ochinko

Transfering the responsibility with 4NT is wimpy. Partner is an expressed hand that was prepared to play 5♦ alone. I blast off to 6NT now. If those 2♣ were real opps aren't going to take the first 4 or 5 spade tricks. And 4♦ is, of course, madly distorting our shape.

Did you check the name of this particular forum? Said experts are indeed trying seriously to help newcomers to the game to avoid such blunders, and to properly assess their values. I would say they are doing a great job, whereas your post is pure noise.

it didn't occur to me that Pass is possible, but now that I did, I bid 2♠, then allow opps to "push" me to 3, 4, even 5♠ until I eventually get doubled. Risky, but why else would I pass initially?

With just a few points, extra length in partner's suit, and no defensive tricks the only reasonable thing seems to be a preemptive raise. Other bids might produce better results, but only because of their psychic value.

Wasn't sure about that and about the question - what is standard, or what is best. If 1♦ is forcing I prefer to pass here :)

Must have's: fourth suit forcing (esp. FG) Bergen raises splinter bids new minor forcing multi and Muiderberg Also useful: inverted minors reverse Drury fit-showing jump shifts weak jump shifts Smolen But the first thing I discuss (apart from leads and discards) is what is and what's not forcing from a non-passed hand after opps intervene in our opening with a suit or a double.

1♦ non-forcing, showing 5, even though I play MAFIA (major always first in answering), and my bid would be 1♠ without the double. Btw, I play weak jump shifts, but they show a 6 cards suit.

If I rebid NT that will be 3NT as my hand should be worth about 25 pts.

I voted for 6♣, although I'd be more confident with the same controls and distribution, but a point *less* in my hand: ♠ AKQ ♥ KQ5 ♦ 9873 ♣ K84 :blink:

How would you know anything about partner's hand when his turn to bid is yet to come? I want to play in the suit in which we have a fit. In order to achieve that I have to describe my hand to partner the best I can. Masterminding the deal with 1♥ is exactly the way to miss our best spot.

No wonder you're alone. Bidding 1♥ is far too pessimistic as it implies you won't have the ability or the wish to bid again. You are 5:5 in the majors with quite a good hand, partner hasn't passed yet, sky is the limit. Furthermore, if you bid ♠ then ♥ you're still likely to get a ♥ lead if opps stop at some ♦ or NT contract, for example. LHO and partner are likely to have 14 points split between them. Even if partner is aceless, and has less than half of the remaining points, if they are the ones you need 4♠ will still have a chance: KQxx-xx-xxxx-xxx.

This hand is a very good example of why one should play weak/strong Michaels. If you do, you bid 1♠, then 2♥ here. Partner never invites after 2♣, as you could be weak. If you make another move after partner makes a choice, you're showing the strong version. ♠K7542 ♥AKQ92 ♦x ♣A2 goes through 2♣, rebids 3♥ after 2♥ ♠AQ542 ♥AKQ92 ♦x ♣A2 goes through 2♣, rebids 3♣ after 2♥

It is an opening hand, but since partner has passed there's not much risk of missing a game, so I tend to overcall 2♠ instead of 1♠ with such a hand. Plus, if partner decides to compete solely on the number of trumps (remember the Law?), we'll either get a good score or make a good save.

I don't like 2NT. It isn't forcing. Partner has 8-16 HCP, so I can expect him to bid further with 12/13-16, but not with less. As ugly as it looks, 2♣ is the only meaningful bid, followed by 2NT. Now partner will bid 3NT if his hand is in the upper two thirds of his range, not just the upper half :P

2♥ may be a meaningless bid but at least is saves you from bidding your 5 spades as if they were 6. Forcing or not, I would never rebid my spades, but this, of course, is a matter of style.

When I ask partner for a ♥ stopper, and then say that I actually don't need one, I am showing a one trick better hand than if I bid NT directly. This means that looking at my cards I see that we're cold for 4NT when I bid 3NT, or cold for 5NT when I bid 4NT. 2NT, then 3NT is my minimal hand (around 6-8 HCP, and no promising suits).

5♣. Vuln at IMPs I don't have any second thoughts.

I see no alternative to pass here. 1. You have no extras regarding your strength. 2. You have no extras in suits' length. 2♦ would mean six of them, as you're not in a forced position. As Han said, you should be happy to defend a clubs contract. But even if you feel unhappy about it you should still pass. When your story is told you shouldn't make additional noise, as this would only hamper partner in taking an informed decision.

If RHO has passed as well I would bid 4 1/2♦, so now I have no other choice but to bid 5♦.

The bidding was perfect till the last pass. South can't open unless there's a specific bid showing 5:5 in the majors, and a weak hand. North can't make a splinter with 5 losers in the hand if you play disciplined splinters from the opener. After 4♠ though South should make a move. Partner said a game should be there if we have the minimum for 1♠, which is 9 losers. We have two less, and they are likely to produce two more tricks, as we have great trumps.

I like to always bypass the diamonds, no matter how long they are, and no matter how strong my hand is. That way the 4th suit is never real, just a way to show extras and push partner to further describe her hand. So just like Jillybean I'll go 1♥, 3NT. It's harder for opps to defend against a declarer who's hand contains 4 spades and 6 diamonds with equal probability.

Why would you play in a suit in which opps have a fit, and go down when you need so little from your pard to make a game in 3NT or 4♥? Will your partner treat Kxxxx-Axx-J109-Ax as above minimal, and bid 2♦ with it? Also, if it goes 1♠ - 1NT 3♠ - ? wouldn't you regret you didn't mention your hearts earlier?

I like KQTxx as a minimal suit strength for doubling, but what do they say of minimum for the total strength of the hand in terms of HCP?

2♠ KQ10xxx-KQx-xx-xx would be 1♠.

4♠ Game isn't certain, but I am sure I want to be in one. 7 losers hand, few but good and well placed points, extra trump, additional suit promising extra tricks, plus we are vulnerable at IMPs which begs for more pushing. There are so many hands from partner that would produce a game. My hopes would be higher only if partner has opened 1♦. I think a ♥ lead is preferable to a ♦ one so I wouldn't consider 3♥. If I was about to search for a slam, then 3♥ would have some merit, but I am not that ambitious.