dcvetkov

The standard meaning for 4♦ is, I belive, a natural slam try with at least a 5♥-4♦. I would not be so enthusiastic about slam with 5-4 only, and bypass 3NT, so with 5-4-2-2 or 5-4-3-1 , I would transfer in H and bid 3NT and hope for the best. Fishing for slam with 5-4 tends to be risky if partner does not have the right cards, and 90% of the time you will find 3NT was the best contract, So, I think there is a case where transfer and bidding a new suit, natural, should show good unbalaced hand, 5-5 minimum

Thanks Ben This is as comprehensive analysis as it gets. On the first glance it looks like there is a chance for double squeeze with hearts as a pivot suit, but fluidless entries do not permit. it is worth noting that if heart honours are divided between North and South, odds improve significantly, but, defence get off to a good starts to attack double threat suit and double lead of ♥ will kill the threat ( Heart lead and heart continuation upon gaining the lead). Spade return and club are most troublesome, as they commit you prematurely and South hand has uncomfortable discards to make while heart suit is blocked ( not Viena cupped yet). basically you will be playing for simple positioning squeeze against East ( spade and diamonds) However, Queen of ♥ return is a mistake. That transfers heart guard solely with West and he can be squeezed in the end game in the majors. This is the only scenario where current layout allows the hand to be made. On any other return declarer can not prevail, as long as East maintans heart guard its a low percentage slam, but not without chances, I thought might be interesting here is the full hand [hv=n=sqxh7xxdaxcakqxxx&w=sj9xxhj1098dqxcxxx&e=sk10hqxxdj10987cj10x&s=saxxxxhakxdkxxxcx]399|300|[/hv]

I am not saying it wont work. Probably its about 50% whether you gonna get your hoped for 200 in MP. But you have to be willing to accept occasional -670. +100 should be decent or below average, and -670 will be a zero. And yes, partners occasionally will stretch to bid to steal the hand, even without values for free bid. I estimate there are 18 trumps, and one of those deals where both sides can make 9 tricks. This hand has nice defensive values though. Anything less, and I would pass at MP with not much thought. and BTW, parther heard you dbl and choose not to dbl

I expected this hand to provoke more interest, but maybe its too simple? Here is one more hint before i give full hand. LHO guards spades ( J9xx) and RHO guards diamonds (J10987). See if there is double squeeze in the works on any return by East.

I dont think that dbl even at MP is so clear cut. I expect this to make more often then not, so I may pass, and doubling in IMP is well, maybe insane is pretty close. You are probably outgunned in MP, partner is close to broke, and diamonds are breaking well for them ( 2-2) And there may not be any club tricks coming and one is a premium. ( Playing partner for 2 tricks is well just simply unrealistic). So if you are looking at 3.5 tricks, they may be the end of it. It looks this contract will depend on where is the ace of D, or whether you can cash 3 hearts, and thats too much of a gamble My 2 cents

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sqxh7xxdaxcakqxxx&s=saxxxxhakxdkxxxcx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I am posting this hand as I found it interesting and get more opinion. Declarer played not the best but made it on defensive error in discarding. I altered it slighlty to made it more interesing. Contract is 6NT, LHO leads J of hearts. Since you'll need 6 club tricks anyhow you try small spade to the Q, but East wins. Seems your options are reduced to some type of squeeze, and double squeeze seems more likely. Plan the play on various returns on East ( Hint - clubs are 3-3) 1) small heart 2) spade 3) J of Diamonds 4) club 5) Queen of H Does the return matter? Describe the layout you are playing for and ending if possible

You are playing IMP vul vs not and hear 3 ♦ opening on your right? Do you double, pass, 3NT or something else [hv=d=e&v=e&s=saj9xhkxdaxxckjxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

Doesn't that make them ... not cold for slam? Yes that makes them not cold But they not tried very hard to find whether they have one or made some probe toward slam. If clubs are 3-1, then this story ( and a bad bid) would be very successfull ( -800 vs -1430) Yes, I know what you will say;) With singleton club, one of the opps will get some excitment about slam.

