The Casual

Sorry if I'm slow on the reply but I haven't been on Bridge lately. I think rmnka447's makes a simple 2♣ checkback sound simplest, followed by transfers, so I'll see what I can do with those. The two way systems you mention are a bit over my head :unsure: Anyway, thanks for the responses all.

My partner and i recently adopted a 2/1 approach in bidding and someone mentioned the need for a checkback bid for a 5-3 major fit in a sequence such as: 1!C>1!S>1NT. As far as I know, two common conventions for that are New minor forcing and Checkback Stayman. I was wondering what your preference is and why, and also if you would detail the calls for me so I can implement it. Thanks

Okay thanks for the input all, the consensus seems to be that the club was the correct way to go. My reason for not doing so was that it felt like giving up, just the defense cashing out and letting declarer make. Where as maybe, just maybe 1 in 10 times or so there was something possible with the diamond lead that might beat the contract, I couldn't think of anything but it seemed more likely to than the club; I was fully aware that it would probably give them an overtrick. Thankfully my p didn't get irritated when the diamond was led.

http://tinyurl.com/lxt9cfo Trick #6 with me on lead - obviously I gave them an overtrick, I was hoping that there was some holding for west where a diamond lead was necessary to beat the contract; is this true? I was thinking possibly a singleton heart spot with west and maybe with my partner holding the ♦J, not likely but maybe? Anyway, I was fairly sure that leading the last club would not get us that extra trick. What is the opinion of the more experienced? Should I have just played the club anyway?

Thanks MrAce, that line of play is quite cool; squeezes aren't really my expertise though so I would have gone with the two diamond finesses :D. I was a little annoyed that my p played for no chance to make the contract, obviously didn't count winners/ losers, but it was just some random partner I got paired with, little can be done. I'm just interested in the bidding really, the play is only left in because I don't know how to remove it haha. The answer I'm looking for is whether people think bidding the slam is profitable in the long run, with a slightly better (but non expert) declarer of course :P

http://tinyurl.com/lt68guw Got this the other day but was a little surprised when I couldn't find a bid to reasonably describe the hand. Maybe I whimped out when I passed it so what does everyone else suggest?

http://tinyurl.com/p4bkegk Two questions: Would you double in my seat (since TO x is how you show this many points)? I considered just a simple overcall of 1♥ because I would, as my partner, expect better hearts if rebid after the dbl; partner bidding hearts was a bit of a fluke imo. Would you have bid 6♥ in the end (whether that be directly over 4♠ or after some investigation I don't know)? Basically, do you think it will be better to bid 5♥ or 6♥ in the long run?

http://tinyurl.com/n5lgq2h With the 1♣ opening and 1♠ overcall how would you get to the grandslam? I doubt I can bid 7♣ over partners 5♣ bid (I was thinking he had more like 7 solid trump). I was hoping my 3♠ bid was something like "tell me more partner", 3NT being a stopper of some kind (not expected with e's holding) or maybe 4♥ with honour doubleton, is this correct?? Anyway I wasn't quite expecting 13 tricks off the top (more like 7 trump and 5 outside), what do you think? Also what would be the difference in meaning between a 4♣ bid and partner's 5♣ bid?

Thanks, I like this sequence, very intuitive.

Thank you, indeed it is a bit beyond what my partner and I have discussed, our system does not go much further than a basic SA or 2/1 depending on what we feel like. We have essentially no discussion past the 3m bid (to show 5-4 GF) other than maybe 3NT to show no fit in either suit (or a preference to 3NT over minor game) and game signoffs in 4 & 5 ♥ & ♦ respectively.

Okay, so far I can get up to 1NT>2♦>2♥>3♦>3♥>? But after this I feel like West shouldn't just punt 4NT (RKCB), because they need to know about the diamonds. Could someone just spell it out to me and give the exact sequence from 1NT to 6H.

Okay thanks for the responses. So after 1NT>2♦>2♥>3♦>? What are the meanings of East's bids in this position (cue bids maybe?)?

http://tinyurl.com/pwjawfh Would you go for slam and if so how? I expect most to say yes but tbh, while I wanted to, I didn't know how; slams after NT openings is not a strong area of mine =/.

Thanks, I found your analysis on declarers options and WesleyC posting about declarer's shape to be quite infomative :). You both picked up a lot more information than I did during the hand and it's helpful to see. I posted the hand because I felt that I blew a trick somewhere or that perhaps something slipped my mind. I know the overall play was sub par but I was interested in what the most forcing line was from my perspective.

I'm interested in what people think of my defense in this hand: http://tinyurl.com/ktmejwe Ignore all the bidding and the declarer play, I'm sure it's not what many people would consider optimal (was with randoms), I know the contract is going down regardless but what should I have played to increase our chances at maximum tricks and why?