luis

Yes I ask what 4♣ is. After the answer I call the TD and the hand is over, they can't alert and then provide such an answer. Average+ for us, Average- for them and some procedural penalty. Let's imagine they didn't alert. Then I'm probably going to bid 5♣ but it depends on partnership style for preempts.

Abstain, passing 1♠ is absurd.

3NT if we are doing well, 6♣ if we are not.

About the contract: Everybody will be in 3♠ so we are in the par contract. Now what you have to do is to evaluate 2 things: 1) How you are doing in the tournament and 2) How good the field is. If you are doing badly play to make it. You are not going to win with an average -100. If you are doing well then: - In a strong field play to make, since most of the other declarers will do the same - In a weak field play to go down 1, avoid the bottom and keep your good score alive, they won't take a finesse that they don't need Luis

Double is horrible, if you plan to pass pd's double of the obvious 3♥ I think you are nuts :-) It's not an easy hand to bid but I'm going to risk 3♦ and see what happens.

I'm not going to say that 3NT was a wonderful bid, it probably wasn't but I really hate your 4♣ bid (no offense intended you are invited to hate a lot of my bids). The idea of "missing a slam" I think is a phanton, when pd bids 3NT he usually has concentrated values in spades and a missfit for diamonds, it's true you can still have a slam but I don't think you should look for it. It just depends on the probability of a slam, because in order to find the slam you must move from 3NT which, on the bidding is probably your best game. Luis

luis, if you were south would you expect the north hand after he bid 3nt? i'd expect an ace or 2 kings more, probably 11-12 HCP with values in spades The fact that you have the spades behing the 1♠ bidder and that you don't have a diamond fit strongly suggests that 3NT is probably a good proposition.

South 900% what the hell is 4♣ when North says he has his values in spades? Just terrible.

I vote for West's initial pass.

3♠ if somebody has to bid 3NT it's not me.

In an individual I would bid 2♣, if pd bids 2♠ we bid game. If pd bids 2♥ or 2♦ I bid 2♠ whatever it means it will be right. Luis

3NT (to play) the only game where we have a chance. Luis

What you say doesn't make sense, you are basically saying that this player can't think, if pulling is right you will say it was suggested by the break in tempo, if passing is right you can say it was suggested by the break in tempo. It can't be that way. As far as I know any player has the right to think. If the break in tempo gives his pd information he can't use it. In this case I don't think the break in tempo gives any sort of information since as I said he could be thinking about a lot of things.

Passing 3NT with 4333 in this auction is automatic.

Firts of all the legal issue: Can you legally pull or not. Assume pd doubles in tempo, would you bid 5♠? Then you should bid 5♠ now, I fail to understand the UI explanations, pass can also be based on UI, the opponents can argue pd broke the tempo on purpose to make you pass the double fearing you would pull a quick double. But pd might have been thinking about a forcing pass, a double or even a 5♠ bid by himself so it's not clear at all what the hesitation means. He could be deciding between a heavy penalty of 5♦ or making a slam try, who knows? When the meaning of a hesitation is absolutely unclear there is no UI. Then since you can legally pull should you? With a void in diamonds I think it is a close call, with a 4th spade and less defensive heart values a pull would be automatic, now I think it's up to your judgement and table feeling. Luis

1♠ looks fine and now 2♠ is so clear that I'm sure you bid 2♠ and something bad happened. If that is the case the jury finds you not guilty and you can go. Luis

A 1NT - 3NT tournament may be fun too you have more clues from the bidding.

I voted very good idea because it's a nice way to practice declarer play and defense.

As long as support doubles are optional I have no problem with them, if they are mandatory I strongly object. Meaning, with 3 cards in pd's suit opener must be able to pass when he has a defensive hand.

Hi Luis, Do you bid 1♠ with xxxx-xxx-xxx-xxx on 1♣-X-XX-? Is it not better to pass and let partner bid as you accept all suit ? Alain As I said I play that I can pass to let doubler's choose but some players I know play that a pass would be with clubs so they have to bid 1♠

It depends We have two things to analyze the first one is if a pass would be a penalty pass after the redouble. Some pairs play that after 1x-X-XX a pass shows desire to play the redoubled contract. My agreement, for example is that I play this over a major suit doubled but not over a minor suit doubled (to avoid exactly your accident). Assuming a pass is not for penalties your pd must of course pass and you can bid 1♥ before 1NT I don't think they can double 1♥ very easily. If your pd was in a forcing situation then I think 1♦ is better than 1♠ specially with xxxx in the suit. You can still play 4 different contracts after 1♦ at the 1 level. And finally 1♠ does not show 5 cards, just 4+ a typical example is 4333 Luis

Your first question can't be answered here, is a problem of your partnership. If you think your pd may have forgotten "switch" then why are you playing it? I bid 4♠ here showing a good hand for clubs. Luis

It wasn't me :-) I'm from the 2♣ wildcard school, keeping both 2♦ and 2♥ as 5+ cards. 2♣ can be either clubs or a balanced game forcing hand for me and it works just fine most of the time. Luis

Pass Pd's double is for penalties.

I also abstain I would have overcalled 1♠ in the first round. Luis