Evies Dad

Why would North ever run over a rescue XX ? The opps are already running.

If 2C is a choice and not forced then X would be t/o, else penalty.

If Pass is forcing what is your "I have already shown my hand" bid ? Does this agreement about 2m mean you are more discerning about what you double with ?

I don't think I'd be competing to 4C. Even when vul partner rates to only have about 6 tricks and I will hardly ever provide more than 2. Whereas my hand looks just as good in defence.

What was 3C ? 2 suited?

Reading this has inspired me to go back to 4cM on Funbridge and see what is going on. It was never this bad.

And you both hold the 9C I'd be bidding 2H to try and keep S quiet.

I've been reading enough replies from you all by now that I ought to know I could not get away without posting the bidding. Initially I was after a pure probability response - throw the other 26 cards in the air and have then land randomly. Next time I'll make sure to post the bidding and then be clear in what I'd like to discuss. Here is the bidding. [hv=pc=n&s=s97hkqt86432d3c84&n=sha7daqj864cajt93&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=3c(Diamond%20-%20weak%20or%20various%20strong)d4h4s5c(strong%20D%2BC)d5hp5s(spade%20control)p6hppp]266|200[/hv] West leads 6S East's X is nominally Clubs, the second one definitely so - "you are not making 5C". South is expecting opener to hold a D pre-empt (1st seat GvG - almost certainly won't be as good as 9 hcp). 4H shows a good, long heart suit either "to make" or as a further pre-empt. I can work out all the hearts 2-1 lines - ruff low or high / KD finesse or ruffing finesse - but the 3-0 lines get very fiddly to work out with every split of both red suits coming into the equation. I think Douglas43 line of ruff low (retain AH) and cash AD and a low D might be best - keeps most options open the longest ?

On the AH at trick 3 West does play the King - i.e. a singleton. What you do after that will depend on what West does to your next low heart. That is actually my main question - is it always better to cash the AH the first time you lead the suit - or ruff a low one first ? The closest anyone got to 11 tricks was 10 tricks when they ruffed a small heart covered by the aforementioned King. Now they don't ever score the AH.

Later the evening we reached 5C. I think there are more divergent lines to have to consider on this hand. [hv=pc=n&s=shaqt972dt4caq965&n=sa5432hdakj32ct82&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1h1s2d2s3cp5cppp]266|200[/hv] West leads QS

We reached 6H on these cards the other night. [hv=pc=n&s=s97hkqt86432d3c84&n=sha7daqj864cajt93]133|200|West leads 6S (4th highest)[/hv] IMPs scoring. You can assume West has a high number of spades - they raised their partners t/o X to 4S. But otherwise I think you will find the bidding unhelpful, so I am not posting it (yet). What is the best line to make your contract ? How does this change if East is assumed to have the majority of the missing points ? TIA.

Anyone play Cansino over a weak NT ? A quick 2C, then 4H by East. I find I always have to ask what a sequence ending in 3m is - every club has a favourite method.

X then 2NT, unless partner jumps to 3m

In 7H you can ruff out Wests spades.

Is the bidding by West typical of how one plays the mini ? East has promised nothing so you make a bid that causes the opps no difficulties and practically forces them into game ?