MickyB

3♥ is weird at love all with 1-4 in the majors. There are at least 17 total trumps, usually 18. 1H-1S-3H-3S; AP will often result in teammates proudly calling out "+50" and us saying "lose 3".

You make counting defensive tricks sound very easy. Never mind the ♣Q, the ♣T could be a defensive trick. As you say, pard didn't make a game-try. He also didn't bid 3H as a blocking effort. Seems unlikely he can hold a hand that wants to save now, he doesn't even know we are 1-4 in the majors - this bidding is more common with 1-3 or 2-4 IMO.

There are plenty of possible formats that don't encourage dumping but guarantee everyone plays more than one match - eg double elimination or repechage.

Yes, this situation only became obvious because it was in the interests of both pairs to lose.

My experience suggests that the opposite is more likely - in the short term, you'll value the qualities that your ex-partner lacked much more highly than the ones he possessed.

[hv=pc=n&s=sa4hkjdakq3ckj862&n=sj6hq97532d64c753&d=e&v=0&b=11&a=p1cp1h2d3nppp]266|200|Spade lead. Thoughts? North thought this was tricks based and didn't fancy a 6-1 heart fit. South didn't want to cue and risk partner thinking his diamond stop wasn't great. 2H over 1C would have been invitational*, 2NT over 2D would have been 17-19, X would have been support, and a 2NT opening would have been 20-21. If you can't live with opening 1C then please consider xx KJ AKQx AKJxx or xx KJ AKQ AKJxxx. Would it make any difference if doubling would have been for takeout? * There is a reason for this that's not really relevant to this post; Anyway, 1H then 2H is nominally 4-8.[/hv]

I'm guessing the club-haters would consider ♣JT9 a better lead than the diamond but still worse than ♥/♠?

In the DD sim? Low number = bad, the ♦T was the worst lead

When you say that 3♣ is preemptive, does that mean it is to play opposite an 18-19 NT? That's fine, but obviously quite infrequent. I suggest 3♣ is to play opposite a 12-14 NT but enough for game opposite an 18-19 NT, regardless of vul. Unbalanced hands can sort themselves out, they have a big fit hence some degree of safety.

I don't think it ever has done in the past; However, this is the first time I've seen the suggestion that correctly stating that you have no agreement should restrict partner's later actions.

They were an occasional partnership. Most likely, he thought the call was undiscussed.

Wow. If we are meant to adjust here after an explanation of "no agreement" then I'll never say "no agreement" ever again - better to guess, it's the only way you'll avoid screwing partner. The UI is that partner said, "we don't play much so we do not have a firm agreement here". I believe the UI does not suggest anything. Obviously if partner had implied that double was probably takeout, the situation would be different.

2♣ then 3♣ as diamonds is definitely good, but I'm not convinced this means that diamond single-suiters should start with Stayman. - After 1N:2C, 2M:3C, where 2M could be 4-4 in the majors, you'll miss your 4-4 fits in oM when responder is weakish. Sometimes you'll play 3D instead of 4M. - Both 5D4oM and 6D1X hands need to go somewhere. Can you really fit them both into 2C,3C? If not, why not have the 6D1X hands start with a 3C transfer? - If oppo bid over Stayman, you'll be behind a pair playing 4-suit transfers.

X I'd expect most ppl to be in 3NT, were they making more tricks elsewhere? ♣T ♠A 3NT

No B-) Edit: Unless it's BAM but that seems unlikely

I guess Meckwell are using it to find 5-3 fits B-)

For many, 1S:2D, 2S is basically a two-way bid - 5+S,4+C or 6+S single-suited. Maybe I've missed something in my education, but if I bid 2N and partner bid 3N, I wouldn't be certain which of these two handtypes he had, which feels wrong. Do people have specific agreements here, eg all bids except 3C promise a single-suiter?

Playing 2C Stayman as well as either 2N or 3C as Puppet, which route should you take with 4-2 in the majors, either way? Meckwell bid Stayman, but I believe they are in the minority, which is odd - they play 2N Puppet, which rates to do slightly better than 3C Puppet due to the latter giving up a lead-directing double. Assuming 2S4H and using 3C Puppet - - When you have a 4-4 heart fit, you give up a double of 3S by going through Puppet. - When opener has five spades, you give more info away by going through Puppet. This feels kinda significant, as 1N:2C, 2S can still have 2-5 cards in each minor, whereas 1N:3C, 3S basically shows 2-3 cards in each minor. - When opener has precisely 4 spades, you disclose this unnecessarily by going through Stayman. Puppet gives up the double of 3S. - When opener has 2-3 spades, Puppet makes the lead easier [you know dummy has four hearts, and you give up a double of 3S. Compare this with 1N:2C, 2D:3N when you don't know which major to try]. Stayman makes the later defence easier as declarer has denied four spades. - If you always bid Puppet on these hands, then 1N:2C, 2D:3N shows 4-4 majors, which must help the lead. However, this means that 1N:2C, 2M:3N can be used as artificial, if you think you can remember it - including not starting with Stayman and finding yourself with no rebid! Feels close, any thoughts?

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Yes. Just as workable as 5-card non-puppet.

Gwnn was replying to my post. Yes, obviously there are advantages to concealing opener's shape where possible, that is the main reason people play 2N or 3C as Puppet rather than just going through 2C Stayman.

"The majority" is understating it somewhat, I believe. How many of the world's top 50 players are female? Can this really be accounted for purely by the m:f ratio amongst those taking up the game before a certain age, say? Men tend to be more competitive and more obsessive than women. These traits are advantages when trying to become a top player.

Puppet = Responder rebids hearts to show four spades or vice-versa 5-Card Stayman = Responder rebids a major to show four cards in that suit

Edit: Too slow