TheoKole

Pass for now Theo

You are correct, I was thinking of specific honor cards, when distribution could also play a role as you stated. Theo

Sure, I can see your ending because the heart 9 will drop doubleton, but I believe that it is better percentagewise to play LHO for 1 card (a heart honor) than a specific combination of cards. But in any case, if LHO has this combination of cards then you will still reach the ending that I described in the beginning which means that the positional squeeze will work. Dummy has Ax ♥ 10 ♦ LHO has Qx ♥ A or K ♦ You have 10x ♥ x ♣ you lead the club and if the A of ♦ or K ♦ (if LHO has been tricky and dumped the A beforehand) does not appear, then you dump the 10 ♦, play to the A ♥ droping LHO bare Q ♥ and low heart to your 10 for the contract. Theo

Copied: Theo, I was thinking to use ♠Q as the squeeze card: ♠Q ♥x ♦T ♣ vs ♠x ♥KT ♦ ♣ In this position you are playing for RHO to have both QJ heart honors and the outstanding diamond honor If left LHO has both then your 10 ♥ will win the heart return which is why LHO would not return a low heart. If they are split then the opp with the outstanding diamond honor, would bare his heart honor and you would have to lose 1 of the last tricks (assuming good defense, mind you). If RHO of has both hearts and the Diamond honor then your ending will win when mine would fail, but your ending would also be a positional squeeze also but against RHO instead of LHO. If RHO has both hearts and LHO has the outstanding Diamond honor then both endings will fail. It just seems to me from the play so far that it is logical to play LHO for 1 or perhaps both heart honors, (although I very much doubt both QJ in his hand). Cheers, Theo

If you take the A of hearts where is the entry to the 10 of diamond menace if the opps throw their high diamonds? The position you are looking for is Dummy Ax ♥ 10 ♦ Your hand 10x ♥ x♣ when you lead the club then LHO with the diamond honor outstanding hopefuly has Kx ♥ if you take the A of hearts then there is no entry to the 10 ♦ and he can easily throw the diamond honor and keep his hearts. Hope this explanation helps Theo

To describe this type of hand, my partner and I have an agreement, that a direct jump to 3 ♥ shows spade shortness and jump to 3 ♠ to shows heart shortness. You could also jump to your shortness suit, but I found that this helps opps with lead directing doubles and sacrifices against your 3NT contracts. Partner may have AJ10 in your singleton suit with no other better contract than 3NT. This fits in well with minor suit stayman which I would bid if I had 1-2-5-5 in the minors. Since partner will usually know that I have 1-3-4-5 shape he will know the best contract tight away, but can always cuebid to find more information. If he bids 3NT, he is much more likely to have a good 4 or 5 card major and will want a lead in the suit that you are short. Theo

If you play Multi vs. Multi you can double the 2 diamond bid, to imply an opener with spades, or an opener with hearts or a 2NT opener or 19+ HCP at least 444 in three suits (if you play this option). The subsequent auction is complex but if you and your partner have it down pat, then the opps 2 diamond multi bid becomes easy to handle. Against Mini Multi the Multi vs Multi structure is even safer since you don't have to worry about a 2NT opener in the opener's hand. Theo

Ok, I can understand the criticism and of course I accept it. I'm wondering though if I have the "right" to assume that partner has any Ace when he has signed off in 4 ♠. In my established partnership, I would X, cue-bid, and then splinter and trust my partner's judgement, as he also knows my bidding style which is to always assume that partner has a minimum bid when I force the bidding. In this hand his minimum is xxx, xxxx, xxx, xxx give or take a Q or J. Compared his hand to this hand and it becomes huge, my regular P would know I had a 2 club opener . I'm pretty confident that we would have bid to 6 spades on the hand. Cheers, Theo

