bigbenvic

Sadly no, 7♥ is the limit I'd be able to reach.

I bid 2♣, sure it's not the hand he expects but I can rebid clubs over all his 'normal' rebids (2♦,2♥, 2♠ & 2nt) If partner gets excited I have an 8 card suit and a void, not the worst news in the world.

One option is to bid 3♥ hoping to get partner to bid 3NT with a ♥ stop. If he bids 3♠ (my fingers are crossed) when he doesn't have a heart card I'll bid 3NT and pray that his 10ish HCP in the blacks are enough to stop them getting enough tricks. The other option is to just bid 3NT and cross my fingers, again. Partner seems to be balanced so this might work. On balance I'm punting 3NT as pards just might bid 4♦ and I'll look stupid (nothing new) for not bidding it.

I'm in the 1NT camp. We may not have enough for 3NT but I surely show better than a strong NT here, which is what I have. If partner has 6 ish points he can bid 2 or even 3NT.

I've done the damage on the first round by not getting into the auction (I'd bid 1NT like phil) so since I didn't, I'm forced to pass and lead the 10♥.

Why hasn't partner bid 2♥? IF declarer has stiff K then pards has 3 and I wonder if he has 5 clubs? Could declarer have Kxx and be trying to stop the heart ruffs? Are there any agreements re leading my suit? what will pards lead from 973? With my partner it would not be the 3 as it would promise an honour, so I'd play low heart. Assuming that's not the case, At imps I'd probably think about the K♦ hoping to sever communications before declarer can set up ♠ and get back there to run them. That seems a bit heavy handed as if pards has 5 ♣ it might be better to tap declarer. Also if decarer has the Q, he can ruff the third round of ♦ and that might be all he needs. Everything has lots of flaws, the K♣ could allow time to hook a spade, ruff a spade draw trumps, use the Da to get back and dump some losers on ♠ If I lead a ♦, it hopes for pards having the Q or the J and declarer guessing wrong (if J) but if he has QJ then I've given up 2 tricks. The spade may allow him to set up ♠, draw trumps and claim lots of tricks. The ♥ may also allow him to use the J for a pitch and enough time to set ♠, draw trumps and claim lots of tricks. The ♣ may allow him the chance to set up ♠ as well, so which is the best worst option. Assume pards has 3 hearts, declarer is 2146 2137 1147 1156 or 0157 (I'll dismiss 8 clubs or more as unlikely!) Pards didn't support so he is minimum, and 3334 is a possibility, it explains why no raise! that would make declarer 1147 so only the ♦ gives him any problem. If pards has 3 hearts, ssome shape, not 5 ♣ and didn't bid, he must have only 4HCPs and the Q or J of diamonds rates highly to a part of his hand. I lead the 9♦ and cross my fingers a little bit. Edit, I started typing response, had to go to a meeting, came back finished it and noticed phils response, I would have typed a lot less had I seen his! Sorry.

Electric versons probably exist (iPad apps and such) but the devices would be a bit pricey for the clubs to have, at each table. Nah, usually there is a little table beside the playing table, for drinks/notes etc and one of the North/South players keeps the boards on their little table. A lot of players keep the bidding sequences of interesting hands for discussion later, very useful in prompting discussion of what a big here or there should mean. It's very archaic butyou get used to it.

Change my system ;-) but for practicality I'd bid 5♦ and give up on the perfect slam. Does anyone know which type of hand is more common? ie a hand that wants to bid 5♣ to show a NAT suit Vs a hand that has a diamond fit and a reason to mention the club suit. Lead direction or slam try or information for pards to decide what to do over 5♥

I pass with my regular partner as we would bid 5♣ as a Fit Non Jump, where he has clubs that are leadable ie AK. If he cant bid 5♣ then I have a club loser, possibly a heart loser (he could have a stiff heart) and my source of tricks may not be there with trumps potentially breaking bad. With none of these agreements I would have to consider the field, the type of match, what I know about the 4H bidder and then hopefully make a decision. I reckon it's close. These often end in 2 off doubled when you go one more off trying to make 12, when 11 was achievable. I will pass without any further info than given.

I bid 4H, I'm hoping to get partner to realize that I have red aces and am interested in slam. If he has AK clubs A spades and , and a 5422 shape or better we should have play for 6. I'm a minimum hand and it needs close to perfect cards, but I am ever hopefull. Over 4S I'll bid 5C and partner will hopefully wonder why I can cue twice and hear the best (cheapest) cue available over 4H and not go further. I must hold a hand that is interested but flawed, ie trump weakness and with AK of trumps he'll bid on. I don't expect a huge hand from him 3c is passable if 2c isn't GF, however a minimum 6-4 with A♠ AK♣ will also give me chances. I also stretch too often for minor slams as I feel too many players settle for a safe game, usually in 3NT rather than find out about 6 of a minor. SO I may be overcooking things with my 10 count. I'll take all the blame if we are too high.

