TheoKole

A and B only. Hand A is clear to me and B is a little bit questionable, but I would risk it it. C+ D are clear passes. Balanced hands should defend, and you have 2 entries in order to lead through declarer into partners high card points Theo

Thank you for all your responses, I appreciate them all. I agree that I was too timid on this hand and this is probably what was bothering me, as I should have seen that the hand should be safe for 5 spades. Exclusion Blackwood or other major slam try (Goldman I beleive it is called?) is probably the best solution. Thanks again for your help :) Theo

I double showing both majors then bid 4 hearts if partner doesn't show some signs of life. If LHO bids some number of ♣ or ♦ I will compete up until 4 hearts, bidding 3 ♥ first, to discribe my hand to partner, so that he can judge whether to double or not. I they bid 3 ♠ or 4 ♠ I will smack it with a X. Cheers. ;) Theo

I would play for a simple squeeze played as a double Win the A ♠, cash the K ♠ throwing a ♥, then ruff a ♠ with the diamond 9 ♦. If the Q ♠ doesn't fall then... If my LHO shows out of spades, or if I feel he doesn't have the Q ♠ Pull trumps, run all the ♦ but one then the A, ♣ coming down to x ♥, x ♦. Kx ♣ Dummy will have J ♠, A ♥, Jx ♣ On the last diamond I will throw a a small ♣ from dummy, then a ♥ to the A will squeeze him if he has the Q ♠ and 4 clubs. If my RHO shows out of spades, or if I feel he doesn't have the Q ♠ Pull trumps, run all the ♦ but one then the A,K ♣. Even if the squeeze isn't on they may discard ♣, but not if you cash the AK ♣ first. Watch for the Q ♠ and count the ♣ carefully... My last 3 cards will be x ♥, x ♦, x ♣ Dummy will have J ♠, Ax ♥. Play my last ♦, throwing the J ♠, if the Q ♠ hasn't shown up. If the x ♣ isn't good, then play a ♥ and hopefully cash the last ♥ in dummy Theo

Hannie, I thought about 5 ♣ exclusion Blackwood, and my partner and I have discussed it, but is this safe? This is IMP's not Matchpoints. Remember, my partner bid 2NT as a rebid, promising 22 to 24 points, also his 3 ♠ resonse to Stayman promised 4 spades not 5. With 5 spades he would have bid the suit on the second round, which would have solved my problem as I would have splintered in ♣. By the way, 4 ♣ and 4 ♦ would also be normal suits for us in this sequence. Theo

[hv=d=s&v=b&s=sj9xxhj10xxda109xxc]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I am South when the bidding goes P - P - 2♣ - P 2 ♦ - P - 2 NT - P 3 ♣ - P - 3 ♠ - P ??? Is there any way to describe the playing potential of this hand to partner at a safe level? We play 2 ♦ response as waiting unless I have a dynamite suit to state, Can I cue bid ♦ and then go back to ♠? Will ♠ have been agreed to in this sequence or is this a ♦ suit with a ♠ cuebid? Will partner understand when I go back to ♠, what if he bids ♣ as a suit ? Can I show my ♣ void in any way? Partner and I talked about the hand afterward and he couldn't find a reasonable answer either and we are a practiced partnership. For any results merchants among us in hidden text below for those who are not. :P By the way, I bid 4 ♠ at the table which ended the auction although I had a nagging feeling.... I leave it to you. Theo

Justin, I agree that 5 hearts seems hopeless, but 5 spades has real chances. You are right that if we can make 5 spades that we can also beat 5 Diamonds X but can we beat it by enough, this is what makes it a very tough decision. Perhaps I should have stated that I would bid 5 ♠ with my regular partner, (I have not seen him even once make a 4 spade call like this and losing 2 tricks in the trump suit), if he loses a trick in trumps then he will have KQJxxxxx or AKJxxxxx or AQJxxxxx. It helps to know your partners style in these situations. If we cannot make 5 ♠I expect it indeed to be a good save against 5 ♦. However I am still worried about a club lead :rolleyes: . Theo

