bigbenvic

All based on what agreements you have. 1st one t/o makes no sense (to me), you've bid 2 suits between you and you passed a NT bid to play. I would like to play it as penalty based not on a trump stack but probably 3 card suit and values just below an invite to game. - If he had 4♥ he'd bid 1♥ instead of 1♠ (if 4/4) or bid 2♥ (non forcing) over the 1nt! 2nd hand I play for t/o - opener could have a penalty pass waiting here! With no shortage and not many points I pass and if partner wanted a piece of it tough (if I'm not short and he has a trump stack they probably won't play in 2cX anyway!)

4♣ on the first - could 3♣ be 3 a card suit? if yes this should show 5♣, lucky I have 5 then! 3♥ on the second. Set trumps on both and lets go exploring for slams :-)

I wouldn't X here as I have only interest in ♠ and rebidding NT would promise more points than I have to partner, so 2s is fine, even though the suit is only Axxxx In my world, 4d is forcing and a good suit fit for ♠ (Fit non Jump) so East would get very excited, use Keycard find out that your missing 1 and settle for the small slam. Assuming that 4d isn't a fnj, I'd bid 4h as a cue agreeing D as partner is not free bidding a 5 card suit so we have a D fit, he has a monster now, 17 count, void, QJx in my overcalled suit!!! And even though I've cued his void he should still use 4nt (blackwood) find out about the 3 controls, bid 5nt for kings hear 1 and then I'd bid 7nt expecting the Ks 90% of the time. 5 spades 7 diamonds and 2 aces for 14 tricks thanks! I say 90% as I expect them to have between there 9 cards 1 of the AK and partner to overcall AKxxx more often than not. When it's not the KS then grand is on a hook (or a squeeze).

If North Deals and assuming opponents pass throughout - 1d 1s 1nt 2c (forcing 1 round possible not a suit if big hand) 2nt* *not a maximum denies 3s, 5d, & 4c so must be 2443 and 12-13 points. 4d Set trumps look for slam, 4h 4s 5d Pass partner having denied the Kc and not bid 4nt which is used here as a "I have a suitable hand for going further but not wanting to cue past 5d" which he'd do with the Ks or, the KH with a useful card or 2, I'm passing. If South Deals and assuming opponents pass throughout - 1s 2d 3h* *splinter 3nt* Minimum to play no slam interest whatsoever (almost always has 2 ♥ stoppers) Pass Not actually sure if I'm that happy with either contract but that's how I'd bid them.

East has to do more on the first. 3nt looks like a hand with 3316 and game values. 2♥ should force game, so after 2♥ I'd bid a forcing 3d, and form there we should get to 6. East with K in my suit a void ♠ and a 7th ♦ has to get excited! - 1d 1s 2c P 2h 2s 3d P 3s X/p 4c P 4d P 4h P 5c P 5d P (5d effectively denies 2nd round H control) 6d Even jumping to 4d for an ace ask is better than 3c followed by 3nt. Second one is much harder, hate the X if it's penalties, hate the Pass if it isn't. I think I like 4nt Minor take out (shows 5+c 3+d) and bid 6 of whichever partner bids as the go. I think we could miss making grands a lot and also bid slams that can't make, that's the value of pre-empts.

I think I bid 3♠ on both hands, I have 5 losers so even 4♠ is a viable bid but at matchpoints 170 might be a good result, even if 4 makes.

Can partner have a 4153 hand? He is either balenced no 4cM or 4M 5+D, if the former then has he denied a spade stop with 4♦? Or would he cue here if slam interested and could still hold the K♠/ I would bid 5h regardless, 6♣ is a minimum for me now. If he fails to bid 5♠ I'll play 6♣ if he bids 5♠ I'd like to try 5NT as a "I'm not finished, do you have more to say" bid but I still need him to have 5 losers covered, Ks covers one, Ad covers the second, the KD would only cover the third and I still need to get rid of 2 heart losers. So over 5♠ I'll bid 6c and if he has the world he can kick on.

