ali quarg

Good to see you back Vulnerability should make a difference as you can bid with a weaker hand with Favourable versus Unfavourable vulnerability In terms of playing tricks I use FV 5 EV 6 UV 7 At EV & UV I would bid 3NT. FV is more of a risk, but on balance I would take the risk on being able to cash the clubs. Other's may have a better appreciation of this challenge though.

Playing 2/1 either GI/GF [hv=pc=n&w=sa953hdq9732ck732&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1sp?]133|200[/hv] and another challenge in the spoiler

Ditto & rebid ♥ over ♣ to show the strength & extra length

OK So in the non-Neolithic Age what use 3♦ says the sage?😬

Never quite understood why 3♦ needs to be used with 55 when 2♦-2♥-2♠ does the trick for both 54 & 55 GI+. A NT bid denies 3♥ so must have 3♠ when balanced. A raise to 3/4♠ or a cue bid to show slam interest in ♠ seems to do the job. Perhaps someone can enlighten me?

As an improver I was always interested in the options, but am surprised that just because something has a name like 'Smolen' you don't want to teach it. At the end of the day it should be your judgement as a teacher as to what to promote (probably something you would play yourself), while comparing and contrasting various approaches, their strengths/weaknesses can be beneficial as a teaching tool. I open all balanced 15-17 hands with 1NT as I like to limit strength as this makes other sequences more precise. A decent Puppet Stayman can then be used to find the 8 card fits. This approach may be more of an issue for a Weak NT, but the principles are the same and the 5-card suit can be a bonus. For me I would want Puppet Stayman over 2NT openings so why not over 1NT. This approach maintains an overall philosophy and was easy to grasp for improvers like myself For me 5♥ & 4/5♠ is conceptually the easiest to teach as it can have a simple sequence which starts with a transfer i.e. 1NT-2♦ 5+♥ 2♥-2♠ GI+ 4+♠ 2/3NT (GI/GF shows 2♥) responder can pass with 4♠ or bid ♠ with 5. You can add a wrinkle in that say SI hands can bid 3♠ directly showing exactly 4. With 4♥ & 5♠ I use a Puppet Stayman such that 1NT-2♣ 2/3NT shows 3♥ & 2♠ exactly. while 1NT-2♣ 2♦ (no 5cm)-3/4♥ shows the 4♥5♠ hand with the 8-card Major fit now being guaranteed. There is a similar wrinkle for SI hands in that you can transfer to ♠ first and then bid 3♥ This is the stage I have reached at the moment, but over time it may well change.

Not too much change from my approach without interference where 2♦ Min - Pass now shows this hand. --2♥ by responder then asks opener to shape out as per 2NT onwards below --etc. ♣ orientated bids X 4+♦ Min 2♥ - 4♥ Min+ 2♠ 4+♦ Int+ 2NT 6+♠ Int+ unbalanced 3♣ 4+♣ Int+ 3♦ 6+♠ Int+ semi-balanced or Str balanced 3♥ 55 Majors Int+ 3♠ Int+ self-sustaining suit

All MPs who have had any FPN should go :ph34r: Any left?

I play 3-way game tries so 2NT - reverse help suit game try 3♣ - trump suit game try 3♠ - ♣ short suit game try

One observation I have is that if West opens then the end result could be a likely 4♥ contract so in that perspective 4♠ seems like a reasonable bid. South's overcall is a touch weak for me, but North's raise to 4♠ is plausible given a revalued KQ♠ opposite what is likely to be a 6 card suit headed by the Ace♠ and opening values. If you only raise to 3♠ then East could be bidding 4♥ on close to a maximum. As it turns out only 1♠ or 3♥ is makeable; on another day this could have worked out well with a sound South bid.

Nope I use the guidelines below - if I'm 15 hcp and higher than 7MLT I will consider whether 1NT is the right bid. North's hand is 6MLT https://bridgewinners.com/article/view/upgrading-and-improving-losing-trick-count/ 3NT is the natural bid as made by 89/125 and would be passed without slam interest, which means that 4♣ describes the fit and intention. As helene_t points out bidding 3♦ could show doubt about the ♥ stopper so I'm not sure why 3NT would be described as quite bad.

