Dinarius

Yes. Not even close. 1♦️ When in doubt, open the suit you want led, as the best player I ever knew once said to me. D.

A wretched 8 loser 11 count? Yes, it passes rule of 20, but badly. It’s one of those hands where if you pass at MPs and score well you talk about it in the bar afterwards. And, if you bid 1♠️ and go for 200, you also talk about it afterwards. Seriously, it guesswork. But, what’s my rebid? Exactly. So, I pass. D.

Thanks for the replies. I tend towards a good 8 at IMPs, 9 at MPs, for an immediate 2NT. A good 8 in both cases for Stayman. I think that the possibility of a 4/4 outweighs having to play 2NT with 15 opposite 8. D.

Not exactly rocket science, but opinions do vary... Playing 15-17 NT... 1. What point count do you require to bid Stayman? 2. What point count do you require to respond an immediate 2NT? 3. How much does texture (spot cards) and shape influence you? 4. Do vary any of the above whether you're playing IMPs or MPs? 5. Any other comments? Thanks. D.

We were playing 15-17NT guaranteeing at least two in each suit. D.

On the contrary, OP would have told you that the ♦ opening might have been short, if that was what it was, just like he told you that the ♥ bid was weak, and not intermediate or strong. ;) Ergo, it wasn't. D.

Yes, you have a point. Though, if 7 is on, it's a less scientific approach. I still prefer elaborating on my hand by bidding 4♥ 5♣ was a terrible bid. D.

That's what happened. I think I should now bid 4♥, agreeing ♣ and showing a control. Partner now knows that his K ♥ is working and we have a double fit. I don't yet know we have a double fit - though if he doesn't have ♦ for his free bid of 4♣, then he must have a shed load of ♣ ! Either way, I think that 4♥ is the best move forward. Not knowing that ♠ are safe, I would now expect partner to bid 5♦, confirming the double fit, when I can bid either slam - though the possible 4/4 in ♣ makes it slightly better, I think, using the long ♦ for a potential discard. Whatever you feel about my 4♥ bid, I made the worst possible bid of 5♣ Thanks for the replies. D.

[hv=pc=n&s=sk543hqjt543d7c75&w=st76hkdkt82ckqj94&n=saqj82h862d963c63&e=s9ha97daqj54cat82&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p1d2h]399|300[/hv] At IMPs, in a strong room, this hand was played 17 times. 6♣/6♦ were bid only 4 times. Essentially, the object of the exercise is E/W finding their double fit and not a single wasted value in their 27 points. Over to you.......! Thanks. D. Ps. South's 2♥ was obviously alerted as weak.

Thanks for the replies. I disagree that it’s “less distinctly defined”. Bearing in mind that I have *forced* partner to bid (and with me looking at A, K, in opener’s suit, he was never going to reply 1NT) a rebid of 2NT opposite a (unlikely, I’ll admit) possible Yarborough must surely show 19/20. No? D.

MPs [hv=pc=n&s=sak5hj98daqcaj964&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=1sppdp2hp]133|200[/hv] 1. I presume you agree with my Double? 2. What do you bid opposite 2♥? 3. How strong is 1NT (instead of Double) in the 4th seat? 4. I play 1NT in the second seat at 15-17 with a stop. How do you distinguish between 11-14 (protective) and a genuine 1NT (15-17) overcall in the 4th seat? Thanks. D.

With respect, I think that in much of your response you’re committing the cardinal sin of bidding partner’s hand. You could also construct a hand where N is void in *both* hearts and clubs. The point is to best describe your hand without anticipating partner’s. We had 2NT at our disposal and he didn’t use it. It doesn’t show 5/5 in this case, but it does show *at least* 5/5. As has already been pointed out, extra ♣️ can be shown later. D.

Some fascinating views. Thanks all. A weak or strong 2NT (yes, we were playing!) is the only bid for me. And, as one responder wrote, a further ♣️ bid can show extra shape. Reverse the vulnerability and I pass. D.

