frank0

Maybe it's not your concern or you've already noticed, but lead-directing at 1 level is very dangerous. It's opposite of overcall, where the lower the level the less likely you're getting double. The lower the level you make lead-directing double, the more likely opps are willing to play redouble contract with few trumps but lots of HCP. I run to 1S in this sequence.

I double and double everything higher than 4♥.

Assume you play 2/1 or sayc. X, Y and 1NT are natural but 1NT could be forcing, semi-forcing or non-forcing. In the poll, "usually" means you are allowed to have a few exceptions beside your general rule(e.g. usually takeout but if it's 1♦-1NT they overcall 2♣ it's penalty) Asking opinion on 1X-(P)-1NT-(2Y)-double or 1X-(P)-1NT-(2Y)-P-(P)-double types auction. For people who usually(always) play takeout: Do you make it difference when the 1NT implies other suit(1♦-1NT) and they overcall that suit(♣)? Do you make it difference when 1NT is NF and very shape-specific(1♣-1NT)? For people who usually(always) play penalty: Do you make it difference when you're 1NT bidder, and double the overcall where you deny 4 cards? You open 1♠, partner response 1NT, RHO overcall 2♥, what do you do with 5=1=(43) 15~16HCP For people who usually(always) play optional: I'm not familiar with this, can you share the reason why you think it's better than t/o or penalty? If you have exception to general rule specifies it. For people who play it depends on case: What's your (simple or complicated) agreement? For people who vote 5: Do I forget something? Tell me.

We want to know whether partner has full value for 5♥ and 1st round control in ♠. I think 6♣ is right, showing ♥ fit with ♣ control(cannot pass and introduce suit at 6 level) with grand slam interested(otherwise why cue at 6 level) but lacking ♠ control(bypass 5♠). If partner thinks the same way partner will jump to 7♥ with a ♠ void/A. If I knew from previous experience partner tends to think differently then I sign-off 6♥.

7♠ What's 5♦ and 4NT in this sequence mean? It could be a better choice if I know the exact meaning of these two bids.

If you have fit-jump gadget you can try it. Otherwise 2♠ for the reasons mentioned above

Double

In BWS 2001 they define 3N=preemptive raise to 4M but with more defensive, I play this agreement with some of my regular p. By playing this you can avoid missing slam in 1M-4M seq. Another approach is you can just play 2N=13-15/19+ bal. 3N=16-18 bal. both could and often include 3-cards support, this has the advantage that your 2/1, even in minor, shows a real 5+ suit. For more detail read "Improving 2/1 GF" by Fred Gitelman You can find the article by open old version BBO->Other Bridge Activity->Bridge Library->English->Articles->Improving 2/1 GF part 1~3 I think your present method is fine either and you already know the advantage.

All X should not be used without clear agreement.

It's a bid without clear agreement in most partnership and should not be used if you don't have agreement. Definition in Mike Lawrence's book is a good approach. Another approach I've seen is solid trump with 8 playing trick("1 trick below the contract you bid")

Everybody is overbid except probably East.

I don't open North's hand, it's not even satisfy rule of 20(which is already light enough for 2/1 player). I believe 2/1 player should not open light, this hand is an example. It's nothing related to going down 800 or 1100 at 1 level. By opening light your partner need higher strength to make a GF bid(otherwise you go down very often when your minimum open hits partner's min GF w/o big fit hand), as a consequences you add more hands into your forcing 1NT(non descriptive bid) range. By doing that, when you have more than minimum opening and partner has maximum forcing 1NT you may cold in game but impossible to find. Light open seems like an approach which minimize the advantage and maximize the disadvantage of 2/1 system.

Thanks for clear analysis, just to clarify on the 14 cards hand, by K(x) I meant K or x.

On BBO opp were pick up pair. [hv=pc=n&w=saqj82hqt5d762ck6&n=st97653h4dkqt3c52&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=2cp2sp3hp4dp4np5cp5hppp]266|200[/hv] I led a small ♦ to partner's J and declares' A. After that declare played ♥AKJ, partner followed ♥389, what's next? At the table I feared of the ♦ can pitch probably singleton ♠ so quickly laid down the ♠A and gave the contract away. [hv=pc=n&s=sk4hakj762da9caq7&w=saqj82hqt5d762ck6&n=st97653h4dkqt3c52&e=sh983dj854cjt9843]399|300[/hv] ♠A is probably right if declare get (a)♠Kxx♥AKJxxx♦A♣AQJ or (b)♠K(x)♥AKJxxx♦Ax♣AQJx But if declare does not have the ♣J a ♦ return is probably never wrong(Declare get at most 5♥4♦1♣), is this enough reason to support a ♦ return?

4♠, why struggle in tough contract when you can let partner do it? :)

I have a little different opinion. I pass and hope to enter the auction with 2-suiter competitive convention. It's fine if you open and partner has fit on one of your suit. Though pass will lead to the same result often. You're usually in big trouble when partner either (a)2 over 1 response in your short suit (b)Double opp's bid at high level

If you bid this hand which hand do you pass?

Partner is unknown but a strong player(compare to average BBO and my level). I sit E [hv=pc=n&w=sqj95hkt7daq864c8&e=sahaq43djcakjt742&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=1dp2cp2np3hp3np4cp4hp4sp5dp7cppdppp]266|200[/hv] N has Q963 in trump, no entry for trump coup, down 1. [hv=pc=n&w=s93haqt954da87ck9&e=sk5h7dt6432caqj52&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1hp1np2hp2np4hppp]266|200[/hv] Should I pull out 2♥ with that 10HCP misfit hand? Final result was -2.

If your bidding method include showing ♥+♦ it's better to use it than to X with marginal. Especially when you are short in ♠. If you X with short spade, they usually run to ♠ and preempt you out from bidding.

[hv=pc=n&s=sq32hakq65d9ckt72&e=sjt96hj8dkq853ca4&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=p1h2d2hp(%3F)3d(short%20suit%20GT)p3h4dppp]266|200[/hv] I played with partner I know against 2 random BBO players. I know you have something to say about bidding but I'm mainly asking about defense in this thread. Partner led a ♥4 you won the Q and cashed the A where declare followed 23 and partner followed 7 on A, we played 3/5 against trump contract so clearly declare had another ♥. What's next? Do you try to lead a ♣(active) to set up a trick to prevent declare getting Axx xxx AJxxx Jx or ♥K hope declare has something like Ax xxx AJxxx Qxx. There are some other possibilities but those are hands come to my mind which the play matters and the bidding is still barely make sense. I chose active defense(♣) but my partner thought passive defense(♥) is better. Any opinion? I'll post the full hand after receiving some comments.

I guess 5♥ if partner cue 5♠ jump to 7♦.

The simulation result and idea seems OK but I don't understand the logical connection between these 2 arguments.

Complicated method(crash or something like that) against weak player who has no discussion on how to defend it, and cannot properly drawing inference from your bidding when they play the hand. Simple method(X=Ms NT=ms) against strong player, overcall unknown 2-suiter light is not as destructive as it sounds and may receive big penalty at low level under the trump lead and accurate defense by opp.

1♥ if playing light open/preemptive style 3♥ if playing sound open/preemptive style(I vote this one) 2♥ if I plan to rebid my ♥ suit and try to fool opponents around. 4♥ if I play against weak opps and with a partner never raise my preempt with support pass with my teacher, he taught me that I need 7 tricks to open 3♥ red vs. white, I'm short by half trick, and this hand is not enough for 1 level open.

N pass 3♣ as others say.