The_Badger

Well done Cyberyeti and Nige1 +1 I consider the crossruff initially, but bet against it fearing North would ruff 3rd ♠. A trump is usually a safe lead against a grand slam so I was wondering why North had led a ♠? I realise my line was statistically inferior to yours but by the time I posted 40 minutes had elapsed! (I don't think too many directors would be happy with my 'slow play')

1) I'm opening 1♥ according to new rule of 18 allowed by EBU. Good suits. Easy rebid. (Director would probably be called if I didn't open.) 2) Undecided. One thing I wouldn't do is pass. More likely to Dbl to show point count than to use 2♦ to suggest an overcall type of hand. 3) see 1 above. Now you're struggling except if you know partner holds exactly ♠A106 ♥2 ♦Q83 ♣AKQJ52 :) 18 IMPs swing :(

My line for what it's worth - lol! 1) ♠A 2) ♠ ruff with trump 3) small ♣ to J (sweat pouring off brow now) - holds! 4) ♣A 5) ruff small ♣ with high trump 6) ♥A 7) ruff small ♣ with high trump 8) ♦ to ♦AQ9 ♠KQ ♣2 hope dummy's good. Win last trick with smallest card in the pack ♣2 :)

+1 for posting, ahydra. I'd rather be in 6♦ here. Given that grand slams should be bid on a probability of 75%+ can we at least assume ♦s split 3-2 (68%). I'm already timed out mesmerised what is the statistically correct line. (Oh for the ♦8 instead of [diamonds}6 in the West hand.)

Lol. I even managed to contradict and trip myself up in my own comments on the two posts, that essentially show how very difficult it actually is countering a direct 4♠ pre-emptive raise. And sincere apologies for spoiling it, but at least I should get credit for working out that the two separate posts were connected :)

I'm a firm fan of the original Wei Precision system with its 13-15NT, 2♣5m+4M or 6m, 2♦4414 or 4405 or occasionally 3415 or 4315 with weak ♣s. 2♥/2♠ 6M weak The only weakness was the 1♦ bid was originally 4+ so with 12HCPs and 4432 or 4423 you were left without a bid. Easy enough nowadays as 1♦ can be 2+ 11-15HCPs, and finding that 4-4 major suit fit is easier (and the sort of thing that appealed to former Acolites like myself) Yes, I know that 2♦ bid in the system turns up extremely rarely but what a lovely bid to have available.

hi giga4u. Welcome to the forum :) My experience of a 2♣ universal game force by responder is that if you are going to employ a relay system, you should not have any other bids that are GF too, such as (in Point 2) - 1M-3♣/3♦. The idea of a relay system is to save space as well as describing a hand in much detail as possible. Personally I am very dubious as having 1NT as non forcing with such a large range. Also, on first impression, I am not quite sure where you are at with having a two-way 2♦ constructive raise, a 2NT invitational raise and a 3♥ mixed raise available to describe similar type hands. These need to be more clearly defined I feel so opener has a better picture of your hand. I am firm believer - my opinion only - that it's usually easier for the stronger hand to take a lead in the auction. That's easy after a Precision 1♣ opening, for example, because if responder has a stronger hand than opener he knows automatically that the partnership is in the slam zone. Obviously using a 2♣GF with a standard opening bid, neither player will know initially (except a minimum opener) which hand is the stronger.

No reasons at all. But we had a similar discussion about bidding a 4 card ♠ suit (on the forum) after the auction 1m - (X) - ?. Yes, it's a completely different auction, I know. Maybe I am old school and like to bid a 4 card ♠ suit at the one level if at all possible. These days many players use transfer responses, so in a way I am not surprised Dbl equates to a 4 card ♠ suit exactly. Just their choice.

I concede you're right, Mike, +1, it's about survival. If you want to see partner's hand it's posted on another part of the forum:- http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/77185-monster-hand-with-opps-suit/ Both hands just prove how tough a game bridge is.

If you analyse any system there are always going to be holes and discrepancies where certain hands do not fit. Example 1: With the Wei Precision 2♦ opener of 4-4-1-4 shape, it was such a rare bid to use, other meanings got assigned to 2♦. So that's why many Precision partnerships state 1♦ is 1+ Example 2: With support doubles available now, I don't see any reason not to use a 1♠ bid in the auction shown as 4+, and Dbl denying ♠s and a ♥ stopper but showing values in the minors. p.s. Just realised this post is in the Laws and Rulings Section. I'd better let the directors pass an eye over this correspondence from now on.

