AL78

Thanks for the fast responses. I opened 2♥. This is what happened: [hv=pc=n&w=sa9hq974daj8c7542&e=sjt87hakt862d62c8&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=2hppdp3d3hppp]266|200[/hv] A game swing out when the other table got to 4♥. Partner said after that I was too strong to open a weak two and I should have opened 1♥ instead.

My RHO held this hand: ♠Q5 ♥K ♦8632 ♣AQT963 Teams, all vuln, his partner opens 1♦, he responded 2♣, his partner then bid 2♦, no opposition bidding. What would you now do?

[hv=pc=n&w=sahadkq9764ck9862&e=skj973hjt9843djcj&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1sdp2hp4dp4hp5cp5dppp]266|200[/hv] IMPs. Opps were playing a weak NT, I was East and thought partner was making a slam try via cue bidding, I bid 5♦ because it occurred to me at that point partner might be trying to show a big minor two suiter (although why not overcall 2NT or 4NT in that case?), and if she is cue bidding, I'm not totally distorting my hand. Other EW pair found 2NT making (I have no idea how) whilst partner went two down in 5♦. How do you think the bidding should go?

♠JT87 ♥AKT862 ♦62 ♣8 IMPS, all vuln, dealer.

I suspect part of the reason I blow MPs frequently is related to only playing 2-3 times a month, so I have never properly trained myself to focus and infer everything possible. Another issue is even in club games I can get fatigued in the second half of the session (especially if the hands are biased the other way and I am defending frequently). If I have to defend six or seven times consecutively it is inevitable I will mess up at least one of the hands.

This illustrates the kind of vision and analytical power needed to become world class, and why I will never get anywhere near that level. I can at least try to play as well as I can on any given session.

Everyone has made the valid points already but was North awake on the first round of the auction, because it is obvious to overcall at least 3♠, if not 4♠ at their first turn. South can then blast 6♠ and leave it to them to guess. If they still find 7♦, 7♠ is tempting as you know they have a void and where are you getting even one defensive trick from?

This is what happened: [hv=pc=n&s=sk8542ha2dq432c65&w=sj9hkjt93dk8caq94&n=sqth854dajt965c72&e=sa763hq76d7ckjt83&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=ppp1h3dd5dppp&p=sas2s9sth6hah3h4d2d8djd7dac8d3dksqs3s4sjd5c3dqc9skh9c2s6s8c4c7s7s5hth5]399|300[/hv] This was the last board of the evening and it had been mixed overall, mainly because there were only four tables and a two winner Mitchell (club COVID safety rules) so with a high variance in standard, randomness was higher than normal (and it is quite high at this club normally). After some thought I decided to pass, I lean towards having a classic 3-level pre-empt in 1st and 2nd seat, although when partner also passed I decided to throw in a weak jump overcall, which partner upped to 5♦. I was surprised not to get doubled until I had experienced East's defence, who seemed to assist me in taking as many tricks as possible. 5♦= was a top.

♠QT ♥854 ♦AJT965 ♣72 Playing 5CM, strong NT, weak twos in majors only (2♣/♦ are Benji Acol style), MPs, green against red, you are dealer. Do you pre-empt or pass?

I'm embarrassed to admit how the auction went, because out of a set of undesirable choices, I picked the worst one. I decided to bid 2♠ trying to get a balanced hand across that wanted to bid NT but was lacking a spade stop, but unfortunately this gave partner the impression I had a much stronger opening hand (which I should have). It does seem 3♦ would have been the least of evils. [hv=pc=n&s=sj9hqj2dkj42cat95&n=s862hakt4dq93ck43&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=p1c1s2dp2sp3cp3dp3sp4cppp]266|200[/hv] Because of my massive overbid the auction spiralled out of control. I tried to stop in 3♦ but it wasn't happening. Didn't know which minor to try when forced so picked the wrong one. Three off for a bottom. 4♦ can be held to one down which would have got us an average. Classic case of fall in a hole and keep digging. It would have been much easier on this particular hand if we were playing a weak NT, then we could have gone one off in 2NT for an average.