Great hand, you have a very tough decision, and I hope you have an understanding partner! :D I read most of the opponents strength as being on my left, as I believe my partner will and he will probably will not be inclined to take any finesses into LHO (I hope the opponents don't lead a club :P . Maybe a ruffing finesse in ♥ will work. I will not double this since LHO may have a major 2 suiter in the the reds 0-4-6-3 would not surprise me. I assume with 5-5 and 6-5 in the minors he has Unusual 2NT available. The only question is whether I bid 5 ♥ or 5 ♠ and this will depend on how I believe each suit will play as trumps. The opponents have at least 10 diamonds between them so partner has at most 2 diamonds. As a result I am not that worried about getting tapped as dummy or declarer. While both hearts and spades rate to lose a trick as trump, the hearts may be able to be brought in without a loser as a side suit , which will be critical to making game. As a result I would bid 5 ♠. Theo

I will bid 2 ♠ at this vulnerability. With another Ace, more solid trimp suit or different vulnerability I would bid 3 ♠. With a 3 card fit and an Ace partner will probably save in 4 ♠ over their 4 ♥. With a 4 card fit he should definitely bid 4 spades. Theo

Hi, my name is Theophilos Spyros Kolettis (see if you can say that name fast three times ;) ) I go by the name of Theo and have a user name of TheoKole on BBO. I grew up and lived in Vancouver, Canada before I decided to emigrate to Greece about 5 years ago, presently I live on Corfu Island, Greece (between Italy and mainland Greece) and am 35 years of age. I am relatively new to BBO, online bridge and bridge playing in general. Although I learned the basics of the game as a child from my father and uncle, I started playing in our countries league games about 18 months ago. I have been a member of this forum and have played on BBO for about 5 months. In general I have found this forum and BBO to be very helpful in helping me improve my game, and the different points of view have been inciteful, funny sometimes and intellectually challenging. (Even the points of view that I disagree with ;) ) Thank you all and I hope to see you at the tables. Cheers, Theo

With nine points and the majors, I am going for game and the major decision is how to go about it. While I am normally a bit agressive in bidding but I do not like the spots on either of the major suits, that being said my regular partner is a very good declarer and this would sway me in the bidding. With 8 points and bad spots I would use our regular sign-off bids. I would bid Stayman on this and if I do not hear a major would would then use Delayed Texas Transfer to 4 ♥. The bidding would go 1 NT -> 2 ♣ -> 2 ♦ -> 4 ♦ -> 4 ♥ -> Pass Obviously if if my partner bid a major in resonse to Stayman I would raise to game in that suit. This has the advantage of right-siding the contract to the strong hand for all contracts. If my hand was 5-4 in the majors I would use Smolen, 2 ♣ Stayman and then bidding my 4 card major at the 3 level if I had a negative response, that way partner can play in the 5-3 fit if available or in 3 NT. Theo

The hand can't be made unless the defense doesn't take one of their spade or diamond tricks, if not at least the diamond losers will go away on the clubs. Against good defenders this is unlikely to happen because they will signal effectively (however I have seen many stranger things happen than defenders helping to make an impossible game :) ). The reason for the preemptive bid is two-fold, one is that with a different distribution of the cards between you and partner a game may be cold. The second reason as Justin pointed out is that you can jam the opponents auction where they do not find their cold spade game and in this case even escape undoubled. -50 or -100 is much better than -450 or -650 in this case depending on vulnerability. Because you have limited high card points (6-10) and a good trump fit (at least 4 cards, VERY IMPORTANT), you can do this because your trump length will protect you from large penalties. Your partner should not bid on unless he has a mountain of a hand (probably just short of a 2 club opening). Theo

