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Regardless of whether you are playing Polish club or standard, 4NT at this point has to be clubs and a red suit, so that describes your hand. When partner bids 5C, about all you can do is pass. Sure, you could be cold for seven on as little as xxx Qxx xxx xxxx but there's just no way to tell. Partner could have Qxx xx xxxxx xx and even 5C could possibly go set.

Over 1NT (regardless of range), you need a way to show 55 in the majors with a game force hand. That sort of hand comes up often enough to merit some sort of treatment for it. Your treatment of transferring followed by bidding 3H as showing 54 in the majors seems very wrong. With a 54 game force, you can use Stayman followed by Smolen (over 2D, you jump in the four-card suit). So at the very least, transferring to spades and then bidding 3H could be used to show 55. If you used that treatment, then opener could bid (1) 3S as encouraging in spades; (2) 3NT with a 2245 or 2254 hand where he opened 1NT; (2) 4C and 4D as encouraging in hearts; and (3) 4H and 4S as signoffs. Here, opener doesn't have a bad hand at all opposite 55 gf. Sure, the Qd would be better if it were the Ks, but other than that, every card is working. So the auction would likely go: 1NT 2H 2S 3H 3S 3NT(1) 4C(2) 4H(3) 4S(4) pass (1) serious slam try, but no minor ace or king (2) club control (3) 2-3 diamonds (else would cue 4D); Last Train (4) can't do any more Another possibility for showing 55 is to use 3H as 55 invite and 3S as 55 game force or better. Cheers, mike

This is an easy one -- pass. You've shown your hand nicely; partner says he wants to play 3NT. WTP? But I do take exception to the fact that 2D over 2C shows 6+. Maybe that's your bidding style, but it's not a good treatment. Rebidding 2D on almost all hands with 5+ diamonds is more or less standard nowadays and generally works out much better. Cheers, mike

Lots of bad bids in this auction. 1S and 2NT look pretty normal in any system. But after that: 1. 3S is a bit of an underbid. You have four spades, not three; the Kd is well-placed; and partner rates to have a heart honor, so the QJ will be working. Better to bid 3D (unus over unus) showing a limit raise or better in spades. 2. 4C is fine, although I would consider 5C. 3. 4S is OK as a two-way bid in IMPs. It might make (doubtful, but you never know), or the opponents could make 4C. 4. 5C by East is poor. He's already shown his hand. Why bid again? If someone is going to sacrifice here, it needs to be West. 5. South should X 5C 6. North should probably X with two bullets, but I guess I could live with a pass (this is why it's important for South to bid 3D at his first turn; then he can make a forcing pass over 5C). But bidding 5 over 5 with the North hand is just plain awful. CHeers, Mike

Instead of noting how one's favorite oddball convention (Namyats and the like) would address this, let's just figure out what to do in standard 2/1. The choices appear to be between 1H, 2C, and 4H. Each has advantages and disadvantages. 1H: This hand isn't getting passed out. The problem here is that the auction could be at the 4S level by the time you get to make another bid. Now what are you going to do? 5H, I guess. 2C: You have 10 tricks or so, which is more than good enough (8.5 with a major is fine). You just have to have the agreement that 2C can be bid with this sort of hand (which I think is the right agreement). 4H: With both vul, I think 4H is a bit of an underbid. You have 10 tricks or so, and 4H should show 8. At unfavorable, however, I think I would bid 4H. I think either 1H or 2C is fine. Cheers, Mike

Your treatment is actually a revised version of the old Fishbein convention, where X of a 3-level preempt was penalty-oriented and the next highest suit or cheaper minor was used for takeout. No one plays that any more, and for good reason. A good example of the problems with your treatment is what to do over 3H with the following hands: QJTx x AQxx Axxx Ax x KJTx AKxxxx The first hand type is rather common. In your system, I guess you have to pass, because you don't have four defensive tricks. Passing on hands like this is a huge loser. You have to X or you'll get robbed blind. If you bid 4C, then there is no way to stop in 3S or to play 3NT. Again, a huge loser in the long run. And if you play 4C as takeout, then what do you do with hand #2? You are stuck. Cheers, Mike

I don't play in the MBC, only in tourneys, but I used to play a lot on the MBC equivalent on OKB. Just saying "bye" and leaving as dummy in the middle of a hand can be perceived to be a bit rude. It's basically saying "I see the way you're playing this hand, partner, and obviously you're not good enough for me to play with, so I'm leaving." I had players do that to me on OKB, and almost without exception, they were (i) leaving because they didn't like some bid or play I made and (ii) likely wrong in their assessment. A better way to handle it would be to "Sorry, I have to make this my last hand. Thanks, partner." Or "Sorry, but I can't play any more right now. Thanks p." Yes, you could be leaving because you don't want to play with your partner any more, but you also could be leaving because you really have to go. And it never hurts to thank partner for his or her time, even if they have messed things up badly. Cheers, Mike

