bigbenvic

I can't see the auction ending if I X and I think it gives partner an expectation to a better hand than I hold, I'm therefore bidding 2♦ though passing and hoping to be on lead has some merit.

I think the key reason I'm bidding game here is that I have the A♥ (and it's imps). Pards sounds like he has some issues (he didn't bid direct) and usually that implies 2 or 3 ♥ to at best the Q and/or a flattish hand. yes we could be mirrored 4333 which is why I'm thinking about bidding 3nt. Think I'd bid 4♠ at the table but what would 3nt show here? Flat hand, ♥ stopper and an 11 count sounds reasonable., would allow partner to make a better decision (blame passing???) and 3nt might be the only making game.

horribly 2nt bid in my books, you have all control cards, small stiff in partners suit with a 6 card suit. 3NT isn't unreasonably and neither would 3♦ 3nt gets partner carried away with a 6 card ♥ suit and a ♦ card way too often. I'd bid 2♣ on this hand before 2NT, I would use 3c as a splinter agreeing ♥! I agree that 3NT is a better bid than 2NT, though a 16ish count with 6 solid ♦ is more often the 3nt hand i'm too good for 3♦. For me it's close between 2♣ and 3nt, leaning towards the prepared club. As to the question, I bid 3♥ same as most others, I'm too good for 4♥.

Depends on your agreements as to what the X is surely? If his is a clear penalty X with no tolerance for your suit you have to pass (though with a 6-5 or better you can overrule that and bid on) However with my main partner we used to play this as it's our hand and I've got a defensive-ish hand, do you want to sit the X? If not describe your hand some more (ie repeat suit show or side suit (4nt here shows 4+/5+ in the reds as 5♥ could be too high) I'd be bidding 5♦ in that case.

Pass. I have no great expectation of defeating 4♥ but we could have 2 tricks in each minor (unlikely as they appear to be short on points so likely to have shape to compensate) and that rates as a better chance than going 1 off. 2 off is more likely and 3 is a real possibility - give him KJ♦ and k♣ and have the non trump suit break 4-1 so that they get a ruff. Ace and another ♦ if ♣ trumps and club lead win A♦ club continuation when ♦ are trumps. It's a risk reward thing and there is always a chance they'll bid 5 over 5 and go one off but my opps usually get it right and X me when they should and bid on when X is wrong.

Is there anything wrong with cashing a ♦? If it gets ruffed by W trumps are 4-1 and can be handled and I have a marked finesse and a spade entry to them. If it holds, cash another? Not a great pairs strategy though, if it holds draw trumps get a better picture of Wests hand, again if clubs 5-0 it can go off - W ducking with Qxx! I'd applaud and move on to the next board, but maybe that's a better play at 13 tricks.

My first thought is to ruff, spade to dummy and run the J♦. If they go hawaii 5-0 then trumps break better and maybe I can get there on a ♥ continuation, ruff high low trump to dummy draw trumps then T♦ and overtake K♠. If they return a spade I need to ruff a heart high, clear trumps, win the AK♦ and A♠ pitching the 2 hearts and I think that gets there. If the J♦ actually holds the second trick I'd be tempted to go for overs by drawing trumps and hooking again but I'd need to be at the table to know for sure. Otherwise draw trumps cash AK♦ ruff out the Q if needed and overtake ♠ to get the rest of the ♦. If west showed up with 2 trumps I'd obviously rehook the ♦. There's probably better plays but that's what I'd be likely to do at the table. Big danger on my line is that trumps are 5-0 and Q♦ is offside, and the tap me out in Hearts so I can't hook the T♣

I like the above, if it's available I think I'll use it. Expect 4m to go down 1 as AQ♥ likely to be with the opener, Responder almost has to have a long and almost solid minor - yes he could have a balanced 9/10HCP but with 1-1 in the minors I think he's probably bidding expecting to run a minor for lots of tricks, he could still have 10hcp's! I'm bidding 4♠ if I don't have the above, I'm not doubling for a lead (should be a spade request) but it is close I think.

Partner should be shortish in ♥ so likely to hold some spades so put me down for a 4s call as well. I'd love to double, if he passes or bids ♦ or ♠ or 4nt (pick a minor) great but over 5♣ I'm in trouble and that rates a fair chance to be his bid. This assumes a normalish biddinng system, if we open light frequently (or play a 10-12nt) I'll pass.

What was 3d? nat forcing denying 4♠? Pull to where 4d? I assume your replies show 4-4 in the Majors (or is 3♠ a cue for ♦), you've got the A♠ so them running 5 spades before partner starts isn't going to happen. A♦ is a big card assuming 3♦ is nat so I'm sitting it.

