temp3600

I suppose the SQ holds the first trick, declarer playing small. So he has at least AJx in spades. A heart return is necessary only if we can take four tricks in the suit right away. That's unlikely, and it could be costly if we only have two or three and take them too early, setting up declarer's ninth trick. So i'd return a small spade.

Here's the full hand : [hv=d=s&v=n&n=sj9xhqt87dxxckqxx&w=saqtxxhxxxdxcatxx&e=sxxhkj9xxdat9xcxx&s=skxxhadkqj8xxcjxx]399|300|Scoring: MP[/hv] I bid 3D, and it went : 1D (1S) X (2H) 3D (X) All Pass West's X showed willingness to compete, and East had an easy pass. This lead to -200 which wasn't a complete success. Since the bad spade position can be guessed from the bidding, and we are misfitted in hearts, I was wondering if these negative adjustments were enough not to rebid the diamonds. Thanks for you replies.

You hold Kxx - A - KQJ8xx - Jxx in first seat at MatchPoints, Red vs White. The bidding goes : 1D (1S) X (2H) ? X promises 4 hearts. 2H is natural, non forcing. What do you bid, and how much do you like it ?

- edited - I would also guard against East having ATxx in trumps. I think it's important to preserve the CK as long as we can in order to do so. So I would play the SQ, followed by the SJ. Take these two possible West hands : 1. x Axxxxx KQx xxx and 2. x Axxxxx Hxx xxx. If you use up the CK early - say after two rounds of hearts, SQ and club to the K - you reach this position (the diamond KQ are missing) : [hv=n=sjxxhdatxcaqx&w=shxxxxdxxxcxx&e=satxhdxxcxxxx&s=sk98hqdj98xxc]399|300|[/hv] If West started with hand 1, you now need to play a small spade to the J. If he started with hand 2, you need to finesse in diamonds. Keeping the CK completely removes the need to guess. Back to the full picture, West's defense is strange if trumps are 4-1. If he has 4 trumps he can't possibly hope his partner is ruffing, and attacking such a heart suit is likely to blow a trick. And, if he is singleton, he knows his partner has 4 trumps ; why make him ruff ? - /edited -

After this start, 3S. Partner now has 3NT, 4C, 4H and 4S to tell what his two yet undescribed cards are. It makes sense for him to bid 3NT and 4S not only with two cards in diamonds and spades respectively, but also with a stiff honor. Say partner has 1. x - AKJ9x - x - AKJ9xx, 2. _ - AKJ9x - xx - AKJ9xx. What game do you prefer ?

I would play West for AJ in spades and run the 9. Later, unblock the DA and spade towards dummy or small club to the Q if I don't have any spades left.

;) I return a diamond, playing declarer for 1=6=3=3.

3S or X. I would like to stay below 3NT, in case partner has Kx or Ax in hearts.

Over such a preempt, I play cautious direct action and aggressive reopenings, so : 1. Pass 2. clear X

1. I would like to show the 6-card spade suit, so 2S if we are playing WJS and 1S followed by 2S if not. 2. 3C checkback, or a natural 3S if available. We could have a fit in either major.

I would open all four of them 1S. I wouldn't mind opening #4 1C.

Let's call cashing KA line 1 and running the J line 2. Anything works if the suit is 3-3. If the suit is 4-2, then line 1 succeeds in 9/15 cases (at least one honor with East). Line 2 succeeds in 6+1/15 cases (QTxx with West or QT with East) plus half of 8/15 cases (East holds Tx) = 11/15 If the suit is 5-1, then we need to find East with a stiff honor. Line 1 always succeeds (1/3), line 2 only succeeds when East has the stiff T (1/6). Nothing works if the suit is 6-0. So... line 1 is probably slightly better than line 2. It's interesting to note that running the 9 is inferior to running the J. It has the same odds when the suit is 4-2, but cannot win when it is 5-1, whereas the J wins when East has a stiff T.

All three quantitative.

I'll start with X. We could belong anywhere from 3DX to 7C/H/S.

I'd start this way too.

Thank you for your replies ! Here's the full hand : [hv=d=s&v=n&n=sjxhq98xxdaj9catx&w=sakq9xhjtdxcq9xxx&e=stxxxxhxdktxxxcxx&s=sxhakxxxdqxxxckjx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I had the North hand and doubled for +100, which is probably a little unlucky. I'd expect +300 on the average. However, 5H is a very good contract, in spite of partner's fairly non-impressive hand. I think pclayton's post is spot on, and I'm now convinced it is right to bid 5H.

You hold Jx Q98xx AJ9 ATx, Red vs White in third seat at IMPs, and the bidding goes 1H - (1S) - 2S - (4S) p - (p) - ? 2S showed a game forcing hand ("it's our hand") with 4+ hearts. Partner's pass is forcing and has the standard meaning, that is no clear preference for either offense or defense, or about to make a strong slam try. What do you bid ? Thanks, Michael

2D. The nice honors outweight the three small hearts.

After looking at a few possible E-W hands, this start doesn't seem bad : SA, HA, club to the A, CK, small club ruffed with the 9.

4H in Sayc, no second choice. I'm not familiar with Acol. If I bid 4H, responder has a problem with a 2=3=4=4 hand. 4H if I'm sure partner will bid 4S with that shape. 4S if not.

Transfer to spades, then 3NT. Unless partner's spades are great, I want to stop low.

3S, forcing to 4H or 4S.

3C. If partner is non-minimum, my choice likely doesn't matter much. If he is minimum however and I make a non game-forcing rebid, seeing how little I need to make game, I have the feeling that we will a lot more often stay in a partial when it's wrong than when it's right.

After such a reverse, I would take any bid by responder below game as forcing at least one round.

Thank you for your replies ! Michael