SteveMoe

Bid immediately. My partners and I play Meckwell over strong NT (Double = long minor or both Majors, 2♣/♦ DONT; 2♥/♠ natural). However we use 2N as lebensohl to make a 3-level preempt. That leaves 3-level bids as natural with Meckwell meaning but showing a 4 loser hands. So we'd bid 3♠ here directly, allowing partner to assess fit and game prospects.

I like pass=forcing (under 3♠). Partner can bid or transfer to a 5-card suit (what do you do?) or double with ♠ shortness (0-2). 2N is Balanced with M's stopped. Double is 3 suiter (not ♠) Could be 2(344) or any 1(345)/1(444) or 0(445). Solves the problem what to do with big hands and one or no Major stopped and no biddable 5-card suit. 3♠ and above I like Double = pens, pass = balanced or 3-suiter, and NT to play (usually a source of tricks, not strength).

Agree ♣ splinter inadequate (want 3 control cards - have only two). Might be quite interesting to try 2N Jordan here. We are going to 4♠, but the side Ace makes a direct jump to 4♠ seem wrong. Partner might just have enough to set them or make slam. Can we find out? Why not ask partner for shortness instead? (I play Jacoby style responses to Jordan). If partner happens to bid 3♦, well then...

Pass. I expect partner is either 3=4=1=5 or 3=4=2=4 and 14 or so.

PASS.

C'mon Zel, Opener has enough to be safe at the 5 level when partner is 5=4+...not a real stretch at all....

I find the ♠ lead appealing and the ♥ lead not so much. By leading a short major we are trying to hit partner's 5-card suit. (Yes other factors could also lead to success). Leading from a doubleton almost requires the opponents hold 3-3 in that suit (or partner to hold 6+ with 10 HCP - If partner had a chance to bid over 1NT they would have with that Yes, I know that does not apply here). So, the 3-card major holding plays to the required assumption that partner can clear the suit with one loser and get back in later. (PS - Nice link, Inquiry. Thanks! Sims are so touchy - not sure I am comfortable with the idea of a black box approach, but the tool if it works will be helpful)

There's vanishingly small risk that 3♣ ends this auction, so I expect another bid. Besides, partner knows my 3-level overcalls are sound and can be quite strong so they will stretch to respond. 3♥ asking for 3N asking a ♥ stop misspeaks our intention to get to slam. I've no partner that hearing 3♥ would expect a minor swan opposite.

:unsure: I would ask North to find the 13th card :rolleyes: Win the ♣A, then finesse ♠. Whether the ♠K is with East is unknown at trick 2 - don't let the post mortem sway you from good percentage bridge. The plan would be to draw trump and pitch 2♥ on the ♣ AK. If the ♠K is singleton, then you trade the 50% chance for the ♠ finesse against the 6.22% chance the ♠K is singleton. Not close at all. The only time I would play for a stiff K in east is if East made an opening bid or equivalent.

Precision: 1♣ - 1♠ 3N* - 4♥ 5♣ - 5♦ 6♥ 3N is 16-17 1=4=4=4.

If one overcalls with the West hand (I wouldn't) then you'll have more character building opportunities like these. West over valued the ♠Q twice in this auction. Pass. Sound actions a the 3-level over their preempts pay out in the long run. Besides, partner knows what to do with a hand good enough to move toward game anyway so no need to be impatient with an imperfect hand. FWIW, If they had preempted 2♥ and you hels a ♠ dominant hand with a similar pattern, a 2♠ overcall would be wholly appropriate. Here 3♣ is too much. If you wouldn't overcall without the ♠Q, then you don't have an action with the ♠Qx unless you know partner holds values or shortness in that suit.

You're right about that. However sitting South, I might just pass the double and collect a nice bonus in 2♣ doubled. Maybe I need to change my poll choice to something else.

Playing leaping Michaels, 4♣ shows ♠ and ♣ 55+, so 3♣ for me. Likely auction: 2♥ - 3♣ - 4♥ - 4N/5♥! DBL - 6♦ All depends on whether 4N is RKB for you or shows 2 places to play (what I prefer).

2♣ seems normal. 3N got the punishment it deserved. I always enjoy when the natural rebid (3♦) turns out to be the winning action. 1♠ - 1N 2♣ - 3♦ 4♥ - 4♠ 6♦

Precision 1♣ - 1♦ 1♠*- 2♦** 3N where * unlimited. Might be 4-card suit if 0/1 ** 6-7 HCP and 3 card ♠ support. Don't like our chances, but there is some chance that we get a ♥ lead on the given auction, and that we have time to develop tricks in the red suits. Probably happy to be down one. Prefer 3N to 4♥... Put 3 small ♥ in North and ♥AKJx in South and 4♥ is more appealing. Want to ruff with small trumps.

Yep. This auction causes 2 metas to collide - opener's double as 17 -19 and as support. Perhaps the then the default should be higher frequency occasions (support). With no agreement I suspect 1) is "safer" - more likely to be on partner's mind and more likely to win a post mortem. :rolleyes:

1NT?

Three options come to mind - 1) 17-19 Balanced, 2) Takeout of ♠ 3) Any hand with 3♥ cards that wants to compete. I like 1).

Through 2♥ as mgoetze recommends. However if you like to shake it up a bit, then include up to 3♥ as long as the intervention is clearly a preempt. Do not do this with a penalty pass hand. Doubling a preempt in this approach shows extras (for the level) and shortness in the intervenor's suit. Partner can convert to penalty with the right hand.

I play a conventional double that shows 5-7 HCP any shape at the 2 level and 6-10 any shape at the 3 level (no ♣ stop). Here I would double first. If partner now calls 3♦, I am well placed to offer 3♠ as a 5-card suit. With ♠QJxx ♥xxxx ♦Kxx ♣Jx I would raise 3♦ to 4♦. Partner would bid 3N not 3♦ when right. Passing first limits your hand to 5 HCP. 3-level interference: Double: 6-10 HCP any shape, no stop Cue Bid: 11+ HCP 3 place to play (5440, 4441, 4432 all possible). No Stop 3NT: 8-13 HCP, ♣ stop. Maybe 5-card minor, but 5-card Major unlikely/impossible

Misread post. 3) Pass - nothing to say in seat immediately over redouble. Were I the last to speak, I would bid 1♠ but that is not this problem...

1) Nothing to say. 2) Yes 3) 1♠, the cheapest possible bid. See below...

Anyone use leaping Michaels here? How does that impact this idea?

Win ♥K and play small ♠ toward J. If that holds, low ♦ toward K. Many many branches possible but preserve the ♥ finesse at trick 1, ♠10 finesse later, and plan to take ♣ finesse if they don't break the suit for us.

Ken, Excel spreadsheets can calculate this in a jiffy for you. Simply set a cell with the NPV function (Finance) and input the discount rate (matching the time frame of the cash flows - annual flows get an annual rate, monthly flows get a monthly rate, etc). The key is to have the discount rate reflect the risk of the asset. If the asset is completely risk free then the discount rate is the inflation rate. Doing this gives the following results: NPV..........Discount Rate $457,970.72.....0.03 $445,182.23.....0.04 $432,947.67.....0.05 $421,236.38.....0.06 $410,019.74.....0.07 $399,271.00.....0.08 $388,965.13.....0.09 $299,061.21.....0.20 As the discount rate climbs the NPV drops. For zero risk and zero inflation, the NPV would be $500,000.