RD350LC

I agree 100%. Third hand, white vs red, and 5/5 distribution. No way would I pass.

To pass a hand with 12 hcp and 2 1/2 quick tricks is overly conservative. I fully agree with the opening bid.

Under no circumstance would I bid hearts. P could have made a negative double if he had hearts, and you bidding them is a reverse, and would force p to the 4 level to return to diamonds. P did make a free bid at the 3 level, and I see no reason to avoid 3NT. You do have a spade stopper, and hearts are covered.

As everybody has stated their opinion, I decided to put in my 2 cents worth. My view is that when west bid 2NT, showing 18-19 hcp, he has shown the FULL value of his hand. When east invited with 4NT, he was a minimum for his bidding, and thus should pass. However, west had 14 hcp, and even on a maximum for east of 19 hcp, does not really have enough to invite slam. His hand is 4333, and generally 34 hcp are required for slam in that case-and 19 + 14 does not equal 34. So, in my opinion, both players were optimistic, and this led to a poor slam.

At matchpoints, I definitely would pass, but at IMPS, I likely would go 5♦.

Pass If p has 4 card spade support, he will bid again. Otherwise, the law of total tricks says let the opponents play it.

I agree. Many people think that knowing what a transfer is makes them an advanced player. Also, when a person thinks that 1NT, 4NT is Blackwood needs to learn a few things. What I do when a person makes an ace response in that auction-they wind up playing 5 diamonds (or hearts or spades, as the case may be), maybe in a 3/1 fit, when either 4NT makes, or 6NT is cold. But, as I have indicated previously, when a person has no profile, I play NO conventions. That means no transfers (2 level bids over 1NT are signoffs), no stayman (2C over 1NT is a weak signoff), and so forth. After a few hands like that, they get the message.

I agree-I really don't like playing with people who do not have a profile. But, I do things a bit differently. I put up No profile, NO CONVENTIONS. That means no transfers, no negative doubles, and 4NT bids are always natural, among other items. When I pass a 4NT bid, they may get annoyed, but they soon realize that I mean what I say.

True enough, all good players would play it as responsive. BUT, I have seen (VERY POOR) players who don't even know what a takeout double is.

I tend to agree with you. I really do not like leading an unsupported ace, and certainly will not underlead an ace in a suit contract. I likely would have led a trump. Safest lead.

I have to agree. Watson's classic book is a very good book-it starts at the very basics, and continues on to intermediate and then advanced play. Another very good book is Hugh Kelsey's "Killing Defence". If you make it through that one, you will become a very tough player. Be warned, this is not an easy book to go through.

This is all dependent upon partnership agreement. One method that I have read about is to have the 3 level bids show 4441, with a singleton in the suit bid. Of course, this would have to be game forcing.

Not one that I would do, but as Robert Ewen states in his book "Opening Leads", any lead can strike oil if the distribution is right. That is not to say that I recommend it, but it can work. Sorry that you were deceived by this lead, but if they play like this...

It is very possible to have bids have completely different meaning depending on vulnerability, or position at the table. I know of people who have bids that have COMPLETELY different meanings whether they are vulnerable or not vulnerable. Of course, such bids do have to be alerted. But, as has been said previously, having two bids with the same meaning is a waste of a bid.

My view is that with that kind of hand, I would pass, and take my 50cents per trick. It is much preferred to use a double for takeout.

I very much wonder about South's bidding, especially after a business double. But I agree and would play the 2♦.

At matchpoints, I would likely hit it, but not at IMPs. I agree completely with these comments-as indicated, south is a good player. You may have 5 trumps, but only 1 trump trick, and your trumps are upstream of south. I would pass at IMPS.

My view of a 2♣ opener is not necessarily 22+ hcp, but a 4 loser (or less) hand. As such, with 8 hcp, I would make some sort of bid-not 2♦ should there not be any interference. I prefer to use doubles as penalty oriented.

I have read "Modern Bridge Conventions", and in there it states that when there is competition over a 2♣ opener, a bid shows 5+ hcp. Given that, I tend to agree with south's bid of 3♥. I also agree with 4♦. However, I would bid 5♣ over 4NT. Remember, p opened 2♣, and you have 8 hcp, so slam is a virtual certainty. After bidding 5♣, p could easily raise, and it may be possible to reach 7♣.

It is for this reason (difficulty in bidding over 4S) that I make the maximum pre-empt as much as possible.

I would let the spade run to the queen. Then I would take the heart finesse-as west is the danger hand, and you don't mind letting east on lead, as he cannot hurt you with a spade lead. If the heart finesse wins, then you can play for a 3/2 club split, and get 1 spade, 3 hearts, 1 diamond and 4 clubs. If the heart finesse loses, and a spade comes back, you would get 2 spades, 2 hearts, 1 diamond, and 4 clubs. If another suit comes back, then best chance is for the diamond finesse, winning 1 spade, 2 hearts, 2 diamonds, and 4 clubs. However, you can still play for 3/3 hearts (42% chance), and if that fails, go for the diamond finesse. Just my thoughts.

At matchpoints, there is no question that a small spade is the suggested lead. It may not set the contract, but is most unlikely to give any anything. At IMPs, I might lead the Ace clubs, but I doubt it. To say that the Ace clubs is the recommended lead because partner happens to have the KQJ clubs is result playing, and is in my opinion, not good bridge.

I agree 100% with this comment. Partner likely has a bad 6 hcp, maybe even 5 or 4 hcp, with just a heart preference. There is NO reason to go beyond 4♥, as it could be the last makeable contract.

3RD hand, I would open this 4♥, regardless of the vulnerability. 1st/2nd hand, I would open this 3♥ vul vs not, otherwise 4♥. 4th hand, I would pass it out.

I would pass, planning to bid ♠'s up to the 4 level if necessary. One of the opps is a passed hand, and the other made an overcall, not a T.O. double. We have at least 10 spades between us, so the overcaller must be short in spades. Where are the hcp?