cleveritis

I like 2H as exactly medium strength - 4-7... 2D is either weak 0-4 or 9+ 2N is a 6 or 7 card suit and out... Q9xxxxx The advantage is that the limit of the hand is known quickly... Generally a 2c opener is balanced or NOT super interested in partners KQxxx - (at least not right away) The 2H bid says right away that slam will likely depend on source of tricks or fit - and NOT opposite 23-4 although can raise 2N to 4N with max Assume 2D negative until otherwise informed. 2c 2D 2N non forcing... 2D and then encouraging moves are pretty close to slam drives..

AFter weak 2 pass pass, 2N is natural - 100% what do you do otherwise with Kxx, Aqx, Kjxx, kxx? If you double partner bids 2s on Jxxx, jxx, Qtxx,Ax - 2N has a little play 2S not much.

1NT might be a tiny bit heavy - but as Robson says, you have to be maximum sometimes. Passing 1N with the 55 is daft, a) might not make, b) we want to make it hard to bid spades their way, c) we might go down in 1N cold for game or slam. Isnt 2S (minors), then 3S (shortness) standard? Pard can sometimes bid 4H, ok sometimes we go down in 4m, sometimes in 3N, but sometimes 3N will make if one of your suits comes in.

1NT might be a tiny bit heavy - but as Robson says, you have to be maximum sometimes. Passing 1N with the 55 is daft, a) might not make, b) we want to make it hard to bid spades their way, c) we might go down in 1N cold for game or slam. Isnt 2S (minors), then 3S (shortness) standard? Pard can sometimes bid 4H, ok sometimes we go down in 4m, sometimes in 3N, but sometimes 3N will make if one of your suits comes in.

It is nothing to do with points, it is to do with off/ def ratio... if the A of spades were ace of hearts - this is solid non min... the problem with side cards is that if we go for 500 in 2 or 3H - those defensive cards make it more likely they don't make anything. Singleton honors suck. I might open that trash but it isn't sound poker.

We play a 1 minor opening and 3NT shows this hand. 2N COULD be ok - esp if partner has 5h or 6S - however this 20 count is too strong for 19-20. 2C then 3D over 2D and hope partner bids 3N might also work. There isn't a perfect answer. But DO play a 3N rebid is a solid suit.

2S terrible. 4S makes it hard for pard to bid slam with right cards... 3S about right - with right cards we might hear 4c, we bid 4D - etc... partner can have x AKxx, Qxx, Atxx also - make 6c dece

Most people play 2c is NOT a game force - if you rebid your suit. 2c - 2d (wait)- 2S - 2N or 3c (double neg) - 3S can be dropped Acol 2s are forcing for a round - so you are in the same spot

It depends upon the texture of your 4 or 5 card support. The mistake you might be making is with an 11 or 10 card fit, there is a 50 point deck - the total tricks may be 20 or higher. with a crappy 5332 with scattered Qx Kx and Jx - I'd just raise to four - hoping to mess with their slam chances. With a pure 55 or 5431 - I go ahead and bid 5D - vulnerability matters too.

vulnerability matters a lot if we are not vul and they are, them going down in hundreds (lets face it, 2d will likely fail if we have 3 trump tricks) - so 2D passed out fine, and if partner reopens with double - yippee.. At love all bid 2N ez... both vul, then 2N

Well this is pretty ez have to say. Over DOUBLE, we play transfers - so 2H = good 2S bid... the 11 count should hope he makes it and pass. Over 2C is trickier because 2S in competition can be quite weak so he has to be 3C (good raise to 3S - WITH THREE TRUMPS if you play a good system) - then the 11 count (with a stiff honor should again hastily bid 3S and hope he makes) So they went a little nuts- showing terrible judgment.

I would say trivially ez to bid. 1D - 2D (forcing) 2S (should always show unbalanced hand with 2N for balanced hands) 3C - natural, 3N (natural) Knowing now facing 5431 the only interesting card is the king of spades... 4C - Q, 4H - Q, 4S Q, 5D (I've done my bit), 5H (I have Kh) 5S (I have Ks) - 7D

If I cant bid 4h - which shows a good raise to 4S then I bid 4s.... 3D is terrible - you don't "fit jump" on Axxxx suits and a diamond lead say Jx or Qx can hand them the contract... 4H is what you do with bits and pieces - AND partner can bid 5S if they have the hand. 4S with stiff heart is fine, they were about to bid 4H over 3S in all likely hood, let them guess at the five level... unlikely with my spade holding they can comfortably double profitably.

It depends on the structure of the hand. A 2c rebid on J9xxx is insane - or Axxxx - partner will pass some 5 card majors that play much better... however, if you have xx, Jx, AJxx,AKtxx - then 1c then 2c is fine...

Double is mandatory on the 2551 hand, were my hearts more concentrated kx, KQT9x,Qxxxx,x I would bid 3H (although even then, double could be much better)... what to do over 3D, 3H, or 3S is trickier.. I would bid 4D or 4H... 3S might be a hand stuck for a bid 5233 which doesnt fancy 3D - I would pass that I think. On the other hand a reopening double isn't marvelous - but you sort of have to do it playing take out doubles. Double in both cases keeps all contracts - ESP including 3Cx, 3N, 3S, and 4D as possible contracts, 3H can get a disgusting result (esp if pard 5152 and does not have the values for 4 forcing diamonds)