Blofeld

I think I double in either case. I don't really like 1NT even if natural ; I don't mind 2♣. In fact I've changed my mind and I think I bid 2♣ if not playing raptor. Playing raptor I will often have the 'strong nt' type hand for a double.

I think that we should push for more spaceflight. Only by having more small-scale operations first will we ever get to the large-scale things that are likely to be genuinely useful. So even if in the short term things like a moon base are a waste of money (actually a moon base probably wouldn't be, if properly used for research), the experience gained will be worth it.

I think I'd double as east. Wouldn't bid 4♠. As West I'd bid 5♦. Then not sure if I'd make another move as East. Seems close. Probably I would, and land in 6♦-1

Can't really play leaping Michael's on this auction, Free.

Isn't aggregate the same as total points?

1. Pass 2. 1♠ 3. ugh. 2♠. 4. I'll try 3♥. Sometimes 2♠ might be the limit of the hand, but I don't really expect to buy it there then. 5. I'm not doubling. Think I might bid 2♥ despite the low point count, though I suspect 2♣ is the right bid. 6. Double. This could show a couple of different things, but I think I've got them anyhow. 7. Pass

I was wondering, in extreme cases, how far off the law of total tricks can be. After a small amount of though, I have hands with 8 more total trumps than tricks, or 12 more total tricks than trumps. Can one do better than this?

I was doubling in part one, but I'd prefer to have bid 1♥ if I knew for certain that it wasn't getting passed out. I'll try 3♠ now.

What's the field like? We've got 33 points between the two hands, so I'd expect the majority of most fields to be in slam. That being the case, I finesse trying to make 13. Should also note that taking the ace doesn't guarantee 12. If the K is doubleton with either player and they can give their partner a club ruff ...

Wayne says he IMPed the results, so I assume that he means that over the 24 hands, bidding 5♥ gained a total of 113 IMPs and lost 69 versus pass.

My gut reaction to this is: nice idea!

But on a bad day this hand takes 6-7 tricks, whereas the heart hand always takes 8. And I don't think you make slam opposite the ideal 0-count 3424 (2 spade losers). Think you need 5 hearts. I think the right balanced 0-count is a 2344 or 2443. If everything splits, 6♦ makes opposite a 3334! --- I'm opening 1♥ on the hand in this thread, by the way, unless my methods (e.g. Trebuchet) allow me to show an 8-trick hand with hearts and get out at the 2-level.

I'm interested.

Isn't that EXACTLY why 3♣ is correct, so partner can appreciate where you want his highcards? I was SO sure someone was going to point this out... I have an answer to that, but I don't want to get into more arguings about this particular deal. I really wish you wouldn't be so antagonistic. You apparently made your original post, knowing what the obvious objection was. Then when someone made it you said you knew that they were going to say that, and you've got an answer but you're not going to tell anyone. Why do you bother posting? If you're not willing to share information, nobody's going to get anything worthwhile out of your posts.

1. Double. This hand screams defence. Perhaps it's over-aggressive of me. I think this is fairly close between double and pass. 2. I appear to have 12 cards. 3. Double. 4. Pass 5. I'll try 3♠. 6. Double again.

I was doubling, but I think I'd expect partner to bid 5♥ on his hand.

If partner's good, I'd assume double is takeout. Anyhow I bid 4NT now.

Can I check that I understand the problem correctly: - Your RHO dealt and opened 1♦. - You overcalled 1♥ - Your LHO bid 3♦ - Your partner bid 3♥ and neither you nor your RHO noticed this bid - Your RHO passed - You passed. At this point, you and your RHO believed that there had been 3 passes and the auction was now over - Your LHO picked up his bidding cards to show that he was passing. Your partner understood this, but you and RHO just thought that the auction was over so he was removing his cards - You put your lead face-down on the table, but don't verbally ask partner if he has any questions - After 10 seconds or so nobody has said anything so you table your lead. - Your LHO puts down dummy? At this point I'm lost. How can he put down dummy if he believes that the final contract is 3♥ ? Presumably the 3♥ bid is still on the table? Your fault for leading out of turn, but luckily for you you're declarer so there aren't any penalties. So either your LHO leads to 3♥ if he didn't put his hand down as dummy, or his entire hand is now penalty cards if he did. But I suspect I've misunderstood the situation.

Doubled michaels is the best thing that can happen to you, especially if partner is able to jump-raise your known suit, leaving opps in the dark about the other suit. It may work well if partner does jump-raise, but is unlikely to be great otherwise (and the fact that they double decreases the chance that there will be a jump-raise). And critically, if this is a misfit deal then they're almost certain to be able to penalise after michael's, and less so after 2♠. What if partner also has 4 or 5 diamonds? She's not likely to prefer the 7-card spade fit when there may be a 9+ minor fit, and is almost certainly an 8-card fit. Plus, a 6 card minor tends to be more likely in the michael's hand than a 6-card major.

Finessing the ten and then the nine definitely looks better needing 4 tricks, and feels wrong needing 5 - could they both be right for different problems?

After 1♥ 1♠ 2♦ 3♣ 3♥ 3♠/3NT (as you prefer), I think I'd bid 4♦ as opener. This has to show a 6/5 or 7/5 or 7/6 hand, right? Diamond slam is still possible, and I'd expect partner to retreat to 4♥ without interest. Am willing to be convinced that I'm wrong, though.

Fairly sure a swan is a 7411. Anyhow I'm opening this 1♦.

I'm another 2♠ bidder.

Put me down for 2♥.

At these colours I'm going to bid 3♠. I don't know what the correct level is, but neither do our opponents, and 3♠ is unlikely to be very dear.