TimG

My first reaction to the auction was that north shouldn't have opened 2♣, but then I read about your treatment: I agree with your decision. But, I'd still like to be able to open 1♥ rather than have to start with an artificial bid. I think north should bid 5♣ over 4♠. Yes, pass and pull is a slam try, but 5♣ must be a slam try, too (it can't suggest playing 5♣) and is much more helpful to partner. I don't like south's double of 4♠. I think the five trumps are enough undisclosed offense to demand bidding on. Once you decide to bid rather than double, you might as well bid 5♣ along the way.

Notice that if you switch the ♦K and ♦6, west can still make 3N; I think west was too conservative (given the system restrictions) and should have just bid 3N. Tim

How can 2C be forcing? West passed over 1D, so he can't have that much, and east simply balanced.

I don't get it: why did I double? Why did I bid 4♥ and then 5♥? Wouldn't it have been better to bid 5♥ directly? And, why are youasking me to lead out of turn? You bid 2♦ (michaels).. No wonder I was confused!

I don't get it: why did I double? Why did I bid 4♥ and then 5♥? Wouldn't it have been better to bid 5♥ directly? And, why are youasking me to lead out of turn?

And, the opponents can consider it quite rude (pointing out their defensive shortcomings like that).

What are the chances that the opponents can also make a slam when partner holds those magic cards and not much else? Still, I would have started with 1♥ and saw where things went from there. When I first read the problem, I was prepared to keep bidding -- one post mentioned fear of defending 6♠ and my thought was: how did they stop me from bidding to the seven level? That may have been drastic, but I do think west's 5♥ bid was ill-advised. West knows east was preemtping opposite a passed hand and could have a wide variety of hands, including many where raising with 3352 shape is suicidal. It seems that it is seldom right to increase the preempt without shape of your own, and even then when partner is in a position where he could be taking liberties, just a little shape isn't enough.

12 tricks are available in NT, if hearts break 32. 6♣ looks even better, but who cares about minor suits?

I think you are correct. Though I didn't want to be the first to go out on that limb.

That doesn't make it right.

No, not a game try, a game force. 3♠ would be invitational.

Sounds like you're avoiding full disclosure. Your partner may have more data than the opponents, but he must fully explain your methods (even style and tendencies) so that just this situation does not occur.

That's not the end of the story with a takeout double. It could also be the start of a sequence which shows a single-suited hand that is too good for a simple overcall.

Sure, opener should rebid 3♥.

So, you're willing to give up ever showing your six-card suit in order to avoid a potential FSF problem?

Does FSF really apply after a game force has already been established? I don't think many experts would play it that way. In this case, it is definitely a punt, hoping opener can bid 3NT with a stopper. But, why do that when responder can help opener out by showing the heart fit. Why did opener expect 4H to be a good contract? In fact, after responder failed to bid 3H the round before, opener should know that 4H is NOT playable. I think opener should have bid 4C instead of 4H. This doesn't seem right. Isn't FSF part of SAYC? If so, the jump to 3H shows an invitational hand. To force, go through 4th suit. Tim

You're not going to get too far with that reasoning here in North America. One of the first things beginners learn is that a 1NT opening bid is a very good start to the auction because it immediately puts responder in control.

Yes, that's atypical. Because jumping to 4♠ overstates the value of the doubleton honors. A jump to 3♠ should be plenty with this hand. Tim

Hand one: I can't see why south would choose 4S over 3N, especially since with 3262 opener could still pull to 4S. Hand two: I think north just over bid. South has shown a hand with less than enough strnagth to bid an immediate 2D and has basically denied four spades. North knows the partnership doesn't really have enough strength for game and knows the heart ruffs are going to be taken in the wrong hand. Hand three: at first I assumed south was the one who doubled -- that almost makes sense. North's double is sort of off the wall. North knows that south is short in spades, so might have stretched to take action over 2S, yet passed. North can hope that 2 hearts will cash, but that's hardly a sure thing.

This is actually (at least in one way) possible by going to our Vugraph archives. We have almost all segments stored there, and now even with the commentary attached, word by word as they appeared during the live broadcast. I like this opportunity a lot, although I will always prefer to watch it live. Football, hockey, bridge, whatever. The feeling of "being" in Melbourne right now, although you are in fact in Chicago physically, adds to the excitement in my opinion. Roland I did not know that the commentary was now included in the vugraph archives, that is certainly a bonus. I agree that watching live is often better. But, sometimes it is impossible due to work/family/sleep etc. And, even with sporting events, I'm pretty much hooked on TiVo these days -- skipping the commercials and whatnot makes the experience more enjoyable for me.

Game is only 50%. And, wouldn't repsonder have bid the same way with 1264 and AJT9xx of diamonds? Add the ♣Q or ♥Q if you don't think so. Tim

I agree, but there is a way in which the current vugraphs could be improved: allow the viewer to proceed at his own pace (rather than in real time). This would also be useful for viewers half a world away -- wouldn't it be nice to be able to watch the events when you want to rather than at 3 AM? Tim

You talk almost as if you have some sort of advanced business degree!

Let's give opener ♠KJ, ♥QJ, ♦KJ = 11 HCP. Opener must have at least 2 aces for his jump to 4♠ (to get to 19 HCP, notice that opener must also have two aces to get to 18, 17, or even 16 HCP). And, if that's all he has, 5♠ will be safe. Yes, we all know that this collection of quacks isn't as good as most 13 HCP hands with some aces in it. But, in this case we KNOW partner must have those aces. And, once we have aces in combination with our quacks, the quacks pull their full value, or more. No need to stubbornly devalue our quacks when we know they will be working.

Why would south want to grab the NT? He has no declarer value; it's almost a sure bet that any NT contract will play better from responder's side.