MickyB

I think suggesting they be "severely punished" is way off. Yes, the defender didn't handle the situation optimally, but it's not easy to know what to say in this situation - several posters in this thread have suggested explanations which disclose what the first discard was - for all the defender knows, declarer may have failed to notice that this wasn't the first discard!

Agree with Siegmund's sentiments, but I would make do with 2H. To never open a weak two with seven cards is ridiculous - on something like AJTxxxx xx xx xx, vulnerable, it would be inconceivable to open 3♠ and opening 2♠ will describe your hand better than passing then bidding ever could.

I gave this hand to a good player (European Teams silver medallist), along with the state-of-the-match. He went for 7♦.

I thought 3♣ first time quite an overbid, and 3♣ second time a big underbid. I tried 2NT then 3NT, which led to 5♣ making when oppo tried to cash two spades and a heart went away on the ♦K.

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=stxxxhxxdacaqt9xx]133|100|Scoring: MP 2S on your right, passed around to partner who protects with a double.[/hv]

I'm sure everyone assumed some form of checkback/NMF was available.

2S, obvious. I'm sure it didn't work othewise this wouldn't be posted, but I hate rebidding 1NT with xx outside, let alone xx and xxx outside.

There was a UK player who was known for making remarkable plays as declarer, despite not seeming to be that good. He was caught when he used the same hand twice and they both got reported to Patrick Jourdain!

I play 2C then 2S as any 5-card spade invite - now 2NT = max with doubleton spade, 3NT = max 4333

If you sort out a way to show a weak hand with 4S5H after 1m:1H, 1NT, your life will be better.

Does anyone play NLM over 3S but not over 3H - because you can bid 4H Michael's and still play in 4S?

RHO may be able to indicate a lead also. Thanks for the credit, I'll take it! Lol. I was too lazy to get the quote from Gnasher's post, didn't realise it would get attributed to anyone. Sorry Andy. As for 1-2-3 being a game-invite being old-fashioned - In the UK it is the opposite, traditionally this sequence was preemptive but now some play it as an invite of some description.

3NT looks utterly normal and double looks right as well. Also, isn't it quite likely we will be -140 if East passes?

RHO may be able to indicate a lead also.

What are people playing here, when an opponent preempts and partner overcalls 3NT? I get the impression that the majority method is 4♣ range enquiry, 4♦ flint - in which case, how do you continue over the range enquiry - for example, what does this show? (3♦) 3NT (Pass) 4♣ (Pass)4♦ (Pass) 4♥?

I like this - feels like an improvement on "standard" 4-suit transfers, at least if 4th seat doesn't decide to bid something at the three-level.

This is wrong. You have AI that partner forgot the system, there is no further UI.

Yup likewise. If they are about to bid many-somethings on your left you are much better of having shown some diamonds with your first call.

Haha...are you kidding (not a joke, can't tell)? Who cares about minor fits anyway? Ok, yes, maybe I am kidding B)

While I agree that partner won't have a strong no-trump here, won't there be unbalanced hands that partner would double on playing five-card majors but would pass playing four-card majors? Agree with pass being non-forcing.

3NT IMO

I'd have thought this was consistent with a balanced hand with three spades, content to defend 4D X if partner passed.

Why would you lie to them?

Get the GIBs to play it out twice and give the result more favourable to the player who stayed, perhaps?

Definitely feels right to bid - you'll gain whenever pard has as many cards in spades or clubs as he does in hearts. It's only 2452 and 4H6D which will wish you had left it.