Double, "What's the...." oh sorry :) This is a classic balancing double in my opinion, and partner may just leave it in for penalty with 10-11 points and good spade spots. There is no reason that we can not compete to the 2 level safely in any 3 different suits. Theo

5 ♠ Theo

Being able to count opponents points and distribution has been the greatest improvment in my declarer play, including (CPA as lawrence calls it) "Card Playment by Assumption". It is like night and day. While pulling off a squeeze, endplay, trump coup and such does bring a particular moment of pleasure. :), one of my best moments happened just a couple of weeks ago at my local club. A very good player, teacher and bridge master asked me in all seriousness, if I could SEE his cards, while I was declaring a particular hand. I believe that up until now this was the best moment that I have experienced in my brief bridge playing career. :D Now if I can only learn how to bid correctly. :) Theo

I have 2 trains of thought: King of ♣ hoping partner has a ♠ or ♦ (is it possible that he has the Ace or King of ♦) Queen third of ♦ will be ruffed out I expect dummy to be void in hearts, that said I want to try and tap dummy's trump in order to 1) protect my ♣ from being ruffed 2) try and protect partner from trump finesses Since I have clubs stopped and since these are expert players I fear that diamonds are solid and declarer is planning to use them for club discards. However if this is the case and even if partner has a trump trick, then declarer will just give it to him before running the diamonds. Because of this I want an immediate winner to cash once partner gets in with his supposed trump or diamond trick so I will lead the King ♣. Hope my lead was the right one :D Theo

By the way, if the overcaller is less than 3♦, then Texas transfers are still in affect as resonder will be making a jump bid. ************* For 3 diamond overcallers and up, most bids are natural- 3 ♥ or 3 ♠ with a 5 card suit. 4X of overcallers suit for takeout (promises 4 cards in unbid majors) 4 ♥ and 4 ♠ to play If opponents double a Jacoby transer then NT bidder accepts the transfer immediately with 3+ cards in the suit and a stopper in their suit or super accepts with 4+ cards in your suit and at least 1 stopper in theirs. If the NT bidder passes then it means that he has less than 3 cards in responders suit or is without a stopper in their suit. Responder redoubles to tell NT bidder to accept the transfer and NT bidder responds as follows: 2NT - stoppers in their suit maximum (2 cards in your suit) (if responder is weak he responds 3 of their suit for transfer to probably pass at the 3 level) 2X - minimum or maximum with 2 or 3 card support or without a stopper in their suit 3X - super accepting maximum with 4 card support without a stopper in their suit Again this system is complicated but it just about covers all the bases Cheers Theo

ArcLight said " I'm sure you've noticed in this day and age, a 2 ♣ overcall provides zero preemption to practiced opponents (they ignore it) and a 2 ♦ overcall doesn't get you much more. How as the partner of the 1NT bidder how do you deal with the opponents bid of: 2♣ ? Double for Stayman? What about penalizing Clubs? 2♦? Doesn't that kill of Jacoby transfers? What do you do over 2 Diamonds?" My regular partner and I play Lebenshoel (correct spelling?) over 1 or 2 suit overcallers. Double is for penalty 2 ♥ and 2 ♠ are for passing and 3 ♣ and 3 ♦ directly are forcing, 2NT forces 3 ♣ which can be passed or corrected to 3 ♦ for passing, the rest is a bit complicated: :) 2NT -> 3 ♣ -> 3 ♥ or 3 ♠ is inviting to game (the rest is with the idea Slow Shows stoppers) 1NT -> (2X) -> 3X is stayman without a stopper for NT 1NT -> (2X) -> 2NT -> 3♣ -> 3X is stayman with a stopper for NT 1NT -> (2X) -> 3NT is points for game without a stopper 1NT -> (2X) -> 2NT -> 3 ♣ -> 3NT is points for game with a stopper Over 1NT -> 2 ♣-> (double) it is very complicated Redouble shows a willingness to play there with no 4 card major and good 5+ ♣with good spot cards Without a club stopper NT bidder passes for the time being 2 ♦ shows no 4 card major and clubs stopped but not good enough for redouble 2 ♥ and 2 ♠ shows 4 card majors with at least 1 club stopper Resonder bids as he normally would after these responses If NT bidder passes without a club stopper, responder can redouble to say basically (answer my stayman question) and bidding goes naturally from there If resonder bids 3 clubs he shows half a stopper and if he bids NT a full stopper I know this system is very complicated but we found that after various mishaps, that the opponents were getting away with murder on their overcalls because we didn't have a system to combat them. After a few 2 ♣ redoubled + 3 contracts ;) ( I LOVE that part of the convention), most of the opps remembered the last time they tried a double for a lead and they became pussycats again :) ) The system needs a lot of practice and total agreement to avoid accidents but in the long run, it is worth it. Theo

