SteveMoe

Polish clubbers rebid 1 Major on any 4, or 3 if not 4, holding a balanced min. The 1N rebid shows the bigger hand. I'd do that.

Agree with 2♠ = 9-11 4+ cards (old fashioned I know). Then 3♥ Western appeals - and partner will comply with 3N or 3♠ failing a ♥ stop - that raises the likelihood partner has a ♠ honor. I woudl then raise to 4♠. Prefer 3N over 4♠ as we are missing AJT9xxx. Too many ways to lose 3 trump tricks.

Stayman then ♣ regardless of partner's answer. New suit is natural and forcing (discard the notion that it denies a fit in partner's major). The key issue is whether partner has wasted values in ♠. Slam is very possible opposite ♠Axxx ♥Kx ♦KQT ♣AKxx or ♠Kx ♥KQxx ♦KQxx ♣AKx or ♠Kx ♥KQx ♦KQxx ♣AKxx type hands.

Somewhat depends on whether 1N is forcing or semi-forcing. If semi-forcing, partner is not a minimum 4=5=2=2 (Partner passes 1NT). 2♠ here shows a good raise of partner's ♣ suit and that's what I got. If partner continues 2N or 3♣ I'll bid 3♦ so partner can evaluate whether 5♣ is feasible. The point here is 4♣ is likely safe (loser count) unless partner has the dreaded 4=5=2=2= min. I need partner's help to determine if ♦ help us make 5. Partner can pass 3♦ with 4=5=2=2 in the worst case. Importantly this hand is not a jump to 4♣ as playing opposite Hx will be little fun.

Duplicate post

I'll go aggressive on this hand. 2♥ is a GF (Double here shows ♥). 4 cover cards and 6 losers with a guaranteed 8 card fit somewhere gives license. Want partner to know I hold better than what 2♠ shows.

The 3♥ rebid promsies 5-5 and 15-17 HCP. Responder bids accordingly.

See page 11 http://www.acbl.org/acbl-content/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/AlertPamphlet.pdf

I'd start with 1♥. You do have the best hand at the table, right?

Would suspect count is most prevalent unless we agreed to play obvious switch - then it's suit preference. So either ♥ H or ♣x ...

Someone said the ♦3 isn't a singleton if I don't lead it...

6♠ is a transfer to another partner.

Both are Balance of Power Doubles. First is Cooperative Penalty. Doubleton ♦ or fewer, with 3♠ cards. Likely 3=3=2=5 with 11 HCP or so. Second is Cooperative Penalty. Doubleton ♣ or fewer, maybe 4♥ cards, 2-3 ♠ cards, perhaps 2=4=5=2 or 3=3=5=2 These doubles suggest playing at the 4-level is not safe, that we do not have an 8-card trump fit, that we do have .GTE. 23 HCP. and that the opponents have gotten too high for their trump fit. Pure penalty doubles when opponents have bid and raised their suit are extremely rare. Cooperative Penalty hands come up more often. recommend Colchamiro's book for a fuller discussion.

Why not play Exclusion with responses that tell you what you want to know? 0, 1, 1+Q, 2, 2+Q. Drop the 0 response if you agree you always credit opener with at least one Key.

5♠=mini-torture bid. South knows the destination is 6♥, and that partner does not have 6♥ cards (no ♥Q equivalent). Holding all the keys missing the trump Q on a nine card fit, 6♥ and not 6NT is the contract. the only thing that makes sense is that 5♠ asks partner to peek and see if trumps split 2-2. --) :rolleyes:

... check out "Count Coded Leads" by Jerry Fink and Joe Lutz - aka Cincinnati Leads. Try: http://www.bridgeguys.com/Conventions/carding/cincinnati_leads.html

3♠ is at least forcing one more round. If opener rebids 4♦ that can be passed. Not happy, but when we are in a misfit, I fall back on "forcing to 3N or higher". Of course if my ♠ are good, I might consider 4♠.

Since 1♠-3♥ is either weak or strong (or mini splinter by some), and 1♠-4♥ is a (maxi) splinter, The only way to play a game in ♥ based on extra length (not power) is 1NT Forcing first. Agree with Helen that 4♣ is slammish in ♠, but propose 4♦ is similar, denying a ♣ control. There is little/no need to try to play in 4m on this auction. On those hands i pass 3♠.

While I wouldn't practice 2♠ here, 4♥ seems the best way to tell partner that you have extras. It's easier to imagine 4-card support. 4♠ conjures ♠AKxxxx ♥- ♦Jxxx ♣J10x

4N over 2♣ please. Double of 2♦ is ♦ so 6♦ it is.

Double of 1N shows values and 3 or fewer ♥ cards, no biddable 5-card suit, and a desire to compete

Sorry I can't find the citation but I recall this proposed to show a 16-17 HCP hand with a 6-card minor 3-2-2.

2N isn't much of an overbid - shows 9+ to 11 or so w/1NF. This hand is a minimum 2N. You might land in a 23 HCP 3N, but that's not the first nor last time that will happen. Sounds like you had fun playing it!

Supporting Nigel and 3♣ - Larry Cohen published a series of meta analyses called "One Million Deals" Check out this one on The Most Successful Opening Bids: https://www.larryco.com/bridge-learning-center/detail/384 1N is the most successful low level opening bid. But the most successful opening bid of all: "Surprisingly, the most successful opening of all was 3♣. This was worth an average of almost 1/4 imp per board and a whopping 60% of the matchpoints. This seems like an aberration to me, but this is based on 8,201 3♣ opening bids -- not exactly a small sample. If anyone wishes to opine on why this bid might be so successful, please write me."

While a direct 4♦ shows a good hand, this one is too good. 2NT Lebensohl then 4♦ should show slam interest. 3♠ Then ♦ might be a clearer message.