Phil352

We had a similar issue on the hand: [hv=d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp2dp2hp3d4d5dppp]133|100[/hv] Lacking a both majors bid in our agreements (in hindsight a pretty big hole) i think what partner did was fair enough. the 5D bidder was concerned about her aceless hand and the 2D opener wished they'd opened something else i think.

Assuming the list chase made doesn't count boards since 1996. Given that this was 17 years ago, that's quite a lot of time for bridge to move on/partnerships to decay. The results will be slightly loaded to the present just because of more vugraph probably but still not enough to correct.

mea culpa :) but i think it should be called that from now on.

Valid points gnasher, I think playing pretty constructive weak 2s (8+ to 11) tips it slightly back towards being slightly more frequent and useful since overall strength is already defined. If playing constructive style I'm not convinced feature ask is any more useful than shortage ask (i actually quite like the Svar convention which covers both shortages/6-4s and maximum/minimum. I ripped this from an old Brogeland card: Svar: 2♠ = Natural, forcing one round (2NT, 3♥ and 3♠ is passable) 2NT = Asks for shortage and another suit 3♣ = Natural, GF 3♦ = Natural, GF 3♥ = Natural, GF (preempt over 2♥, which may be raised to game with at least 6-4) 3♠ = Preempt which may be raised to game with at least 6-4/Splinter over 2♥ 3NT = To play (2NT followed by 3NT suggests to play) 4♣ = Splinter 4♦ = Splinter 4M = To play, no forcing pass. 2♥ – 2NT 3♣=6-4, 3♦ ask 3♥=♣, 3♠ = ♦, 3NT = ♠ 3♦ = Shortage in a minor 3♥ ask 3♥ = Min with no shortage 3♠ = Shortage 3NT = Max with no shortage 4♣= Void 4♦= Void 4♥= Void in ♠ 2♠ – 2NT 3♣= 6-4, 3♦ ask 3♥= ♣, 3♠ = ♦, 3NT = ♥ 3♦ = Shortage in a minor 3♥ ask 3♥ = Shortage in ♥ 3♠ = Min with no shortage 3NT = Max with no shortage 4♣= Void 4♦= Void 4♥= Void 4♠ = Void in ♥, min

This may be true, but personally I have found the real value of shortage ask is when partner (the 2nt bidder) holds something like xxx in a suit - opposite a shortage a thin game can be bid because we know our values are concentrated with the longer suits. If I show a feature in a different suit over his 2NT bid he is still left wondering about his xxx.

I currently play shortage ask over disciplined 2M weak 2s, and feature ask over a wider ranging 2D - where the focus is more often finding 3NT than 5D. As mentioned above I don't find Ogust much use once you trust partner to take suit quality and vulnerability/position into account when opening 2x.

This may be deliberate but I can't set up or play at a vugraph table set up by my partner. Is there an obvious reason for this?

Not necessarily true in normal duplicate movements: If you bring a smartphone you get first dibs on sitting North-South (or given the stereotypical nature of smartphone users being younger maybe all EW should do the scoring and move around the room. Still a pretty poor idea atm though.

When you say no system, was weak jump shifts discussed? ie. is 3S going to be forcing? If it is that seems logical. If not I'll need to think some more.

[hv=pc=n&s=sajt76hk9753d4caq&n=sq9843hat62dkq3c2&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1sp4cp4dp4hp4np5dp5sppp]266|200[/hv] Q♥ lead. How do you plan to play? (see second spoiler for ultimate decision you'll all come down to). My line was as follows

Playing matchpoints against 2 of the best players in the club last night: [hv=pc=n&n=sk64haj52dqj8ca86&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=p1n2np3dppp]133|200[/hv] 2NT showed both minors. What would you choose to lead? I'll reveal my choice afterwards although the full hand isn't particularly relevant.

Playing in the club last night the following hand came up: [hv=pc=n&s=sk5hak963dkj875c7&n=s987hjt54dqtcaqt8&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1hp2np3dp3hp4hppp]266|200[/hv] Matchpoints, Spots in hearts/diamonds are approximate West leads the 5♣ Now you're already in a thin game by club standards but I'd anticipate about 1/2 to 2/3 the room will be in it. Was it unreasonable to put the Q in at trick one? Playing for an overtrick if the club finesse is right and trumps are 2-2 or for my 10 if trumps do break badly? Am I missing something really obvious?

Justin how does playing weak nt make it worse? If anything surely it makes it easier for partner to know what to do since some hand types are automatically discounted?

Fair enough this seems pretty conclusive. I probably should have mentioned that we were playing a weak NT and so 2353 hands are automatically discounted. When I play strong NT with another partner we frequently bid 2M with 3 card support and a small doubleton as gnasher suggested. Am I right in thinking most people are looking at playing in the best/safest partscore rather than trying to help partner make a decision about borderline games where we have a double fit? For example would you expect partner to move again on eg. xxx KQxxxx Ax Qx? I guess he could bid 3♦?

So my partner and I have a severe disagreement over the non-competitive auctions 1m 1M 2M What hand shapes do you raise to 2M with only 3 card support? Does it change depending on relative strength of suits? Does it change depending on MPs vs IMPS? We had the auction 1♦ 1♥ 2♥ 2♠! 3♦? Can this 3 diamond bid show only 3 hearts? is it possible that 3D actually shows only 3H and not 4 or can a x45x hand be possible? I had xx Jxx KQJxxx Ax Should this rebid 2D or 2H? All views welcome!