AL78

Natural.

Thanks both, I let them have the spade contract and I led a low club which gift wrapped the contract to declarer: [hv=pc=n&s=s7hakt5dk7cqj8542&w=saqj853hq76dj85c7&n=st4hj93daq643ct63&e=sk962h842dt92cak9&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1sp2s3cpp3sppp]399|300[/hv] Declarer throws a losing diamond on a top club and they make it thanks to the very favourable heart layout. Only one table to compare with again which was 4♣(S)-1.

I decided to show the six card suit and bid 2♥. The full deal: [hv=pc=n&s=sakq632hj84d8ckj5&w=s754h6dj63cqt9632&n=sthak7532dkq72c87&e=sj98hqt9dat954ca4&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=p1hp1sp2hp4hppp]399|300[/hv] Making 10 tricks when the heart queen doesn't drop but 3NT also makes 10 tricks which one pair found so we only got 1 out of 4 MPs. I don't know how they got there as it was played by North.

I wouldn't normally open a hand like this but I decided to open 1♠ given it was a good suit and all the honor cards are working together. I am not embarassed to rebid the spades if I get a 2/1 response from partner (which would be non forcing). The full deal: [hv=pc=n&s=s53hat74d52cj9832&w=sa7hk62dat43caq65&n=skqj84h983dkq8ct4&e=st962hqj5dj976ck7&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1sppdp2dppp]399|300[/hv] The board had only been played one other time so the bottom we got arguably doesn't mean anything, but at the other table they didn't open on my hand and they ended up in 2NT(E)* which goes one off. 2♦ at our table made +1. *My guess is 1♦ (1♠) 1NT (P); 2NT AP.

[hv=pc=n&n=st4hj93daq643ct63&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1sp2s3cpp3spp]133|200[/hv] Do you bid on or not?

MPs, 4CM weak NT: [hv=pc=n&n=sthak7532dkq72c87&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=p1hp1sp]133|200[/hv] Do you rebid the hearts or show the diamonds here?

4CM, weak NT, MPs ♠KQJ84 ♥983 ♦KQ8 ♣T4 First seat no-one vuln, do you open?

Why wouldn't North double 5♥?

West is one of my other monthly partners who I have never seen walk the dog before, so I assumed she was making a punt. It has been said that if you never double a making contract, you aren't doubling often enough.

That makes me feel better. I doubled and this was the full deal: [hv=pc=n&s=sqj865h8dj854cj73&w=sh6542dkqt7ckqt86&n=sakt943hajd93ca95&e=s72hkqt973da62c42&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=2hpp3sp4s5hdppp]399|300[/hv] As expected -650 was a bottom. The other two scores were 5♥= and 5♠-2. I thought they were sacrificing against our game, in reality it was the other way around. This and many other hands contributed to our grand final score of 30%, a record low for me.

I responded 2♠ which got passed out: [hv=pc=n&s=sk954hakqdqj4ct74&w=sj3ht954dk83caj62&n=sat6h876dat7652c5&e=sq872hj32d9ckq983&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1sp2sppp]399|300[/hv] Partner made 10 tricks which was a 50% board (only two other pairs to compare against though). We beat the pair who went off in 3♠ but couldn't beat 1NTS+6 at another table.

I bid 3♠, felt 2♠ didn't do the hand justice. The auction proceeds: [hv=pc=n&n=sakt943hajd93ca95&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=2hpp3sp4s5h]133|200[/hv] Now what?

Yes the 1♠ opening promises at least four. I was thinking along the same lines, my hand is worth a limit raise opposite a five card suit and I wished we were playing 5CM at the time, but we weren't.

♠AT6 ♥876 ♦AT7652 ♣5 MPs, playing Benj Acol weak NT, partner opens 1♠, RHO passes. Your bid?

[hv=pc=n&n=sakt943hajd93ca95&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=2hpp]133|200[/hv] A sim pairs event, three and a half tables. Your bid?

Thanks for the additional information, I've not heard of two way Checkback, I'll go and look it up. I discussed this hand earlier today with partner and she said she did intend 3♥ as invitational in which case we were at least on the same wavelength. The discussion extended to alternatives to show the South hand without going through Checkback. I thought bidding 3♥ on the second round offering a choice of games if she didn't fancy committing to a heart game with an iffy suit in case I had a small doubleton, and I can bid 4♥ with Hx or better. What do you think? I'm a little reluctant to suggest systemic additions as she doesn't like taking on new conventions and prefers natural bidding.

That is something new I've learnt. I thought it was the other way around, going through Checkback is invitational and a direct jump is GF+, hence I passed. The full deal: [hv=pc=n&s=s8ha97632dk84caq3&w=sq9654hq84dtct852&n=skj7hj5da753ckj96&e=sat32hktdqj962c74&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1dp1hp1np2c(Checkback)p2np3hppp]399|300[/hv] I know now I should have bid 2♦ instead of 2NT but this was a missed game and a bad score.

Theoretically yes, but as sergeant Wilson would say, "Do you think that's wise" vulnerable with a five count and a ten high suit?

How?

Easier if you are playing a two suited overcall that allows you to show diamonds and spades. One East did overcall 2♠ and went for -300 which illustrates the danger of making aggressive two level vulnerable overcalls on mediocre suits and a minimal hand.

Doesn't 7NT depend on a finesse (I can only count 12 top tricks)?

MPs [hv=pc=n&s=s964ht3d84ct98543&w=sq5ha6dkqjt9753cq&n=sajthk42da2caj762&e=sk8732hqj9875d6ck&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1n2c(Landy)p2dp2hp3dp3hppp]399|300[/hv] I cannot remember a session where I opened a strong NT twice and ended up defending both times. This was against a pair of improvers who struggled with this hand but stumbled into a contract which gave them a top when it went one off, as opposed to the other two pairs who played in 5♦X off one or two. During the defence I had a moment of thinking too much. Partner led a club, I saw the king come down under my ace and I switched to a trump won by declarer. Declarer led a top diamond which I won (after some thought) and partner played the four. As the four is the lowest unseen card I thought partner had a singleton, but at the same time wondered why she hadn't led it. I eventually decided to play partner for a singleton which didn't work although I don't think it ultimately cost. How would you bid the EW cards after a 1NT opening by North?

Sorry, West bid 4♠.

[hv=pc=n&n=skj7hj5da753ckj96&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1dp1hp1np2c(Checkback)p2np3hp]133|200[/hv] Playing strong NT, 5CM, short club.

There was a bit of discussion in the Acol thread about strong and weak NT and some advantages/disadvantages of 4/5CM. Here is what can happen when you play an anti-field system. MPs: [hv=pc=n&s=sk964ht97543dcq75&w=sjhaj8dajt932ct32&n=s752hk6dq64cak864&e=saqt83hq2dk875cj9&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1c1sp2dp3dppp]399|300[/hv] Made +1 for a bottom (declarer cashed the wrong diamond honor first). Two pairs found 3♥ our way making 9 or 10 tricks which I think is easier to find if North can open a weak 1NT and East doesn't fancy bidding at the two level. The third pair went three off in 2♠E.