Yes, I should have bid 5♣️. If it had failed because of a bad ♣️ break, it would not have been my fault. But, vulnerable at IMPs, 4♣️ was no-man’s land. Pass was the losing option. D.

Totally agree. You must bid the N hand as if S had opened one of the unbid suits. So, if East had passed, what would you respond to one Spade? Probably, four Spades opposite 5 card; three Spades opposite a double, is ok, but four is close too. If 4♣️ is forcing above, then I agree that 5♣️ is probably best to shut up partner. But, I don’t like the initial double. Without Michaels, I bid 2♣️. D.

Thanks for the reply. 3. Can one diamond doubled ever be a good result with a near certain vulnerable game on, assuming you can find it. I think that North has to bid. 4. I would be interested to to hear other views on whether it’s forcing. I suspect you’re right. So, what do you now bid? Thanks. D.

[hv=pc=n&s=shat952dkcakqt642&w=st752hkj64d63cj75&n=skj964hq73dqjt72c&e=saq83h8da9854c983&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=pp1ddp3sp4cp]399|300[/hv] IMPs. 1. Do you agree with South's Double? 2. We were playing Michaels, so 2NT would have shown ♥/♣. Do you prefer that? With a major suit fit, ♣ can be used for discards. 3. Do you agree with 3♠ opposite the double? 4. Is 4♣ forcing? 5. Any other comments? 5 ♣ or 5 ♥ are cold. I passed 4♣. What should I have bid, if anything? Thanks. D.

Thanks. The Bridge Solver extension (used within Google Chrome) can detect bridge hands from certain sites. But, I don't think that hands from a PlayBridge page (Deal Generator) is amongst them. Dealmaster Pro isn't that expensive. I might consider buying it. But, it would be nice if they had a trial period/version. Thanks again. D.

I’ve been using the free Deal Generator for making deals for classes. http://www.playbridge.com/pb_generators.php It’s great. As is the ability to print the hands for my class. What I’d like is a generator that gave the par score on the hands. Does such a deal generator exist? Thanks. D.

In RKCB, surely not 0/3 but instead 5♠️ showing 2 + trump Q? That makes 7 easy, no? Also, my mistake on P response. Of course 1❤️. Apologies. But, in your sequence, 3♠️ reverse would show 5❤️ in my methods. D.

As long as 3♣️ is a game force (which it should be) and as long as P doesn’t start to prefer his ♣️ (Taking you for 5/5?) and as long as he sees the value of KJ♦️, now RKCB agreeing ♦️? If P is then happy and puts you in 7♦️. I think it is now up to you to show your true shape (& all those ♦️ tricks) and convert to 7NT. I don’t think that P can bid it himself. After RKCB, 7♦️ would show the other two aces and ♦️K. D.

And which is why any talk of basing our opening bid on what the Opps might do is ridiculous. 😉 D.

And which contract might that be? 6♦️? In any half decent room everyone will be in a slam on this hand. At MPs, if you’re in 6♦️, you will score zero, or near zero. Barging 6♦️ scores a zero from me. It’s worse than the pass that someone else suggested. Arguing that it keeps the Opps out of a sac they might/might not make is yet another variation on bidding the other players’ hands rather than your own. A cardinal sin IMO. This hand is way too strong for any pre-empt. D.

Ps. Note the wasted (unnecessary) cards in Partner's hand. Just shows the playing strength of West's hand. Would any of you end up in 3NT after a 3♣ rebid by West? I presume not. But, playing catch-up with this hand is the key. D.

I agree. I was just giving an example in extremis. In response to some other suggestions; any form of preempt is out of the question, in my view. Way too much playing strength. So, 2♣, if you have it as a Benjamin strong but not game-forcing bid. Otherwise, 1♦. For the record, here's the hand. If those who preempted think they can bid 7NT, I'm all ears! D. Ps. and it's IMPs not MPs - not that it really matters. [hv=pc=n&s=sjt42hqt87d75c752&w=sh2daqt98632cakq3&n=sk9876hj643d4ct98&e=saq53hak95dkjcj64&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=p]399|300[/hv]