wanoff

I didn't give any example hands but here's one if you like; K10x xx Jxx A10xxx

Rather than think about slam I'd prefer to look for the right game which may be 3NT. Double.

That leaves too big a gap of 0-7 and partner could be Jxx Qxxx 9xx Axx. But you'll have to stick with the odds and pass. Prefer 1n=6-9

What's the advice for balancing with 3NT. With no source of tricks do you need 15HCP or do you just need to be lucky. Do you need a stop? This came up last night in 4th position at red: Ax 10x QJxx AJxxx (3H) - P - (P) - ?

You're all welcome to borrow my random number generator which we use to decide how to show our weak 2 over a strong club. Add the lowest pip in each suit held and if the sum is even bid 'x'. If sum is odd bid 'x-1'.

Win, play Q♠ and there is only a problem if they withhold the K. Surely East will break tempo in which case you go to dummy and finesse. When West has it, ruff a heart, return to A♣ and play trumps from the top. Hopefully West will be unsure whether his partner has 4 or 6 hearts and will try to cash a diamond.

You've lost me there - at least Phil King gave an example where a question does need to be posed. You're probably both right that 7N is the 'odds' contract though you may need all of your courtroom skills if partner has AKxxxxx AKx AKQ --

I think the fatal discard is actually trick earlier. Spades are bound to be 6-1 making lefty 6-4 or 6-5 shape so I don't think you'd ever dare risk the trump squeeze.

Because if partner holds as much as xxxx,x,xxx,xxxxx there is a good save.

3♦ Partner hasn't many points, doesn't know I hold the Ace so it won't be a singleton. Also I don't want to set up the King for a discard.

But this was a UK event run under UK rules so I suspect VixTD's question was rhetorical. It couldn't be put much clearer than says the EBU 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.' Maybe such a good pre-empt was not a practice of the partnership at the time, but it is now {or may become one}.

I'm not disagreeing just curious. Does that mean showing 5-3 heart fit at the 3 level is more important than the right strain ? I'm thinking of the possible 6-2 heart fit when spades might not be that well stopped.

He'll only know we have 8 clubs with X-ray vision. fwiw in my version 2NT shows clubs - competing and then you could show hearts.

[hv=pc=n&s=sathk8653dkt654c2&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1hp2c(F1)p2dp2s(FG)p3dp3hp3np4np]133|200[/hv] Acol, 4cd majors, RKCB Any ideas what 4NT might be ?

2♠ for me

The only variable in this deal is whether West is asleep or not. If not, the coup is marked. The reason is that if West considers declarer may have the Q♣, he will try to show long hearts. But Wests carding suggests short hearts so declarer will be getting the position right and go for the endplay.

To those like me that bid 4♠, partner doesn't have AQx xx AKxxxx xx which would mean that both games might be making. Worse than that, their trump finesse is losing so 4♥ can be beaten, though it wasn't at 18/28 tables. But it was beaten at our other table :( The full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=s9875432ht75dt3c9&w=sajthaq42dj8ckj82&n=s6hk8dak9654ct763&e=skqhj963dq72caq54&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=1c1d2dp2h3d4h4sdppp]399|300[/hv]

To play

Combinations maths will tell you. I can remember using a ZX81 to work out the suit splits but would need to google how to do it now. Intuitively I'd say that even if you had as few as one club, compared with a void, the chance of RHO having a club suit is reduced. So obviously going from 5 to 6 will also reduce the chance.

I can't speak for the oppo but I think it replaced what would have been an inverted 2♣ in an uncontested auction.

[hv=pc=n&s=s9875432ht42dt5c9&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=1c1d2dp2h3d4h]133|200|West is at least 4-4[/hv] Scoring is mostly 'Point a board' (partly imp) Do you bid now? Should you have bid before?

Most likely shape for partner will be 6-4 and there may be 3 off the top, but he could be something like ♠Axxx, ♥x, ♦Kx, ♣Qxxxxx. If he does have this hand or is even more distributional, what's your excuse going to be ? It's unlikely they'll go 4H but I think I'll bid 5C before they get the chance.

[hv=pc=n&s=sq852hq42dkqck852&n=sa76hak653d74c974&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=pp1np2dp2hp3nppp]266|200[/hv] 4 card majors / 12-14 NT Rightly or wrongly we still play it weak in 3rd Vul but some 12s can be passed.

Also beats 2353 and 2362 where trumps break as they're supposed to.

But East would probably bid the same with K♠. How is West supposed to know you've bid his hand for him.