nudnikbp

Instead of just playing solitaire bridge with the standard robots, pay a small fee to play with and against the advanced robots. They play better, not to be confused with perfectly. From the home screen, click on Competitive, then click on Daylong Tournaments, then scroll down and click on bbo (not ACBL) Daylong Tournament (IMP)1 or bbo Daylong Tournament (IMP)2. I recommend the pairs game with IMP scoring instead of matchpoint scoring because, as far as I can tell, the competition is tougher and that is good for your game. The fee is .39 to play an eight-board match. Although the advanced robots still misdefend from time to time and that is annoying, overall it is worth the small fee to play with the advanced robots. You can also play in ACBL pair events with imp scoring if you want to collect ACBL masterpoints, but the ACBL charges fees that are more than three times as much as BBO. I'd also recommend going through the Bridge Master declarer play tutorials, starting with the level 1, then proceeding sequentially. As an aside, I'll never play bridge as well as mikeh, but I think he is wrong about this issue.

Not saying my line is better, but I'd play the hand differently. Take the diamond ace at trick one and immediately lead the club ten. West will often cover with the queen. If West doesn't cover, then probably East holds it, so play the club ace and decide later whether to finesse the club or try to drop a doubleton queen with East. As an aside, even though it may not matter on this hand, I don't like ruffing a diamond early because it helps the opponents count the hand. Better to keep them in the dark as much as possible.

Double, which is negative and shows at least four hearts. Regarding strength, the double shows a hand that is strong enough to play at the three level opposite a minimum opening bid. The doubler could have more strength than that but doesn't promise it. Without the negative double you won't be able to find your possible 4-4 heart fit.

Following up on the defensive misstep at trick one, try leading the heart jack at trick two. Maybe the defense will blow two tricks on one hand. If South doesn't cover play the heart ace and return a heart. Play the king if North follows low, then lead the club jack. If the heart queen doesn't drop you still may be able to discard your spade loser.

5D if you don't have a regular partnership.

3NT,showing 25-27.

It's hard to follow mikeh, but South's spade king is in the right position and he has just enough for 2H.

Holding the South hand, I would not think, just open 1H.

Regarding opening 1NT with a singleton honor in a major suit, I've found that partner often transfers into that major,which is not ideal.

Hand 1: One spade. Partner may have four spades. If the hand was 4333, then maybe 1NT instead. Hand 2: One heart, looking for a 4-4 major suit fit.

Without looking at West's actual hand, East has enough to continue to 4S.

1NT is okay, but bid 2D in response to the Stayman 2C. That should be automatic.

Instead of thinking, I'd just open one club. That seems normal.

When posting, it is critical to provide the exact auction.

Your hand is strong for 2D, so yes, continue to game.

One club. One heart could work better, but I haven't had good luck with distorting suit length.

Without a partnership agreement, West could bid 5C over 2NT. East has enough to continue to 6C as the slam can't be any worse than a diamond finesse.

Looking at only the South hand, it appears to be much more oriented toward suit play, not notrump.

North overbid; South did not.

So in other words, East can use RKCB and if West has three key cards, then East can bid 7NT?

Pass. I expect partner can take nine or ten tricks in a heart contract. Five clubs will probably make or go down one.

Here is a different wacky bidding sequence. As East, open 2C, then rebid 2NT. After that the partnership will get to 6NT.

I play with many different partners, so 2H would be natural in that sequence.

Four clubs. I want to bid my second suit.

North made a vulnerable overcall that deserved to be punished,but he got away with it this time and it hurt your auction.