SteveMoe

Would much prefer double than 2NT (weaker). Now a later bid by me is descriptive and forcing where necessary.

There is a real possibility that you will block the suit if you play the ♣ 6 to any ♣ trick but the 4th one. I'd play the ♣10 to deny the J. Partner can figure out what's up from there. Having led the Ace, partner might as well continue regardless whether declarer holds Kx(x) or Jx(x). Any damage to our side is already done.

Since 2♦ agreed ♦ (albeit a potential false preference), 2♥ is forward going. Let's do so slowly - 3♣ is the next control bid. We will not stop short of 5♦ and can consider 6♦ if partner happens to control bid a ♠ void. We have 2 keys to offer partner if they then choose minorwood/kickback.

Optional Takeout. 2NT limits your hand. Raising hearts suggest opponents own a probable 9-card fit. Double shows a doubleton heart with maximum NT values. Partner can choose to convert for penalty with modest values (enough for balance of power) and no safe place to play at the 3-level.

Another viewpoint is the the J is a self revealing doubleton. I use the Jack to ask for a switch. UDCA can remove some bad temptations.

Joining the chorus for Blackwood (Aces). Of course, I have to want to play 6 if partner has one Ace (or 5 of my own suit). If I want to know keys, I make a forcing raise first (and then bid 4♣ or 4♦ ask the keycard ask. So 4N is almost never RKB over ♣). Quantitative for me asks partner if they have extras for their bidding. Since 1♣ can be 11 - 21 HCP, 4N certainly isn't asking partner. The range is just too big. Showing partner?? There's just no need to use up the bidding space just because I hold 20 - 21. Specific Aces? Too small a benefit window when Ole Black is available.

If the GIB button doesn't appeal to you, you might want this tool for analyses on your own. Whether double dummy plays are realistic is a separate question. Deep finesse: http://www.deepfinesse.com/

Would have bid 5♦ not 4 the first time.

Zel, I agree your adds and points made - precisely because we cannot really know what 6♠ means until we examine the remaining existing agreements. Thanks!

Let's see. After 1N - 2♣ - 2♥ 3N shows 4♠ and offers choice of games. 4N shows spades and invites 6. (Depending on your agreement either 4♣ or 4♦ would show a balanced invite to 6♥ with 4-card support). 5N? - if choice of slams is on our card, this could show ♠ and a desire to play at the 6 level. WHen it comes to jumps in the ♠ suit things are less clear: 3♠ shows a ♥ GF and demands cue bidding Some use this for a hidden splinter. 4♠ shows?? An invite to 6N w/o ♠ would never go through Stayman. So it must be a splinter perhaps void splinter. 5♠ shows?? Dangerously high for Exclusion - so perhaps this is the bid for the Choose between 6♠ and 6N. 6♠, well OK, if you insist this must be 4♠ cards and a desire to play 6 only? Not so sure given the rest of the tool kit. I am allergic to unnecessary jumps to the 6 level.

I expect partner to double with 0-2 ♣ cards on most all hands. Partner passes with minimums that have less than promised defense or overly slow values. Partner rebids 2♥ on hands that might jump rebid 3♥. ODR says defending not right. Since I hold 5 ♣ partner has fewer than 2 on this auction, and a non minimum. He would double with a minimum. Playing 2♥ opposite a passed partner on minimum values is suicide. Doubling takes precedence over 2♥ rebid. Matter of partnership agreement.

If 6♠-1, then partner doesn't have their bid!

No ... and I expect this auction will continue. Partner cannot be a minimum.

Easy 1♥ bid in 3rd seat opposite a passed partner. If partner raises ♥ I can make a try (short in ♣ or long in ♦. If partner responds in ♠ we are off to a good start. Happy to pass partner's 1N and make a move if partner tries Drury. Over natural 2♣, will rebid 2N.

Disciplined 3♠.

North stays silent first. South? I might call if IMPs, else pass. Does North reopen with a double? Still thinking....

Choose one: - an asking bid - for a new partner. - a torture bid - see choice 1. - 9=4=0=0 missing one Ace with 2 losers (though there is no rationale for bidding this way😀) that partner originally missorted to 5=4=0=4 - a mechanical slip of the bidding box - Partner saw a cow fly by - Partner was going to bid 6♠ anyway but wanted to induce/inhibit a ♥ lead. - who knows

Trumps play better when you can ruff in the short hand. 12 opposite 12 makes 3N 50% of the time. 11 opposite 13 (with a known 5-3 fit) seems about as probable. I would bid 3N playing IMPS and flip a 3N/Pass coin in MPs.

Playing 2N as 3 card LR+ and 3♣ as 4+ GF. Plan 2N then 4♦ if possible, 4N if not.

We have an 8 (or 9) card fit, only 8 losers (7.5 if you insist), and 3 prime cards outside partner's suit (working!). Auto 3♠. Thinking about raising is an underbid...

How good are your vulnerable weak 2 bids? How good must the suit be? Can partner open 2♥ with ♠Kxx ♥QJ9xxx ♦x ♣QJx? or do you require 2 of the top 3 honors (or perhaps 3 of the top 5) in the suit when vulnerable? Do you routinely open 5-7 HCP weak twos when vulnerable? The worst hand for opener might be something like this: ♠Kx ♥KQxxxx ♦xx ♣xxx . For this to produce slam you need both the ♣A and the ♦K on side (24%). Swap the ♥Q for the ♣Q and now you only need the ♦K onside. If partner is more likely to hold ♥KQ, well, you get the picture. Marshall Miles famously said we should bid any small slam that is at worst on one finesse. Here the likelihood is we need something more than just one finesse (a 1-1 trump split if missing the K, Partner holding the ♣Q(J), or a stiff♦ witht he ♣A onside, etc.). Once you visualize that, there's no justification for bidding the slam. The fact that slam makes is irrelevant. Your job is to make the best odds bid. You did when you avoided 6 on this hand. Enjoy bidding that avoids odds-off slams.

I'd want the 4♣ response to look more like ♠J10xxx ♥KQx ♦AKxx ♣x . As ggwhiz said this is a 3♣ bid not a 4♣ bid. Now the same flaw makes it harder to divine what's right. Partner's pass says no wastage in ♣ with something more than a minimum, so we can put at least 12 HCP in the other 3 suits. That brings us up to 21 HCP outside of ♣. (Were we at 25 HCP outside of ♣, a move toward small slam is de rigeur). Does partner have 1, 2, 3, or 4 of the missing key cards? I can't imagine the bidding going as it has if partner held only one keycard or 2 keys with a (sub) minimum (either would bring a double, not a forcing pass - e.g. ♠Q9xxx ♥Axx ♦AJx ♣xx). If partner holds only 2 Keys, the 5-level will be touchy (though the ♦A is likely onside if missing). With 3 or 4 keys, 6 will likely hunt. Seems like one move past 4♠ is called for - So I try 5♦. If I were calling 2♣ over 1♠, you could expect 2QT and ♣KQxxxx. Something like ♠xx ♥xxx ♦AJx ♣KQxxxx looks about right...

A tool, perhaps? Meckstroth Adjunct - see page 10 in http://www.cincybridge.com/Lessons/20080606_1NT_Forcing_In_Depth.pdf

Textbook precision is 7+ - 10 for a simple raise. The first hand is a simple raise. The second hand is 11- and a 9-loser. Simple raise too.

THIS!😀