I assume that 2nt is a Heart raise, not a spade raise :-) What are jump bids from responder after an overcall? ie 1h (1s) 3c/3d I assume a balanced (ish) raise to 4h, so happy to bid 4d to show my shape, over 5♣ my hand gets better, I'll try 5♦ to show the A and that I'm interested still. If partner bids 5h I have to decide if I have too much to pass. Spade void, trump A and the working K of clubs. I think I would pass, I've made 2 moves to slam, if partner needs 3.... It's close, maybe I should bid 4♠ over 3♠... I think I should have slightly more for that bid though.

It wouldn't count for me, ♦ are trumps :-( If you were my partner I'd still buy you one though! Why did south double? surely from the 3nt bid he knows that his clubs are probably worthless, how many tricks does he expect to take in 5d? Might even be a reason to quietly pass 4♥ (though at the table I think I'd double)

the first hand looks like a hand just short of game force to me. If pards wanted to bid game he'd bid 5c I think I'm passing. 3d a serious bid, he's happy to be in 3nt if I can stop ♦, not sure when he bids 4c that he has game in his own hand. 3 trumps to the J and a doubleton isn't enough for me to bid game here. Though I concede he could claim to have been having doubt as to which game 4s or 5c so offering me a choice, but without agreements I'm not sold that it is clearly forcing. In the second was I forced to action when he passes 4d? I assume so. 4nt looks like 1 of 2 things, Blackers (yuck but possible w/o agreements) or an attempt at a game, solid suit (not a Major so obv clubs) and about 9 top tricks with no diamond cover. I feel as though I'm forced to bid 5c here either way, I have no aces and I can't stop ♦.

Wow this could be close to unanimous. North has GF and made a slam try with 3h, south has failed to give even a courtesy cue which should wave the warning flag, they almost certainly don't have the A♠ and given the 5-5 shape they rate to be 5521 as with a void they might like their hand more and cue! I think the bidding is fine up to 4♥ North just carried away a little with 16HCP a fit and a singleton.

I suspect that the Ace is going to be right, just because it's been posed as a Qusetion in the forum! However I think at the table I'll be leading a small heart.

If the opponents are sane then pards has very little, I have 8, opener a minimum and responder drives to 6nt, most likely on diamond length but also at least 16HCPs. Don't think partner can have a K, best to hope for is a Q and that declarer has to make some tough choices. I reckon a ♦ might be the best passive lead. If pards has the Q we have a trick and if he is devoid of an honour, declarer likely has AKQxxx and we've probably not given up a trick. A club just feels likely to run to declarers KJ and give up a trick.

I don't think game is a likely spot for the field either, nor do I think it's a good chance to make. I think the safest contract is in ♣, 5 trumps and 2♠ are almost a given and an 8th and 9th tricks look likely. 2♠ may make but if it does, then 3♣ should too, if things lie well and 3♠ makes, you are losing out playing in ♣. Ah well such is life. With both hands having a singleton I don't expect to see balanced hands in both my opponents, it can happen but I think it's unlikely. So if suits are breaking bad I want the safest spot and I think clubs is that spot.

2♦ with regular partner, 4+ both Majors < opening hand, in 4th seat it is a hand that is very close to opening. If I am not using this then add me to the passes, too often these hands go beyond your last making spot.

I open at the one level as it's very difficult to unravel these sort of hands after a 2♣ opening. As the responder, the bid of 3♣ sets the auction to game force, and allows the space to describe more, 3♠ should now show 6+ but not a solid suit (I use the jump after the reverse to show a solid 6+ suit) when opener bids 4♦ showing the 7-4 and denying a stiff honour (i'd support spades with that) it then becomes a choice of spots. I agree that 4nt is a bit iffy, probably 4♠ is better (I've 7 too!) however it tells partner that I have 3 suits stopped and not support for a 7 card diamond suit! He had a reason for bypassing 3nt so I think it is a plausable bid. I have no problem with your choice of auctions, if I open 2♣ I just have been burnt too many times by opening these type of hands 2♣. Swap the majors around and I can foresee 1d p p p as possible, then I grit my teeth and open 2♣

I agree, was my first thought, why open a confusing 2♣. with a spade void you have little fears of it going swish. 1d 1s 2h 3c* (GF) 3d 3s 4d 4nt* (to play) 6nt

Where's that fence, think i want to sit on it. At pairs the extra for 2♥ is worth bidding however at teams I wouuld bid 2♦ as it just might be your safest spot.