I'd look for the small slam as South from the open on the basis of a sufficient combined modified loosing trick count if a fit can be found. Simply 1NT (assume 6.5 MLT) versus ~6.5 giving 19-6.5-6.5 = 6-level. 1NT- 2♥ 2♠ - 3♣ 4+♣ forcing to 3NT 3NT - 4♣ 5+♣ SI (playing a balanced 1NT, opener must have at least 3♣) then using Kickbo 4♠ (3KCs with K♠) - 4NT (K♦ potential grand?) 5♣ - 5♦ all KCs no Q♣ 6♣ (nothing more to add) Playing for 7♣ would likely be a step too far

Good sequence if East opens using Namyats & Kickbo 4♣ - 4♠ 2KCs w/o ♦ctrl 4NT K♠ w. ♦ctrl - 5♣ K♣ 5♠ All KCs w/o Q♥ - 5NT Q♥ & Q♠ 7NT I can count 13 tricks 3♠7♥1♦2♣ otherwise fairly similar with West opening 1♠ - 2♥ 5+♥ GI 3♣ 4+♣ Intermediate GF - 3♥ 6+♥ 4♥ (could skip and move straight to Kickbo as above as 5♥ should be safe if West is Min) - 4NT 3KCs w. ♠ control 5♣ K♣ - 5♠ All KC w/o Q♥ 5NT Q♥ & Q♠ - 7NT I can count 13 tricks 3♠7♥1♦2♣

In the pamphlet Hello in the Passout seat is only changed for the X-transfer to ♣ After that Pass - ♣ 2♦ - ♦ & a Major 2♥ - ♥ & ♣ 2♠ - ♠ & ♣ Every thing else remains the same

Do I downgrade and open 1♣ or stick with a 15-17 1NT? [hv=pc=n&n=sqjhkqt5datck98]133|100|[/hv] The Director found the cards :rolleyes: [hv=pc=n&n=sqjhkqt5dat3ck984]133|100[/hv]

[hv=pc=n&s=st74ha94dkt96cq92&w=saq85hkj82d2ckt43&n=s92hq75daqj543c86&e=skj63ht63d87caj75&d=w&v=e&b=9&a=1c2d?]399|300[/hv]

Multi vs. Mult2[diamonds) works well, but a Pass for South https://chrisryall.net/bridge/multi-v-multi-2d.htm

Yep totally misread the post-too much sun this morning with the exceptionally fine weather in the UK!

I thought standard was 1M-2M showing 8-9(6-9). All these hands are stronger than that for me. My style is more direct 1) 1M-3D Limit+ 3C support 2) As above 3) Jacoby 2NT-I play Limit+

Guess I ought to give my reasoning since I voted first a) ♠ are too weak for me V or NV b) With 10+ playing tricks I wouldn't want to miss game so would bid 4♥ absent 2NT c) For me 3♥ would be invitational to game opposite an an appropriate hand d) I would bid 2NT first as there is a potential slam on the cards opposite an appropriate fit.

And possibly miss a NT/♠ game opposite a West 8 count?

Agreed the ♥ suit is too weak for me too. A Multi-2♦ would free up 2♥ for an Ekren style both Majors which should lead to game in ♠. I'd only bid both Majors 2♥ with 64 when the long suit is weak. the auction would then be: 2♥-2NT (on the cusp Rule of 17) 3♦ (5♥ & 4♠) - 3/4♠, or 4♣ (6♥ & 4♠) - 4♠ Switch the weak hand's ♣ & ♦ around and your're going to struggle

Running it through the machine with East either opening 1♣ as a weak NT (mlt guide 7.5) or 1NT as 15-17 (mlt guide 6.5) Weak NT mlt 13.5 (marginal slam try w. 3 KCs/void vs. max. and good fit). 15-17hcp mlt 12.5 1♣-1♠GF (Weak NT) 1NT-2♣ Staymanish 2♦ (Forced)-2♥ Weak w. 5+♠ or Inv+ w. 4♠ 2♠ (no super-accept)-4♣ SI 6+♦&4♠ w. short ♣ happy to stop in 5♦/4♠ 4♦ (set trumps)-4♠ (3KCs/void) w. ♠ control denying ♥ control 4NT (♥ control)-5♣ (void) 6♦ (1st round control in all suits w. Q♦ I hope the machine was programmed correctly :blink: Not realistic with the A♣ rather than the A♥

I use a variation of unbalanced Diamond which can be found via link under conventions. Not natural, but it works The bidding would go: 1♦-1♠ GF 1NT (5431/6430) - 2♣ (2 under transfers showing 4+♥) 2♦ (short ♥) - 4♠ (5+♠ signoff)/2♥ (5+♠ shape query w. slam interest etc.)

Game in any colour is still a possibility even if a 7 card fit With 2♥ showing a minimum 2♠ is natural & keeps the options open. This would show either a 5422/5413/4603 with weak ♥s. North is then in the position to enquire about which shape/define his own shape further/bid 3NT with a club stopper. Alternatively just bid 3NT with the partial ♣ stopper, but this may close off a slam in ♣ if North holds both Minors.