Douglas43

At favourable I'd open 1♣ 1♣ - 1♥ 1♠ - 2♦* 2♠ - 4♠ South could bid 3♠ with serious slam interest

I agree with you about 6♣ being poor because of vacant spaces outside hearts - West has 11 and east only 7. 6NT is not an option though.

What does the OP mean by "Classical bidding systems"? IMO Acol with weak NT is better suited to pairs than to IMPs, strong NT and 5cM is probably the opposite.

How about a BWYTYCM 5♦?

Yes, I agree with the description, it's the pass of a game forcing bid I'm disappointed by

Bug today I'm afraid in Board 3 of the free Acol Individual daylong, first real bug in the otherwise very good Argine bot: Me Argine 1♠ 2♦ 4♦ Pass Argine describes 4♦ as "4-6 diamonds, 4+ spades, 14-20 hcp natural game forcing", then passes it

I'm with smerriman. IMO GiB plays 4th suit natural and forcing. FSF (British style) is a conventional bid which asks for information and normally denies that suit. N.b. to brits a punt is a gamble on placing the final contract, nit a waiting bid.

Playing no gadgets, I'd consider 1♥ - 1♠ - 4♥. That shows a really good Heart suit and a hand short of a 2♣ opening that has been improved by partner's response (Hxx or HHx is a typical holding). Don't know whether partner should bid on (I would probably chicken out in their shoes) but 6M is on a finesse, so either outcome is OK.

I'm like Akwoo's comment. As your partner did not double the 1NT, I guess you were playing against a strong NT. It's quite reasonable to have a policy of not raising overcalls against a strong NT without exceptional support. This might be worth bidding 3♠ as you have 5 card support and a singleton. And if your partner went away deriding your bid, that says more about your partner than your bidding.

I'd settle for 5♠. Partner could be stretching, but a heart shortage is odds-on. So probably a heart loser and one other somewhere most of the time.

It's 6-5 non-vulnerable. 2NT for me every time.

I'm with Mikeh (usually a good place to be). Assuming promissory Stayman, and not the extra features as set out by helene_t: If responder has hearts only and an invitational hand, you are forced to the three-level whichever method you play However, 1NT-2♣-2♥-2♠ keeps you a level lower than 1NT-2♣-2♠-3♠ which can be handy at pairs

I've no problem with West's opening, my card says third hand opening may be light, I want a diamond lead, and I can cope with most responses (only 2♣ is squeaky-bum time). North - South's bidding is beyond my understanding. Even if South passes initially, 5♥ or even 6♦ second time, pick a major, seems normal?

There seem to be a lot of points in this pack. With the clubs breaking badly (assuming that the 2♣ not alerted was indeed natural rather than a UCB), I'd be worried about source of tricks, and about the long trump hand suffering forces. call me a pessimist, but I'd probably pass 2♥ unless my system allowed it to be 5 Hearts and 6 Clubs, which this system doesn't.

There seem to be a lot of points in this pack. With the clubs breaking badly (assuming that the 2♣ not alerted was indeed natural rather than a UCB), I'd be worried about source of tricks, and about the long trump hand suffering forces. call me a pessimist, but I'd probably pass 2♥ unless my system allowed it to be 5 Hearts and 6 Clubs, which this system doesn't.

Open 1♣ and reverse into Diamonds.

I think I'd have passed over 2♦, but then bid 3♥ over 3♦. Partner's second double is a pretty clear wake-up call. Don't know about what I'd do over 4♦ though.

You were fixed if your opponent made this anything other than 7 losers...

Sorry, I meant to say they don't fit as well, not that they don't work at all. In the sequences you give I'd double to show a hand which is not looking for a penalty and which has extras. It is one of the disadvantages of weak NT that when you have a strong NT type and get intervention, it's harder to define your hand (whereas if you play strong NT and have a weak hand, you can just pass.) On the first hand I'd probably double, and on the second bid 2H on three card support.

I agree, particularly because a third hand pre-empt can be wider range. If it's lighter than usual, -800 becomes more likely, or if it's a bit stronger, we can be -300 on a part-score hand.

If partner doesn't bid over 2♥, I have a reopening double.

Well I wondered, because I'm a Brit who mostly plays weak NT and saw from your profile that you are a Brit too. Also, two of the hands cited would be weak NT openers. Two things to consider: After 1NT (overcall)- pass - (pass) it's worth reopening with a takeout double when NV on shape rather than strength I much prefer 1NT -(overcall) X to be takeout with 7+ hcp. Good penalty doubles are rare If playing strong and 5, do you use support doubles? They don't work with weak NT (imo - I've seen different views from good players), but seem to be very widely used in the US?

At the risk of being controversial, have you considered going back to the weak NT?

Since i last posted, I have read Under the Table by Avon Wilsmore. Depressing (it compiles evidence that the Blue Team cheated) but an excellent read.

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