Blofeld

The 3♦ bid is the only one in the auction that I actually like. The spade shortage along with the three card support give you enough for a competitive raise, I think. I'm reasonably happy at the three level even if partner has only five diamonds, and if six then passing now may let the opponents steal the auction at too low a level. Given the yucky 2♦ bid, I don't mind the double that much (I'm assuming it's penalties as a fit has been found), but I don't think that I'd make it. I don't like 4♦ at all. --- coyot: 3♦ doesn't really seem anti-LOTT even with a 5 card suit opposite. Assuming we have an 8 card fit, they rate to have an 8 or 9 card fit. So to begin with we think that there are 16 or 17 total tricks available. But the singleton ♠ is a bonus, inclining us to a slightly higher estimate of the total tricks available (the fact that it is the Ace is more or less LOTT-neutral, I think), so 16+ to 17+. If there are 16 total, which looks like the worst case, then if 2♠ is making, 3♦ is one off. So a bad score if they double. But people are wary of doubling you into game on borderline cases at IMPs. If 2♠ is one off, then 3♦ is making, which is a good result as we're not going to be able to double 2♠ (even better if they decided to double us!). If they're making 9 tricks, then we're just making 7 and things look a little more grim. If there are 17 total, then passing 2♠ could be exhanging +110 for -110. If they're split other than 9/8 for us and them, then it doesn't make much difference. And of course even if partner usually has just five, a reasonable amount of the time there will be more. Which may lead to 18 or more total trumps, and make it even more imperative to act. Partner won't bid again on his six card suit, so you'd better mention your support now.

... but if you butt in below 2♦, the opponents still have more room than in the 2♣ auction. I think that establishing the GF at a low level can only really be a good thing.

Interesting problem. I think I'm going to plough ahead and bid 4♦.

I think West really ought to bid 4NT over 3♥. East should possibly make another move over 3NT, but as West sounds like he's a minimum opening, I sympathise with the pass of 3NT.

I thought 3♣ was game forcing. If not then I should certainly have bid something else.

Over, (1NT) P (2♥), I would expect: DBL: lead directional, possibly inviting competition in ♥s 2♠: Takeout, with decent shape. 2NT: some 2-suiter 3♣, 3♦, 3♥ : standard overcalls 3♠: I've no idea. Possibly a western cue? 3NT: to play 4♣, 4♦: pre-emptive 4♥: to play. Not sure about strength. 4♠: not sure that this would exist. 4NT: both minors but I'm not sure where I've picked those expectations up from, nor whether they're a sensible agreement.

They both give you the same number of points, but if you've bid and made 3♠ then you have 90 points below the line, so making any contract will give you game. If you've made 1♠+2, then you still have 90 points, but just 30 of them are below the line, meaning that game will be 2NT, 3 of a major or 4 of a minor.

Part scores are nice at rubber bridge, because they put some more pressure on the opponents as in later rounds you can score game at a lower level. I'd say that they tend to be worth more than the 50 pts assigned to them in Chicago or duplicate - but also, 3♠ just making is a nicer contract than 1♠+2. I wouldn't think that a 35% game was worth bidding. But I'm far from an expert on rubber.

I agree with helene in that I don't much like it (4333 shape, few fitting values, just one ace), but I still think that I'd open it 1NT (the bigger question is whether I'd stretch it down to open 1NT playing 12-14). I'd also pass 3NT. I agree with Gerben: North should not have bid 3NT with such a suit-oriented hand.

Was going to bid 3♦, but on reflection I like 4♦ better. I see no reason to keep partner in the dark with a 4♥ bid.

Very happy doubling.

Lovely idea.

I'd bid either 2♦ or 5♦; probably the latter. Or bid 1♠ and the keep on correcting back to diamonds if you want to do something 'clever'.

With a favourable (i.e. non-club) lead you can pick up Ax of ♦ with east, as well. But I wouldn't call it a good slam.

The lead was actually - of all things - a small ♠.

[3♦ was reverse Bergen]

:) at Mike.

I quite want to learn WJ2005, but I've never played any form of Polish club before.

Actually I had a spade lead (!) This ran to East's queen (should I have risen with the J or the K? I thought it unlikely that West had the A), and I won the small heart return, ran my diamonds, and exited with a heart. the club return gave me my 9th trick.

It is: it's called "Total points".

On some hands GIB seems to refuse to play altogether. Have had this happen with 2 and 3 humans at the table, and the first time it is called to play or at a later point. We got out of it only by redealing.

That sounds like a good reason to be in 3NT, Roland. (I haven't found the correct defence yet)

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sxxhdxxxxcakqjtxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The more I think about this hand, the more I'm unsure what the best action is. Thoughts?

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=skj83h8532d42c853&w=sat764h97d976c642&e=sq52hajt64dt8ckj7&s=s9hkqdakqj53caqt9]399|300|Scoring: IMP The full hand (rotated for ease)[/hv] At the table I thought for quite a while and then bid 3NT, which though a punt was a good result as everyone else who had had the 1♥ opening was playing in some number of diamonds (or something silly). I rather like the idea of prefacing it with a 2NT bid. How do the doublers get to 3NT?

Winston has diagnosed things properly: if you start with a double, partner bids 1♠ passed back to you. What do you do now?