Agree with both MrAce and broze. If ever there is an opening auction where poker-style like bidding comes into play this is it. An initial overcall of 2♣ may occasionally go down heavily, but it sticks a firm spanner in the opponents' bidding. Personally prefer to be 5-4-3-1 than 5-4-2-2 though. With a passed partner this 2♣ bid is usually lead directional at best, but there's a simple rule to follow here too. A passed partner bids up to the appropriate limit of LOTT taking vulnerability into consideration: any further action is at the discretion of the overcaller always.

Sorry to hear that, Timo. My thoughts are with you.

There's always people making money out of other people's money, though it's never the people who need the money who make it. I'm not jealous as I'm comfortably off and have never been greedy. My father told me money doesn't grow on trees, but it now does seems to exist in cyberspace. The economics world just seems to get more bizarre each passing year.

It's a minimum opening hand despite the great ♦ suit, and rebidding 3♦ is an overbid, I feel. Your not overstating you hand if you use a support double because you have exactly the holding that a support double guarantees - 3 card trump support.

This is more awkward than it actually looks, I feel. Whilst I agree 4NT shows 2 places to play here, it also could be interpreted as "I'm not interested in the ♥ suit, after both your doubles, pick one of the minors" That's ok if partner bids 5♦ after 4NT because you now correct to 5♥, but if he bids 5♣ you're going to pass and you may miss out on a better ♥ fit if he is 1-5-3-4 If partner was minor suit-oriented (unlikely but possible) then bidding 4NT as opposed to doubling again would have been his bid, so I am more inclined to trust partner as Steve2005 says and bid 5♥ myself, although there is an additional problem with that as the big hand becomes dummy. Leaving 4♠X in is not an option, this century or the next.

Once upon a time these hands would be automatically opened either 2♣ or 2NT, but there's a school of thought that having all the points in one hand, especially with 5-4-2-2 shape, it's better to open at the one level, even with 21 of them! This said, partner needs so little to make game a feasible option, that opening at the one level is also slightly dicey. However, with a forcing 1NT response available, this makes life easier. (Also, I think it is easier for North to judge the situation if he has a weak hand with partner opening in 3rd if West passes) However, I wouldn't criticise anyone who opened 2NT or 2♣ with these hands. Five quick tricks and a K & R count of over 23.

Dbl is negative for most players here, and your red vs. white so 3NT it is for me too.

Edit: You don't know whether partner's pass means anything. He's passed over both 3♥ and 5♦ so he has a minimum opener vulnerable. You've stated your hand, though personally I prefer a 4♠ bid direct with your hand as it's all trumps and lack of defensive tricks. The only action now is Dbl. I feel even given that the opponents have established their double fit. After partner has opened, 4 trumps to an high honour and a few extras seems a good enough reason to double a five level contract every day of the week, in my opinion.

What action do we all normally take with 2HCPs and a misfit? It's an easy Pass for me too.

What else is there other than Dbl on 1st round, Dbl on 2nd round? The obvious danger is partner is very weak with no ♠s and will takeout. The only way you can look at this auction is in the same way as a Dbl of a direct 4♠ pre-empt. If you wanted partner to bid you have the option of a second bid of 4NT bid suggesting two possible places to play.

I am surprised that everyone who got the ♦ lead went down. It's not that difficult hand if you keep things simple and play for 4-2♦ and 3-2♠ - the most favourable odds. I was wracking my brain when I first saw the hand that ♠s were potentially 4-1 with East.

I would never lead ♠Q here - I did consider this - but it loses outright when East has a stiff ♠K and ♦s are 3-3. Statistically low but possible.

As you indicate, Timo, a 3-2♠ and 4-2♦ break line is the best statistical line to play for and that's what I would have done, but I was wondering too if you can cope if ♠s are 4-1 with East.

Thanks Stephen. Having looked on Bridgeguys, it seems 2/1 is based on Roth-Stone except HCP opening bids are now lower. Wasn't familiar with Roth-Stone mechanics where their 2 over 1 bid is GF. They do say you learn something every day.

+1 as I have spent 10 mins trying to work this one out in my head without getting quite to a solution. The old Badger brain is not what it used to be :( (Maybe I shouldn't attempt hands like this at 1am in the morning.)