Onedown

[hv=pc=n&s=sat62hq753daca752&n=skhj98642dk82cqj9&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=p1hp3s3n4np5dppp]266|200[/hv] You are on Board 11 of 12, and behind 10 imps. Your system opens 4 card ♥ suits in any position. We also play Rev Bergen with 3♣as the good limit raise. Partner splinters and comes 3NT on your right and it is announced as Minors. You consider doubling, bidding ♥or is a slam possible? Why not? You decide cue bidding either minor suit ace won't help so you continue with 4NT 1430 (remember your down 10 imps), thinking if partner is at least 1-5-4-3 and holds all the right cards, you own 3 keys with the Q, partner surely could have 2 keys and if K of ♣ or K of ♦ You are also aware P cd be splintering with only 4♥and with the minor bid on your right, ♥ should not be behaving well. But into the breach you go. You choke when p shows no keys and stop in 5♥ You do make 5 ♥, once a low ♦ (std leads) is lead. The whole exercise for this post, is what do you think of partners splinter? I am of the opinion partner valued his K ♠twice and his bid should be 4 ♥ (usually shows 0-9)

There are 4 bids over 1♠, neg x, 1nt and 2♦ (if not inverted) and 3♦ if playing inverted (a bit insane)..I give a neg x 10, as it seems the most sensible and describes my holding since we may be missing a heart fit. I give NT a 5 and 2♦a 7, but it is also not so good for the same reason...I pass 2♠...why am I competing with 3 ♦at IMPs??....3♦ promises a lot more than a balanced 7 count..and do I really want go for 300? ESPECIALLY when pard passes 2♠

Ridiculous post....I can understand those, well sort of who think this soft hand is worth 1 ♦BUT If you are playing weak 2s and your range is 6-11, then why not 2 ♦?? Did I miscount?..My calculator says 11, if I count on my fingees I have 11....what is the 11 for anyways if you won't bid 2 ♦with 11..is there 11 counts you will open 2 ♦ with?

I can use the windows version but cannot sign into the web based version...tells me when trying to connect, "connection lost"...I have taken the firewall off and cleaned cache... I did get a new internet provider today but have used them before for BBO with no issues. No idea what is going on?

Not doubling 1 ♥ is where everything starts.

What is the vulnerability?...this needs to be known before any action can be taken.... Saying that I highly doubt we have slam and partner is going to take 4 ♥ as natural. I can pass or bid 5 ♦at the very best. Depending on the vulnerability I could pass and hope my LHO takes some action. I doesn't matter what action as this is probably going to be our best plus. If they x and all pass we make 4 ♦and I may xx, then forcing them to go for a decent number Xd regardless of where they play.

Some actions are more egregious than others and one causes the action of the other. Mine would be the former, an action caused by the latter, my partners double of 2 ♦. Regardless of where the auction ended, if I were playing live, I would call the Director and ask him if he would please try and get a replacement for me. I would calmly explain to him that if I stay I am afraid there would be disastrous results as my body would start reacting like a dirty bomb about to explode. If I was playing on BBO I would simply pull the plug, and if asked later "my net went down"!

Right, my bad. I REALLY think the complete auction is less (very) than solid bridge. No offense to anyone!

Am I seeing a different game than the one I have played for 50 years? Not one post has questioned South's bid of 1 ♠ red against white with a 6 count and virtually no defense vs any suit other than ♠. I pass or bid 2S but I am under no pressure here am I?...2 ♠ is scary also since I have 8 losers at least. 4 ♥ is a joke where you are telling p you have a stiff or void and max 9 count. I do not know where I could buy a johnny bench catcher's mitt big enough to catch the rest of the preempts you pull out! You hsve a relatively flat and soft hand but a defensive gem card of the K of s, rich in heart length. I think it is only worth a 2 ♥ bid unless you really overvalue your hand and cue bid which is maybe closer but still with soft values. If they bid 4 ♠you "consider a x" if imps and hammer if mps and if you preempted and bid again you should go back to basics and pray partners don't walk out on you......!

Why was this hand posted? Am I supposed to duck the spade for some reason when I am looking at 13 tricks outside without 2 ♠ tricks? As another poster said "Am i missing something here?"

I would NEVER consider bidding 3♦. I must handle my hand as if my RHO opened a single suited weak 2 and make a choice now to pass or bid. 3 ♦is an outright lie to partner, promising beaucoup defensive values plus a 1/2 decent suit. THEREFORE, I have 2 choices, and that is wait and see or bid 5♦ immediately. Even 4♦is better than 3♦, but exerts no pressure on my LHO. Partners X is fine as it was based on me having my 3 ♦bid which of course I did not. The discussion of what to do after we have pushed a vul opp to the 5 level, she be based on my premise that in a competitive auction such as this, the opps own the 5 level.