You have 18; the preemptor probably has around 7-8. That means the old ESP rule (expect seven points) is about right in this case. If you pass, you will lose tons of IMPs much of the time, and you will gain big only in the small portion of the cases where LHO has enough to double (not likely). So the question is what bid is most likely to land you in the right spot. X is awkward. Partner isn't going to be able to pass for penalties. The only bid you will enjoy hearing is 4S. Otherwise, you'll be stuck wondering what to do if partner bids 3S, and wishing you'd bid 3NT if partner bids 4m. So just take the bull by the horns; bid 3NT, and hope partner produces the dummy he rates to have. Cheers, mike

Kaitlyn: First three are pretty clear I think. Can't say as I completely agree on #4. Opener probably has 15-16 HCP with three-card spade support, as you point out. Certainly with 18, he would jump to 3S at his third turn to force a game. You have KQxx of diamonds opposite a stiff, and two small hearts opposite your partner's 5-card suit. Where is your source of tricks at NT? There is no way you have a game opposite anything except a perfecto from partner. I would try to protect a plus score and pass 2S. I wonder what a simulation would show.

I'll assume RHO was in first seat, because if he was in second seat you have an easy pass, and if he was in third seat, either his partner or yours needs some glasses. It's closer than it looks, because you are short in diamonds, but let's think about this for a minute. If you pass, the only really bad thing that could happen is that LHO gets to play 2D. That is not apt to be good for our side. Well, we have 7 HCP, and the weak two-bidder also has about 7. So there are 28 for the other two hands. If you pass, chances of this hand getting passed out are very small indeed. Someone is going to bid. If that someone is partner, then you can respond accordingly. If you pass and RHO bids 3D, passed back to you, I think I would try 3S white v red. Partner will know what's up from your failure to overcall 2S. So yes, I'd pass, but if my hearts were Qxxx, I'd bid 2S. Cheers, Mike

Yes, use a treatment such as Reverse Smith at NT, and partner can tell at trick 2 which holding he has. Cheers, Mike

Sometimes you just can't find a 23 HCP game with both hands balanced (and the Kc in opener's hand looks like garbage after the overcall), especially when the opponents bid 2C over a 1D opener (the most obstructive overcall in bridge, I think). No blame. Both N and S bid fine. A negative double isn't good at all with the South hand, because you have no escape if partner bids 2H. 3D? Really? And what's even worse, some of the time West will find a raise to 3C and partner, with 0-1 clubs, will bid 3H on a minimum opener. Now what? North's X doesn't show extras, so it's hard to fault South for doing anything but bidding 2S, especially since the Qc is likely worthless. Cheers, Mike

You don't want to be in any slam with these cards. Partners proper rebus is 1NT not 2h. You only raise on 3 when you have a stiff and there is no logical alternative. Let's say partner was 1345 and opened 1c. Now 2h is the only good choice, as 1Nt with a stiff is not attractive, 2c should show 6, and 2d is a reverse

Not so at all. Yeesh the dreadful info on here. 3D is a FORCING game try in h. But it can also be the prelude to a slam try. Partner will bid 3h with a minimum; 4h with most maximums;; and 3S 4C or 4D if he thinks he has a "perfecto" in case you have a slam try. The best thing you could hear from partner is 4c or 4d. Any of 3c 3D or 3s (splinter) is fine. I probably bid 3s too

Sometimes this can be a problem. But there are other problems that feed into the overall issue. For example: 1. Some players don't alert bids they should, so then their opponents sometimes have to ask for explanations and wait until they get them (often you have to call the director) 2. Some players routinely reject even the most obvious claims, again resulting in a director call (NO, YOU CAN'T PLAY IT OUT). To say "well then just don't claim - play everything out" (as I have had opponents tell me from time to time) is nuts. Sometimes a hand is over after trick 4. Why play it out? Why not save time for the next hand that may require some deep thought? 3. Some players routinely play out the most obvious hands rather than claiming, and if I try to concede a certain number of tricks to help them out, reject that. I've even had opponents reject when I've tried to concede ALL the remaining tricks! 4. All hands aren't equal. I've seen opponents take 4 minutes to play a hand that is worth 30 seconds of time and then complain when I think for 2 minutes at trick one declaring the next hand (generally, about a minute later, I end up claiming, but they think every trick has to be played at the same speed). We all have an obligation to try to get three hands in within 14 minutes. That's not that hard if (A) everyone alerts all alertable bids and provides the correct explanation with the bid and (B) declarers with simple hands claim early and defenders accept proper claims quickly. Indeed, when playing against strong players, I generally end up with 3-4 minutes on the clock when the round ends, even if 1-2 hands require considerable thought. Cheers, Mike