4 ♣ cue bid. I assume that you and your partner are on the same wave-length when it comes to cuebidding sequences, as to what a denial of a possible cue-bid would mean. Since a 5, 3, 3, 2 11 count is a possability the only hand that I am worried about is Jxxxx, xx, AJx, AJx in partners hand. There is no play for more than 5 spades and there is a possibility of going down, AK of ♥ and overruff with the Q ♠. I want a heart cue bid from partner, either first or second round. 4 NT would not help me because 2 Aces with / without the Q reponse can be made on the above hand and on Jxxxx Kx Axx, Axx or xxxxx, AKx, Ax xx or even Qxxxx, xxx, Ax, Axx On the last hand AK ♥ and ruff is even more of a possibility. If you are on the same wavelength, you bid 4 ♣ and if partner cuebids 4 ♦, then rebid 4 ♠ if you are feeling caucious (sp?) or 5 ♠ as a small Josephine bid. Partner should then go on with a control in ♥. A question of partnership trust comes into play now, will he "know" that you would not start a cue-bidding sequence without top trump control? Only you and your partner can answer that question, and it would probably be a good thing to discuss if you haven't already. Cheers, Theo

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=sakqxxhxdakxckqjx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Thank you all for your replies. This is the splinter bidder's hand. As you can see, any bid other than 4 ♠ will get you to an almost cold 6 spade contract. Only possibilities of going down would be a diamond ruff on the opening lead or a club lead follow by a heart ruff, if spades are 4-0 there are some handling problems but not insurmountable. (sp?) Another small confession is that I was the one who doubled and then splintered on this hand. I actually can't remember the last time that I made this type of bid. The comments that I made in the introduction have been told to me by others. I could have also X ed, then cue-bid hearts, and then splintered I guess, but I chose not to because as I said this was with an unknown partner who may not be on the same wavelength as me. I tried to show an immediate raise, with a splinter for partner, with game points who was willing to play in 4 spades opposite xxx ♠ and 0 points (although I obviously would hope for something, even a little shape). I tried to show the bidding from my partners point of view and it seems to me that partnership trust and knowing partner's bidding style played a big part in South's decision to sign off in 4 spades. Cheers, Theo

Sorry, how can I edit the poll? Feel free to add your own answers Theo

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=sj1098haxxxdq1098cx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Bidding goes (1 ♥) -> P -> (P) -> X (P) -> 1 ♠ -> (P) -> 4 ♥ (Splinter) (P) -> ??? Partner is unknown to you personally but is generally considered to be a good bidder by other people. What do you bid? Theo Let me add that partner should "know" that you can have a xxx in spades and 0 HCP's.

Thanks for your replies. The declarer played the hand beautifully as if in double dummy and made 1NT XX +3. :( My partner lead the ♠ 10 won by the declarers ♠ J and I was starting to get a very bad feeling about this hand. :) Dummy's hand was ♠ K8xx ♥ xxxx ♦ KJx ♣ Jx Declarer then played a low club to dummy's Jx and partner played his singleton A ♣ !!! on the second spade lead to declarers A ♠ which was the beginning of a squeeze in 3 suits against me. I thought long and hard about what to throw on this round and eventually decided to throw a ♣ almost hoping that my partner would be squeezed before me. ;) Which in a way he was as he was forced to bare his ♥ A on the run of the clubs and AK of ♦. After 2 ♠ and 4 ♣ tricks declarer played A and K of ♦ see partner show out and lead a ♥ towards Kxx and ducked as partner was forced to play his now singleton A. Declarer made 4 clubs, 2 diamonds, 1 heart and 3 spades. I sat threw criticism by my partner who explained that his double was for takeout, ??? and that since he obviously couldn't have had 18 - 20 points that I should have bid 2 ♣ or 2 ♥. I was pretty sure that I was correct in passing but I wanted to ask the forum for any other opinions. Thanks again. Theo