I'd be disappointed in all the souths not for not trying to find a slam. I like SteveMoe's method (though 1 partner likes to bid the 3 card major to show 1345/3145) Surely the south hand is worth an invite to slam in a minor? I know partner has the perfect hand, 3 small opposite our stiff Ace but if you have no way of resolving these hands when you open 1NT and receive no interference, then your methods need looking at.

Same for me, MP's might change things for me a bit as 170 could be a good result. I'll bid 4 on the second regardless.

I like bidding 3♦ over 3♣ to show a better hand (4sf) and when partner bids 3NT I'll bid 4♥ My hand is too strong for a jump to 4♥ once partner has bid 3♣ and ripping the NT shows I have a hand willing to play in hearts opposite a likely 5134 type shape. In this case he's 5125 and with K♥ and an 18 count I'd roll out RCKB and when he hears 2 without the Q he should give up.

I think I need the A♥ onside or the AQ over the King. The danger is that if spades are 4-1 then I'll get tapped in Diamonds and wont get to enjoy 4 club tricks, unless they hand with trumps also has 4 clubs. If I believe East (I never do!) and he has stiff J, then what will a trump to the 8 gain? I can see it losing to the 10 when he had JT tight or JTx and was trying to give me a losing option. If trumps are 4-1 it seems to me to be a false gain, unless he has only 3 diamonds as he can't continue them. If he ruffs the 4th club, he could be endplayed in hearts, his hand would be need Txxx Qxxx QJx xxx. It seems a very specific hand to play for though, and the J could easily not be a singleton. I'm just playing trump to the ace, and a heart to the K.

Your auction would help, also the relative strengths of the opening leader. Have we told them where the Ace of clubs is? Is he likely to lead the T from the King, knowing that the Ace is in Norths hand, a finesse we might risk late in the hand but not at trick 1. If 2 randoms, then A and 2 trumps as Hanoi5 (and others) have said.

That would be a brave 2nt bid by north on that hand, possible but not what I'd expect.

I cant see many hands where Partner doesn't have the A or Q of hearts. Could I have a heart ruff coming? Is it more likely than me scoring a club ruff? I think it's close. Partner could be 0346 and if clubs are 4-1 then there is no ruff. So I'm leading the K♥ and when I win the A♠ I'll hopefully know what to do next.

4 for me please.

Double, maybe they run to 4♥ which I'll happily double too. Does he have 6 for 3♠ or is this just competing for the part score? These don't always work out but if partner hasn't weak jumped at this vul we should have half the points, hand looks to be a misfit (me holding 4 hearts, North a spade stopper) and I want to let partner know that I have a much better hand than 2♠ could promise.

Was about to post the same. Also he should rip it to 3♥, I've free bid 2 so he knows we have a fit, plus he's bid on shape not values (a crummy 7 count) so he doesn't have anywhere near the hand needed to beat this. Especially holding 2 diamonds he should know I cant have a trump stack. If my partner doubles and passes 3♦ X with that hand this will get some discussion after the session. 4 points in the majors and only Kx in a minor, 4522 shape, aceless hand, all are reasons to not bid, given he has, he must know to remove the penalty double I've made.

Agree with Monikrazy, I'd pass with the North hand (reverse the majors and I'd open) Over your 2♦ bid I'd bid 3♦ with the north hand, gets the shape out there. You can then bid 3♠ and with the stiff King North should bid 4. TBH I'm probably going down in 6♠ as after partner denies 2 (or 3) controls I would still like my chances in 6♠

Double where are there tricks coming from? I have clubs, partner has the majors and I have an A & QJ in his suits. I'm sitting over Norths points in the blacks so they should only make red suit tricks, I can't see them getting 9. If pards has good shape (stiff D) then he'll most likely bid on.

Over 3♣ Nat invitational will Partner bid a good 4cM on the way to 3nt if he's maximum? If that's a yes I'll bid 3c, if he passes he's min and/or bad clubs.

3♠ on the first one, 4 tends to get whacked and go for 5's or 8's too often. 2♥ if it is Nat and if isn't a GF.

Pass, I'm not lucky enough to be able to bid here and get them to bid 3♥ allowing me to double that.