apollo1201

I am opening the E hand, because the 4333 12H is as good as one can be: 2 A, and a K supported by JT. It is definitely better than QJx QJx QJx QJxx that I’d pass without hesitation. I think I’d try 1D as W, even if I prefer to be green why answering subminimum hands. The void and 6-cd suit call for action. And hoping partner doesn’t rebid 3C. It would then probably go 1S, pass, where N has an easy 1NT (easier than after 1C when opener is red and you have a 5-cd suit). S with 13HCP will try 2NT and N could bid 3. If E rebids 1NT, W rebids 2D, and N/S will have an uneasy situation (2H by S? 2NT by N and 3 by S?).

The hands that the 3 of us exposed can’t KC as they are not sure of the situation opposite in the minor. Opener could have stretched and have a singleton A of K sometimes. Those hands have in common a slightly insufficient strength to propose slam in NT so 4NT quanti can be ruled out. They can play slam only if opener has a fit and has a suitable hand. So opener can’t just answer his keys. He has to revert to NT with no desire and good stops in the other minor, and has to do sth else if he likes his hand given the bidding. Could indeed answer his keys. Or cue sth (cant do both methods obviously). Or just bid 6m. But I like this optional KC treatment tbh. Will discuss it with partner. Tte fact that we have 4 in the other major (or 3, we could be 1363 or 2353) is the reason Puppet was used. I don’t quite understand why you focus on this aspect of the hands. The dialog is: 2NT (I have half of the deck, man, and am kinda balanced) - 3C (what U have in M?) 3S (got 5S) - 4D (ok, I dont like S, maybe U like D, and btw, given I pupetted first, I probably have 3 or 4H, but we don’t give a *** now) 4NT (I don’t like your Ds, we definitely seem misfitted, time to drop now) or sth else (let’s go darling) Of course with a non promising hand like xx Qxxx AJxxx xx You bid 3NT over 3S and play there.

You were probably never dealt sth like Kx xxxx AQJxx xx Chances in 6D appear fine, establishing S for discards, if partner has a fit and a nice hand (no QJx in side suits). Obviously, if I don’t ask, I’ll never know. Otherwise, we end up in 4NT but I can stand that with 10 HCPs. But in all cases I am a little too weak to make a quantitative invite for slam.

I’d say an ugly balanced 18 that you regret not opening 1NT (KQx KQxx KJx KJx), or a 5422 (with a 4-cd M), 5531 or 4441 worth 16-18. You express a strong desire to play a game but allow partner with a (sub)minimal answer to pass.

Seriously? 4 months after?

3C now. If partner rebids 3H, 3S (not sure it guarantees a real suit, though, as it is the only way to convey the message D are open from my side). You should now safely pass if partner bids 3NT. Also 4S, probably you should sit for it too (partner will have 4 if they don’t stop D, don’t repeat H and don’t take préférence to C). If partner repeats H again, it is clearly a good 6 or 7-cd suit. Stronger hand than a direct 4H I would tend to say. It could be easier (MP scoring) to leave it in rather than take it out to 5C. But in all cases, we are likely to lack some material to go higher than game. And MP advises caution. If partner bids 3S or fits 4C, let’s go and dream high. But small D doubleton is a bit worrying [EDITED - had seen D wrong] If partner bids 3D, I believe unless he has some special hand, it is almost the worst call (pls help me). 3S obvious then, but contrary to the 1st sequence, there could be merits to reach 5C rather than 4M or 3NT that look a bit shaky.

Another way to deal with 55 (might not get well in all bidding systems): - super weak (a K less than here): transfer to S to (i) introduce H maybe if opps compete, and (iI) avoid the 2D transfer being Xed - weakish with « miracle » game if perfectly fitting hand opposite (a good fit, no wasted minor honors, etc), the hand we have here: transfer to H then 2S - game and no more (a major Q or an A more than current hand): 4D pick your major - slam invite with miracle hand opposite (12-14 HCP kind of): transfer to S then 4H - strong slam desire: transfer to S then 3H Here at IMPs it would be criminal not to invite. I’d even do it at MPs (do we really have 5432 in both majors?)

Sounds like cuz it is!

Thanks all for your comments. On deal 1, I lead the HJ like many of you. Just to catch dummy with a low D singleton and KQ9x H. I thought H would be a safe lead, giving away nothing, while D (I hesitated a lot on that one) could be ok but could also help declarer a lot, with such a broken suit... We lost a tempo (p had KJxxx D) and declarer could set up her C’s while we could only do our CA and some spades for -120. At the other table, teammates quickly ended up -100 on the D lead. On deal 2, I lead SQ (for attitude) rather than H. Five small with unclear entries made me think that S could be settled more easily. Actually, the HT would have been much harder for declarer (Jx in dummy, AQx in partner, Kxx declarer, and xxxx S in partner). Fortunately, teammates made 9 tricks vs. 10 at our table. We both thought it was close décisions in any case. But just wanted to check here.

