dcvetkov

I agree with this, pass in unphantomable. Just one note, that 4♦ would be interpreted as RKCB for diamonds in a lot of circles, so I would just bid 5D. It should have a play, unless there is too much spade wastage

No, the situations are exactly the same. It's a 2/1 overcall in which you have a singleton in an unbid major. The scoring is different- one is MPs NV, the other is IMPs Vul. If the decision on both is based on venue, say so. Me, I don't buy it. On the one hand, Match Points gives you a little more leeway when NV. On the other hand, -150 is probably a loss of 1 or 2 IMPs, but darn close to a 0 in MPs. I would not feel more comfortable if partner raised me to 3♣ on this one if we were NV in MPs than if we were Vul in IMPs. Partner knows the scoring too. No, they're distinctly different, in that the 2♣ call here _removes bidding space_ and is thus slightly preemptive on the opponents. expect Kxx x Kxxx QJ98x. There is one point here that I agree, that is 2C, has certainly some preemptive value and removes several layers of bidding space, so LHO will be much less comfortable, then responding easy one of major. For that reason alone, I would bid 2C. On the other hand, overcalling 2m over 1 spade, has less chances to gain with a bad suit, simply LHO is not so inconvinient as in the first case.

you mean multiple landing places doubled, right? :P at 3rd level :)

This is an easy pass, wtp. I think we should limit the number of wtp hands in forums :rolleyes: . I ve seen number of challenging hands problems seems to diminish, but maybe I a wrong.

This is for brave souls only vulnerable. While I would like to tip partner off to a best lead, lets say in some number of NT, dangers outweights the gains I believe. It is different if in balancing seat, or if they raise spades.

3♥, but would not be surprised if it goes down 1 On a side note, what is double in this auction? What kind of hand would double suppose to show? Is it Penalty with 4 Diamonds?

Nice hand, but Iam not sure if this proves anything. yes, it is usually wise to bid with distribution, even 5 over 5, hoping that 1 of the contracts makes Ace of ♥ in dummy? What are the odds for that? Its much more likely that partner has , say queen of ♣, or nothing, then some very useful ace. Opponents must bid on their good looks. Proves what I know, anyway :P

Alternatively, 1♣-1♥ 1♠-2♦ 2♥-3♣ 3♦-3♠ 4♣-5♣ Yes, this is as good as it can be;)

Def agree. I think this is an overestimate. There is some chance that partner will have no entry, or only one entry that will not be good enough to pick up hearts for 1 loser. I think losing 2 hearts and 1 spade is a very real possibility. I also think that we get down 2 more than down 1 by a lot, especially on hands where we can make 5S. I agree with all this. I expect partner to be complete bust here, and even losing 3 hearts is not hard to visualize, unless queen of spades is un dummy. This hand will play everything from declarer;s hand. Bidding 4S first time is not so crazy as it looks and it may buy the hand. I mean, do you really expect perfect cards to fish for slam here?. Even if is it a possibility there is no way to find out if partner has the right queens you need.

I guess you have to decide to be pessimist or optimist on this hand. For all 3S bidders, what is pd supposed to bid with 4 spades and 2 hearts? Probably 3NT, but if he is really weak, I have strong doubts that this wrongsided 3NT will make. If he has 5 spades, yes, 4s will likely make.

I am not sure I agree with #2. I would have bid 3s the first time, premptively. It describes that hand better, and shosing my hand early ( long spades, not much else). Then West does not need to mention diamonds at all, and at the same time can forget about any slams.

Phil and I must have read the same 2/1 book. :P I am in almost total agreement, only that I allow a fudge that when it is the most convenient bid, 1 1/2 of the black suits should be stopped, i.e, Qx is O.K. in a pinch. maybe I read the same book lol, or Software:) The above is what I believe standard in 2/1. There is long discussion whether bid on 3 level or reverse shows extra values ( actually there is a thread here , extra long about that), showing shape before values?. Jump rebbiding your suit, has a specific purpose,, 6 carder, very good suit, half a loser to 1 loser and you can play opposite a void, basically setting trumps and ivites cuebidding .Does not promise any other extras. Actually I am suprised a little about this thread. I dont believe there are so many opinions about this or debating. As I said, this is what I believe is standard 2/1 Max Hardy/ M Lawrence. Everything else would be inventions from self proclamed experts.

