Douglas43

I'd bid 4♥ playing partner for seven hearts and a bit of luck for the tenth trick. Now I'll look at the spoiler and wipe the egg off my face...

Put me down for a simple 5♦ as well.

Credit to the EBU for setting up and applying what appears to be a credible and effective process.

To play in an EBU-affiliated club you need to provide your personal EBU membership number, and most club events are for members only, and are local, so people know each other. For a congress you must supply your name and membership number, so a ban would be pretty close to 100% effective as far as officially sanctioned events go. There are unaffiliated clubs though.

In the UK in the 70's 1M-3M was (is) a limit raise and 1M - 4m was a convention called Swiss showing game raises with different levels of controls. There were various versions, the Bridge Bum site gives a couple which were used in the USA: Swiss Raises Bridge Convention - Bidding and Responses (bridgebum.com. Jacoby and splinters is much better. I play a simple approach with 4+ card support: A splinter is about 8-12 hcp, singleton or void and no really good suit of my own. Jacoby is 12+ hcp but a bit stodgy. Change of suit followed by game bid (or game force sequence showing support) is an old-fashioned "delayed game raise" showing a good 5 card suit of my own as a potential source of tricks (think passed hand jump shift but about an Ace stronger). On a good day you can "DGR" and splinter on the same hand: 1H-2C-2H-4D "I have good clubs, short diamonds and heart support". See my response to this hand from AL78 Missed slam (X-IMPS) - BBO Discussion Forums (bridgebase.com)

I'm with you, not sure that a defensive raise to three is really that useful so have gone back to an old-fashioned game try. I'd bid three at pairs, four at IMPs.

Thanks for that and to others who have replied on my question. It's interesting to see different emphasis players put on having Jacoby / natural 2NT / natural jump shift available

If I used 2♠ for Jacoby I'd be worried about giving the opponents an opportunity to find a Spade sacrifice via a double. Presumably there is a benefit that you think makes it worth that risk, could you enlarge on it please?

4♥. For a slam to be good here I need as a minimum ♠K, ♥AK, ♦A. If any of those cards is missing, I need ♣A and ♦K to compensate.

In reply to precisionL Just this week I have passed out two hands in 4th seat with ~11 hcp and 7cds or less in the majors. Played 18 games ( 324 hands) 2/324 = 0.7%<br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);"><br style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);">One hand was not passed out at any other table. No other hands passed out. Strange that it was me that passed out both of them You'd have hade some company if I'd been in the field.

Can't speak for 2/1 but it's a splinter in Acol.

I wish I had been a bit more aggressive earlier (say 3S as a try for 3NT with a solid minor). Reluctant pass I suppose at this score

Maybe 2NT overcall passed by East on the basis that nobody had doubled yet? Helpful by Mikeh on how the bidding should go. Nothing to add

I agree. We regard weak twos like overcalls and apply Total Tricks in most circumstances (except flat hands when "red" - adverse vul). I'd expect to bid 2♥ - 4♥ here at any vulnerability, any form of scoring. Our weak twos in first and second are pretty sound by modern standards, especially vulnerable, which allows responder to raise freely. If yours are weaker or you open five card suits, then 2NT might be wiser.

When the opponents double I would normally play pass=2, bid=3, jump=4. Certainly would not compete after an overcall on 2 cards. Might occasionally compete on 3 and a suitable hand. If partner had transferred to hearts and the opponent had bid 2♠ I would bid 3♥ on the West hand at love all

Could you advise please whether "queen points" are a real form of hand valuation or is it just a made-up example for the purposes of the thread? Excuse my ignorance but I've played for 40 years without ever hearing of them...

At the risk of being laughed at, I still play 1NT-3♥ as a natural slam try (opposite a weak NT). What alternative for an immediate 3♥ is in use here?

That was a very restrained final pass by South at love all!

As a simple soul I'd play a dummy reversal and hope the hearts break. A small extra chance that if West has 4 hearts there is a red-suit squeeze I think? Win DK CA C ruff with A Spade Club ruff Spades, throwing H2. Now (unless West has discarded 5 diamonds, in which case cash DA and South's hand is high) HAKQ DA last heart I could afford 1 round of trumps before the CA in case West is 1-5-7-0 but then I think East might have bid on KQJT98765 and also might have made a Lightener double?

1♥ - 1♠ - 2♦ - 2♥?

Just realised that this is from the weekly free instant tournament. Playing 2/1 I rebid 3♥ and the eventual 4♥ contract got a very helpful diamond lead from the robot which gained me a trick ...

At the table I'd ask about opener's pass of the double in case they have an agreement that's useful to me. Absent specific agreements, I reckon partner should have spades, and probably both the majors. FWIW, my regular agreements would be partner's double shows spades, 2C would be majors, 1NT natural. I think my options are pass, 2♣ and 2♠ and 1NT Pass must show spades and some values. But it does not obstruct the oppo in finding find the best minor in which to compete 2♠ shows spades but is vague on strength 1NT describes the overall strength but buries the spade fit 2♣ would be an unassuming cue bid opposite my regular partner. But here, too much uncertainty to risk So, in the stated circumstances: 2♠, second choice pass.

I agree with nige1 above. Partner's heart response means the ♥QJ are pulling their weight, so no downgrade for me. (Opening 1NT not an option as I play 12-14, 1NT rebid is 15-17)

Not playing 2/1, I would bid 3♦ to create a game force, and see whether partner can show heart tolerance or rebids spades

As I was one of the posters who offered 4♠ as an answer and some experienced players prefer not to use it, here is some context on why I put it forward. My apology, I had missed that this is the beginner and improver forum, and should have explained for the benefit of less experienced readers, as I certainly wouldn't recommend that an improver use it indiscriminately. I would bid 4♠ on a responding hand that is roughly a weak no-trump with poor controls, as a "fast arrival" warning that my hand is poor for slam purposes. Something like Jxxx, KJxx, KJ, QJx or Jxxx, KQxxx, Kx, Kx. Going via Fourth Suit Forcing (or splintering) shows a better hand and at least willing to cooperate with a slam try. After 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 2♣* 2♥ 2♠ which forces to game, opener can bid 4♠ (minimum hand fast arrival), 3♠ (not minimum, leaving room for responder to make a try) or show extras and slam interest with another bid such as 4♣ splinter, or 3♦ (good suit) or 3♥ (partial fit in responder's suit) Again, this is Acol not SAYC or 2/1 and appreciate that North American players might use different paths