AL78

Thanks for the responses, seems fairly evenly split between double and pass. If it were me, I'd have passed because I can't cope with partner bidding 3♦. This hand came up with my novice friend and her partner and she decided to double. It so very nearly worked out well for them. [hv=pc=n&s=sq63hq6dkj6caj742&w=st874hk43da74cq93&n=sajhjt8752d98532c&e=sk952ha9dqtckt865&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=2hdppp]399|300[/hv] 2♠ makes EW and NS can make 3♥. I have no idea why West passed the takeout double (didn't notice it perhaps?), but -470 was a bottom. A shame, because 2♠ making would have been an average plus.

[hv=pc=n&e=sk952ha9dqtckt865&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=2h]133|200[/hv] MPs. 2♥ is a weak two. Your call.

No-one opens 1♣ with a 4432 shape? One of the systems played in my area is 5CM, prepared club, which means 1♣ could be as short as two and 1♦ is always at least four. The only time this comes up is with a 4432 shape outside the 1NT point range. I know one pair who play 1♦ guarentees five, so 1♣ could be as short as one.

You win the brilliancy prize. [hv=pc=n&s=sqt6haqdk984caqj4&w=skj973h8762djtc93&n=s82ht5da7653ck876&e=sa54hkj943dq2ct52]399|300[/hv] Declarer is one off on a spade lead for 18/22 MPs. On a heart lead declarer makes 11 tricks, 4/22 MPs. Of those defending 2 or 3NT, six found the spade lead and five led a heart. The one NS pair in 4♣ got a strange ♠K lead and made 11 tricks for a near average result.

If hearts are 3-2, how do you make 12 tricks on a non-spade lead? There are 11 top tricks, I can't see a ruff anywhere because there are not enough spade discards on the clubs. There is no squeeze on, both opponents can hold on to two spades. Where is the 12th trick?

NS playing Acol (4 card majors, weak NT), MPs. [hv=pc=n&w=skj973h8762djtc93&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1cp1d1h2np3nppp]133|200[/hv] 1♣ is at least four cards, and 2NT is 18-19 HCP. What is your lead?

I am going for pass. I've had at least one human partner do that to me in a similar auction.

It would have been better to conceal the North hand as I find it very difficult to give an objective answer when both hands are on view. Assuming I know nothing about the North hand, it is a guess between passing and bidding slam, and on the basis that North could have no aces , and if they hold one the slam could still be on a finesse, I would pass. I miss slam because North decided for some reason two aces opposite a game force opening bid isn't worth a positive response (if you are not going to make a positive response on this hand, you might as well take such bids off the convention card and always bid 2♦ relay). It is difficult to find 7♥ after the opponents barrage, I'd be happy to find any making slam.

You have indirectly told North you have a couple of hearts when you bid 1NT (there is a possibility you could have a singleton but it is more likely you have two). I don't understand what the 2♣ was all about, I'd have just bid 4♥. Why give the opponents a guided tour of your hands?

Seems to be a slight flaw in the system that with a strong 5-5 shape you take the least efficient route to show your shape and strength. By jump shifting you are at the three level on your second round and haven't fully shown the shape yet. If you are able to reverse on a 5-5 and bid the second suit again you are again at the three level but have now shown the 5-5 or 6-5 shape.

Wow, so West has to lead an unsupported ace or lose it. Looks like the sort of hand where a pair would punt 6NT against me on a cross-imp evening. :lol:

What a shame they weren't playing 3rd and 5th best leads.

It felt a bit overkill to bid 3♥ opposite a silent partner who could have a useless hand with no more than a singleton heart. I'd want a full 17+ count and a five loser hand to jump bid in this situation.

I agree with FelicityR. This does not look like a situation where declarer will draw trumps then run a side suit throwing losers, so if your honor cards are winners, they are not going anywhere. I'd lead a heart and decide how to defend based on what comes down in dummy, as passive as possible looks best initially.

I didn't think my hand was good enough to double then bid my hearts again, especially given partner could have very little. It is six losers, and the ♣K is waste paper, so it is more like 15 HCP.

I think I was too aggressive for two reasons: 1. Unfavourable vulnerability increases the risk of the horrible -200 score (or worse). 2. My hand is on the flat side, and because we play a strong NT, partner could have a minimal weak NT hand, which means she is going to struggle with minimal ruffing potential in a three level suit contract, even with at least a nine card fit. It would be different if we were playing a weak NT, because partner would either hold a long diamond suit or a strong balanced hand, both of which have greater trick taking potential in a suit contract than a weak NT hand. I was unlucky South converted a takeout double to penalty with a near yarborough, I would have bid 4♣ then North would likely raise to game which makes. Interestingly, if you put a couple of North's club honors into the South hand, they have 6♣ on (I think).

Partner and I play Benji Acol two openings, so that option wasn't available. Funnily enough, she mentioned she had played three weak twos with another partner, and I suggested we could do that as well if she wished.

Another reason I lose at bridge, my judgement on the competitive hands is crap. 5 card majors, strong NT, 1♦ is at least four cards. [hv=pc=n&s=s863ht2d863ct5432&w=sq542hk65dkqj4cj9&n=sakt7haqj43d9cakq&e=sj9h987dat752c876&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=pp1dd3dppdppp]399|300[/hv] 3♦ was a bid to the level of the fit pre-emptive raise. Disasterous, two down, -500, 3.8%. Should have just raised to 2♦.

[hv=pc=n&s=skj87hq986dq97cj8&w=sa95haj5dkj84cak2&n=st63h74dt53ct9754&e=sq42hkt32da62cq63]399|300[/hv] My partner opened 2NT (20-21) and I raised to 3NT. I don't know how he found it, but North led the ♠T, which went Q,K,A. We were destined for a bad score when partner took the heart finesse into South and we were limited to nine tricks, despite holding a combined 31 HCP. A lousy 18.3%. This is one reason I lose at bridge, my opponents have a habit of finding non-standard actions that work beautifully for them. "Brilliant lead" "I had to lead a major" "Of course you did"

5 card majors, strong NT, MPs [hv=pc=n&s=sk54hjt5d43caq742&w=st2hq2da98765cj83&n=sq9763h76dqjct965&e=saj8hak9843dkt2ck&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=pp1h2cpp2hppp]399|300[/hv] Even though I played for the diamond finesse after dropping an honor from RHO, I easily made 11 tricks for a miserable 10.6%. I didn't think my hand was good enough to jump to 3♥ with a useless ♣K and a partner who has said nothing given the opportunity. What should have happened?

3♥ on KQxxx? Ugh, what is the world coming too? That deserves to go for a four figure minus score. It works on this hand because a fantastic dummy full of tricks comes down, but that doesn't make it a sound action. I'd rather play boring sound bridge and pass, it does wonders for partnership harmony.

That likely was nothing to do with the perceived distance and everything to do with all the possible places to go for a day trip, why Birmingham?

Thankfully UK society has not regressed to the depths of the US so over here, a man can hug a female friend without being labelled a sexual predator.

I agree. Online interaction is a very poor substitute for physical face-to-face connection. I enjoy hugging my female friends at the club, you can't do that from behind a keyboard.

When playing weak NT and holding a 5 card major 5332 shape in the 12-14 range, I open 1NT if the major is poor and 1M if the major is good (a couple of the top five honors), so I would open 1NT on this hand and end up with the same result as you.