MickyB

If you are winning the match, I think it is normally best to try to follow the field action, so I'd open (particularly if the field was playing a weak NT). However, presuming this is the match I think it was, you were probably quite keen to get a few more IMPs in... I suspect you were playing wide-ranging WJOs opposite a passed partner? It doesn't look like he has a stiff heart, so at this vulnerability he must have 6♠ and hence a 12 count or so. Either he has ♥ length and was considering passing (or doubling), or he almost has a 4♠ bid. I think the latter is much more likely, and I think pass is an LA, so I think you should pass here. However, I'm not convinced this is correct...

I'm confused... 4♦ is forcing I am 0-3 in my partner's suits If partner bids 6♦ over 5♦, I hope he doesn't make an overtrick

It's nothing to do with being asleep - I just get clubs and spades mixed up. You have to admit, they do look quite similar.

I thought that was dummy's job?

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=saxxhjxdqxcakxxxx]133|100|Scoring: XIMP 1♣-(1♥)-1NT-(3♥) Your opening showed 13+with ♣ or 14-19 bal (could have 4-5 ♦); 1NT showed 5+♣, invitational+. Where next?[/hv]

Automatic ace counting could be useful too - whenever partner bids 4♣, the software replies on your behalf. It would probably be best as an option - those using Keycard Gerber will want to disable it.

Lately I have been having difficulty counting my points. I think BBO should tell us how many points we have when the hand is dealt (if that isn't too difficult to program). Thanks

I suspect Luis's assertion is partly psychological, and partly based on pushing opps into games where everything is breaking reasonably and the opps have info about your cards. I agree with Mikeh that Whereagles underestimated the difficulty of defending a 2♥ multi, but I suspect it is better to play double of either takeout of spades or strong, and 2♠ as takeout of ♥ (particularly if the proponents are much more aggressive with ♠, which makes some sense). But losing a natural 2♠ overcall isn't good.

Half of my partnership wanted to do likewise ;)

[hv=d=e&v=e&n=saqt92haqjt83dcaq&w=sj5h972dakqjt7cj8&e=s7643hk54d962c963&s=sk8h6d8543ckt7542]399|300|Scoring: IMP The full hand. I too finessed the heart at trick 3.[/hv]

Penalty for both. A takeout double on the second would be something like a 1255 3 count, just bid 2NT on that, will be rare that you want to take a penalty. You can't have a pure takeout double on the first or you would have doubled on the first round - maybe "values" (typically a weak NT with 3-4♠) has some merits, but I'd assume penalty without discussion.

[hv=d=e&v=e&n=saqt92haqjt83dcaq&s=sk8h6d8543ckt7542]133|200|Scoring: IMP (Pass)-Pass-(1♦)-2♦ (Pass)-2♠-(pass). Take it from here. How would you play 6♠ on the A♦ lead?[/hv]

Yes, I didn't like it too much at the time as you might imagine...but what else? Double would probably have shown clubs in a pick-up, and 2♠ sounds weaker - possibly just for the lead.

It always makes 8 tricks (there are 9 in ♣), opps can make 4♦ or 2NT and our teammates made 3NT. This is after partner has put down a stiff in my suit and a load of wasted values in the red suits.

I'd have protected with 2♠ as East - at this vulnerability I want a weak hand to bid, the stronger I am the more likely we are to get +200 out of 1NT. All the other passes were clearcut. The auction is perfectly reasonable though - I'm sure the majority wouldn't protect on that hand, I just don't like passing :)

My bid at the table was 3♠. Pass will miss games and it will lose double part-score swings, unless you are prepared to come back in later. That's reasonable if pard will now expect 6x(5x) but it is also pretty dangerous to give the opps that much space before sticking your neck out. 1♠ could work out ok, but it is rather misleading - if partner has a decent hand you will never persuade him that you are a weak 6-5, if he has a poor hand then you may as well bid 2♠. 2♥ has the merit of describing your handtype to partner. However I don't think it will be right to play in clubs too often - You are expecting to get forced repeatedly, so you need the safety of the 6 card trump suit, and you will always need to contract for a trick more in clubs than in spades. If you were 6x5x there would be (slightly) more case for 2H, to give the partnership the option of competing in diamonds over the opponent's club bid. As it is, 2H makes the opponent's lives far too easy for my liking. 2♠ is worthy of consideration at this vulnerability - it is obviously safer than 3♠, but it will miss the occasional 4♠. I don't like making this bid when I would have done the same with QJ9xxx xx xx QJx, and I would certainly feel rather uncomfortable if the auction continued 3♥-3♠-4♥ back to me - I think 4♠ must be the percentage action here, but I hate taking the last guess. So that left 3♠, risky for sure but with the potential to force a mistake in the bidding or in the play. I was slightly nervous when the auction continued pass-pass-double-all pass - partner tabled K KT97x AKx 98xx. The play went fairly well - the opps cleared clubs (breaking 2-2), the ten of trumps dropped doubleton and they misdefended to give me the 9th :)

Didn't know that - I always thought the point of (SA) Texas was to preempt the opps while still having opener play it. I guess this is reasonable though - a natural 4M bid is much more preemptive than a 4m transfer against a well prepared pair, so forcing responder to choose between transferring declaration and preempting isn't much of a loss.

Yes Owen. And this is why people play penalty doubles against you.... I would pass. My suits are rubbish, and I am at RED They are prepared to give up their chances of bidding constructively to the correct contract, in return for taking fewer penalties? Excellent :) QJ9xxx doesn't look like a rubbish suit to me. Admittedly I'd like the 8 as well...

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=sqj9543h8d9cqj762]133|100|Scoring: IMP RHO opens 1♥, playing 4 card majors and a 15-18 NT.[/hv]

What Adam said - Have 3♦ require pard to bid 3NT with the balanced range.

I disagree. I do not think pass is an option UNLESS you think one of your opps have psyched. If the opponents haven't psyched then partner is off his rocker

Of course, I could not muppet the defence, then we get 800 instead... If you subscribe to the theory that pard has a S/D 2 suiter, pass isn't crazy IMO - your black suit holdings scream defence.

5♣? Yuck... If pard doesn't have a 5 card suit to bid (and sometimes when he has) he should pass, most balanced hands will be killing them in 4♠ if we have any chance at game. It is clearcut to double, and I hope to see it passed out.

Lol, cheers Han ;)

I'm a 5♣ bidder - I hate a fit bid on an ace-empty suit, pard is meant to think Qxx is a sign to bid on, although it is better than making a natural game-try in a similar suit. Are we red or green vul? At red I wouldn't have overcalled, but on this auction I'll double 5♥.