I believe the best play for 13 tricks, while retaining good chances for 12 is win with A ♣ and pull trumps. If trumps break then, play a ♣ to the K, ♠ A dumping a club from hand and a club ruff, if clubs break 3-3 then use ♦ K entry in dummy for ♦ discard on the long ♣. If clubs break 4-2 or worse, play off all your trumps throwing 2 diamonds and spades from dummy, playing or the following ending. ♠ Q ♥ --- ♦ Kx ♣ 9 and in your hand ♠ --- ♥ x ♦ Axx ♣ --- If LHO started with 6 - 2 - 1 - 4 (and chose not to lead his singleton) or 6 - 2 - 0 - 5 distribution then discard the club and hope that RHO has the ♠ K and is squeezed on this card. If you have seen that RHO has the long clubs then play LHO for the ♠ K and there should be a double squeeze on the last trump. If the ♠ K has not appeared from LHO then dump the ♠ Q from dummy and LHO should now be squeezed in the minors. If trumps don't break then give opps their trump trick, most likely RHO and see what they return ( best for the defense would seem to be a ♦ ). If RHO does return a ♦ then you win with the A in hand and must decide how to continue from here. Do you play LHO to be 6 - 1 - 3 - 3, 6 - 1 - 4 - 2 with J10 clubs ( in this case a ruffing finesse will work against RHO) or (6 - 1 - 1 - 5 with the K ♠ did the ♣ Q appear from RHO on the lead?), in this case you should cross to the ♦ K, play the ♠ A, throwing a ♦ from your hand and ruffing a ♦. Play all your trumps for a simple squeeze in the black suits against LHO. If LHO has long clubs (6 - 1 - 2 - 4) you will be down because RHO will have returned his now singleton Q ♣, thereby breaking up the squeeze you have on his partner. There seems to be some possible ruffing squeezes on this hand but I'll let somebody else analyze those. Cheers, Theo

low ♥ lead from hand now to take out declarers entry to his hand, partner must duck his Ace ♥ if declarer plays low from dummy. If declarer covers with the Q ♥ from dummy partner plays his A ♥ and returns a small heart to knock out declarers K ♥ or returns a small ♦ to your K ♦ so you can lead through dummys 97 ♥ to partner's 108 ♥. Cheers, Theo

[hv=d=w&v=b&s=s5hj1098dq109c109876]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] First hand in a pick-up game on BBO. You are sitting South and the bidding goes (1 ♣ ) -> 1 ♠ (overcall by partner) -> (P) -> P (X) -> XX -> (P) -> P (1 NT) -> X -> (XX) -> ??? This is with a pick-up "expert" (don't know if real or not) partner. I chose to pass ( which was passed around ) expecting my partner to have at a minimum KQJxxx and 2 outside Aces, and I didn't expect them to have 6 running tricks outside of spades. What would you do? Thanks, Theo

J ♦ and Q ♣ in that order I think. The Q of clubs on the third trick once we are sure that there are 3 cashing spades. This should work for a regular or pick-up partner. Theo

I would ask if the 2 ♠ bid is forcing or not. If not I would either double or bid 2 NT. Probably double. I just can't see where the tricks are coming from in 2 or 3 NT. If 2 spades is forcing then I have an easy pass, to see where they are going to end up, I will almost always double any final contract. If I know the players are stealers I would double and lead the A of ♥. Even if we have 3NT on ice, we will probably get more by doubling on this hand. Theo

Non - Vulnerable vs Non- Vulnerable You are in Second Seat The bidding has gone (1 ♥) - P - (1 ♠) - 3 ♣ (preempt) - (3 ♠) - P - (4 ♥) - P - P - ??? You hold ♠ A1082 ♥ Jx ♦ A109xx ♣ xx You project the defense in 4 ♥ to go A ♠, 10 ♠ - > ruff, ♦ to A, 2 ♠ -> ruff, and whatever ♣ tricks partner has (if he has any). <_< In 4 ♠ doubled if they run after you double 4 hearts (would you double 4 ♠?), you project the defense would have to go, ♦ lead to your Ace, club return ducked by partner if he has the A. When you are in with a trump club return to partners A and club ruff if possible or a trump promotion. This was a tight match against good opponents, and we where playing in the semi- finals with 1 board to go. Final question is whether anyone would bid 5 ♣, although I did not consider this a good bid at the table? Thanks, Theo