5h for me but with my partner it shows tolerence for spades sounds a silly agreement but we have a general rule that applies here. Seems silly as what would I do with - void KQJT9xxx JTxx x or similar in this auction? I'd have to pass which feels awful. We have the agreement so that we don't 'over compete' misfitting hands.

Yep, any other vul I'd be bidding 3♥, however I am passing here.

If D are 4-4 we are done for aren't we, lose 2D, AS AH and KC. so to make this we need them to be 5-3 and we need to not let west in. I think the T♦ is more significant. I'd want to know more about my opponents, however for this I will make some assumptions. The T shopuld be a signal to show a ♥ entry as the J would suggest a ♠ entry. So I'm playing for split aces, W to have the H and playing a small H to the Q. If that holds I will play a H back to the T so as to knock out W entry. If he has AJ I think I'm cooked. Hopefully he had Axxx and he is forced to win and exit a D. Now I go back to clubs and cross my fingers.

Agree I would bid the same as you have, S bids 3nt and North invites with 4nt. South should then Pass.

My first thought is to test clubs, play small from dummy, win in hand, H to the table and play 6♣ to the T. If both honours offside, I should still get 3S 3H 2D & 2C for 10 tricks, if 1 or both onside I'll get 11 and may be able to pressure W if he has the reds and E has the blacks. If the T holds I'll concede a club before applying pressure on W. As hard as it is to pick Easts minor, I think that ♣ is slightly more likely than ♦, K8xxx Q QJxxx xx seems uglier than K8xxx Q xx KJxxx and the first might just be a pass at red, the second I'd be happier to open.

I'd bid 3♠ after 2♣, if lefty overcalls and righty limit raises I want them to guess now, not here 2 rounds of bidding. I know I'm competing to 3♠ (I assume like others that partner has 5♠ for the bid) so I'm going there now. South should pass and we miss a game.

This is a tough decision, with 1 partner he would double 5♣ to show that he bid 4♠ with the expectation that he was making, the pass would signify that he was playing me for tricks or sacking (though given he could have passed out 2♥! we'd be discussing this after the set!) I'm bidding 5, only 1 defensive trick and Qxx trump plus stiff D (opposite partners likely length) at other vulnerabilities I'd agonise more (but probably still bid)

Same for me.

How did your auction go? Did you bid 2♥ or bid/jump in spades?

How bad can the 1nt be? What would 2♣ show? Does he show a 4333 or 5332 hand with ♣ length? I'm bidding 5♣, I am assuming that parter cannot have a 4 card suit other than clubs which means about 20 tricks available to both sides, if they are making 1 off is a good score, if they are 1 off then 5c makes. I think at this vunerability 5♣ is clear, at Green V Red the temptation to pass and try for +200/+500 is greater and if partner is 8-10 then I will pass. At equal vul I think I still bid 5♣

I'm starting with 4♦ will bid 6d over 4 or 5♣ by opponents will probably end up either playing 6♦ or defending 7♣ doubled.

In 1 partnership we used to use X to show Majors, 1nt to show minors (less pre-emptive than 2nt) all jump bids as natural and pre-emptive and all overcalls (1♦ > 2♣) as natural and constructive, good suit opening hand+ over 1c P 1d ? 2d became natural and constructive and nothing else changed Another partner and I used ASPRO over 1nt and ASPRO style over 1♣. Double of 1♣ shows ♥ & another suit (5+4+), 1♦ shows ♠ and a minor(5+4+), 1♥ > 2♦ Nat constructive and 2♥ and upwards as pre-emptive with 2nt being the minors. We originally had 1nt as less pre-emptive minors but changed it to be something I didn't like (3 suiter with exactly 4♠) over 1c P 1d ? X showed ♠& another 1nt showed ♥& a minor nothing else changed.

You're a passed hand opposite a t/o X wanting to compete in 4m vunerable? Isn't more important to identify the real strength hand with the I'm just competing hand? How to you whack a frisky opponent who bids 3♥ light, even for a preemptive raise?

I'm crazy but I just cant sell out to 2m here. I feel dirty but will bid 2s as I have the wrong shape to re-open here. I have sympathy with partner if they held that hand and X 2♦ I reckon this is a good hand to discuss with partner what you do and why.

I like to use X here to show 4s and a good hand for play or defense and 3s as a hand with good offence but not good defence. with AJ♦ and KTx♥ plus a 4342 shape I double, You never know partner might convert to penalties and Plus 200 is a great score. If partner bids 3♠ I pass.