temp3600

Suppose, for the entire post, that 1NT is strong and that opener has exactly 3 cards in responder's major and a minimum opening (it can be a good minimum). 1. Opener's hand 1a. Would you raise partner with 4-3-3-3 ? 1b. When would you raise partner with 5-3-3-2 or 4-4-3-2 ? How would you rate these trump holdings for doing so : xxx, Hxx and HHx ? 1c. When would you raise partner with 6-3-3-1 or 5-4-3-1 ? Again, which trump holding do you prefer between xxx, Hxx, HHx ? Please don't hesitate to mention the factors that you find important in choosing between the raise and another bid. 2. General direction after the raise. 2a. Do you think it's important to keep the NT strain in the picture, or on the contrary that the moysean fit is fine since opener will have a hand suited for it ? 2b. Who's "job" is it to cater for, or at least warn about, the moysean fit ? For example, responder could bid as if he was certain of a 4-4 fit, and so it would be opener's task to warn about his support. Or the responsibility could be shared by both, etc. Any thoughts, considerations, critics are welcome. 3. Systems. What systems do you like or think handle the situation nicely ? I'm particularly interested in one that would allow opener to distinguish between 1) 3- and 4-card raises, 2) completely minimum and good minimum, and that also would allow the partnership to play 3NT. Thanks for your time, Michael

You are in first seat with Kx Ax AKx AJT9xx. 1. What is your general plan to describe this hand, both at IMPS and MP, and at the various possible vulnerabilities ? 2. Suppose you open 1C and the bidding goes 1C - (1S) - pass - (3S) - ?, with 3S a mixed raise. Besides "annoying little spade preempt", what are your thoughts now, again both at IMPS and MP, and at the various possible vulnerabilities ? Thank you for your time, Michael

2♠, the minors.

You are South, red vs green at IMPs. [hv=d=e&v=n&s=sj876hk6dk93cak92]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The bidding goes : (3♦) pass (pass) X (pass) ? What are your thoughts ?

About the first hand, for those who think 2♠ is an underbid, why cue-bid 2♣ ? What's wrong with 3♠ ?

Thanks everyone for your comments (and the welcome !). whereagles, i read all of your post ;). I suspected that 4S was less signoff in the french system than in sayc. Anyway, i will look into checkback systems, which seem to be able to economize a whole level of bidding on hands like these.

Hello, Here's a board i played witch raised some thoughts : [hv=d=s&v=n&n=saqj98xhaktxxdxcx&s=sxxhj9xdaqxxcajxx]133|200|Scoring: MP South North 1D 1S 1NT 3H* 3NT 4S P * : natural, game forcing, at least 5 spades and 4 hearts ; 2H would not have been forcing[/hv] We were vulnerable against not at MP, playing french standard, which is very close to SAYC. I know this sequence may not be very efficient, but please try to answer the first questions as though you were playing SAYC. First, about the 4S bid : 1a) 4S shows a (game forcing) hand with at least 6 spades and 4 hearts. what's the upper limit ? (in term of losing tricks count for example) 1b) related question : is 4S a "closing bid", like 1NT - 3NT, or can/must opener make a move towards slam with some appropriate hands ? Now, about the slam try: 2) my partner and I couldn't solve this issue : responder has great playing strengh, yet he sees that the 5 level may be too high. On the other hand, opener cannot see the big picture like reponder can, but he somehow knows the 5 level is safe because of the minor aces. what do you think about it : is it clearly the responsibility of one of the two hands to make a move towards slam (which one ?), is this formulation not tackling the problem the right way, etc. ? 3) where can i find a good checkback or double checkback structure after 1x - 1M - 1NT, and how would you bid these two hands after a 1D - 1S - 1NT start ? All comments, pieces of advice, criticism are welcome. Michael

Hello, A club return is crucial if declarer has a singleton, be it the K or a small card. Declarer is likely to have AQJxxx Tx KQxx x though, since he might have taken the diamond return in hand to unblock the clubs with the stiff K. Michael