jdulmage

Under reasonable circumstances, I win the diamond in my hand (if I can), club to ace, 9, let it ride in to surely an honor from the leader, let him decide what suit to open up next. Simple as that. After looking at actual play: defence handed it to you.

Gotta agree with Fred, I would bid 4♠ over this, partner needs only a few points for me to make and I could be shutting down the opponents bidding engines - which may include a missed 4♥ game and chances of being undoubled are increased to the point where I could be looking at 80% or more of the matchpoints on this board.

I like this the best - stripping your hand of hearts and getting the clubs out of there, not only are they kinda end played from playing hearts or clubs, they will have to break the diamond suit, hope to hell there is a misdefence and heart hook is on.

Here's one straight from me - I'm playing in Montreal in 2002, I'm 18, partner is 14. We are a pretty good junior pair for the regional we were attending. I bid and reach a 4 spade contract. I play a few cards here and there and get down to the final holding (Don't remember all the spot cards) [hv=n=sxxhdxxcx&w=shjxdxcax&e=sqhxdxxxc&s=sxxhxxdcx]399|300|[/hv] I have already lost 2 tricks, I am doomed - one down losing the Q♠ and A♣, there was absolutely no way around it. Having seen the way the opponents play and knowing that they don't think, I said to myself "Well, I can make if they rough their good club trick with the good trump trick". I promptly played a club, the A♣ flew up, I played a club off of dummy and..........ruffed by the Q♠ for +620. Go figure.

Yeah here is one told by a fellow good player. I cannot remember who he was playing against, but he was in a cold 6♥ contract, all he loses is the A♠, however, with: [hv=n=shakxxxxdc&s=shjxxxxxdc]133|200|[/hv] 12 card fit in ♥ - he accidently plays low to the J♥, losing to the stiff Q♥, down 1. The board is put away, silence fills the air.

Easy, J♥ - man would I love for my partner to have KQx♥, we destroy the A♥, get in again, draw trump with KQ♥ if we know the declarer is preparing to cross ruff.

I'm going to agree on a 3♦ call, I need to know what partner has, we may be better off playing in 3NT than in 4♠, of course, he will know I have a balanced (probably balanced) 13-14 points. So whatever he bids next, except another suit, we are staying here. 3♠ = sorry, don't have a diamond stopper and it's clear we will not make game, even on our 23-24 points. 3♥ = don't have a diamond stopper, but does a heart control help you out any? 3NT = got that stopper for you - it's up to you partner! 4♠ = hell, I don't care what you got, I know we have this game cold

I find the 3♠ bid out of place, this better show a void in ♠, asking to start off with cuebidding first round controls, if any. If nothing, bid 3NT and I'll set the contract in it's rightful place. Cuebidding twice always confused me, because it really has no place in an auction except to try for a minor slam (in this case anyways).

Not really sure your auction here. So it's P-1♦-2♥-??? Your partner has opened 1♦? 6-5 is too much to put a double on, you have to be the driver, bid 2♠, if partner rebids 3♦, which is most likely going to happen, I bid 4♣, I want to be in game and if I can get to my partner's hand, I can pitch what surely is a losing heart trick and maybe a club or two if in spades.

Senseless - we all know how to read and write, the computer does the rest of the work - all we have to do is play the cards. Too much money and allows for increased cheating by using the devices to communicate.

Just pass - you've said your story.

Depends on bidding, hestitations, etc. gotta look at all aspects. At first, I'm thinking low to the Q, if it holds, play a small one, duck completely and hope your LHO is Ax in the suit, he has to win it, now you are home free. The problem arises if it is sitting. [hv=n=shqxxdc&w=shaxdc&e=shjt8xdc&s=shk9xxdc]399|300|[/hv] You obviously don't want to play the K here, you must duck, the doubleton A must be won now. Why the 9? You are dead anyways if your LHO has A+honor or better.

easy hand once your 8♣ wins, obviously you must return a club in this case.

