Endymion77

Quite often, but not always. In this case, all weak opener rebids (1NT/2♣/2♦/2♥) would be a playable spot and the only time when a negative double with only 3 hearts might turn out to be a problem is if opener is strong with 4 hearts and jumps. However, KQx is not such a bad holding and opener will often be short in spades in this case (unless he has precisely the 18-19 NT hand with 4 hearts) so you should be playing in hearts anyway. Of course, like I said you can also pass and wait for partner to re-open but then you have a different problem - if it goes pass-pass and partner re-opens with a double, what would you bid? I think you have to settle for 2♣ which might easily not be the best spot (mildly said). With long diamonds instead of hearts you should pass and hope to be able to compete later. If your diamonds are stronger (KQJ10xx for example), you can double and pull 2♥ to 3♦ but if partner jumps to 3 or even 4 hearts it would be irritating.

He can bid a negative double here but pass is defensible, if opener can't balance we probably can't make anything. Here, responder definitely bids a negative double and pulls 1NT/2♣/2♦ to 2♥, or raises 2♥ to game with a 7 loser hand (some would only invite though).

I would pass, the hand is too strong for garbage Stayman. Looks like strength is about equally distributed so 1NT shouldn't be in a big danger, they probably won't be able to double and -100 or +90 should be OK.

These hands are tough to bid. Even if you play Extended Stayman and can find West's exact distribution, you still won't know that West also has 7 controls, and East's hand is not quite good enough to drive to slam. Here's a suggested Extended Stayman sequence however I wouldn't bid like this if I'm East: 1NT - 2♣ (1) 2♠ (2) - 3♣ (3) 3♦ (4) - 3♥ (5) 3NT (6) - 4♣ (7) 4♦ (8) - 5♣ (9) 5♠ (10) - 6♦ (11) (1) Extended Stayman, showing invitational values at least (2) 4 spades without 4 hearts (3) distribution please (2NT is balanced invitational without 4 spades) (4) 4 diamonds (5) relay (6) 4243 (7) transfer to diamonds (8) forced (9) This is where East must take a really optimistic view and show the void to get to the slam. Most sane Easts would not transfer to diamonds but just bid 5♦ to play after finding out the dsitribution. There's also the option to transfer and then bid 5♦ to show a mild slam interest which would also work on this hand but it shows a more balanced hand so it's not suitable here. (10) Accepting the invitation, showing 2 keycards without ♦Q outside of clubs. (11) Not looking for a grand, partner

> 1) Do you agree with the XX, given your decision to open 3H? No > 2) Do you think partner psyched? It's possible > 3) If you think so, do you think you could prove it? It's not my problem to prove it > 4) If yes and no respectively to 2) and 3), would failure to bid 5S now be fielding? No, it's not illegal to play your partner for a psych, it's illegal to play a system that caters to psyching

I would think that spades are with West too. So if I redouble, and West passes (presumably for penalty), how many Easts do you think will sit comfortably for 2♠xx? How many have had even a brief discussion with their partners about this?

We might be, but I don't think they both would be able to stand for the redouble. If they are, I'll give up 200 extra points.

Redouble and hammer whatever they decide to play, just take the money instead of trying to find a thin game on a misfit

Not only would I be happy to bid 4♥ here, but if I pass, it would deny the hand I have

It's not a matter of style. H-H-D lets responder take preference without raising the level, which he can't do after H-D-H. So it makes sense to bid H-H-D with the weaker hands and H-D-H with the stronger hands, just like reverses show extra strength.

I agree with the initial 2♥ rebid but over 3♣ North should rebid 3♦ to show his shapely hand and then it's easy.

Max passed hand, balanced would be the standard. Some play this as 4M/5+ clubs.

Tough question. You were basically forced to re-open the first time so your X didn't show any extras. And your hand is a full ace above minimum. On the other hand, partner had a chance to bid twice and didn't. He might still have 5 small hearts and short spade so you make 3♥ and they make 3♦, but you can also turn +100 into -200 easily. With a singleton diamond I would probably double one more time, but with 2 small I think I'll pass and defend.

> If you bid 2♥, is such a call forcing when 4th seat passes? By default, yes ♠1064 ♥AJ1054 ♦KJ3 ♣43 At MPs, I would bid 2♥. At IMPs, I would double and bid 2♦ if partner responds 1NT/2♣. I would raise 2♦ to 3♦. ♠1064 ♥QJ1054 ♦KJ3 ♣43 I would double and bid 2♦ if partner responds 1NT/2♣. I would pass 2♦. ♠1064 ♥AJ1054 ♦KJ3 ♣A3 I would bid 2♥.

If you don't play Leb, it's not forcing.

Double, and of course partner will support with a doubleton honor as he didn't bid over 2♥. If he bids 3♣, 3♦ should be invitational. If he bids 3♦, I would raise to 4♦.

Looks like partner has no club control but I'm not sure if K qualifies with the lead going through my hand in a spade contract (partner might have the Q though). We can also be off 2 aces easily. So I would just pass.

I think a double here would tend to deny 4 hearts and I don't really want to defend but I don't want to commit to the 5 level (yet) either. What's the scoring, MPs or IMPs? At MPs, I think I go with double anyway, the possibility of getting at least 500 when we have a game is too big with a diamond singleton and ♠A. At IMPs, I might still double but will at least consider 4NT which should show this hand (4h/6c max with offensive values).

Interesting, would that be classified as a psych?

You have to be able to find a fit quickly regardless of partner's major. With your suggestion, you have to bid 2♥ with hearts which doesn't promise anything. You'll rarely have an invite for either major in the above sequence, but you'll often want to be able to preempt them if you have a fit and 2♠ showing hearts helps.

1. Pass 2. 2♣ and pass 2♠, make a move towards 3NT over any other rebid

You don't care about 2nd round control after partner has splintered. So in the 1st sequence: XX = 1st round control Pass = strong slam interest, demands cue bid 4♦/4♥ = cue bid (below game level, 1st/2nd round are shown up the line) 4♠ = minimum, no slam interest 2nd sequence: XX = void Since partner has shown strong slam interest, you're required to cue bid: 4♦/4♥ = 1st or 2nd round control (up the line, so 4♦ with both) 4♠ = denies 1st or 2nd round control in the red suits - rather unlikely after a club splinter but maybe something like AKxx QJxx QJxx x There are other possible cuebidding agreements of course but the above is easy to remember and fairly standard without discussion. For example, here's an additional trick you can use with discussion (in both sequences): if you have diamonds completely controlled and just a 2nd round in hearts (e.g. Qxxx Kxxx AKxx x): you cuebid 4♥ and when partner attempts to sign off in 4♠, you bid 4NT to show the AK diamonds.

Pass, the hand's too flat

If 2♦ is ONLY a good heart raise, I guess you need to play 1♠ and 2♣ as forcing. Traditionally, both are non-forcing although 2♣ is constructive. With the hand in question, you're stuck with 2♦ either way (no matter if it's a general force, or a good heart raise).

AJ9 or KQx is what comes to mind but "half double" really sounds stupid, isn't "half double" = "single"?