apollo1201

East, east, east! The most adventurous would even have made a TOX after the « strong » inquiry. Now that it has become clear N was probably having some fun at our expense at green vs red, we should be back with this textbook X of a 2H-3H « rectified » sequence. West will kiss us from her seat and count with pleasure all those doubled undertricks.

IMPs, red vs. red Partner opens a 15-17 NT and you have Kx x T98xx AJ9xx Is there a way to convey this type of hand? Our agreements are transfers (should be 6-cd minors unless GF where 55 minors or 54 minors with singleton can start with transfer), Stayman and 2NT invitational (semi)balanced. But there might be better agreements. I chose 2C to see what happens, partner bids 2H (denying 4-cd S), I bid 2NT (faking I had S), she bid 3 making on a lucky C break. So fine so good but not too satisfying intellectually...

Over Diamonds that cramp up bidding space, contrary to C where you just show your stoppers, it is not uncommon to play: - 3oM = oM stopped, no C stopper - 3M = C stopped, no stopper in other major, *or* 5 very good or 6 cards in M, partner being urged to bid 3NT when he can, often right siding the contract It is upon partnership’s agreement (the famous diamond issue). But probably more I/A than N/B. Anyway, N would have exercised a better judgment to open 1NT or rebid 2NT, with a more simple sequence as a result.

IMO, opening 1C rather than 1D on the 2nd hand will undoubtedly help find 5D. I think it is a better anticipation, if opps buy the hand, we want C led, if partner bids 1S, we have an easy 3S and partner won’t be disappointed by our suit texture, and if she bids 1H, 1S rebid is quite easy too. My sequence: 1C-1D 3D-3S (strength or natural) 4S-5D (now we know partner’s singleton is in H, but N lacks a bit to try 6, xxxC not the best holding and overall minimum hand, on a pure HCP basis we lack AKQJ H plus potentially one goodie, and worse if partner has a stiff H honor).

North has 20 HCP, an almost balanced hand, and a stopper that can even duck 1 round to cut defenders if need be. Unless partner bids S, Xing will result in bidding above the most likely game, 3NT. So 3NT be it. I however don’t think that playing optional X so low is doable. What will you do with a « nice » opening and 4144, 41(53), 42(43) if partner is going to pass any nondescript 6-8. Pass? A bit pessimistic while partner can still have 10-14...

I think most good players play that reverses show « moderate » extras. Something like 14+ with concentrated values in your suit or extra shape, and maybe 16+ without those good factors. With dead minimums, you don’t wanna consume bidding space when the final destination is still unclear, while with extras you can burn some of this space as finally settling a bit higher or removing some of the final spots is less of a risk.

Seems almost everyone has stretched so far in the bidding. You’ve already adequately (most cautious bidders would even say more than this) sold your hand by Xing and raising partner when pushed. The overcompete by opps to 4H is a surprise and I guess it made. But you were essentially converting -140 or +100 on a good day when you can score your HK into -100 or -200. So not a good gain at IMPs. You’ve done the job, pass.

4S - with a determined look😉 Question is if Xed, should we run to 5D or not. Edit: hadn’t seen the hidden sentence below the chart... RHO could have anything from AK 8th to AKQ 6th and some heavy side goodies, so our chances of going for a phone number have increased, and even if it is just 500, we need to win the next deal...so pass hoping partner will do something (but unlikely)

As the other said, 3S is purely competitive and doesn’t ask for partner’s cooperation. You could be bidding this to honor a 6th trump, a 2-suited hand with honor concentration, etc. The only available space you have is X to invite, which is not penalty obviously. Your loser count is 5 but the hand lacks intermediaries and LHO rates to have some kind of C opposition implied by his X. Trumps could be breaking 4-1 as partner with 4 could have bid 3 directly. I therefore think 3S is enough and should they bid 4H on that, you should respect it too. I wouldn’t blame partner to invite, though, as placed after doubler, he should upgrade his potential minor AKs, trump honors, and downgrade H honors (AJ S and a minor K will be very good cards for 4S). Minor QJs are wasted in D but golden in C, but it is hard to guess!

On the X, 2C and 2S could be winning contracts. Not possible to know which one, but statistically, C rate to play better more often. And C also have the merit that opponents can compete more easily in them, and it is probably safer to be on defense (I ruff D in a M contract, they could run into a nasty trump break if they play D). So I’d tend to just introduce my C suit. But I would never blame partner to show a 2-suiter. When partner starts to scramble, I see no reason now to not show my 2nd suit.

Seems a bit unlucky but I have difficulties in getting opp’s hand consistent with their wild bidding. Up to E’s lucky X (what the hell is he bidding and doubling on when his p showed a distributional hand worth around 13-15 if played weaker than unopposed, or 15-17 if standard, or 15-17 bal if they play weak NT). Anyway, N’s raise is completely normal, ok he is 4333 but 4 trumps to an honor and a side ace (plus the dubious CQ) make an overall non-min hand, and he just couldn’t show support at the level 2! S’s bid is also hard to criticize. 4H and 4S could really be making in such auction where it is likely he has the « best hand » of the table (was it a robot tournament 🤣?), and where distributions rate to be a bit more extreme than actual. There can easily be a 9 or 10-card H fit, and potentially a secondary C fit to justify such a contested and animated sequence. LOTT suggest bidding.

