keylime

I would play 3♠ here as waiting. It's not clear as of yet that pard is single suited or 5332 and may have another side suit (like a broken five bagger) he may want to introduce. Additionally, in a 2/1 context, any minimum can be up to a 15-16 count that is flat and tenace-oriented (for this hand, obviously not, but in general). I also want to solicit more information from partner in terms of what my next bid is. I'm not a RKC or Serious 3NT user on this hand - I'm interesting in hearing what type of minimum pard owns. I'm privately hoping for a flat/balanced distribution.

I like compressed transfers, which allow you to get to clubs via this mechanism: 1NT - 2D - 2H - 2S* (cancels heart xfer, club xfer) - 2NT/3C (bust/superaccept) Likewise for diamonds, xfer into spades and then cancel. This allows you to play 1NT-2NT as a direct natural invite.

This feels like a 30 point deck situation. I got ace-fourth of hearts opposite shortage, which mildly concerns me (with ace-third I'm more inclined to get on with it) due to the length of their holding. I have decent trumps and pard's bidding as if I don't have to have much for my call; trumps are decent, and I have a possible help suit in diamonds. So I bid 5♣ (not 4NT - I want a stop in diamonds here), and I should be ok.

Since you have identified your hand through the opening and the rebid, I would think pard's hitch would enforce a LA of pass. I can't any other call but pass being permitted on review.

This is an interesting hand - I voted for 1NT because the 4333 hand is going to slow me down and I need a lot of help from pard to make 2 or 3NT. Pard can be balancing in on a lot of hands and I want to give him some room here.

Ultra's strong club defense, the synthesis which came from fellow BBO poster Free, uses a similar engine. Recently there was discussion whether to play another defense for prepared club methods and hearing this, I think we'll play our strong club defense here too.

4♠ here too - I got a lotta hand for pard.

Phil, I forgot to include the hand 9xxxxx Kx KJx xx too (and if 5-3-3-2 with same honors).

I turn 32 this month and I get carded still, even with the few greys entering the skull...

Yeah, 4D does keep the 4-4 in view...change my vote too.

Even with a 10-13 NT at white, and as aggressive as I am opening 4cM, I pass. This hand is a hand I want to table and not open. I'd expect on K&R to be maybe 9.25 to 9.5 playing points tops, and that's being generous.

Frances, Wouldn't you double 1NT with 5-3-1-4 and 5-4-1-3 to show some clubs by implication?

Phil, Apology accepted. I understand the vein of what you're angling towards here; we're both passionate people. Maybe I'm a little gunshy about blasting to slam on these hands due to bringing back -50's versus +420/+450 - these 5-5 hands haunt me admittedly from time to time. The more I think about it, the more I might elect 4NT first over double, just because it's more indicative about my hand versus a double and awkward rebid. Yes I have a rock, but I'm at equal colors (at favorable, I confess I'm going). I wish I could bid 4♥ immediately and then correct if pard made some noise, but that's rather counterintuitive. Additionally, I can handle any combination except 6-3-2-2. What wouldn't responder bid but 4♠ on let's say on 9xxxx Axx Jxx xx at equal at IMPs? The preempting side doesn't have to have A or K of hearts do they?

Good bidding problem. Red at IMPs - a major tease here and I do have some empathy for the 3M crowd, but pard has doubled back into this auction, and an Ace and a five card suit are upgrades. I'll bid 4♠ - the 4-3 heart fit potential is a brute and want to get it into our "known" fit.

Phil, I strongly take exception to the notion that I don't play strong games or that I have a humpty-dumpty idea over something that is quite relevant. C'mon Phil, that was rather cheapish and unlike you. The entire universe doesn't play pick-a-slam in this situation, so why should it be readily dismissed here, especially when there's a 4 level raise of a preempt and you're trying to figure out the best contract ? (For the record, Larry and I have no agreement here, so this is a very thought provoking problem). I am sure there's enough "good players" out there that would think that 5NT here is G/S try with a huge hand to warrant consideration - a little slack is appreciated here towards the responder that probably doesn't have what I need for slam try. I want my pard to feel that they can bid on more hands where I'm giving them a Q or K, and...what about adverse breaks? Certainly, trumps are not going to be 3-2/3-1 more often than not - and with a 2nd suit in the picture, a cross-ruff is lurking to sink 6♠. So, if I mandate pard passing on any five bagger and I double back in (or bid 4NT), that doesn't work out when pard has a few hearts with their spades (it's almost the case where you want pard to NOT have spades to runout via 4NT). My argument is not just from the practiced p'ships, but with casual ones -> and I'd expect casual ones be more conservative in this situation and just strive for game (or double or 4NT takeout). In my youthful days pass was out of the question, so chalk my conservatism and discipline to old age.