You're stuck playing small from Qx. You can't have everything, and if you play Q from Qx in this situation, how is partner to know if you have one or two? He can't. So you might as well preserve the Q. This isn't that hard a situation for partner to figure out: Partner pretty much has to have four hearts here. If he has AKx or AKJ, that's an Ace lead. If he has five hearts, it's unlikely (though possible) that he would overcall 1NT instead of 1H or X (depending on his hand strength). So he has AKxx or AKJx. From partner's point of view, it's unlikely that you have a stiff H, as you are pretty much booked for a stiff D on the auction. So you should have 2-3 hearts. If declarer plays the Q, your partner can tell immediately what is going on, because you will give him count. If declarer plays the J, declarer could have a stiff J, QJ tight, or be falsecarding from Jx. If you play the lower spot card available, that means declarer could have stiff J (you have Qxx) or Jx (you have Qx), but not QJ tight (you would play high from xx). So you have the Q, and partner can safely lead a low heart at trick 2 if he wants (although he doesn't know if you have Qx or Qxx). If you play the higher spot card available, declarer could have QJ tight or be falsecarding from Jx, but he doesn't have a stiff J (you would play low from Qxx). So partner knows he can cash a second heart, but he doesn't know who has the Q (declarer is more likely). If declarer plays the Q, it's even clearer. If you play the lower spot card available, declarer must have the stiff Q (you would play high from xx or Jx). If you play the higher spot card available, declarer must have QJ (you would play J from Jx and low from Jxx). If you play the J, declarer is falsecarding from Qx (this is unlikely). What is going on if declarer plays a small card at trick one? Well, I don't think you should play the Q from QJx here, b/c partner asked from count. Q ought to show QJ tight (or Q stiff, but that's unlikely given you d stiff). From QJx, I would play low. If you play the J, of course, you have Jx (or J stiff, but that's unlikely given the D stiff). So if declarer plays a small card, what's going on? Well, if you play Q, you likely have QJ tight and declarer xx. In any event, partner can lead low next if he likes. If you play J, you likely have Jx and declarer Qx. In any event, you can cash at least one more H trick. If you also play a small card, then either (A) you have Qx and declarer Jx or (B) you have QJx and declarer has a stiff. Here, you can't know if another trick will cash, but partner knows you have the Q, so that low is safe at trick 2. Cheers, Mike

Here are the factors to consider when comparing a 44 major to 3NT: 1. Do you have the intermediates in your trump suit? Qs and Js in the trump suit are important. If you don't have good intermediates, a 4-1 trump break could buffalo you. If you do, you can often overcome it. 2. How much strength do you have? If you are minimum for game, the suit contract will generally make an extra trick. If you have substantial extra strength, however, you might make the same number of tricks on power alone. 3. How good is your side four-card suit? If your side four-card suit is good, that may provide a good source of tricks for NT. This one is borderline. Your trump suit isn't great, and you have the Qx in your doub suit. That would argue for 3NT. But you don't have extra power, and your side 4 card suit is not good. That would argue for Stayman. I can't say either bid is terribly wrong. Cheers, Mike 4. Do you have the Q in your doubleton suit? In order for the ruff not to be useful, you either need to win the third-round trick on power (and Queens win third-round tricks) or else you have to not need the ruff (which is why 2 and 3 are relevant).

Here are the factors to consider when comparing a 44 major to 3NT: 1. Do you have the intermediates in your trump suit? Qs and Js in the trump suit are important. If you don't have good intermediates, a 4-1 trump break could buffalo you. If you do, you can often overcome it. 2. How much strength do you have? If you are minimum for game, the suit contract will generally make an extra trick. If you have substantial extra strength, however, you might make the same number of tricks on power alone. 3. How good is your side four-card suit? If your side four-card suit is good, that may provide a good source of tricks for NT. This one is borderline. Your trump suit isn't great, and you have the Qx in your doub suit. That would argue for 3NT. But you don't have extra power, and your side 4 card suit is not good. That would argue for Stayman. I can't say either bid is terribly wrong. Cheers, Mike 4. Do you have the Q in your doubleton suit? In order for the ruff not to be useful, you either need to win the third-round trick on power (and Queens win third-round tricks) or else you have to not need the ruff (which is why 2 and 3 are relevant).

Here are the factors to consider when comparing a 44 major to 3NT: 1. Do you have the intermediates in your trump suit? Qs and Js in the trump suit are important. If you don't have good intermediates, a 4-1 trump break could buffalo you. If you do, you can often overcome it. 2. How much strength do you have? If you are minimum for game, the suit contract will generally make an extra trick. If you have substantial extra strength, however, you might make the same number of tricks on power alone. 3. How good is your side four-card suit? If your side four-card suit is good, that may provide a good source of tricks for NT. This one is borderline. Your trump suit isn't great, and you have the Qx in your doub suit. That would argue for 3NT. But you don't have extra power, and your side 4 card suit is not good. That would argue for Stayman. I can't say either bid is terribly wrong. Cheers, Mike 4. Do you have the Q in your doubleton suit? In order for the ruff not to be useful, you either need to win the third-round trick on power (and Queens win third-round tricks) or else you have to not need the ruff (which is why 2 and 3 are relevant).