Let’s try to make 2D+2H+4S+1C (or 2S+3C but we have to decide at trick 1). Yes, HTx6 is twice more likely than HHx6, but I’d also run it to the J. Eeven if they block it is likely we’ll give the lead at some stage to the one who can cash D tricks, as we have so few top tricks. PS: played the other side on the D6 from W, not putting J seems’better🤣

I think with weak, you need to escape. But with strong, you are less likely to go down for as big numbers, and it is more valuable to show an invite with 7+ to 9- points such as Qxxx Kxxxx Qx xx Or xxx KQTxx x Qxxx

As a note, possum, what follows is more or less standard after *string* NT, but alternate agreements exist. Your 1st option is normal’after 1NT opening, showing invite with 5 or rarely 6 S. Often 4H on the side but could be an unbalanced hand eg 51(43) not strong enough to bid 3m and unsuitable for 2NT (more balanced usually) or 3M (6 cards). After this start, the prime 17 points and’ Jx in partner will probably propel opener to game (even after a non-standard 2NT inquiry for singleton). And when responder is weak, yes, it is better to play 2M, even in a 5-2 fit, even requiring 1 more trick to make, than stay in 1NT. Stayman usually requires invitational strength, unless trying sth special (weakfish three-suites short in C, as I mentionned). Transfer requires 0. No upper limit in both cases. Stayman is also priority if you can use it vs transfer (54 with 8+ points as in your example).

But most importantly for B/I, showing D is only worth if you have slam purposes and could make slam with a good fitting hand opposite. And be ready to play 4NT if opener declines your minor. So 9-10 HCP should be a min. With less strength, your most likely game will be 3NT and you should just bid it. Yes, sometimes 3NT goes down while 5m makes, but it is not so common, and less frequent than the opposite. Making 11 tricks is usually much harder and requires more HCP than just shoot for 9. Only with extreme shapes are you bidding 5m. For instance x Qx xxx QJxxxxx Where 3NT could be troublesome if partner can’t get to your hand (Hx, AK tight...or singleton A or K😝)

With this garbage you just transfer to S, don’t you? Maybe w/ C void could you just try a Stayman for fun. Or if you play gabrage Stayman, but GIB doesn’t. Anyway it’s also the first time I see this (ridiculous) 3D answer. I’d also have upgraded, and I’d also go down in 3NT.

You have also to know that GIB doesn’t always lead like humans and often picks a passive / short suit based on a simulation. Most humans with the W hand and their presumed 5 clubs would lead the suit and doom your contract.

As others said, over a 4S preempt, X is values / usually 3.5 quick tricks at least, with adequate support in unbid suits. The reason is that if partner has very little and is balanced, it can be passed with a good expectation to set the contract. Or if partner is very distributional and has some values, there is good expectation to make a 5 level contract and score more than just setting 4S. Then 4NT is usually a 2-suiter (55 at least, 4-5 losers max depending on vulnerability?). As otherwise you can’t show H, whereas over a 4H preempt you can still try 4S with a S/minor 2-suiter and 4NT with minors only. On the 3S-4S sequence, you should apply the same principles. Here you were lucky that opponents (W especially) were shy. I’d have taken the plunge at 5C though, as the 2 suits are too dissymertical (risk of ending in 4-3 fit at 5D), and to be sure not to hear N bid 5H over a X. N was thankfully asleep or on a different wavelength and passed, so a disaster was avoided. He should just bid 5NT pick a slam over X as he has a S void, good honors and at least a single or dble fit for you. You might miss a good 7 sometimes but preempts are made for depriving you of bidding space, and bad breaks / ruffs on the opening lead might doom an otherwise good grand.

There is way to hesitate. If you know your opps, after winning your CQ continuation, how likely will they switch to H and get their 5 or more tricks, or how likely will they continue S, or open the H but block themselves, or crash C AK on the same trick? On the contrary, D breaking 33 or Hx / stiff H / stiff QJ with West or stiff QJ with East is an assessable likelihood (for someone better than me with maths, a guess close to 45% as 36 + 1/2 x 48 x something that I imagine is a bit less than 1/2 but can’t compute🤣). You picked the wrong assessment? After Xmas at trick 1 and trick 2, Xmas by opps can’t continue, so I’d go for Xmas by the deck and play on D.

Then you don’t necessarily need 4 of them, do you? It is just a stopper with sth like: KQx Ax xxxx Qxxx

It just basically emphasizes that you should play the same system as partner 🤣 Ignoring the overcall is not a standard treatment. The reason is that the auction might become highly competitive (well, a bit less likely after a 3rd-hand opening) and it is important to: - fight for the partscore with adequate distribution w/o letting opps breathe - give partner (if he’s strong) a precise view of the prospects (bid 1 more, X, etc.) So you need way to distinguish 3 or 4-cd raises, weak, invitational (or GF but unlikely again when you passed 1st). Can’t show all, but as others mentionned, there are ways to do that. Some more common than others. Incl. 3M as a preemptive raise. Which explained why your partner passed.

Haha I’d say D first if 5 vs. 4M, or if much better honor quality when 44, and GF in both cases. Otherwise, Major.

Sequence 1 is ok-ish. Besides not trying for game even if partner has a max hand with S (mentionned by other posters), as we are going to bid 5H nevertheless, why not show the D suit just in case partner has HA and DK? A natural forcing 3D could work on the 1st round too. Sequence 2, opener is asking for trouble in the post mortem.

Seems good and logical, but with I never managed to know if the price to pay (using Stayman for invitational hands w/o majors and disclosing opener’s distribution) was too high of not to cover all the benefits

+1 (if not playing anything fancy) Partner showed some values so you need to fight for the partscore with adequate distribution (eg a 6-carder) even if minimal, as partner will not necessarily have enough to bid again. X is probably a flexible bid for otherwise « unbiddable » hands (eg 3-cd H support in an unbalanced hand worth around 15HCPs, 18 w/o stopper...). NT bids strongly suggest H misfit (31xx 15+) or a source of tricks in a long D suit (pragmatic bid).