I agree with you on all points. 1) Yes, I am an agressive preemptor. 2) Yes I would preempt with this hand. 3 ♦ whether playing Multi or not. 3) My reasons for preempting are the same as yours. Cheers, Theo

I play because I truly love this game. The mental challenge on all levels is stimulating and exciting. Also there is always something to learn and improve upon so I never get bored. I truly love strategy games and problem solving, and bridge combines these and more. Also I have made many good friends around the country which I would never have had the chance to do without the game. My aim is to represent Greece in international competition. Cheers, Theo

This is similar to a hand that would make a slamtry after a 1NT opening by partner. Obviously a similar hand after a 1NT opener would have to be stronger in high cards after 1NT. In my regular partnership, we bid stayman an then bid the minor in what is a very serious slam try, partner then reevaluates his hand according to fit, shape and controls in side suits. We play that this is the only exception that does not promise a 4 card major suit although it may have one. So our auction would be on this hand, 2NT -> 3 ♣ -> 3♦♥♠, -> 4 ♦ -> ? A 4 NT bid would be for pass by partner at this point, and I would need extra strength to insist on slam. Otherwise, partner would give his lowest cuebid possible in the side suits agreeing to Diamonds as trumps and we would go from there to either a small or grand slam. Theo

I like to play inverted minors, as it is very hard to give a forcing raise in a minor in standard bidding. I play it as forcing for one round in a regular partnership, and usually we will show strength looking for NT. If partner bids 2 spades showing strength, I will use a splinter bid of 4 hearts and see what partner does, if he bids hearts showing strength or 2NT showing stoppers in both majors, I will bid clubs as a natural new suit bid. This would be an unusual auction because if I didn't have anything special and had clubs stopped I would just bid 3NT or pass according to strength. Using standard methods, I guess I would use a splinter bid of 3 hearts and then bid clubs followed by a raise in diamonds and hope that partner could reevaluate his hand. I probably won't get the chance to do all of this though as this will probably be a contested auction. Theo

I guess the bridge laws are different in respect to psyches in Greece with respect to ACBL laws. Here, possible psyches must be alerted as such if there is an implicit agreement between partnerships (higher than 2 times in a "short" time frame being the dividing line) and at the discrecion of the director. In order for a psyche to be legal there must be some element of risk invovled, and that is why in Greece, a 2 club opener, a strong 2 opener, and a 1 club Precision opener are banned as psyches. Also banned as psyches are relay bids in conventions that show a strong hand in honor cards. In all these bids the psycher can control the auction easily and as a result has no risk involved in his bid. 1NT openings, 1 of a suit openers, fake cue bids, fake help suit game tries and others are allowed because there is always some element of risk involved. For example, I psyche a 1 spade opener holding a weak 2 bid in hearts and my partner bids 4 spades, what do I do? That's the risk and that is why it is allowed. Theo

3 ♠. Your hand is very strong for your partners bidding, and I would insist on slam if for some reason that partner signs off, but I don't think that will happen. On strong hands you need room to explore, and I believe that 3 ♠ is much stronger than 4 ♠ which I play as a sign - off weak bid. Give your partner room to describe his hand, as he is the captain of the auction at this point and we do not know the exact distribution of his hand. I expect he is something like KQJx, Ax, A, KQJxxx or KQJx, AKx, - KQJxxx. If he cue-bids a red suit I expect that he is void in one of them (he can also use exclusion blackwood), if he bids 4NT I'll expect a 4, 2, 1, 6 hand or a 5, 1, 1, 6 hand in distribution. Cheers, Theo