quantity that's important.....

[hv=s=stxxhaqjtxdajtxcx]133|100|[/hv] You're dealer, and you can assume love all for this one. 1H (1S) P (1NT) P (2C) P P ? What would you do here?

Yeah, but 4H doesn't make, since it's played the wrong way up.

My understanding was that West DID double planning on showing a strong hand, and then North psyched the 1S bid. Whether or not this psyche has been revealed or not I'm not sure. I think there's something to be said about South's passing 3C so quickly.....

Pass. Not close. My suit is ratty, I have a singleton in partner's suit, which is NOT helpful, I have a lot of diamond losers which I won't be able to ruff when the opponents make the blindingly obvious trump lead.

[hv=n=saqxxhqxxdcat9xxx&s=skxxhaxxxdaqxxxcq]133|200|[/hv] Bidding proceeded: 1C P 1D P 2C (2H) X P 3C P 3NT X 4S P 4NT P 5H X P P 5S P P X Is this the worst example of anti-partnership bridge you'll ever see?

Neither have I, but the double made there is clearly designed for penalty. I think those who voted yes are saying that a penalty double was made by East in the given hand, not that they specifically played double as penalty there

Keri handles this quite reasonably 1NT 2NT (transfer to clubs) 3C 3D (both minors, GF) 3NT (both majors stopped) 4D (slam try) 4H (1st/2nd round control) 4NT (RKCB) 5C (1/4 key cards) 5NT (asking for extras) 7D (knowing that partner has the A of hearts helps) 7NT (if 7D is there, 7NT must be there as well)

If only the people in my university bridge club would read this and take it in. I've been advocating ditching Acol based methods for the last 4 years.....

2S for me. I don't have enough to guarantee the 3 level here, as I'm not overly convinced we have a big fit.

Mike Bell (MickyB) got a higher score than me?!? I demand a recount!! ;)

Partner has opened 4H? In that case I'm bidding 5S here so partner will know what to do if opps bid 6D. An alternative is double (stripey-tailed ape)

Agree with Ben here, opening this hand is icky. But once you decided to do that, 1NT is your only rebid

Yes, bad hand for the methods this one. And this looks worth a game force (just about) so this calls for X followed by some number of hearts

1H. 4S could be better than hearts here, slam isn't impossible, and I hold the majors, so I'm not worried about them overcompeting here. And after 1H when

Clear cut pass here for me, and it isn't close. 1) This auction is live, with LHO showing a strong NT, and whilst RHO may not have much, he may well have a raise to 3NT with 4 hearts. 2) You are vulnerable against not. You also have a full 7 losers, with potential for more than that. The auction has not given us any suggestion that partner will be able to cover those losers. This vulnerability would tend to make them double you on any excuse, and frequently on no excuse.

Partner might think you have a big minor 2 suiter here, I'm not convinced that you've agreed spades. Therein lies the difficulty. Anyway, I'm bidding 5S here.

If by Jacoby you mean Jacoby 2NT, that shows 4 trumps and a singleton somewhere (so that a splinter would show a void). 3C asks for the shortage after that.

3NT. Gambling..... ;) If doubled, I bid 4NT, then 5C. I can see no defence whatsover to 4 of a major, and if partner doesn't have the A of diamonds we have little defence to 6 either. I find that being tricky on hands like this may get them into a doubling rhythm, giving us a good save.

I'll stick 5C in only because I'm at favourable. However, I'm not going to bid again under any circumstances. Trumps may well be breaking badly.