What would partners X of 4♥ have shown? I'm trying to draw inferences from the lack of the double, it has to be clear to him that I have a 16+ hand as I am highly unlikely to have a natural 1♥ bid after lefty bids 4♥. Does his pass mean he doesn't have an extremely shapey hand? or is it showing a lack of a desire to whack 4♥? or a minimum with nothing to say? what are his likely shapes and hand types here? It's murky so I'm guessing as to your system. Can he have longer clubs? can he be 4144? would he bid with a void ♥ here? I'm tempted to pass which should be forcing showing the strong 16+ish hand type. I want to see what he bids and try and plot a course to the right slam. I suspect that 6♦ or 6♠ will be the right spot but I'm not sherlock so my suspicions could be way off.

I think my choices are pass, 5♦ and X. X has issues, is it t/o, if so and he bids 4♠ to I bid 4nt, is that blackwood or minors. Do I rip 4♠ to 5♦, is that a cue looking for slam. Too many ways this auction can get confused, without a good solid agreement of methods I'm not doubling this. So pass or 5♦? At Imps I'm whimping out and passing. Too much risk of -500 Vs +50 or +100. Yes I could miss a cold game, that's what pre-empts do. At pairs I reckon I'll bid 5♦ but I still think pass is an ok bid. Sometimes the pre-empters win! - sometimes they go for a big minus too :-) I'm interested in what others do with this hand and others like it. The 6-4 in the minors make it tough, do you bid 4nt and find the 4-3 ♣ fit and miss your 6-2 or 6-3 ♦ fit? Do you find your 6-1 ♦ fit and miss your 5-4 or 4-4 ♣ fit. Maybe pards has a 6313 weak hand and you miss 4♠? If you X for t/0 to you pass 4♠ I couldn't but...

No but I kinda want him to know I've got more than I could have so that when it's right he'll compete to 3, or possibly wield the axe if he has a suitable hand. I could bid 2♠ with a lot less and he'll never X for blood if he thinks they could hold 24 of the 40 points. Edit just saw Phil's response, yep 2♦ for sure, I'm flat but very close to a maximum for this situation.

Pass, I fully expect them to bid but if they don't he'll lead his best suit and we should beat it. If they bid at the 2 level I will bid 2♠ if they bid at the 3 level... hmm if they bid 3♦ I'm stuck. maybe pass isn't so good? Ok maybe I'll bid 2♦, kind of like a re-take out bid. If partner bids ♠ I'll kick, if he bids NT I'll bid 3, if he bids 2♥ I'll pass. Yep I think that's going to be easier for me to unravel. By the way what would a X of 1♦ have shown?

If my partner is traditional ie 2 short at this Vul then I have 2 tricks plus a fair chance that either my Q♥ is a trick, or one of the minor Jacks is worth something. Maybe pards has 3 ♦ and he can ruff one for his 10th. Just too many ways 4 can be right and the reward is worth the risk. At other vunerabilities esp white V red I'd think about passing though at white V red I'd probably be opening so no problem for me :-)

I want to bid 3nt but maybe a ♦ slam goes begging if I do. I don't play 2/1 so is 2♦ non forcing? If not that's my bid, if it can be passed I'll bid 3♦. I would have thought 3♦ might be a splinter though.

I'm going to bid 2♥ and bid 4♦ over them. The lack of a X and also the jump should give partner the idea that I'm not weak but that I have 0 interest in 1ntX and I have a lot of red cards (should show 6/5 or better) 3♦ could be a weaker 2 suiter than I have, less shape/HCP's. I'll bid 5♦ over 5♣ if it happens. I don't think I want to be that high but with 7-6 I'll go if pushed.