ArcLight

since 2♦ is a reverse IMO 3♦ would be the splinter and 4♦ would be exclusion Wouldn't 3♦ be a Jump Shift by opener, showing a 2 suited game forcing hand? Althought it seems wasteful to need a Reverse (2D) and a Jump Shift (3D), so maybe in this case 3D could have a meaning other than jump shift, showing strength. Splinters are fairly common, so I'm surprised more tables didn't see this bid.

I duck the 2nd club as well. Now if declarer leads clubs a 3rd time, the club suit is established for me to get a 2nd club trick. I dont know what to lead, either a heart or diamond, so I'm happy to let declarer stay on lead. His main problem is inability to take finesses. he gets only 1 from clubs.

What do you think the field contract will be? 4H? 4S? If its 4H, making, then we need to set 4S by 3 tricks , else we get a bad score. If we think the field contract is 4S, down whatever, then don't give anything away. Do we know anything about RHOs weak 2 overcall style?

>>However, I thought it was possible that the slam may go 1 or 2 off, whilst some others may play exceptionally badly and go 1 or 2 off in some lower level contract. Maybe not common where you play, but I have known people to make 3 or 4 tricks fewer than other declarers in the same denomination through sheer bad play. If you double, you tell the opps that you have the misisng HCP, and they might make the contract, where as the field is down 1. Setting a slam is usually a good score, the extra 50 don't gain much.

I do find it interesting to read other opinions, and alternative bididng methods. I don't mean to discourage anyone. At the same time I am interested in this particular hand, and would prefer that the methods that were available at the time be used to discuss the bidding. In other words I would like my question answered, rather than the thread morph into something different. (I see threads go astray, and just wanted to keep it focused) Maybe start a new thread on the merits of using 2NT to show unbalanced hands in certain sequences, such as after a forcing 1NT. >>Say partner has a 14-count, let's give him xx AQJxx Kxx KJx. What should he do over your double and why? Maybe your double suggest that they have made a mistake, but maybe not? How does he know whether you are willing to play in 3NT or not? Did you show a spade stopper or can you have 3 (or 2?) small? What is standard? What is becoming the new standard? I'm not saying 2NT as suggested is a bad idea, just that it was not available as a 2 suited take out at the time, it would have shown a stopper. That may turn out to not be best, but thats the method.

>>I would have bid 2NT, showing the minors, on the previous round. I think double suggested a more balanced hand than what I have. This wasn't the agreement that was in place, 2NT would have shown a spade stopper. Rgardless of if you don't like the agreement, thats what it was at the table, so please don't consider 2NT (even if your methods would have allowed it) for replying to this topic.

Imps, all Vuln, pard deals and opens 1♥ pleaying 2/1 You hold ♠ Q ♥ x x ♦ K Q J x x ♣ Q T x x x Bidding goes 1♥ - pass - 1NT (by us) - 2♠ [Natural, presumably a good hand] pass - pass - X [pard do something] - pass 3♣ - 3♠ - ??? What do you do? What do you think of: 1 - bididng 4♣? 2 - passing 3 - X (pard bid on, or else pass for penalty) [Edit - a 2NT rebid would have shown a Spade stopper]

I see no reason to lead an ace, its possible RHO has Kx in spades or hearts. I see no reason to underled the spade Ace. Whats left? I prefer a club to a diamond, since thats less likely to cost a trick. I dont like the Dime 3 lead form Jxx anyway. The only way the opps make tricks are by ruffing, so do what you can to stop that. It sounds like the opps have a bunch of clubs anyway.

How about 1NT?

>> saw a book on cue-bidding today in Chess & Bridge on Baker Street, written by none other than Ken Rexford. >>Is it any good? Has anyone already reviewed it? I've had a brief look through this thread but couldn't find anything easily. It has some theoretical discussions, and for a player of Justins calibler may provide food for thought. In general it will not be helpful to those below his level. I would instead suggest the book by Klinger (Cue Bidding to Slams ) or the one by Alan Mould (Step By Step Slam Bidding) I will sell/tarde mine :)

>.i asked the opp, you open 1 heart with 4 hcp dude? he answered-- no, 5, 5hcp Was he "Advanced" or "Expert" :) I try never to play with "Intermedaites" because since so many players lie, the novices say they are intermediates, while the intermediates say they are advanced/expert.

>.how to read your opp card i dislike, have never managed to finish the first chapter Please give it another chance, or skip that chapter and go onto the next one. Its a really good book. He has a sequel "How to play card combinations" thats highly worth reading also.

2♠ does not always guarantee 4 spades. Opener may have 3 spades and an unbalanced hand, maybe 3-(4-1)-5 3-(1-4)-5 Wait till you end up in 6 spades with 7 trumps. So what would be the correct bid over 2♠ by opener? 3♦? Pard with 4 spades can then bid 3♠, or bid hearts asking for a heart stopper.

Why is this now forcing when in the past it was not? What if responder has a weak, shapely hand? Isnt responder moe likely to have this kind of hand (weak) than a strong (forcing) hand?

