wanoff

If you are weak you bid 2♥, partner may be as little as 9 (or good 8) and may have one major. If you wish to FG then 3♣.

Not really what this post is about. The good players you observed may have been tired, slow witted or cheats.

I would guess not, unless you're willing to take the spade finesse. Misplayed at trick 2.

Surely it can't be double for penalty and 4♣ nat.

Why is 4NT possibly showing hearts ? In my (very old) book it shows diamonds with double showing hearts. Obviously double would be nicer because partner can make a penalty pass but that's tough luck. We have a fit somewhere, probably in clubs - I don't buy, as previously stated that partners pass of 3♣ denied xxx.

Doesn't need much. 4NT

sorry

Not a great example. You wouldn't want to make a free bid of 2♣ with only 4-4 minors and certainly not with hearts as well.

Acol has moved on so you open 1♦ these days. 1♥ stinks because the 4-3 trump game will not normally play well but 1♠ may work out ok, although 1♠-2♣-2♦ guarantees 5 spades.

Finesse ♠Q. At least if this wins (except 4-0) you will make. However if Kx is offside, ♠A and another won't guarantee the contract.

Play the double squeeze if you really like double squeezes, but there are 2 simple squeezes...........

Depends on the system (I could tell you about Acol 4cM) but if an immediate 2♠ shows less than an invite, then I can bid 2♠ now. 3nt does not really describe your hand.

I wondered how long that would take coming - but good advice.

7♠ It's either cold or close and no way of finding out. There may be a Lightner to beat it but hopefully they won't find it.

What about being 'duped' by: Kxx A109x Kxxxx x ?

Not without risk, I'll win the ♣J and play a heart to Q. If this holds and clubs weren't 4-0, I'll cash the clubs pitching the pointed suits.Now a heart to towards the J, winning if hearts split or East holds Ax. Other slight chances are for West to have 109 doubleton or one of those stiff. If however ♥Q loses, there are various chances, mainly hearts 3-3 + probably the spade finesse.

If it was only a county match, I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe try and achieve equity.

4♣ showing primary support though 4♦ if partner can be trusted to interpret this. To set hearts you would probably just repeat them.

Since 3♥ showed 5-6, then 4♥ must be a cue agreeing diamonds. If 5♣ shows a void, then I'll do that else 6♦.

You have missed that there are a lot of arseholes about.

Blue Book 2 A 1 All partnership understandings, including implicit understandings and practices of the partnership (including those that arise by partnership experience), must be fully disclosed to opponents. What part of 'Fully disclosed' do Barmar and the rest not understand ? Against weak opponents you might even explain what the extended rule of 25 actually means ie crap such as AQ KQ K Jxxxxxxx. bye

It depends on whether or not, North has given their agreement in full. Also if they have previously opened 2C with similar hands (s)he should say.

Tricky if when you play a club towards the Q, East ducks with the K. You obviously also duck and will expect the show-up squeeze to be 100%. Not this time but there are other chances like J doubleton heart or the hearts are 5-1.

If you're in this, you'll be in a lot of worse ones as well. Besides, it looks pretty ropey if the spade finesse fails.

I know it's a bit old fashioned but for me 1c is natural and now I'd bid an inverted 2c. 1nt is 6-9 balanced, 2nt preemptive and 3c 'mixed'.