X = 5C + 4M 2C = MM 2D = 5D + 4M Rest natural But she is a conservative balancer. Especially red...

Green vs red, you deal and pass, regretting not to play Ekren KQxx T9xxx xx Jx 2 passes follow, LHO opens 1NT (15-17). After vaguely toying with the idea of a Landy, you pass, LHO bids 3NT, and soon after you find yourself on lead. Will you screw this one as well?

From this WE league. IMPs, all red. RHO deals and opens 1NT (strong), all pass. You have to find a lead with: 9xx JTx Q7xx Jxx Unfortunately, I can’t create polls.

Wouldn’t any kind of transfer followed by 5H convey this quantitative invite message? Same as transfer followed by 4NT quantitative, except that it shows the 6th H and conveys if you’re max, please go on. Over transfer and 4S cue, what will you do over 5C from partner. 5H then blame on partner? Would it be so clear you are that strong?

Love your line🤣🤣. However, you are not guarding against someone having KJ76x. You have to keep Q on the second trick, before the strategic duck. Furthermore, it avoids blocking the suit.

The OP plays weak NT from what I understand, si can’t open a strong NT. After a strong NT and a 2S over call, it is not an issue. Either N punts 3NT betting on a S stopper opposite, or he has a way (Lebensohl / Rubensohl) to show a GF hand w/o stop. Then you end up in 4 something which will not be a piece of cake either.

Partner’s bid is not that enthusiastic! As he has sound values, just lacking the 4th H. Maybe he has to cover for you, if you are / aren’t expected to re-open with a strong NT, or a weakest hand with long C?

Knowing the field level could also help. If half are languishing in a partscore (4m maybe), then take the money. If half are in 6 something, then winning the finesse won’t help much (at least against them). If lots are in 5m, a 4-1 club break could mean +400 only for them anyway (or minus something). If lots are in 3NT, well...how will they think! Weaker players will take their tricks, because they overlook the MP/IMP difference. So maybe overall, risking the C finesse is not worth it. Unless you need tops to qualify.

I think 3H is an ambiguous bid but necessary here: - doubleton H w/o S stop (btw, 3S is S stop but no C stop, or is it a cue bid asking a S stop?), or with a diamond fit but not really wanting to go above 3NT (eg xxx Qx Jxxx Kxxx) - positive fit where you catch up later (eg 4C over 3NT from partner who should be able’ to figure out it is a control with a fit, and not that you just discovered a real suit in your hand at that stage of the bidding) 4H would indeed be a weak hand with a fit, wanting to play 4H but not more facing a « min » GF partner. You wanna bid game, you have H and D, here is your game. Jxxx xxx xx Qxxx

X in this situation is (usually) 44 M or 5S and not enough strength to bid 2S (to pull out partner’s 2H). When you have H’s, it is better to have 3S to land in an ok-ish fit in case partner bids 2S. Or a back-up plan (2NT...). All that implies that S with both M’s should bid 2H. All that also implies that with this hand, N could have passed. After all, we all have 13 cards, no need to emphasize it sometimes.

I usually don’t like with a 5-bagger but we are NV, the suit is appealing with top honors and 98 in case something turns ugly, and E might have stretched to open. Maybe we can push them to 3S or make 3D.

Over weak NT, people usually try to keep a penalty X, so balancing with X to show points and semi balanced hand is what lots would’do. I’d do it here nevertheless with the Multi Landy, hoping partner can convert. And if she doesn’t, I am « almost » 5D and 4H. Bidding 3D with this lousy 5-cd suit is not showing a good judgment, I think.

Lots of bad news. A weakish H suit, a dubious CQ. And it is MPs. At IMPs, I would reconsider, but it asks a lot (no wasted C a d short D + fitting H in the majors, or CK + a diamond slow stopper + they don’t lead D + good guesses in the majors) from partner. The issue is p would probably bid the same with Qx AKxxx xx xxxx and xx Axxx Kxx Kxxx, as I could still have 16 of a bad 17. So pass unless I’m playing against friends who need a top to qualify. And obviously no luck this time they got a bottom cuz I make!

Over 2D, do you really have to bid 2NT with ATxx KJxx x QJTx? And how do you bid nice hands with C (eg xxx Ax Kx AQJxxx over 2M)?

I’d say don’t change too much vs your current defense against normal week 2. Especially if you just play 8 boards. The 5 topics you mention should already be addressed by your current defense. Just be a little more suspicious about your NT stoppers. Overcaller’s partner will on average have more cards to lead in his partner’s suit (eg. Ax is enough to stop if the suit splits 62, 53 breaks are more likely to happen...), and opener will probably have side entries more often to establish and cash his suit. FWIW, I play the same defense against weak 2M and Muiderberg 2M (5M+4m) but with more suspicions on the 2NT overcall especially with a small doubleton m.

Could they be taking advantage of the vulnerability and have S?