Statto

3♥ BTW

COG = Choice Of Games

I have a little more than I promised, particularly at white.

Will making 12 tricks score any better? B-)

Are there any strict rules on font size? B-) Really you must open 1NT with a 5332 with a 5-card minor if it's in range, whatever the minor looks like. This has been proven to be better. Trust me, I'm a doctor.

I'll be happy if 4♠ makes. I already made a free bid of 2♦. 3♠ I think would be forcing, so 4♠ looks more like to play with no slam interest. We may be playing with a 30 point deck, but we may also be playing with fire. Can we really read partner for a ♣ void? Pass, though I'm prepared to accept it's wrong...

This is I/A not interesting hands. That there has been interesting discussion with various methods proposed seems to negate your point :rolleyes:

Even if 3♣ shows a small amount of extras to go with the ♣ fit, it doesn't need to be forcing. 5♣ is still is a long way off if partner is minimum, and we'll need some major suit stops from partner to make 3NT viable. Why shouldn't 3♣ be where we want to play? PS. If 3♣ does show any extras, West should bid 3NT.

Is 3♠ forcing? For me it is invitational, so I'll bid 4♠. They're not really for playing in NT with a balanced hand opposite a balanced hand. The intermediates are dreadful in this hand so I'd be more inclined to downgrade it to 18 balanced than upgrade to 20.

The odds still favour the drop if you start with the high card on the 2nd round. The crucial factor is that the Queen is a significant card, so the 3-1 splits with a stiff Q have been eliminated (as well as, obviously, the 4-0 splits). On the other hand, if you had all the top cards, after 1 round of the suit it would still be more likely to split 3-1, as only the 4-0 splits have been eliminated - nothing can be eliminated from the specific cards played by opps, as they were effectively played at random.

Usually the quality of the ♦ suit.

I might have bid 3♦ rather than 3♣. Now I'm surely worth another try so would bid 4♠.

Lurpoa, how the f**k is quoting someone else's post with no reply worth an upvote? Really... :angry:

Me too. 2NT to show the majors is probably better than 2♥ to show both majors on the hands where it occurs (except when you get to play in 2M), but what do you give up...?

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Pass both. They won't always make but if not we should be able to count on p's running ♦ for 1 off. How bad can that be?

I'm afraid of pushing them into a making game so I'll pass for now...

Will Cornwall be entering a separate team in the next European Championships? I'm sure Fantunes will be looking for another 'host' team...

It's a "high reverse" not technically a reverse but usually showing extra values and probably 1st suit longer than 2nd.

X could show a decent profit whatever happens next...

Sorry all, confusion, yes I did mean before embarking on the 3rd round of ♦. And yes those numbers are very familiar, I just rounded them. But it's far simpler. There are 4 vacant spaces against 3 after the half round of ♦, assuming lead from 5. If the ♠ lead is from 3 it's 5:2 against. Happily, 26.78:35.7 is also 3:4, so we're all right. Apart from those who were wrong.

They're not mutually exclusive at all. You always make if it started with Jxx onside (27%, assuming lead was 5th), and never make if it started with Jxxx offside (11%). Finesse succeeds if it started with Jxxx onside (36%), and drop if it started with Jxx offside (27%). 27% + 36% ~= 63%. 27% + 27% ~= 53% (subject to rounding errors).

http://www.mrbridge....ing_Leads_1.pdf http://www.kantarbri...m/tips_lead.htm So no clear consensus there either.

The best chance of game is probably in NT, and we may have it. Partner's pass has shown some values, or a ridiculous number of ♥. Also, responder does not have a responding hand and opener had nothing to say over the X, nor could find a ♠ raise or anything else over 2♣, all of which suggests some good values with partner. If not game, 2NT should score better than 2♦ at MPs. I'd try 2NT now, and at teams maybe 3NT if I was afraid of partner passing. Also agree about X rather than 2♣.

Middle, intending to waste the highest on the next round. Small looks like you have an honour, and highest will look like a doubleton.