pbleighton

I make the completely silly bid of 1H :) Peter

South has to bid 6. Peter

This is a very tough hand to bid for West. I don't like 2NT, but given his choice of 1H the first time (reasonable), it seems the least evil. I don't see going gently into the night with a 12 count at imps. The alternative is treating the hand as GF and bidding 2C the first time. East, on the other hand, has a clear correction to 3D. A holey 7 card suit doesn't make a 10 count an accept to 3NT. OTOH, vul at imps people try stuff :) Overall, a tough hand, don't beat yourself up. Peter

"If you do bid 3NT, pard will probably follow-up with 4♠ and you're left with another decision as to carry on or not." I have to admit I wouldn't, with one ace, a stiff trump (though the king), no shortness in an outside suit, and wide open in clubs. I'm a relatively conservative slam bidder compared to many Forum posters, though, so I expect some to push on. Peter

Pass. I've shown my hand. Peter

I should pass, but I have to admit I might bid at the table :P Peter

Tough problem. I think they can probably make 3NT, and we are probably only down 2 in 4H, so I bid 4H. But two "probables" = no clue. Peter

"Why does going off in 3NT with no stop in the 4th suit gain you matchpoints?" It doesn't, but 1. We frequently make 3NT anyway 2. 5m may go down 3. 3NT and 5m may both make, and 3NT usually beats 5m (the matchpoints issue) 4. I've shown my shape, if we have a biddable slam partner should know about it. 5. I don't like rebidding hearts or diamonds with a 5-4 shape, promising what I don't have. Marlowe plays 3D as noise, Free plays 3H as noise, fine for them, but I prefer to be able to show both 5-5 and 6-4 hands. Peter

3S is a little better than 3NT, both are fine. I don't understand double. Peter

"The only alternative is 3♦ showing nothing extra and no ♣ stopper...' I play that as 5-5, minimum. And yes, I will bid 3NT without a 4th suit stopper. I play a LOT of matchpoints :) Peter

1. 3NT 2. Pass Peter

"weak twos normally contain 6 cards or a strong 5-card suit, so 2♠ would be anti-field here " My weak 2s in the 3rd NV are wild, and I have no problem playing against the field. Also, not vulnerable, a lot of players around where I play open weak 2s very aggressively in the 3rd seat not vulnerable. Peter P.S. your sarcasm detector is on the blink ;)

Pass 2H, which is why I wouldn't have reopened. Peter

5D. What else? Peter

"Do you feel sorry that you didn't open in the first place?" Yes. What was I thinking? "Would you balance now?" No, but it's thisclose. Move a small diamond to hearts and it would be a clear balance. Peter

"I agree, but I will quickly pull to 3♣ after X-P-P-?" Well, duh :) Peter

"well Peter, I agree that all other calls are somewhat ugly, but that doesn't mean that there is something good to say about pass" Pass would be my last choice as well, Hannie, but I think you may be missing my point. I think that this bidding problem is more of a Rorschach test for players' preferred styles and agreements in competitive bidding than it is about hand evaluation. I expect that very few Forum members would pass this hand, but there are good players at my club who would pass it. They have been successful "having their bid" for a LONG time, and they are not about to change. Pass works for them. They don't choose me as a partner :) Peter

"I tried to avoid michaels if at ever possible." I don't avoid it, but I don't like it either 5-4 or intermediate strength, so this hand fails twice. I don't fault others for bidding it, though, if their agreements permit it. "and maybe also for pass, although I'm not sure what" If you are strict about having your bid under classical definitions (I'm not), pass is inevitable. Peter

2S wtp? Peter

I think Goobers' post is a good basic introduction. If you understand and stick to this, you may not be practicing "expert bidding", but you won't go far wrong. Peter

"Sometimes I think Im sticking my kneck out and I do regardless and gets chopped off, other times like this it wouldnt have been such a risk and I dont.... sigh" Sometimes you have to guess, and everyone guesses wrong a lot. Don't worry about it. Peter

I bid 6S. I would have bid 4S instead of 3S. It seems inconsistent to me that someone wouldn't consider this hand good enough for 4S, yet would think about 6S after pd goes to 4. Yes the opps bid diamonds, but you already knew you had no diamond losers/ Peter

"If 2♠ is a good diamond raise, what would you say with a good club raise?" Good point, it must be 4sf, which is what I want it to be. Peter

I open the first hand. On the second hand, the auction is fine until 4D, I would bid 2S instead. Question on 2S though: is it 4sf or a good diamond raise? In any case I would bid it, though 3H appeals as well. Peter

Pass on both. Peter