This was partner's hand: ♠J9 ♥QJ2 ♦KJ42 ♣AT95 What do you think she should have done?

Yes, it is comparable to the auction 1♥ - 2♦ in a non 2/1 GF system, so 9+HCP and at least four diamonds. What would you recommend playing in the situation I faced?

MPs, 5CM, strong NT, not 2/1 (i.e. 2/1 shows a good 9+ HCP): [hv=pc=n&n=s862hakt4dq93ck43&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=p1c1s2dp]133|200[/hv] 2♦ could be a four card suit. Your bid?

Ok so you can make it when the defence kindly open up the heart suit for you saving you a guess as to how to play it for only one loser.

1. 2♠. 2. If you don't have enough to invite game, you have a minimum so give cheapest support, 2♠. If you hold better than a dirt minimum and game is possible, partner will bid again. 3. 3♠. 4. Go through fourth suit forcing before raising spades or bid 4♠. 5. 4♣/♦ cue bid, Blackwood. You could go through 4SF then raise spades as in 4., opener should cue bid if they have a strong opener.

Only if both sides play in their best fit. If they play in their major fits both are seven card fits so 14 total trumps.

This was the full deal: [hv=pc=n&s=skj2hq9dakj32caq7&w=sqt754hkdq95ck864&n=sa6hj63d8764ct532&e=s983hat87542dtcj9&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p2hdp3cp5cppp]399|300[/hv] Partner didn't know what to do and blasted 5♣, not a success going four off for a bottom on the ♦T lead (eight tricks are there double dummy). One pair found the making 3NT (I have no idea how). One North made nine tricks in 5♣ and one North went three off in 4♣. I don't think I played it right, I should not take the club finesse and instead cash the ace before crossing to hand then play to the queen, East then doesn't get a diamond ruff (me not planning carefully enough again). I suggested if she really wants to bid again perhaps 3♦ would have been better, and I haven't guarenteed a five card suit. If I had shown the diamonds instead of the clubs we somewhat land on our feet, 10 tricks are available in a diamond contract, so we only go one off if she raises to game.

I'd make a two suited overcall if I was playing one, otherwise overcall 1♠.

I was playing with a novice on Monday evening in my first F2F bridge session for a year and a half (and picked up the worst hands at the table again, some things never change!). This is an awkward situation she was in on one board. ♠KJ2 ♥Q9 ♦AKJ32 ♣AQ7 MPs, partner passes, RHO opens a weak 2♥. Your basic system is Acol, three weak twos, weak NT. You are not playing Lebensohl, so if you double partner will bid 3♣ which won't necessarily show values.

Yes my club has introduced a couple of F2F sessions a week, termed a soft reopening. Face masks not compulsory, an upper limit of eight tables, hand sanitiser must be used, the windows have to be open for ventilation (good luck with that in the winter), no cash (vouchers only), players must only handle their cards, the kitchen is closed so people must bring their own refreshments, and only North handles the Bridgemate,

Ok, that makes a difference, in which case that is a hideous hand to find an opening lead from.

I don't understand why West made an attacking and dangerous lead when their partner is marked with little, instead of playing a safe top heart. West is looking at three defensive tricks and the club king might be a fourth on some layouts. There is nothing in the bidding to suggest that the potential club winner might go away on an establishable side suit. As it happens I don't think it makes any difference as declarer can quickly set up two club discards on the spades if a club isn't led.

Horsham has done a soft reopening, limit eight tables, one evening and one afternoon.

If 4NT is two places to play, correcting 5♣ to 5♥ could imply the two places to play are 5♥ or 6♥ depending on partner's support.

I agree with 5♥. The chances are there is not much spade wastage opposite, and I would guess if it is our hand, it is more likely we belong in hearts than diamonds. If partner puts down a singleton heart and five diamonds to the KQ I'll apologise.