RunemPard

Hello, I am thinking about trying out a weak 1NT of 12-14, 13-15, or maybe even just 14-16. Currently we are playing a mostly standard 3355 opening system(w/ inverted raises), 15-17 1NT, standard 2C, multi, and 11-14 TP 6 card majors. I am looking for advice from those who have played weak NT systems about positives and negatives. One of the main reasons I am considering using a weak NT is to allow for minor openings to reflect extra value, but I am not sure how much of an advantage this proves. I am also curious about reply bidding to a 1NT opening and how to effectively show a 15-17 balanced hand using it. I appreciate all replies, Thanks!

Bid 2♥ and leave room for opps to bid more accurately...bid 4♥ and risk playing game on a garbage hand... I still say that you go directly to 4♥... My reasoning is even if they double and partner has absolutely nothing...I expect 4♠ to make in this situation. The worst I expect with such good hearts is -3 for 500 points to them. Of course the opponents may be sitting on a no fit hand, but I will still try.

Confused by the bidding...is it supposed to be NS bidding? And was this a live club or a BBO club?

Not to mention one point wasted with a Jx and also a Qxx, which to me, is only worth one point opening. QJx, QT9, more worthy of putting money on...but Qxx? More reasons to pass this hand and see what happens. A round pass is not going to make me lose any sleep...even if we can play a minor with a 9 card fit. If partner has something to bid on, then you can act...

Sorry I mean't from North in my post before...that may be the confusion...lol

No...I am basically agreeing with you about the 1♦ opening...I hate it... The shape...the values...everything... I am just saying from the 20 HCP point hand...what I would expect partner to hold with a minimum opening. A 12+ count with 4/4 including a major, a 5 carded ♦, or a 13+ NT deal. Absolutely not expecting a 12 HCP 2344.

The funny thing about this hand is... About 2 months or so ago, playing against these same two players at our club during our 4-man competition, me and my beginner G/F reached a 7S contract that just should NOT be bid. She understood my K reply incorrectly and thought we had all keys. Going up to 7S missing 2 kings! Both K sit before her AQ in both suits and we pull off a beginner's luck GS for 16+ IMPs Playing against these same two with my other partner...we reach another 7S based on hope and pull it off again. The next day, after telling my G/F about the hand, we went to him together and said that we will no longer bid 7S against him.

Hah...that is exactly what I took my jump to 7S as...except I just prayed he had the A of S or even better AK... We really did not have any conventions about this, so I was just happy that he understood my 5D... Thanks for the input all.

Yes, I also mentioned below that comment about the shape...but this also goes along with the 12 HCP opening with no real value...If partner holds 12 HCP or less you usually expect some kind of shape or a major holding. 1D opening I am expecting a few possibilities... 12+ HCP with 4M+4D or more... 13+ HCP with any kind of balanced shape... 12+ HCP with 5+D... Which is why I feel that going directly to 6NT from N is reasonable...I would also not be expecting a 12 count with that kind of shape.

You say "Your partner got you there"...as if it was a mistake...I feel 32-34 HCP and 7 keys definitely belongs there, but, how to make it... It definitely sits in the worst possible way, with no 8 suit fit even...also a useless J thrown into you AKQ. You could start with the ♥ and play it for 3/3 split, which may give you a crucial key with 4th card discards, but, you may also want to get more information about possible distribution before committing there. I stick with the clubs and hope for K & Q to be split among defence...or both on the 2nd play. 75% chance and you will get another trick quickly. You still would also like to see ♥ split 3/3 or Qx. Any plan seems ok here to me...but setting up the clubs early is crucial and seems to be the best way to have any shot.

I bid it out of instinct...How would you go about finding the bid more accurately? Bidding... N----E----S----W -----3D---3S---4D 5D---P----5H---P 7S---AP I assumed my partner had 5 spades bidding over...so chose to risk it since we do not have cue conventions...I assumed my partner is showing me the ♥K with his bid, understanding I am showing control of ♦. So...how can one more accurately attempt to find this? I thought about showing 6C, but worried my partner would not understand that I have already set ♠ as trump. YOUR HAND (N) ♠: QJ9843 ♥: AJ ♦: - ♣: AK974 PARTNER'S HAND (S) ♠: AK76 ♥: KQ72 ♦: Q43 ♣: Q3

I see a lot of people saying "start a team match...", yet, I never see any team matches to join. If I attempt to make a team match, no one ever joins to begin with. I would like to see a better team match system.

