apollo1201

I think if is the textbook hand for the min R vs. G.

I bid 1C. If partner turns out with S, I’ll bid H twice and partner knows I can be a little light. Well, not that much usually, but my C are so much better... With KQJxx KTxxxx, I’d open 1H. If LHO bids S and partner can’t place a neg X on that, I’m « losing » the H without strong regrets. The 53 fit might not play too well given my suit texture, and anyway H and C play at the same level over S. And if they bid D, I’ll be able to introduce my H’s cheaply. Still, opening 1H fearing the reverse will get us too high, or passing to bid some kind of conventional 2-suiter later are not horrible bids. And any might prove the right call on a given deal.

I believe you manage your way to 6NT when S shows some kind of balanced 23 (or 24)+ hand. 25-27 is a bit exaggerated even with 4 aces when you don’t have a source of tricks (5 or 6-cd suit). Actually after guessing SQ, if you guess to tackle the intra finesse in C, you’re home double dummy on a very elegant manner (I guess you need the D finesse in all cases). I believe I would land in an unambitious 6S in IMPs and 6NT in MPs.

Thanks all. I was S and slightly regretted jumping the auction - thinking green opps would go to the 5 level anyway. Any knd of cue bid and correction of ❤️bids to ♠️ is probably better indeed. I think N is better described by 1S and X rather than the reverse (a bit weak for that) but would not object X and X if need be if majors were Axxxx vs. AQJx. I thought leading ❤️ with our auction was overthinking too much but glad to learn it is actually not the case. New match this afternoon (and despite those 2 horrible broads, we managed to win😀)

Thanks all. I was S and had a 2740 hand so almost what Cyber guessed. Red vs green, it promises a decent suit (here KJT9xxx) and some side goodies. Otherwise I pass or open at the 2-level. As the cards lay, 5H should be down 1 but was misdefended by our teammates at the other table, while my partner (who Xed 5C) almost handed over the 5C contract to them. In all cases, as some of you said, it is a likely -1 for -1, sometimes making in either line, naturally or’with opponents help as was almost the case in both tables. So a not too expensive insurance to bid 5H. And sometimes, they’ll defend to 6C. As a remark to David, X over 4C would be 100% penalties. When you preempt, you’ve told your story. If partner Xes, it means the opps (who can stretch to overcall high) didn’t land well.

A few deals later, another competitve action with same player holding ♣ [hv=pc=n&s=s965432hkqj6d65ck&n=saqj87ha752dk983c&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=p1cd1d4s5c5s6cdppp]266|200[/hv] 5♠ was our limit, as ♦AQ are with E, but you need to finesse W's ♠K to make it. This implies that against 6♣, 2 rounds of ♥ cash, however, the S♠ lead is ruffed in dummy, and the ♦ suit is established for +1... Lots of things can be said for this auction: - open the South hand (except regretting you don't play major weak 2-suiter openings)? - 1♠ vs. X on North? - 4♣ cue w/ S instead of 4♠ to suggest ♥ contracts could also be in the target? - no X on South (is it really a lightner "don't lead ♠)? or a brave 6♥ bid for the lead against 7♣? - final pass with N? and what do you lead? Any comment will be appreciated. Or is it just bad luck at the end?

Hi all, hope all is fine under confinment. Not a lot of live game, but from a BBO teams (IMP) match. Partner opens 3♥ in 2nd, vul vs. not, but opps compete in ♣. [hv=pc=n&n=sa654haq75dk72c84&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=p3h4c4h5cpp]133|200[/hv] What is your call now?

Doria, it has to be done on a computer and not on the phone. The editor is not available on the phone.

The 1D opening followed by 2NT is probably an underbid. The hand is worth much more than a 18-19 bal. If we are to hide the 7-bagger, then at least let’s open 2NT. Otherwise, I am not sure if the hand qualifies for a 2C opening for you (strong 2 in a minor) or a multi 2D if you play it. The rest of the bidding is not really sensible. Knowing 18-19 bal opposite, W, despite having a nice hand, has insufficient combined material for a slam and should just bid 3NT. East is probably trying to recover from his earlier bidding and takes a (very) wild shot at 7NT when all they could be facing is sth like Qxxx Axxxx x Jxx. I guess I’d reach 6NT with my partner. Of course, had I known there was no DK in the pack...