I like the longest way around to get this hand into context. Let's hope pard doesn't have garbage as usual. lol

I agree with Noble's and Frances' comments - the event you're in and partnership positioning is critical. I confess, that Larry would never entertain 5♦ unless MPs, and I'd be the one bidding it under certain circumstances. In general tho, it's a quiet pass and defend.

Phil, Let me be devil's advocate here. What is double of 4♥ here in this context? I would think that it should show cooperative values but not necessarily deny spade length. I agree with the initial double - it doesn't bypass your potentially last safe harbor of 4♠, but now we're in the soup. Additionally, pard may have as many as 4 hearts (likely 2-3, but still, this is something to consider in terms of final contract) and that means you'll need to consider carefully how to make a probe. What's 4NT here....under duress? There is merit that if you had another place (or in this case three total) to play that 5NT could convey this message, but because of the lack of room you're endplayed into one of 3 forcing calls - 4NT, 5♥, and 5NT: 4NT, probably RKCB in spades - doesn't help us, we're void in hearts. 5H - likes spades, asking for the quality of their 4♠ call. Great if pard's on some spades, horrible if on 4-2-x-x and/or a single suited weak hand in spades 5NT - potentially the bigger gainer, and likewise, the biggest loser. It gains when any three card minor holding is out there, and also gets us to grand if pard provides a couple of tickets. It loses when pard thinks it's a G/S try in spades and you lose context, and also if pard doesn't equate the multiple places to play concept. With experienced partnerships, 5NT being pick-a-slam makes sense IF you have both minors. What about being 3-0-6-4 or similar - it almost forces a mandatory 6♣ bid which may be the wrong fit! That's one of the reasons I'm not a fan of 5NT here - it muddies the waters and caters to exactly one hand type that would double, the 5530 handtype. I'd rather play 5NT as G/S try and 4NT as my general probe for the best contract, and leave 5H as specifically inquiring about pard's hand knowing that I can bid a minor in passing with the reasonable expectation pard should reason that I am offering another place to play (and likewise, pard counterproposing). In pickup p'ships, this becomes nearly an impossible problem to solve correctly. I still don't think that 4♠ is necessarily a free bid - I would expect pard to double with values and no direction. Then again, I view this as "weak must speak" situation, especially at IMP scoring.

I don't consider 4♠ to be a free bid here tho. Partner maybe bidding on hands to transfer 4♥ into 4♠ and doesn't promise the moon either while doing it. Otherwise I'd expect either a double or some other noise made. Additionally, 5NT is a brave call if pard's single suited in spades. And is pard going to really think you're on a monster 2 suiter in the minors with this call - he might think it's for spades and bypass you! The preempt has done its job and I'm not going to lose 11 sure imps for a likely making spade game to speculate on a 6m slam.

Ditto Han.

Mike, Valid point there. I wonder what a 4C/D bid in their methods would mean in terms of setting trumps.

With my trump holding, I won't touch trump. I have a stiff spade, and is an attractive lead: the NT bidder did not take a preference back to spades so they likely have 2 of them. That means pard's on a lot of them, and this has the makings of a violent cross-ruff. I have decent diamond spots, but I think it's too passive of a lead. A club is hyper aggressive, but I'm not keen to it - it's leading into declarer. I'm going to go for the gusto: spade.

I ditto Mike's thread to the full. Can't hang pard for bidding here, and you are potentially your best spot. I'd be more concerned with making 4♠ than entertaining a slam try.

I don't play support doubles anymore for many reasons. Josh has hit the nail on the head here in terms of failing to understand the follow-ups. 2♠ here on repeated heart leads looks to be down 2. In the past, I played 3♣ here as inviting, because I could bid 2♣ originally to force; additionally I had a 2NT Leb relay to get out in clubs (or diamonds for that matter) just to cater to these constructive 6-4 hands.

This is fantastic news for two outstanding people - I am overjoyed at hearing this. Where do I send the gift? :D