First round of bidding is normal enough: 2H and 2S were certainly normal. I would probably X 2S at MPs (gotta get that +200), but at IMPs pass seems clear (don't want to be -670). Who knows; maybe N-S will get in even worse trouble. North's pass of 2S is automatic. Now we get to some odd actions on the second round: East's 3H is just awful. Generally when you preempt, you don't bid again unless partner asks you to. An exception would occur on this hand if West had something like: x QJTxxx x KQxxx Now a 3C reopening bid has a lot of merit (risky, to be sure, but normal enough). But with most hands, including the one West had, you don't bid again. South's X is odd, too. This is takeout, not penalty. Reverse the H and the D and it would be perfect. As it is, not so much. As for West's XX, the only explanation I can think of is that he asked n/s about the X and was told "business." If West thought 3HX was for business, then it's kind of an old chestnut to XX, hoping that the opponents will get scared and run (hey, you're getting an awful board anyway, so there's a ton to gain and not much to lose). Assuming N-S didn't have an agreement that X of 3H is penalty (a really odd agreement), then I think North's 4D bid is OK. West's XX of 3H ought to be for business at this point (where are E-W going to run?). N-S ought to have an 8- or 9-fit in D. After that, however, N-S are in the stew.

With these sorts of hands, you bid 1NT with 16-18 and X with 19+. With 15, you can either pass or bid 1NT. With the actual hand you gave, I would probably pass and await developments. Cheers, Mike

I can't fault X or 3h; either one is reasonable. This hand isn't worth 19. The Qc is probably wasted, and indeed, it's worse than having xx, because the Qc are two HCP partner does not have. (If you had xx, partner would rate to have 1 more HCP than he does, and it might be useful). Also, any diamond and heart honors the opponents hold are likely to be badly positioned. X is more flexible. Partner could have short hearts, and your fit could be in spades or diamonds. Partner also could be in position to bid 3NT or pass for penalties (unlikely with your Qx, but possible, especially if declarer opened a ratty six-bagger). And sometimes, partner will surprise you by bidding 3H (which you can raise to 4). You'll have a decision to make if partner bids 3D or 3S over the X; I tend to favor a conservative pass with this hand, but I can see raising 3S to 4S (3D you should pass; 3H over 3D seriously overstates the strength of this hand). 3H is more boom or bust. If you have a game, you're more likely to reach it with the overcall; partner will strain to raise if he can, and if he has short hearts and a good hand, perhaps he can bid 3S or 3NT. But it's also the bid more likely to end up in disaster if partner has short hearts and nothing much to speak of. I think I would X, but it's close. Cheers, Mike

East can't really do much more than 4h, b/c as others have noted, West could be weaker yet still push to at least the 5-level over a 4d "Last Train" bid. I think the problem is that the pair is putting too much pressure on the 4C bid. You can't have a bid that takes up more than two full levels and that could be anywhere from 16 to 21 HCP with a stiff/void. It's too wide a range. Since the splinter takes up a lot of room, the logical choice is for the splinter to take up the lower half+ of this range (i.e., go on only with a really good hand or with a magic fit), with the upper half handled by something like: 1D 1H 2S 3C (4SF) 3H 3NT 4H Now East knows that West has a stiff/void club (has four in both majors, and with 4432, he'd have opened 2NT with 20-21 or raised to 4H immediately with 19) with a hand too good for an immediate 4C splinter. With East's hand, I think he can either use key-card or else bid 5H to ask about trump. Still, although it's a pretty good slam, it's not like it's one that I'm heartbroken if I miss; there's a decent chance it goes set. Cheers, mike

Well, contrary to what the original poster said, the auction is indeed relevant. Did LHO bid or not? If he made a Michaels or other two-suited bid, then the Jh hook line is pretty much a cinch. If he didn't bid (more likely), then you have to ask yourself if you think he would bid with x Jxxxx x Axxxxx or x Jxxxxx x Axxxx (I wouldn't, but I suppose some might). If you think he would bid on that, then try to endplay RHO by cashing two H and ducking a diamond. If you think he would pass, then the odds still slightly favor the Jh hook, as the odds of RHO holding precisely Jx of hearts are small, and LHO has more clubs than RHO. Pretty much looks like a coin flip to me, with the slightly better odds for the Jh hook offset by the small possibility of a bid from LHO with the club A. Cheers, Mike

I'd open it in MPs, but I wouldn't with a doubleton in either major rather than in diamonds. I'd probably pass in IMP and devote my brain focus to a hand that mattered. CHeers, mike