4♣ was an easy part. The real headache is what is opener supposed to do with , for example your hand in example ? ( although I expect partner to have better hand then this for 3♣ Should he move to slam? Is it worth exploring? Should he bid 5♣? Would 4♥ would be to play or cue bid? Would 4♠ would be to play or cuebid? is 4NT a good bid, which will get us too high some of the time? Too many questions, at least I dont have the answers.

Trumps are weak, but I think 4♣ is what partner wants to hear. I see a slam provided there are no more then 1 trump loser I would like to be able to bid 4♠ as splinter agreeing clubs, but would be too natural, and I am not sure if there are gounds for some agreement like that.? But I am not convinced partner will bid 4H next with doubleton heart, would that be a cue bid agreeing clubs and slam interest or offering choice of games and showing exactly 2♥?

I agree with this. But problem is partner will play you for more values and I expect bidding will escalate. What is you bid then they bid 4H and partners doubles? Do you like your chances defending or you run to 5♦?

If this is not a t/o double, dont know what is. he real question is how to get to 6. I believe I would like my chances in 6 with West hand opposite t/o double and opening bid on my left ( meaning, if we need a finesse its not just 50% any more, but better). 1♦ X Pass 2♦ ( pick a major)... or is 4♦ the same with slam interest?? Pass 2H 4♦ ( Splinter , agreeing hearts) 4NT etc.. I can think of a one more

I will pass, but I dont think it is wtp. Actually, I like my slam chances, if partner has only 4 spades, and singleton ♥, these two hands will fit very well, add just 2 kings and 12 tricks are there. Butagree there is no sensible way to investigate,,,,, and he could have a doubleton honour in hearts, in which case defending wins big time. I would like to have better H spots in front of declarer, but he is unlikely to have any entry to dummy;) On a side note, its is not impossible 3Nt to fail, if declarer has good heart suit and entry in diamond K♦

Opps Edit Transportation is a problem. Big. I would like to check if J♣ is dropping. cash the ace of hearts, run my winners AND end up in south hand, and then decide finesse or squeeze but I can not do that. Maybe too keen on squeeze endings.:) So you need to take ♥ finesse early, before cashing your dummy winners. You may go down 2, but hey, tomorrow is another day. Disregard my previous posts.

Is this really true? is it more likley then squeezing RHO? I know everyone is saying, yeah we make when queen is onside. But would you finesse at trick 11? RHO can hold Qxx♥ and J♣ and is squeezed at trick 10, he has to come to doubleton heart. I think you have to make some assumptions who has the last club (J♣), based on discards and table feel. I agree its a pretty good 7, but trick 11,,,, grrr;)

7 also, but I know what is going to happen;) When J♣ does not drop, you will have cold sweats whether to finesse the heart at trick 10, or play for the drop. Discards may reveal something, but good opposition will not tell you anything.

I agree with P Marlowe that dbl on 2Nt should show fairly balanced hands, and at least 4 cards in one of the minors, short in opener suit. This doubles sometimes wokr wonders, but one of the defenders needs to have 4 trumps. If you have support for opener, or a good suit ( like maybe 6 hearts in this case), it is better to make forcing bid. You may even have a slam.

It certainly has very good chances. i expect heart finesse to win, West should be broke, so declarer may not matter, but I still prefer North to be declarer. I can foresee an endplay on East in diamonds, if we manage to extract him from exit cards.

I am in Mcphee - J Donn Camp ( Actually , finding that agree with jdonn more and more lately;) Hard to get percentages, but South should bear bigger burden fot not making a game try.On this bidding, hand improve significantly in values, so maximal dbl ( if used) should be bid. North will surely bid game after this. if North has a way to convey the 4 trumps message and constructive bid, he should use it, but I dont know why a lot of people think that 2♥ is some kind of a standard bid everyone in the world is using.

Take away the two tens and pass is a clear winner. This hand must be worth an invite, its too trick heavy

I agree 100% with dbl on 3♥. It shows that hand nicely, values and 3-1-5-4 hand, with maybe 3-2-5-3 coming second , but as i said singleon ♥ is virtually certain in this auction. I think opener has to realize slam potential in his hand, rich in controls and known club support ( yes, hard to visualize hand where partner has less then 3 ♣) Come on, give partner just 2 black suit queens and 4 clubs, and 6 looks very good, even with all kind of diamond wastage. Finding about 7, would be almost impossible though. I agree that 3H can be bloodbath, but I would go for offence.