pbleighton

4S. I agree with 3D first with only Qx. Pd is likely singleton inclubs, given your 3 and the auction. BTW, isn't 3D forcing to game (new suit at the 3 level)? I play that it is, even in competition. Peter

"Is it really necessary to teach newer players that to open this hand is necessary to be a better player?" No, the point of this thread is whether or not this hand is an opener. "Perhaps teaching newer players how to bid game after passing this hand is a more important bridge skill to teach us as opposed to what suit to open or suit to rebid with this hand?" It is an equally important skill, but not the point of this thread. Peter

"The reason to open this hand is to get to game that wouldn't be reached otherwise, something like Axxx, Jxx, xxxx, Kx opposite." Well, it's one reason. The other is that opening 1S can muck up the opps' bidding. "I respect anyone who passes or bids differently here - I really do think this is a style issue rather than a right or wrong issue." Agree. Peter

Richard: 1. What is your auction for finding a slam with ♠ 93 ♥ Q832 ♦ 9873 ♣ QJ3 after a 2D response? I'm sure you have one, I'm just curious. Peter

"Pretty wow 5♣ call by your pard." At favorable, 5C isn't a stretch with this in my primary partnership. This is why I passed :P Peter

Nice nasty problems, Roland. 1. 2C. Not nice, but 1NT is too much of an underbid. 2. Whatever form of RKC you play. 3. Yikes! Pass, and hope. 4C is a close second choice. 4. 2H is fine by me. I play pd for 3514, 16-18 hcp. We aren't stopping diamonds in 3NT unless his singleton is J or higher, and then, just once. 4H. Peter

I open if I am playing 2/1 with Rule of 20 openings. I then have an easy 3C rebid, as I don't play that it shows extras. Playing Standard American, it's tougher. I open, and rebid that glorious spade suit after 2H. Peter

I'm sorry to be so simple-minded, but pd could have a yarborough and won't have 10/good 9 points, and I am 4432 with 22 points. I bid 4H here, as I would at the table :P If pd has the right hand for slam, he will know what to do. Peter

I'm passing. We are favorable, pd has 7 or 8 clubs and probably not much else, at this vulnerability. My SK is probably worthless. 6C may make, but.. Peter

1D and 5D are both reasonable choices. 4NT is problematical - your hand isn't good enough for one ace to be enough for a slam - and if pd bids 5M you are there. Peter

3NT. Let's not be too clever. Peter

Questions for those who would push to slam after J2NT: For those who would rebid something other than 3C with the opener's hand after a 2NT response, it's my understanding that 3C is the ONLY response allowable under classic J2NT. If you have a singleton or void, you must show it. Do you have a different understanding, or is your suggestion based on a customized version? For those who would cue bid 3H after a 3C rebid, do you always cue bid an ace or void after a shortness-showing rebid? Again, in classic J2NT, 3C promises no extra values or trump length - it could be a 5431 11 count (or 12 count, if you don't open 11s). I consider responder's hand to be a minimum GF. Whose responsibility is it, after 1S-2NT-3C, to put on the brakes if they have a minimum? I would bid 4S after 3C with the South hand. To me, 3H is an overbid. 3H should show extras. Also, doesn't the 3 small diamonds after pd has shown club shortness give you some pause? Peter

"i don't think it's anyone's fault, playing sayc of 2/1" I agree, and also agree that 2NT was South's call - he only has 4 hearts, and 2H shows 5. Even with that bid, I don't think most pairs would get to slam. I wouldn't. What does South bid after 3C from North at the table, as opposed to in a BBO Forum thread? I would bid 4S, as would most players I know. You have a min GF, and three small diamonds. There are pairs who would find a slam at the table, but I think they fall into two categories: True experts, with excellent slam-bidding tools. Slam-happy pairs, who almost never miss a slam, but who bid a lot of bad ones. Peter

Pass. Trust partner - he suggested 3NT and you are balanced. Peter

What about this sequence? 1♥ 2D 3D 3♥ Shows 3 hearts. 3D established a GF. And another one: 1♥ 2D 2♥ 2NT Signoff. or: 1♥ 2♣ 2D 2NT Invite. Peter

"What ever 4S is, it aint natural, sry, you did not open 2S,3S,4S, and now you say, 4S to play?" Why not - favorable - if you have 5 spades, you would compete to 4S - of course it is natural. I don't agree with the original Pass, but that's not relevant. Peter

"oh geez, what's wrong with everyone? lighten up, it's just a joke "i'd like to know what comedian, if any, you find funny" I didn't find the joke funny (Lanzarotti and Buratti are great players - a good joke with them would be about cheating), though I wasn't particularly offended. Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, and Billy Crystal, to name a few. In the late 70's and early 80's I saw a LOT of standup live (I lived in SF, which at that time was the standup Mecca), including Williams and Carvey. In my grumpy middle age, few standups seem more than occasionally funny - I haven't been able to watch a full SNL show for years, and have pretty much stopped trying. I do want to see Sarah Silverman's movie, which is supposed to be quite funny, and offensive to everyone. I don't know how a whole movie of shock comedy will wear, though. I found Eddie Murphy and Andrew Dice Clay to be too much after about half an hour. Peter

"Not sure if I was clear - I meant that 1Y:2X, 2Y:2N should be GF" Didn't understand. In this case we play 2NT as a min with 1 or 0 trumps, since pd frequently has 5. Opener will usually pass this, unless he has 7/great 6 trump suit. You are suggesting an artificial GF - "bid again, pd, and show your shape"? Peter

"Peter - As I said in my last post, if you are playing 2/1s as being within a couple of points of game, 1Y:2X, 2Y starts having a very narrow range. Maybe 2NT now should be GF? Either that or make your 2/1s another point or so lighter." 2NT is GF and balanced, as is anything except 1M-2X-2M, 1S-2H-3H (min, NF), and 1M-2X-2Y, where Y < M (any strength, F1). Peter

Agree with pass after 4H. I assume X is penalty, and will trust pd. Peter

Thanks for all of the replies. Peter

3NT - you probably have 6 tricks - WTP? Peter

Pass. Peter

"the only questionable call seems to be 2D by west" I think there are three tough calls: For West: Pass, 2D, and 3D are all OK. North's first call could have been 2S, 3D, or double. Second time around, North could have passed, or bid 4S with a diamond void. Personally, I seem to get these decisions wrong more than right. None of these calls would have been wrong. North guessed wrong, and West guessed right. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a "fix" (to second-guess two experts), but there is certainly no real blame attached. Peter

Robert: When you play 1M-2m-3m as NF, what do you rebid as opener when you have good 4 card support (say 5431 shape) and a good (GF+) hand? Peter