To bid after RHO bids NT over partner’s overcall, I like to have as much of possible of the following features : trump honors (to limit further pen Xes), non-min HCPs, shape, a 4th trump. Seems I have none of them. So like all the others, I’m passing in tempo. Maybe if it goes 2D, pass, pass, I’ll toss a coin.

In this situation, the fit is often made with a raise to 2 « and a half » so a non-minimal hand if only 3-cd fit. So no lousy 6-7 flat counts or lousy values such as Qx xxx QJxx Qxx. With such crap, the last thing you want is encourage partner. With better supports, eg a useful doubleton, honors in the trump suit, Aces and Kings, go for it. Another 7 HCP hand that would nevertheless qualify Axx KXx xxxx xx. But it is minimal for this action. A heavier hand xxx QJx KQJx xxx. Flat but good honor combinations, a potentially useful side suit, 9 HCPs, no wastage in S. Over the 3H bid, opener should think twice before going on to game and remember that partner might have been only 2H unopposed. With 4-cd support, try to bid given the « distributional security » (same number of tricks as number of trumps) that the 3-level offers you. Without the hand, vulnerability, type of tournament, we can’t tell you what we’d have done, but the general advice is if you like the aesthetics of your hand, stretch and bid. If you evaluate the hand features poorly, pass. The bidding is not over yet, partner probably find a bid if they have extras. And that is what you need anyway to envision making 9 or 10 tricks in H if your hand is not that great.

Sure, but he could take action over pass on the previous round of bidding. E is really strong for 2D unless it is an inverted raise by a passed hand, in which case W can pass with this goodish 12-14 bal minimum but all points in minors. I think I’d bid 1 or even 2NT as E with this scattered collection (and go down due to the foul D break that I can’t guess to pick when on lead with the SA at the 2nd trick).

X and happy with all partner will do. Except 5C of course...

Seems like partner has a 3352 or 3361 and not even the shadow of a H stop (probably denied a stop when didn’t bid 2NT on the 2nd X, and when further inquired via 3H, declined again). I doubt she has 3343 with good D and poor S like xxx xxx AKQx K(Q)x 2S is probably a better bid, if you had 4, you’d not have passed 2H. Axx xxx AKxxx (or AQ and finesse working) Qxx and finesse working At teams, I’d have bid 3NT already rather than the 2nd X. Not sure to make it but I have 14. Yes, the H stop is weak, but so is it in the other room. At pairs, 4D might be safer.

Is this hand the reason why there’s a debate about what to open with 55 blacks? More seriously, X has the flexibility to allow for a cheap escape at 3S, or a less likely 3HX or 3NT (one never knows with NV opponents). But the downside of a potentially expensive escape at 4D. 4C is more concomital. In all cases, if partner bids 3S, I’m passing especially being vul at MPs. I’m likely facing sth like Hx S, unsufficient H to serenely transform, and no overly attractive minor combined with a lowish HCP strength to envision playing at the 4-level. Or part has 3-cd support but couldn’t even sneak in a 2S call. In all cases, I’m staying there.

Same as Mikeh. I’ve long ago ditched the « advantage » of distinguishing 4 and 5+ S hands. That meant passing hands with comfortable strength, eg w/o stopper and with less than 4S. Playing 1S is S and X is no S or the reverse is a matter of work. The natural way is more simple but the reverse way often allows a better right siding of the contracts and sometimes lets you show 3-cd support only.

All these tenaces tend me to bid NT, but the hand is definitely worth an upgrade with a very good 5-cd suit and combined values (although the stiff AQ is a bit of a liability rather than an asset). So it will be 2C followed by 2NT, 22-23. And if RHO Xes the 2D likely reply, I can always bid 2H instead even if it shows a more one-suited hand than the one I have. But I can live with 1H. Especially as 2NT will likely fail. In all cases, and not a big fan of the 2D overcall, W going alone to 4D after partner merely shows some kind of H tolerance is puzzling.