Q ♥ or J or 10 Cheers :) Theo

Pass and lead a trump, your partner has lots of diamonds. Cheers Theo

I think it is called a "Strip Squeeze". Cheers, :D Theo

I assume the ♥ lead is forth best, marking opener with an average of 5 hearts, spades weren't lead so assume 3 or 4 ♠ for opener. I would play the top ♦, to see if the Q ♦ falls, if it does just cash out. Assuming both opps follow to the top ♦'s and the Q ♦ doesn't fall, if you play opener for 3 daimonds, cash the top ♣'s, if you play opener for 2 diamonds, then finesse the J ♣. Not much of an answer I know B) , but I would be trying to count the hand at the table in this way, it would help if I knew the opening leader's style of falsecarding or not in this situation (some defenders always falsecard and others rarely do). If I have absolutely no idea at the table I would probably go for the drop by playing the top ♣'s (there is some chance of getting to dummy with the Q ♠.) By the way, I think that the 3NT bid was a mistake, minimum opening misfitting hands should be passed in my opinion. Theo

Counting at Bridge and Private Bridge Lessons by Mike Lawrence Tip: A player who can't defend accurately should try to become declarer (or dummy). ;) Quote: Declarer to Dummy: Where is the hand that you had during the bidding? :blink: Theo

I would bid 4 diamonds to describe strength there, and direct partner towards his card holding, I like my hand, especially the fitting K ♠ honor. If partner signs off in 4 hearts, I'll respect his decision, but if he can stop clubs and has a strong hand he will either cue-bid or ask aces, it is possible that he has a doubleton K ♣ and any slam probably 6NT if not 6 ♥ must be played from his side. For this reason, I don't want to ask Aces at once, if 6 NT, is the contract, then I want partner to play it with my club holding. Theo

[hv=n=s76hq3dakq43cak109&w=s432h865d92cq8653&e=skq85hk1072d1087cj2&s=saj109haj94dj65c74]399|300|[/hv] To make 7 ♦, you'll need to execute a Squeeze against East in the majors, since at the table, you won't know for sure, but will suspect East of holding KQ ♠ because of the lack of Spade lead, you should play for a simple squeeze, played as a double with hearts as the pivot suit. The timing of this is very tricky, win the club lead, and immediately run the Q ♥, playing the A♥ if East covers with the K ♥ (he should). Back to dummy with a ♣ or ♦, I would play a ♣ at the table West could make a mistake and play the Q♣, and ruff a club with the J♦. Cash the A ♠, and run ALL the ♦'s. If by the 5th ♦, the Q and K ♠ have not been appeared, throw the last spade from hand, and finesse the 9♥ to make your Grand. East by this time will have been sueezed out of a heart or the K and Q ♠. If he has thrown the K and Q ♠, you keep your J♠ and throw a small heart from your hand. (You have already thrown your 10 ♠) Then finesse the 9 ♥, and your hand will be high. If you can find this stressfull and successfull line at the table, (if you want to make your contract you have to risk it :) ) I would say Very Well Done :) How did you get to 7♦ though with only 29 points and without a solid suit to run :huh: ? Cheers B)