I assume 3♠ would be a limit raise, but it isn't close to this anyways as preemptive...just too good...this is the type of hand that does not fit description and there are many hands like this. 1NT forcing if playing 2/1 isn't the right call unless one deems a 2 spade rebid by responder the right description. 2♠ directly if 2/1 is constructive and doesn't apply as that insinuates defensive values. 4♠under normal circumstances says 0-9 hcp and a stiff or void and is my choice. I cannot risk missing game at IMPs, and I am down 1 or 2 at best.

When I teach, one of the 1st things I try and do when they can count to 13 and take tricks, is learn how to score. It is surprising how many players do not understand scoring, especially imps when it is a very big part of the game and decision making. 5 level usually belongs to the opps, and if you need to decide whether to take the 5 level sack, be sure a) you could see no way of beating 4 of a major and b) make sure that you are not going for any more doubled than what their game is worth and c) best to have the sack option white vs red. This is the only time the numbers really make any sense and a large differential if the sack was right or you pushed them to 5 level where you will often score a plus for muchos imps. Good sacks are a real art form and so satisfying when you are right!!

Finally after how many replies someone said the sane bid. We may want to play in X ♠. Any other bid we make is going to lose us the opportunity. The ONLY thing I don't know is who is VUL? It could go neg x all pass and only if white vs red would I feel comfortable.

I like to play the following: - systems on - xfer to their suit shows shortness and g/f, no 4 card major - 3♠ = xfer to 4♣, 4♣ xfer to 4♦...good way to get out when responder is bust with some 6-7 card minor - When they bid 2♠ and we want to show a non forcing ♥hand, bid 3c followed by 3♥ or pass if opener bids 3♥; Invitational ♥ hands bid 3♦ xfer..this can also be a big ♦ hand and you will correct next bid. To force in ♥ bid 3♥with 5 0r 5+ with extras, or use Texas to play.

Regardless of vulnerability where are we going here? If I double, do I want to hear 4♠? No, Jlogic has it right, pass and defend unless you can take action when it comes back to you. I pass and defend anything!

Why am I competing in a part score? Partner passed and either has a club stack and no double, no 3NT bid etc. I am going to assume the points are evenly spread evenly. I would also assume RHO has a shape hand like myself and would love to defend anything we bid.

Did anyone consider a negative double? We have the shape, and it may find a spade fit or club fit. If it does go 2♥, then pass by partner, I will bid a quiet 2♠. If I had a better hand partner should know I would bid an immediate spade with 5+ spades. Partner also knows I have ♣ with my negative double and then free 2♠.

Red vs White why would I consider bidding? Compete for a pscore? If they have a ♥game, so be it, I will defend and hope my 1 1/2 tricks will add to 4 with the cards that come down and partners contribution. My clubs and spades seemed positioned well. Even if it goes 2♦xfer pass 2♥, I am still passing.

I happy with 2♠ as I have no idea where this hand is going. I cannot pass, I leave the 2 level wide open for easy communication. Being so flat, I don't know why I would go to 3 ♠at this juncture..2♠says it all.

Since we have partner with 10+ we must be in game, especially at IMPs. But the question is what is forcing here and what is the right spot? It is not 3NT and a 5 level minor may be too high! If I bid 4 ♦I fear this is not forcing and we may get too high in 5 ♦on a 4-4 fit and miss 4♠if partner has xx in spades, the K being a bonus. If we decide to force with 4♥ then we are going to hear 5♣or 5♦, not where I would ideally like to be. Ergo my bid is 4♠ and may the bridge gods be with me!

Agree with 2NT for a few reasons. I am more interested in finding out about partners hand than giving information away about my own hand. Why would I tell the opps what NOT to lead, and bidding a ♠ just might do that. Once I hear partners response to 2NT I will have a much better picture of where we are going. The only problem I may have is whether to bid on if partner bids 4♥over my 2NT bid, and I doubt he will be bidding 3♣or 3 [diamonds. And yes, this hand is much too good for a splinter...

I agree with anyone who says use the support x at this juncture. The auction won't stop here and it allows you to show your hand later but at least gives partner an obligatory message.

I cannot do much else other than bid 3♦...this is the power of preempts, life is not perfect. Do I want to hear 4♥if I double? NO..can I bid 3NT..NO..

I do not see what the difficulty is here. My partner did not make a negative x, unless he was too weak with 6-7 HCP, ergo we found our fit and 3 hearts is a game try, asking partner, how you like things now for 4 spades?