pbleighton

"Dbl, passing was not about being a chicken - mmmmmm chicken - but about not preempting with a 4 card M." If it walks like a chicken and passes like a chicken, it's a chicken :P Peter

Pass. I must be consistent. If I am such a chicken that I won't open this 2D or 3D, I certainly won't preempt a preempt with it :P Double is way too clever for me. Peter

"I am becoming increasingly dumbfounded at the people shooting out game. This hand is worth about 6 points if you want to assign it a number." Maybe 5, but then again maybe 10. I go to game, but I would rather transfer and pass than invite. Peter

Transfer then 3D (GF). I think its one of those hands which either performs very well as dummy opposite a NT opener, or badly. I also bid too many games :lol: Peter

Sad to say, many of us find play and defense less interesting than bidding, to the detriment of our bridge. Peter

If your red kings were aces you could open this 2C. As is, 1S is the bid. Peter

"You might not even have a game here, so your vulnerability is not important. " Huh? It's important if you have a game, as in the 620 you have given up by doubling in order to get 300, in this example hand. You can't assume you have game, but you can't assume you don't. I would double at equal vulnerability. "These were the two hands. As you can see, 4S is easy; however, if south doubles is this strict penalty or is it cooperative? Best defense beats 2H by 2 tricks. What should the double mean?" Penalty. 3 suits have been bid. Peter

My pd had terrible trouble and I was momentarily disconnected - bu then it got better. Peter

The economy has changed so much in the last half century that I'm not too worried about the yield curve. Parallel examples: I remember back in 73-74, I was taking freshman ecenomics, which stated that inflation and unemployment could never happen at the same time. Then I would read the papers. Another example: many (most?) economists believed that due to the natural rate of unemployment, that the low rates of unemployment in the mid and late 90s were impossible without setting off huge inflation. We will be facing higher oil prices, due to the increased demand, the fact that we are already burning oil twice as fast as we are finding it, and the fact that we are a very shortsighted species. We'll survive, but we will probably needlessly fall off an oil cliff first. As for gold prices, they are a red herring. As for whether recession/inflation is around the corner, If I could predict short term economic trends I wouldn't have to work :P Peter

"X for penalty - can't let opps get away with this. Responder is only an invitational game hand. If 3N is making, then 2HX is getting killed. Take the sure positive. It is possible that 2HX makes, but very unlikely. " Double at the two level at unfavorable? Peter

At this vulnerability, double is out (sigh). So 2NT or 3C. 2NT for me. 1NT forcing is an ugly convention :P Peter

"Don't lie to him about your holding" This is a style issue. If you want to play that you and your partners never open 1NT with 5422s, then 1NT is a lie. If I (or most of the other posters here) choose to open 1NT with many 5422 hands, then 1NT is not a lie, as she will be prepared for it. Peter

1NT, all the time. You don't have a 4 card major, and the hand is a very marginal reverse. Peter

"I'm HAPPY to open slightly offshape NTs, however, not on this hand After 1♣ - 1♥, I'm happy to rebid 2♠ After 1♣ - 1D, I'll rebid 1♠ " Richard, are you happy to force to game opposite a potential 6 count on a 5422 shape 17 count with a jack doubleton, a good but not great primary suit, and no known fit? Or do you not consider 2S to be GF? I would just rebid 1S. Peter

"I think a 1♣ opening and reverse into 2♠ better shows this hand than opening 1nt. " That would show a better than a min 1NT opener, IMO (but then, I'm not an expert :lol: ). OTOH, since your second suit is spades, it is very likely that pd will respond 1D/1H/1S, and you will be fine. It is only a 1NT response that sticks you. Peter

X, then 5D if pd bids 4C. May not be prudent :lol: Peter

"My vul, my unfav vul partner has bid twice. You have an ace and a K. Is this really a clear cut pass/wtp?" It is, playing in my partnerships. We tend to overcall light, stick better hands (15/16+ with a good 6 card suit) in double, and compete heavily at the 2 level with anything approaching a decent 6 card suit, even at unfavorable. I would think that a fellow wild man such as yourself would understand :P Peter

1. You play in 4♥ after your RHO overcalls 1♠: Dealer: North Vul: Both Scoring: MP ♠ Txx ♥ A62 D T ♣ AKT8xx ♠ A9x ♥ KQ8753 D Qxx ♣ Q I know it's matchpoints, but: Take the ace, then QC, then draw trumps ending in dummy, throw spade losers on clubs, if clubs are 3-3 you are in luck, if not lead the D10. Opening lead is the K♠. Plan the play. 2. You open 1♥ (would you? Or is this a 15-17 NT?) in 3rd chair at all vul: ♠Kx ♥AKJxx DQJx ♣xxx. Pard bids 2♠ (fit jump). Your call? I could open 1NT depending on pard. Assuming 2S is invitational, 4H is fine. 3. ♠xx ♥xxxx DK9xxx ♣AJ at vul vs not. 1♣ on left, 1♠ by pard, 1N on right. Pass, Pass, 2♠ by pard and 3♣ on your right. Your call? Pass, wtp? Pard is an overcaller, after all. Peter

6D, although since pd probably has clubs, 6NT is tempting. Peter

"I do know from experience that it is seriously wrong to open 5-4's with 1 10-13 HCP NT." Funny, my experience is just the opposite. Peter

4H, because it is an indy and because I have two diamond losers. I would have opened 1NT in an indy without hesitation. With a regular pd it is close, I probably would open 1C, because I have 4 spades. Peter

2C. I will push to 4S, because of trump quality. Peter

Maybe the fact that their one bids are forcing? Peter

Though far from an expert, I have found that WJOs with 5 cards at the 2 level and 6 cards at the 3 level (not to mention simple overcalls at the 1 level with 4 cards) win more than they lose, though some caution is wise when vulnerable. They are also fun ;) Peter

"so would are bids change then if we were vulnerable against NV??? I would think that the 3♥ bids might go away" No kidding :) Peter