pbleighton

If you are playing 2/1, natural and invitational is the standard meaning - should be a good 6 card suit. Playing Standard American, this bid doesn't exist, unless a partnership says it does. Peter

2C. Pd could have a dead minimum - if he is 4333 with three small clubs do you expect him to pass? Peter

I tend to bid where more sensible players pass, but I pass here. Opps are so likely to have a game, and 3H won't stop them from finding it. You just road map the play. Peter

"Sometimes i believe that SAYC is not a real system, but rather the Platonic idea of a system." It is a real system, but: a) Many bids are undefined, :rolleyes: Most people who say they play it don't Playing "SAYC" with a pickup pd, 3C is a "correct" (forcing) but very dangerous, as the majority of people who play "SAYC" play it as non-forcing. Peter

Richard, let me repeat: "Responder promises to bid again if he responded with a new suit at the two level unless opener's rebid is at the game level." http://www.cs.rice.edu/~arudys/bridge/yellow.html This is in the "Subsequent Bidding By Responder" section, which is after the section you quoted. I don't like it, I don't play it, but that IS SAYC. Peter

From the SAYC booklet: "Responder promises to bid again if he responded with a new suit at the two level unless opener's rebid is at the game level." So 1S-2C-3C is forcing, not that most people play it this way. I play an F1 5cM system, where all rebids after 1M-2x are forcing except 1M-2x-2M. 2M is a minimum which wouldn't accept an invite to 3NT, and is frequently 5 cards. 2NT is a minimum balanced GF (we play a 10-13 NT and open 5 card majors in it), and 3NT is 18-19 balanced. Peter

"What are forcing bids under SAYC? (I'm never sure.)" Every rebid short of game is forcing. The rebids are not defined, however. Peter

An easy 3C, which is forcing in real SAYC. However, a lot of people who play "SAYC" play this as non-forcing, so it is dangerous with a pickup partner. If the hand was 5233, it's tougher, and depends on what 3NT means (it has no defined meaning in SAYC). I think that the best meaning of 3NT is 18-19 balanced. If you don't have this agreement, then 3C is probably best, but see above. Editorial: SAYC has its flaws, but in practice they are considerably magnified by the fact that most people who play it don't understand it. Peter

Pass. Your chances of setting 4S appears to be less than 50% (if not, pd will act), and 5H looks hopeless, and will very likely be doubled. Peter

I think that your bids are fine, given what you are playing. If you played 2S as a limit plus raise in hearts, then you would have bid 3H the first time. There is a case for "adjusting" LOTT with a flat hand at unfavorable, but, hey, it's matchpoints ;) Peter

I would have bid 1S the first time. Now I must pass. Peter

Too strong for 1S. Pass is WAY too clever. 1N - I don't think so. Double. What else? Peter

2S seems clear. Peter

"Or to quote Adam Smith - we are all dead in the long run." That was John Maynard Keynes :) Peter

I have played 11-14, and liked it. I play 10-13, and love it. I do think that there should be a reason for a wider range. Opening light is such a reason. I'm not sure, though, what a 15-18 range accomplishes. 14-17 would support light openers, etc. Peter

Bye, Ron. What will you be doing in Thailand? Peter

"Pard may have been serious with 3N, or he might be joshing around." I love foolish bids, but isn't this a strange place to fool around? FWIW, I agree with the bidding and I would bid 5C. Peter

4S. You have some good cards. Pass. You have a minimum, and your suit is shabby. 4S. Pretty close - when in doubt play in 4M rather than 3NT. None of these are really clear cut to me. Peter

3D for me is weak, and I would rather play in 2H. My choices are Pass and 2NT. Red at IMPs, I bid 2NT. Peter

Double. I'm going to treat the spade suit as 4 cards, and bid diamonds if pd doesn't bite. I will bid 3NT if I need to. Peter

Easy pass. Peter

"Well to me 3S shows a LOT of extras." To me too. Pd is telling me to go to game if I have 5 spades, unless I responded light. 4S for me. Peter

4S, automatic. I have been burned too many times not going to 4M because i used my "judgement" :) Peter

I am a simple, Lawful soul. If I have 3 trumps not vul, I will always raise, even 4333 with the opps in a potential misfit. I'm not sure what hand I might have in your second deal where I would pass after pd bids 2C, then come in. Maybe AK tight and out? Maybe I would have raised immediately anyway. Peter

"Really? I thought. How much stronger or weaker is the hand without that crappy DJ?" Sometimes half a stopper is better than none ;) Peter