PhilKing

Line two is better than line one. The key scenario is when West has three clubs and a doubleton spade. In line one, if the finesse loses and a red card comes back we are in danger of running into a trump promotion. In line two, we also run into the same problem, but less often, since if West has three clubs and two spades, he is more likely to have the king. Also, line two is better when West has the stiff ten of clubs (the singleton kings cancel eachother out).

I was kind of guessing, since Jack5 uses something like this. Westra maybe? But perhaps only with his computer.

Wouldn't do it myself, but - KTxxxxx Qxx xxx might make partner crack. He might even make it.

If partner wanted to save, why wouldn't he just save? He has heard us not double, after all in a position where double is for penalties. Double does not ask us if we forgot. For me, it's a penalty double with Lightner implications. I understand that most play it is extra offence and defence, but surely not no defence. With a pure hand I expect partner to save.

That's why only almost. :wacko:

That's why only almost. :wacko:

My guess is that we are off the heart suit and that over a transfer to spades partner would have superaccepted to 3 with AKJx Jx KJx Kxxx getting us to 4 (breaking 5-1, of course).

Absent a double, would they not now lead a heart?

The redouble shows 4 decent spades. The point is to handcuff the fourth player - he will often run even when partner was going to, and he will often be running into trouble. If he passes, responder only passes with 3+ spades and a reasonable response - if that is handing them a top, they will have to work hard for their money. We have lost exactly nothing playing this defence to a double, since it in no way commits us to spades. The point about this auction is that RHO is stepping into a misfit auction - if he has a typical take-out double shape with 42 in the majors, lefty will have 4 or five hearts and a weak hand with no clear bid a large proportion of the time. If we play that pass shows a balanced hand with potentially two spades he can pass with any hand (typically a 2533 4 count on which they were about to be incinerated), since partner will never have a hand that can pass out One Spade doubled. If we have the balance of the points, there is a good chance that we should defend a doubled contract. If we don't, it's a misfit for us as well, so we are best off pressuring him into premature action. I generated a few hands and this one shows the standard situation: ..........9 7 2 ..........6 3 ..........9 5 4 ..........A K Q J 4 10 8.......................K Q 6 4 10 9 7 4...................K 2 A 10 2.....................K Q 8 7 10 7 3 2...................9 8 6 ..........A J 5 3 ..........A Q J 8 5 ..........J 6 3 ..........5 If the auction starts 1[h]-p-1-x and you play pass as balanced, West can pass and North will bid, but you have them nailed for a monkey after a redouble.

3NT is almost cold opposite as little as xx Kxxxxx xxx xx.

I would pot 7NT. Hearts could be 6-2 and spades 3-1, partner holding the 8 or 7x with 8 dropping.

Are you trying to fool us with xxxs in the South hand?

Yep - missed the "system on" bit. Was thinking of Rubensohl type auction (although I still play 2NT as diamonds).

Transferring to diamonds is terrible for another reason - it gives them a chance to double 3♣. We could be off the heart or club suits and we have now guaranteed they will find the best lead. A direct raise makes the overcaller guess. The bottom line is that exploration, even if it were possible, is a mistake, since the information we gain is unlikely to help us, but will often aid our opponents.

Not worked how to import hands yet :blink:. Pard has ♠- ♥Q987532 ♦T43 ♣T97. The weak hand has ♠J653 ♥T6 ♦865 ♣K832. He should run but who knows?

I see +500 was good for -5 imps (and clearly he should have gone down only 4). Not clear what would have happened if you had doubled - 5♣ probably goes for 500 (although inspired play leads to one off), but they may brazen it out in the 43 fit.

5♦. Maybe 5♠ performs the same task and obscures our holdings better, but it has the downside of engaging partner.

http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/56973-too-strong/page__p__685536__hl__double__fromsearch__1#entry685536

Never said you were behind standard! If you take out the crappy diamonds and preference hand, you can use 2♠ to show a hand like this. That leaves your non GF options as: long diamonds any range and 5-6 diamonds flexible hand, suit oriented circa 11 points. When I experimented with this, I had opener bidding 2♦ on minimums with no fit, so 2♥/♠ would show at least a good 14.

Well I'm not bidding 2♠ if it is 5-10. Guess I'll relay and then guess a game. This transfer response is way overloaded.

Double. I made a decision over 20 years ago not to pass these in these spots. Punish them! Maybe partner is 0634 and they have no safe haven. Passing can work badly when West bids 5♣ anyway. We can hardly double that, but perhaps partner would have if we stand on our chair now.

Can I not bid 2♠?

Looks like we play it "almost" the same. I like playing 1NT differently - balanced or diamonds or a good 2♥ rebid - sort of a two under transfer. The advantage is that you can now play 2♣ as a relay (9+), 2♦ 5-8 to play opposite 3 2♥ 5-8 etc.

Redouble = decent 4-card spade suit, any range Pass = 3 decent spades balanced or 4 weak spades Others = nat Let's punish them!

I was entertained by the format, but ...