>>Mike Lawrence's CAB and PVBL1 ~$34.95 + shipping each Very instructive software, though the format is very dated. It's definitely more like an etextbook than the others. Mike Lawrence writes well too, but it's just less fun after Larry Cohen's humour. I think both these titles are good, but overpriced. Should be closer to $20 than $30. I disagree that they are over priced, their content is fantastic (for the intended audience - intermediate level players). They are superior to all other bridge lessons that I have seen. The format is "dated" visually, but not in content. There is a newer version of the BridgeBase engine available that looks nicer. But the visual presentation of these disks is still fine. An analogy woould be would you rather buy a great bridge book for 50% more than a good bridge book, and the great book has an ugly cover. >>play Reverse Drury as described on the Lawrence disk" and imagine he says "OK". You now know when it is on and when it is off, you know that 2C is the only Drury bid, you know what raising a third hand 1M to 3M means (distributional lr, so not real trash) and so on. What I like about ML is he emphasizes all the follow ups and what to do over enemy interference. You better know all that and practice is.

why is 3 spades so terrible? I think 4 spades will probably be apssed out and we will be down 1, and there is no assurance the opponents can make a game contract.

>>A simplicity problem - Learning to play bridge is relatively hard. The scoring is difficult to understand, the bidding language is a barrier, and the nuances of cardplay take time to appreciate. By contrast, hold'em can be taught in 1 minute, what hand beats another can fit on the back of a playing card, and the strategy/scoring are seemingly obvious. This is the heart of the matter. Its very hard to convince people to learn basic bidding rules when its so much easier to do/play something else. This type of game is learned if you grow up in a house hold/environment where its played (like school). This is why I hink a very bare bones (and crappy) system would be good to get people palying the game.

>Q1: Should 3♥ show extra values? Even if with 4 card support? No. It just establishes the trump suit, shoing a 5-3 (or better) fit, since the 2H bid promised at least 5 hearts. (3H does not promise 4 hearts) >Q2: If 3♥ was based on a 4 card support, does it deny shortness somewhere? I would say yes, in that you can splinter with shortnes, using a single jump in this case, since you no longer need jumps to show strength after the 2/1 response. >Q3: What would a raise to 4♥ by North show instead? It shows a hand with nothing outside the 2 mentioned suits (hearts and Clubs) and South should not attempt a slam unless he has a lot outside those 2 suits >Q4: Is 3♠ by South a double fit or is it a control in support of hearts? I assume a double fit. >Q5: Assuming you have the following hand, what do you respond to 3♥? 4 hearts. Pard has no shortness, I have nothing outside. No slam here unless pard has both outside aces and a source of tricks in great spades. RKCBW by him lets me show 2 key cards and the trump Q. (which gets us to teh 6 level anyway)

Why are you preempting a preempt at IMPs? Bidding 5C and going down? Possibly a lot? Maybe they make or go down in 2♠. Not a big deal. Bidding at the 5 level requires some good cards by pard. Pass

In the 2/1 sysme notes from Mike Lawrences CD on 2/1 and his books, 3♦ would be an Intermediate Jump shift. I dont think you need the SJS over a major opening, just make a 2/1. Its over the minor suit opening that its needed.

Don't forget the sequel to How to Read your Opponents Cards! Its titles How to play Card Combinations by Mike Lawrence It covers a number of situations like which card to play from KJx in dummy, based on reading the cards.

>) The Lone Wolff by Bobby Wolff Pass I did not care for it, and if one is unfamiliar with the people it will be even less interesting.

If you like this book (I do) Lawrence has a sequel titled "How to Play Card Combinations". This seems like a pretty routine hand. RHO started with 3 hearts, and has 1 left. I see 3 Clubs, 2 hearts, 1 spade, 3 dimes once the king is knocked out. Win the heart , lay down the spade king. It doesnt matter who wins, win the heart continuation, and take a dime finesse, not caring if it loses since RHO has no hearts. The spades are strong enough to survive an attack. You would be in a worse predicament if the spades were K opposite Q432, because a spade contiuation would be a problem.

I think it asks about the ♦ king because: 1. If responder just wants to know about trump quality he can use RKCBW (he knows about the heart ace if the partnership cue bids only Aces rather than Kings in this sequence) If responder has just 3 spades, how can he not be worried about a trump loser as well as a dime loser? This implies trump quality concern - but he can use RKCBW 2. Responder knows about a souirce of tricks in clubs, lest say 5 or 6 tricks. He/she sees 5 spades, and the heart ace. The concern is preventing 2 quick diamond losers. Assumptions: 4H is a cue bid showing an ace, not a shortness bid. 3S is agreeing trumps and would never be done with 2, and maybe not even 3.

What does this sequence mean? What should it mean? 2NT - 3♣ 3♥ - ? 3♠ ? What does 3♠ mean? -------------------------------------- 2NT - 3♣ 3♠ - ? 4♥ ? What does 4♥ mean?