pbleighton

1H if I open light, 4H else. Peter

"By the way, pard didn't fancy a double? After all, he can play in all suits, no?" He should have either 4 hearts or a better hand for double, IMO. Peter

"You might disagree with 4♣ but when pd has some moderate values and a club fit he might not act over 3♠ and yet you can be cold for a club game. Who knows? The important thing is that if you are going to reopen with 4♣ on such a hand your pd has to be in the same wavelength to pass with the posted hand." I would never do it when vulnerable myself. NV, it would be OK, if marginal. As you say, it comes down to what pd expects. Peter

Pass. 3NT seems against the odds. Peter

1. 6D, pick a major suit slam. No room for science. 2. 4S, 3 is tempting but we should have 10 spades and I have gotten burned too many times being chicken in auctions like this. 3. 5C. 4C should be a good suit and hand when vulnerable. Peter

This is tough. 3NT, because I want a heart lead coming around to pd. In 4S we could have 3 heart losers, even if pd declares. If I had one less heart, I would transfer, then bid 4S. Peter

"Alright but then again, how do you open the following ? AKJ-AQx-AKJx-AQx or AKQxxx-Ax-AKQx-x" 1D. 1S. :) Maybe it's just my luck, but I don't get dealt these hands too often. I've been playing this way for almost a year (mostly IMPs), and haven't found it to be a problem. Peter

"I think playing 2-level Fantunes openings requires to use 1NT = 12-14 , even offshape as a catchall opening, to handle hands too weak for a 1-level opening but too dangerous/defensive for a 2 level opener." I agree with you for purposes of forcing 1 bids. I play them NF, but respond with 4 counts. Peter

"1)3H was game force" Agree - it showed 4H and 5S. "2) spades are trump 3) 4D is a cue showing A or K of D, not shortness." Agree. "4) Responder denies club control." Not necessarily, but likely. Likely contract: 6 spades is slightly more likely than 4 or 5. Peter

3D, holding my nose. Peter

Thanks. 51 is truly a cause for rejoicing :P Peter

3S, the least lie. Peter

In the absence of an agreement, I would have to assume a light pure takeout, 1444 or 0(445). I agree with Richard that this isn't a good idea, however. Penalty seems right. Undiscussed, would you risk this at the table, though? Peter

Since my reaction is "2S, wtp?", I'm thinking there must be a problem :) Make it ♠ KQT9753 ♥ T2 D AKT ♣ 2 and I'd consider 3S. Peter

"Peter thinks that partner should have a strong hand for 2H, Mike thinks that partner should be 6-6 in the majors... I disagree with both. I wonder what you two recommend partner to do with AJ10xx AQxxx xx x" Since we are vulnerable, I would pass (reluctantly) with this hand. Partner has passed, after all. NV, everything changes. 2H could be this hand, and I would probably pass, though 2NT would be close. Peter

3NT. My reasoning is that pd should have a strong hand for his bid. If he doesn't, maybe 3NT will teach him :P Peter

5C. Sometimes you have to ignore the 8 card major suit fit. I didn't, in a very similar hand about 6 months ago, and watched all of my lovely club tricks but one come to naught. Peter

Glen: Interesting. The fact that your 1H bid is both wider ranging and better defined in shape then 1S reminds me of The Way Forward, if you know that system. Peter

I'm interested in the experience of Forum readers of Fantoni-Nunes/EHAA type systems. I know that at least a couple of you play/have played these systems, and I play one myself. For those who aren't familiar with them, here is a brief description: EHAA 1 of a suit: 13+, 4 card majors. Unlimited. Responses are 6+, and Gorenish. Very few (or no) conventions. 1NT: 10-12 2 of a suit: 6-12, 5+ cards, may be any 5 card suit, including a 6 count with a 65432 suit at unfavorable. New suits are NF, 2NT and a raise to 3 are invitational. Jump shifts are GF. Very aggressive, simple system. 2 bids are hard to handle for the opps, but game and slams are difficult to bid. Fantoni-Nunes 1 of a suit: 14+ unbalanced, 15+ balanced, 5 card majors, 4 card 1D (unbalanced, usually 5+), 1C is 2+ and contains balanced hands with no 5cM outside of the NT ranges. Unlimited and forcing. 1 level responses are 1-9, 2 level responses are 10+ and GF. 2C (or 1C-2D) is a catchall GF: other 2/1s are 5+ cards. 3 level responses are 5-5 GF. 1NT: 12-14 2 of a suit: 10(9)-13, 5+ cards, unbalanced, may be any 5 card suit. 2m may be 4441. Relay continuations. An aggressive, sophisticated system. Chicken EHAA (my system) 1 of a suit: 13+ unbalanced, 14+ balanced, 5 card majors. Unlimited. Responses are 4+, and basically Standard American. Some conventions (NMF, 4sf, splinters, etc.), but not many. Invite with 9-10, drive to game with 11. 1NT: 10-13, includes most 5422s 10-bad 13, unless a strong suit, where we open 2X. 2 of a suit: 9(8)-12, 5+ cards, may be any 5 card suit, though we may pass 9 and 10 counts with bad 5 card suits when vulnerable. New suits are NF at the 2 level, GF at the 3 level. 2NT is a GF distributional inquiry (natural rebid). A raise to 3 is invitational, with 2+ trumps. Although inspired by Fantoni-Nunes, this is actually much closer to EHAA (we play 5 card majors vs 4 because that is what we are used to - 4 card majors would work fine). The biggest difference is the tighter range on the 2 bids, which allow a response structure which is much better for game and slam bidding than the EHAA structure. It also provides for some nice penalty doubles :) Are you playing anything like these systems? Peter

Very close at unfavorable. 2C, expecting pd to have 3+ clubs on the bidding. If not, next hand ;) Peter

4H. If I had the SA rather than the SK, I might bid 3S. Making your first cuebid with a king is a bit of a lie, and I don't like to do it with a hand that really has no extras in light of the 3D bid. Why do I think the correct bid is slam-going? :( Peter

4H. When I get clever, bidding 3NT when we have a known 8 card majot suit fit, it has been wrong more often than right. I still do it occasionally, but not with one stopper in the opps' suit. But 3NT could easily be right :ph34r: Peter

5C. Pass. Peter

"Yes, that was my plan. There has to be a reason / a flaw, why one does not open a direct 2-suiter, when a 2-suited opening is available." Your 2 suited overcalls show 6 of a minor and 5 of a major? Peter

"Via a 2-suited overcall" Huh? You pass, then come back in, which shows more shape? Do I understand you correctly? Peter