mck4711

all vul, p dealer and opens, no agreements KQJx KJ J10xxx 10x 1C - p - 1D - 1NT* p - p - 2NT** - x 3D - p - p - p * not alerted ** here my Qs: I considered 1NT as unusual NT, showing H and S at least 5-5, what is here the best bid: 2D (weak hand, nothing else to say), X (penalty, but might give opps opportunity to escape in H or S), 2NT (invitational, (semi-)balanced, have some values in H and S), or maybe even 2S (natural)? I hope that my understandings of a.m. bids are ok. If not pls tell me. edited: after 2nt there was before "minimum" - writing error, correct: invitational P had Axxx, Q8x, K8, K98x, pity that p ran out. BTW: LHO had 16 HCP (3 Aces, 2 Queens), and no 5-5 in S/H

Daveharty: thx for this link, yes it is a free pdf-file, quite easy to google, only one "small" problem: it has 234 pages...

4D-splinter on 2nd bid? does this splinter then confirm p's clubs? if yes, then interesting alternative. how do you usually continue after splinter: CAB, RCKB, cuebid (1st/2nd round?)? especially if you have no special agreements with p, meaning what is considered to be standard? btw: does splinter show 1st or 2nd round control?

non vs vul, IMP, E dealer, p (S) opens, no agreements QJ10 KJ98x J AQ9x p - 1C - p - 1H p - 2C - p - 2S* 3D - 3H - p - 4H *is 2S the best bid? My reasoning: p opens, together with my 14 HCP (ok, 13 without single J) and good intermediates we are more than close to game. Which one: 3NT, 4H, 5C? Jump to 3H would promise 6H, and I am not sure if this is GF or invitational. Since p has denied 4S - otherwise he would have bid 1S - the risk that p raises S is low (giving me 4 cards in S). I show values in S, should have now 5+ cards in H, and 2S is for sure forcing. P has now chance to describe his hand, i.e. bid 3NT with D-values, support H or to rebid C. Reasoning correct? Are there other (better) bids? P had Ax, Q10x, Qxx, KJxxx

Thx for all your replies. I like Two4bridge idea, but as mentioned, knowing the standard first is key. Wank, thx for your advise, how to describe this hand. I had the same feeling that I had a 'hot' hand (especially after p's 1S, but was not sure how to describe best. As the actual bidding went I deadlocked myself.

Vul against not, IMP, N dealer, no agreements with partner A98 - J10x AKJ10xxx p - 1C - 1D - 1S* p - 2D** - x - p 2H - 2S*** - 3H - p p - ? * first Q: does 1S show 4+ or 5+? forcing? or is neg. X playable, ideally of course for both unbid? ** 2nd Q: is the overcall here the best bid? or overbid, and 2C (maybe 3C) the better choice? *** 3rd Q: similar to Q2 - good or bad bid? if bad, what else, 3C? ? what to bid here? P had 10xxx, Axx, Kxx, Qxx I have somehow the feeling that this was "not the best bidding" from my side. Last Q: is there a good book on competitive bidding? :)

I agree with pooltuna and you, daveharty, p c/should have opened with 1H. Lets come back to my Q: what is my best bid in this sequence? what does x mean in this sequence/ how would it be understood?

It seems that I see today problems where there is a quite easy solution... And these problems include to count properly up to 9.

Actually, KQ are offside. So, it might be that LHO exists in H, hoping that declarer has entry-problems, meaning A of H single, or to find E with A of H, running then D through declarer - what leaves some problems. But, yes, the probability-play seems to be J of C.

vul vs non-vul, IMP, partner is dealer J10xx AKJx 10xx xx p - p - p - 1C 1D - 1S - 2D* - 2S p - p - p *what is with my hand here the best bid? As it looks, the alternatives are 1NT, 2D, X, but I am not sure. P had Kx, xxxxx, AKQx, xx

1C - 1H 1NT - 3NT, maybe 1NT not the best option, but I considered 1NT better than 2C Kxxx KQ10xx A J8x AJx A 108xx A109xx opening lead: K of D What is the best plan? Funny: Now when writing, everything is suddenly so clear and simple :). Take both red A and then low S to K. K and Q of H, hoping that J drops. Both would follow, but no J. And now S to J, holds, and A of S. Last step: low C from hand. If LHO has both K and Q, and J of D, I make 3NT, provided he doesnt have 10xxx, Jxxx, KQJ, KQ. If he has max 3S or 3H opps get only 4 tricks. LHO has to give me 9th trick either in D or in C, endplayed. Ahhh.....

vul vs non-vul, RHO opens as dealer Jxxxx 10x Axx AKx 2H* - p - 4H - p p - 4S - X - 5H p - X - p - p p *: weak 2 My reasoning for 4S: if opps have H, partner should have something in S. Now I think that I shouldnt have entered the bidding: 5th J and vul, just suicide-trip. X instead of 4S also seems too dangerous with 3-3 in minors. Last option: immediate bid after 2H, but again 5th J, 3-3 in minors, and vul.. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to feedback. btw: 5Hx one off, and LHO had AKxxx in S

All hands are played with random partnerships, no agreements. Nr 1: Partner opens with 1D, opps dont bid, my Q: how to bid after 1S, and is my understanding correct? KQx QJ10xxxx x Q9 1D - 1H 1S - 2C* 2D** - 4H*** 5C - 5H * my understanding: 4th colour forcing, natural doesnt make sense ** my understanding: denies C-values, otherwise 2NT, shows something like 5D-4S *** my understanding: to play Partner had: Axxxx, -, Axxxx, KJ10 Nr 2: Partner opens with 1H, opps dont bid, my Q: sh © ould I have investigated if p has 5H, and is my understanding correct? K10xx AJx QJx QJx 1H - 1S 2S* - 3NT** * my understanding, should show 4S or good 3S ** my understanding: p, please choose, I have most likely 4S, otherwise I would bid 4S on my own Partner had: AJx, Kxxxx, A10x, xx Nr 3: Partner opens 1H, RHO X, all red, my Q: pass or 2H, if 2H: what shows 2H, since free bid, is my understanding correct? Axx Jxx Jxxxx 10X 1H - X - 2H* - 2S 4H - p - p - p * my understanding: competitive, shows 4(3)H, 6-9 HCP Partner had: xxx, AQxxx, Qx, AJx

********** Thx to all for the replies.

How to understand partner's 4NT (I played with an expert, but unfortunately (s)he didnt answer my Q) ? 1) I have Kxx, AQxx, Ax, 10x and I open 1NT (weak NT), partner 2C (Stayman), 2H, 4NT. What does 4NT mean? Asking for aces without trump, asking for aces with H as trump, quantitative? How to answer? (Partner's hand: AQJxx, J98xx, Q10, A) 2) I have x, xx, AKQ109, A109xx and I open 1D, partner 1H, 2C, 2S (I assume, 4th colour forcing), 3C, and now I hear 4NT from my partner. Meaning of this 4NT? (Partner's hand: AKJx, AKQxx, x, Jxx)