MickyB

Might he have been 4-7 shape?

[hv=d=w&v=b&s=skhq8543dqcak9743]133|100|Scoring: MP (1♠)-P-(2♠) What do you bid playing with a decent pick-up partner? I'm going to force 3♣ on you at this point. It continues (3♠)-4♣-(P) What now?[/hv]

Over a specific number of boards, MPs is less random than IMPs, with total points being more random still. This is due to the relative values of boards - your result matters on every board at MPs, whereas at IMPs overtricks are relatively meaningless. At total points, even a NV game swing is worth very little compared to the grand-slam swing on the next board! Teams vs Pairs is interesting. A much better team is very likely to win a teams match partly because, even if one of their pairs produces below average results, the chances are that their teammates will make it up at the other table. I feel strongly that national trials should be pairs-based - why should your pair represent your country just because your teammates did well?

Both vul at matchpoints is the time to balance least, IMO, due to the risk of either side being two off. People don't double so much at IMPs. Over 1M-P-2M-P; P I would double with - most hands with a stiff in their suit sometimes with a doubleton - depends whether the opps have ♥ or ♠, vul, whether I have 4 cards in the other major and the scoring in approximately that order of importance with a trebleton, I'll never double after 1♠:2♠. Maybe occasionally after 1♥:2♥

Nice, Jon. Did the cards from the two boards have the same-coloured backs? They shouldn't have done :) I saw the most amusing ruling in a while at the club on Wednesday...the table next to mine forgot to arrow-switch, and called the director having looked at the cards but before any bids were made. The director told them to put their cards away and play the other two boards first, hoping that they'd have forgotten their opponent's hand by that point :P

Yup that works fine, giving away more info about opener's hand though, and it means you lose our meaning for a 3♠ bid on this auction (it shows a good hand on the auction, no wastage if minimum) Transferring to a 5 card minor feels strange at first, but I don't see a problem - 1345 and 1336 are bundled together relatively painlessly IMO. Certainly better than ambiguity over whether the hearts are three cards or four, or not having a way to bid the hand at all.

Possibly, but more likely find the right lead. I'm not sure which method is better. FWIW, I play 1N:3M as 4M 0-1oM and with (13)(45) or (13)(36) I xfer to the minor then bid the fragment. This was lifted from Charlie Garrod's modification of Keri, but I prefer it with Stayman+4 suit xfers.

Pass isn't unreasonable - it keeps open the chances of playing in either ♠ or ♣ and, unlike a 1♠ response, stops us getting too high in hearts. I don't think it is deeper to pass at IMPs than at MPs - yes, a game would be worth more at IMPs, but OTOH we may lose out to a higher scoring partial at MPs.

Certainly legal in EBU+WBF. Any response structure to a Dutch 2 (5M4+m weak) will work fine here. My preference is the same as Gerben's, except with 2♠:3♦ as INV+ with hearts and 2♠:3♥ as a generic invite to 4♠. BTW, I think 11-16 is a bit of a wide range, and I suspect it will get you too high more often than 5M4+m would.

Clear to show ♥ support. Surprised everyone thinks 3♠ would be a cue, that's natural for me.

In old-style Acol, 1♠:2♥, 2NT (15-16 bal) would be NF. This is modern Acol, where that sequence is GF :)

A lot of this comes down to where you want to be playing opposite 15-16 balanced - this hand will (should) pass a 1NT/2♠ response. Move the ♦KJ to spades and it would be a clearcut 2♥ bid, as it is I'm bidding 2♠, or 1NT if I think I should be declaring. I vaguely remember Ron+I having this discussion before, but I still think weak NT/4 card majors/2-over-1s forcing to 2NT is an unplayable combination...you need to 2/1 to get to game opposite 15-16 bal, but you don't want to be any higher than 2 of pard's suit opposite a load of minimum unbal hands.

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=s???hxdaqjxxxckxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP 1♦-(P)-1♠-(4♥) Presumably this is between pass and double. What spade holding would you need to be worth a double?[/hv]

I can't agree, as I consider The Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dream", released in 1993, to be one of the greatest albums ever. There do seem to have been few albums released over the past 10 years that wouldn't look out of place in this discussion, I'm not quite sure why.

♥A, but it feels close

3NT looks normal

Over 2♠, the bids available were - 2NT natural+forcing 3♣ natural+invitational 3♦ ART setting spades 3♥ undiscussed So I tried 3♥ B) Anyways, pard jumped to 4♠, and I got a bit excited and put us into slam. It's a reasonable contract if pard has the ♦9, but it wasn't to be. I agree that I overbid, especially considering that bad breaks are to be expected for the oppos strong bidding on few HCP.

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sqt52hkt986dj63c4&w=sajh5dkq82ckq7532&e=s87643h43d9cajt86&s=sk9haqj72dat754c9]399|300|Scoring: IMP 1♥-(2♣)-4♥-(5♣); 5♥-AP 10 tricks in clubs, 9 in hearts. I presume West was trying to make a FP.[/hv]

One problem with Bergen is that if you preempt in a suit that isn't your own, it really isn't that preemptive at all. This weekend we had the auction (1♥)-P-(3♣)-X as takeout of hearts. If responder had been able to bid 3♥ directly instead of 3♣ she would have earnt her side a plus score defending 4m one off instead of being in 3♥ one off.

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sat987xxhxxxdkxxc&s=sqjxhjt8da87xckt9]133|200|Scoring: IMP I passed 3♠, LHO doubled and RHO bid 4♥, which drifted one off with only 8 tricks available in spades. Glad to see my actions had some support![/hv]

This was the problem we gave oppo. Pard has xx A KQJT9xxxx J so corrected back to 6♦. This went two off (we failed to take our club ruff) for a large swing out when my teammate led the J♣, letting 5♥ X make.

I opened 3♥, second choice was 4♥. IMO 2♥ is off the wall and pass isn't much better (I'm still opening 3♥ at red). I've already posted the problem that this gave the opponents here.

For those who might pass, the auction proceeds double-pass-4♥ back to you. Stick or twist?

I think it was +130 :rolleyes: Maybe I should have alerted 3♣ as 5-6 in the blacks?

These hands were held by my oppo. I would have been inclined to bid 3♣ on the strong hand, and felt 3NT was likely to have issues on a spade lead, but wasn't sure if I'd have corrected to 4♥ on partner's hand. I've no strong feelings on whether 2NT should be scrambling or leb, given that you aren't getting your suit in immediately if you bid 2NT Leb.