iscbrooks

Grand slam is not the correct contract, requiring two successful finesses to make (unless West's small cards are bigger than south's). The fact that it would make here is irrelevant, as it would lose another 75% of the time.

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sqxxxhqjxdxxxcakx&w=shxxxxdkqxxxxcjxx&e=sxxhaxxxdajxxcqxx&s=sakjxxxxhktdcxxxx]399|300|West Nor East Sou 2♦ x pass 4♠ pass pass 5♦ 5♠[/hv] I'm not positive about the exact hand (I was south, so that's the one I remember best). The play was pretty simple. A diamond lead ruffed in hand, followed by pulling trump, and eventually losing the A♥ and the Q♣, to make with no overtricks. However, after the hand was over I wondered if a 6♦ bid on either West's or East's part would be a good idea. They would make six trumps tricks, the A♥ and the Q♣, and would be able to set up heart tricks. And with favorable vulnerbility it seems to me like it might be beneficial. Another question, though, is could they have known to bid it?

Some people seem to be getting a little off track. I recommend we stick to the topic, using the normal 16-18 NT range. hmmm... how does 1nt : 2c 2S sound? convincing enough? What if he has 4 hearts and 3 spades? What if he doesn't even bid Stayman because he only has 3? Stayman works for 4-4 fits, but doesn't cover 5-3. Probably because you should open 1M with a 5-card major.

Honours: The top five trumps (A K Q J 10) are called honours. If one player holds all five of these cards, that player's side scores a bonus of 150 above the line.

When you have a five-card suit and a balanced hand (5-3-3-2) with the five in a major, and 15-18 HCP, when should you open the major and when would 1NT be preferrable? Take the following hands: [hv=s=sakt83hqjtdkj3cq2]133|100|[/hv][hv=s=sakt83hqjtdkj3cq2]133|100|[/hv][hv=s=sakt83hqjtdkj3cq2]133|100|[/hv] Which ones would you recommend 1NT for, and which would 1S be better? What principle should influence the decision?

6♠ is the better bid, both because of the ease in pulling trump and because of the bonus 150 points. This is a bit off-topic (you need the heart tricks anyway), but I just thought I'd mention that despite the heart fit spades is better when you get extra points and know that you will have no problems pulling trump. Also, playing ace and low♥ makes with a singleton king, after you cash AK♦. You don't need to set up the whole suit, only make two tricks. And the Q♥ does just that, even though it sets up the opponent's J♥ (which never gets a trick).

While I don't think all suits must be stopped for a 1NT opening, I generally draw the line at one unstopped suit. With two unstopped, it becomes extremely likely that defenders will run a suit. Add that 15 HCP is minimal for a 1NT opening (many even play 16-18), and I open 1C.

[hv=n=sh3dakqjt974c8432&w=skj98543h6d3cakqj&e=saqt762h542d865ct&s=shakqjt987d2c9765]399|300|[/hv] As south, make 4♥ on a club lead. Impossible right? Not so. You can easily win the contract by ruffing the opening lead. You suffer the two trick penalty for the ravoke, but nevertheless make the contract with an overtrick. Here, despite the penalties, you gain from cheating. The obvious question is whether this is legal. Sure they prescribed specific penalties, but are you allowed to take advantage of them? Is a revoke cheatin, or just a tractic that penalizes two tricks?

I like that idea. It makes it easier to find a 4-4 major fit, one of the faults of 5-card majors.

Considering the dozens of artificial bidding conventions out there, imagine my frustration where I could not find 1 variation which differentiates between 1♣ and 1♦. I've long though it silly that the only difference between the two bids is that you bid the one that's "better". Considering you can open with either with three, that's not very helpful. I'm quite certain there are more efficient things to do with two bids that mean the same. If any of you have know/use any 1♣/1♦ variations, please post them.