All these tenaces tend me to bid NT, but the hand is definitely worth an upgrade with a very good 5-cd suit and combined values (although the stiff AQ is a bit of a liability rather than an asset). So it will be 2C followed by 2NT, 22-23. And if RHO Xes the 2D likely reply, I can always bid 2H instead even if it shows a more one-suited hand than the one I have. But I can live with 1H. Especially as 2NT will likely fail. In all cases, and not a big fan of the 2D overcall, W going alone to 4D after partner merely shows some kind of H tolerance is puzzling.

🤣🤣 It is not so random actually. Against NT: - don’t lead partner’s suit - look instead for the worthless doubleton or tripleton that corresponds to dummy’s, or, even better, declarer’s 5-cd suit (partner when in hand is more likely to return it than switch if it is not on the table) - otherwise offside singleton honors that declarer was to finesse partner for Against suit contracts, apply the same principles, keeping in mind the trump singleton too.

You’ll need to lie at some stage. 4441 especially that powerful are hard to deal. So either you treat it like a balanced 23 like hrotgar suggests. Or like a mm or m+H 2-suiter, reversing or jumping depending on what you and partner did. In all cases, the hand is too strong to splinter if partner bids 1H. Some might even fake a H 5-carder and open 1H. I’d go for 1C as it is unlikely it gets passed out and it is the most economical bid. Planning to reverse in H. Switch the S and a minor K and I’d go like hrotgar.

In’addition to what other posters expressed about balancing, you can also give your friend more advice about responding to a TOX. Indeed, she could have bid 4D with sth like xxx Qxx Jxxx xxx Facing a normal direct TOX (short S and a very sound opening hand, or a powerhouse of its own), with an opening hand herself, a singleton and a secondary support for partner’s implied H, she should not content herself’ with 4 D but should commit to game. Actually if I had just 1 bid, I’d rather chose 6D than 4. Unless I know partner Xes with such hands where any answer is then pure random. With a 54 in the minors, it is probably better to bid 4NT (pick a minor) and play in a 44 C rather than 53 D fit. If this is too advanced bidding for her, she should just blast 5D. Overall, you have a good educational hand on what is a TOX, what principles guide you for balancing, and what to to when partner Xes for TO.

2C (not GF) 2D (nothing special, and suits too weak + risk part has H to try fancy stuff) 2S (strong 2, 8 playing tricks) 3S (forcing raise, SI+) 4C 4D (controls) 4NT (5KCB) 5H (2 w/o) 6S But 6NT is probably safer given we have 2 stoppers everywhere Let me guess, W had QT95 of trumps and the lead was D so you didn’t take the safe play?

I think you’re both referring to 2 different things, 2C requirements’for NT follow-ups which are based on HCPs but for suit follow ups based on playing tricks / winners or whatever you call them. Here, no one is considering to bid the hand as a strong S one-suited hand. And 1S clearly risks as pass-out with so much strength. So it is basically between 2NT and 2C followed by 2NT depending on range and assessment of what the hand is worth. All other posters exposed their views on that.

Absent specific gadgets, 2C is indeed fine considering the « quality » of the suit. But with excellent H and less good C, I might consider 2H as more descriptive and a potential source of tricks despite having only 4. You can always correct back to S if partner gives you a fit and heavily insists in H. The risk is you could lose a better playing 44 fit sometimes.

I’d have pulled the brakes long ago. 3NT at some stage. Why the hell am I keycarding in the middle of a misfit and not really solid suits. Seems we’re f*** up at the 5-level with partner’s only KC. Especially if the reverse didn’t show extras. Maybe KQxx AQxxx T xx give me a chance in 5D. At least, I won’t have the shame to table such a dummy if I pass. On a good day, ops X, partner has KQJTxx and reverts to H, and opps let us trump a losing S in my hand.