10♦ not a big deal, I only have 4 altogether, no risk of ruff. Play small towards the K♠ 6♥ big deal!! can't be top of nothing, can't be doubleton, because assuming they play high-low = doubleton, they are missing the 5432♥ - this is definately singleton. Cash A♠ right away after winning it in my hand, if it isn't 4-0 split, I play towards my k♠, if it breaks 2-2, I am free, if not, I have to play hearts out until they ruff.

Yes, must agree, low to the 7 first, gives you the best chance for tricks.

Go for 2♣ now, reopen with double if you must later. You've got to get that sure fire lead direct bid in there. If they end up in some number of a suit, you'll wait a club lead. If you double first, there is no other chance to get that lead suit in there.

I like 3♦ here, partner will probably bid 3♥, I don't see anything wrong with a nice steady cuebidding auction. Why not go 1♣-(Pass)-1♥-(2♦) 3♦-(Pass)-3♥-(Pass) 3♠-(Pass)-4♥-(Pass) 4NT-(Pass)-???? 3♦ - Cuebid 3♥ - No diamond coverage 3♠ - Spade control 4♥ - Still isn't sure of the contract, but can't play NT at all 4NT - Play it as RKC or 1430, whichever. If partner shows 1 keycard, you know it's the K♥, that's really all you need having known that he has bid, has to have at least 6 points and 3 of them are shown in the K♥, you hope he has the K♠ or even the QJ♥ to roll this one home.

In that auction, partner bids 2♥ to show a good hand, so 3♥ better be: "I have a bagger that can take 9 tricks, please bump me if you have a trick". I would bid it up, Q♦ opposite a jump reverse like that is the "MVC" - Most Valuable Card, hehe

I disagree with Zeke. The original definition of 1NT was: A hand with at least 16 to 18 HCP and balanced. Balanced meaning or singletons or voids and no more than one doubleton. So this is definately not off shape, at least now by the original meaning of this opening bid. I like opening 1NT when I have say a hand like this: [hv=s=stxxhkxdqxcakqxxx]133|100|[/hv] On a heart lead, you will most likely find 7 tricks, if you can find an 8th, you are beating those in 3♣ making 3 for 110. Also, if partner is to invite 2NT, you are more interested in bidding 3NT on hopes of running clubs and finding just 3 more tricks from your hand and partners. More so, if they bid over the 1NT, you still have a rebiddable club suit. It's great. I discontinue doing this with a singleton or void, rules or no rules, it's just plain silly. It has never failed me yet. In returns to the "...I didn't know the ACBL was THAT dumb, I guess I should stop being surprised at this point". You need to learn some manners; rules are rules, if you can't follow them, don't play. That is like saying "murdering someone is against the law? I didn't know the government was THAT dumb"

Pass, you have a 7 count, if you open it, what will you open? Surely, they will find a minor partial somewhere. And it's more likely to go P - P - P - 1C - P - 1D, now you can double or whatever you wish.

Open 1NT, it will then go: 1NT - 2♦ - 2♥ - 4♥ - all pass. Enough said. If 14 is "too weak" for ya, then open 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 3♥, with 3 hearts to the King and a 14 count, you'll be happy to bid 4♥

With this hand, I would bid 4♥ directly after transfer. Looking at a 7 loser hand opposite probably a 7 loser hand, have to chance it and bid 4 hearts over the 2 hearts transfer.

7.5 loser hand, 4-3-3-3? No thanks. I'll pass.

nothing wrong with 1NT - but a lot will bid 1H here - not clear cut always

Myself and my partner are two juniors age 21 years old. We are heading to Casper, Wyoming in May to play in their regional. The total cost is around $1000 Canadian. We're looking for some kind hearted people who are willing to donate a dollar here or there, or whatever you would like. We are not looking for the entire thing to be paid, just trying to get $500 or so out of the $1000. If you want to donate to us: Go to http://www.reginabridge.com Scroll to the section in "Bold" with a "Make a Donation" link. Thanks!