Change my hand to... QTxx Axxx xxx Ax Foolish to not try now...I may of been a little greedy with my 2 aces though. :P

I will try to go off of my memory of partner's hand. Not 100% sure and no way to look it up. Main thing I am trying to get from this post is if it is worth looking into 6(meaning we can stop at 5 with confidence), and if 4C should be considered a cue or Gerber(newer to these). ♠: AKxxx ♥: QJT ♦: AQJ ♣: Kx The spades may have been AQ...but I am pretty sure he had AK. The other suits I am positive about. Thinking about the hand again with these holdings, it would be a lucky slam(not so good with %s). But do you think that it is still worth cue-bidding after 3NT to try and find a nice fit? The odds of 5 seem much higher so I felt we could afford to discuss a little more. Maybe it was best to stop @ 3NT at MPs also. But yes, I am quite satisfied with 4S. Always fun to go for a slam though. :)

I disagree slightly...but I also understand why slam may be avoided...being that I chose to avoid it with my partner's response. I have two aces on top of an 18-19, maybe even 20 point hand. I can assume we have a maximum of 28 HCP with no singleton. But my question was...what on earth does he have? Or better yet...what does he not have? I show my club A...which can also be viewed as further control if K is held by partner. Now we have three rounds of control with clubs. If partner shows diamonds...we can assume that he has rather strong diamonds. If partner skips diamonds, just sign-off on 4S. I will post my memory of my partner's hand later tonight. As said, slam with this hand will require some nice fits...but are the points enough to not try and find it?

I will put it on a different post...sorry. Interests me now.

You are in 3rd seat after 2 passes with the hand I showed above...both sides are vulnerable. What would you bid? And yes, sorry...I live in Sweden where the main system is "Modern Standard". So I believe that you can now see why I sometimes call it "American Standard".

It is understood between your partnership that 3NT at this point shows maximum points and a balanced hand. So this is either offering 3NT/4♠ as you said, but it can also be taken as a slam invite I would assume. Which is why I chose to start cue bidding, although we have never really talked about this much being that we mostly play at this friendly non-serious club.

Comments like "Wow" are extremely rude. I understand my comment may not of been the "best" advice, but depending on what you and your partner decide to play this can be a very acceptable 3C opening. Sorry for making a silly comment aimed to help a player. These comments are far too common on this forum instead of friendly input/corrections of a person's view/advice. Good day!

Let me rephrase the last one...after a "Wow" response...I am wrong. This may be slightly higher than beginner level but it is a valid point. If you and your partner play very disciplined preempts when vulnerable, I still feel this is an acceptable 3C opening in the red zone. If you are not in the zone, or even if you are, this is an acceptable 1C opening bid also. It depends on...if partner passed, which bidding position you are in, and vulnerability.

Played with one of my newer unfamiliar partners today at a small, friendly bridge group. I am dealt a hand something like...(we are N/S) SOUTH (YOUR HAND) S: T87x H: Axxx D: xxx C: Ax The bidding goes...(starting with partner sitting N) 1S-2S 3N-?? The 3N says maximum points and a balanced hand with 5+ spades...most likely 5. I now have a decision to make...and we as a partnership have never really discussed a situation like this. I chose to bid 4C...which he took as Gerber rather than a control showing cue. I knew he took it as Gerber because the opponents asked him about my 4C bid, which he then stated is most likely Gerber. To me, Gerber is useless at this point, being that if I have the points for slam I can go directly to aces...however, I chose to use it as a cue. He replies 4S showing 2 aces. I chose to pass and have him play it at the 4 level with no support outside my 2 aces, no spade honors, and a very bad diamond suit. I could of gone to 4N to ask for kings, but at this point I am taking a shot in the dark. Even if my partner shows 2 kings, is this enough for me to try slam? So my main question is this...after my partner bids to 3NT, is Gerber acceptable to use, or should all suit bids become cue bids?

Just bid directly to 7NT. I would like to see them try to get a NT contract after that preempt. Honestly I just prefer natural 2s over a NT opening, but might work on reading over conventions for 1NT defense at another time...so thanks for the post.

Hey :), This is something that you and your partner should come to an agreement about. It is acceptable in many partnerships to open 3C with 6 clubs as long as they are strong enough to support such a bid. You should also think about vulnerability and how good the hand really is. If you are the last player to bid and have an average hand with 6 clubs, maybe 10 HCP, it may be better to just settle for a round pass. Keep in mind that it is also acceptable to open very nice distributional hands with 12, 11, or even less HCP. Here is an example from another post where many people feel that an opening bid is a good call..even with 10 HCP AQTxx Axxxx xx x You have 5/5 in both majors with only 10 HCP. However, this hand is a lot better in it's suit value and distribution. You can easily open 1S and show hearts after with this hand and be confident. So going off of that..If you hold.. Axxx xx x AQJxxx Again, you have only 11 HCP and 6 clubs, but, you may not want to pass this hand or open it with 3C. The best thing to do is to open the hand at 1C and possibly find a spades fit or even a good clubs fit. On the other hand...if you are not vulnerable and you hold.. Ax xx xxx AQJxxx This hand is also 11 HCP with 6 clubs. Many would say that this is an acceptable 3C preempt opening in American Standard. Main thing when opening is to always think about how good the hand is overall. Some 10-11 point hands may be better than some 15 point hands just because of the distribution.

Sounds like me when I play @ local bridge club...:)

I will guess that partner has 9 HCP and a single in clubs... AQxxxxx in S Kxx in H xx in D x in C If I am right...I am going to Vegas.