[hv=d=e&v=b&n=sxhxxxd10xxxck10xxx&s=sq109xxxhxxdxcaqjx]133|200|[/hv] 4S was bid at the table and contract went down 4, -1100 RHO had something like AKJx AQJxx AK xx Unlucky? You make your own destiny I guess. BTW opponents are cold for slam in heart or diamonds, they just lack club control ( clubs are 2-2)

Ok, But let suppose somebody put a gun to your hand and you had to pass 2C Do you prefer passing to bidding 4 spades and why?

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=sq109xxxhxxdxcaqjx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You have this collection as South and hear this bidding. East South West North 2C* Pass 2D** Pass 2H Pass 4H Pass Pass ? * Strong ** Waiting Do you bid 4 spades? Do you expect to be a good save? Would u bid it if you have QJ109xx? Would u bid at favorable vul?

In most or all case4s, my agreement is to gfive count if you can not top dummy card and is queen or lower, and if u stick to it its opretty useful There are some ambiguity however. :Look at this hand Qxx Kxxxx XX AJX Playing in NT, West leads a small card, and declarer winning the queen,. Lets say West comes in next, and his next problem is, who has the J, and whether it is safe to lead another one But count is extremely useful; if the situation is like this Qxx KJxxx XXX Ax Now west knows that ace will fall on the second round because of partner count signal at trick 1 and has to guess good without one So u have to decide whether 100% attitude is more important or frequent.

Yes, some excellent players have decided to go without a star, probably for privacy reasons and maybe he ( or she) had some bad experiences I know one such example, World Champion Benedicte Cronier ( patapon on BBO) decided to live without a star, and I am sure there are probably more.

Yes, I agree opening is a bid light, preempt would probably be more descriptive. His second problem may be that once in, ne needs to know where to go for tricks. As the lead was very obvious, from shortness, he ( or she) know clubs suit is hopeless, and free 3D bid promises at least 6 cards. Still nothing can be lost if he tries to cash K♥ Facing an opening bidder, it s hard to imagine, letting them play 3♠ undoubled. Most people would bid 4♦, or take a shot at 3NT hoping for lots of diamonds tricks if you have AK His pass is not forcing, but its interesting what would dbl show? penalty, cooperative, showing values?

I have to comment on the bidding;) I have to say that both dbl and 2NT are bad bids..... and takout dbl is not everyone's cup of tea also I assume. Both 1NT overcall and 1♥ have more appeal, and 1NT is likely to be passed out, it has preemptive value, preventing NS to play in 2♠. Actually if West responds normal 2♣, EW will play in their best contract 2Nt will go down more often then not, and spade king at trick 2, will definitely help

It is not a clasic 2/1 opener in sayc or 2/1. Its 2 level opener in Acol ( I think its called Benjamin, so I agree with ben here) But this hand needs very little for game. Sometimes you will make 6 opposite as little as 1 ace and good fit and a game opposite 1 right queen. So 1 H is fine, but i wont be surprised to see 170 or 200 on the scorecard probably half of the time. Precision lovers will have point here. Strong club handles these hands better, but be prepared for a lot of work to grasp all continuations after 1C.

Following Mike Lawrence advice is certainly a good idea. He has a good few books on a subject and a very good software on Conventions, Lots of them are discussed in detail with many examples and advantages and disadvantages. I highly recommend it. He is clear and understandable. To put it simply, if you have a major to show, bid it ( otherwise it can be assumed you dont have it) or if you have both majors, and dont want to guess, double. I fail to see for now some approach which will be superior to his. Until then I ll stick with Responsive double in the simple meaning. Its a very good convention provided both partners are on same wavelength. Of course you can always experiment and revise your system.

New BBO version has new important feature, addition of Money Bridge Tournaments Any body out there had a chance to try them out and what is your experience? Can u make some money with fairly sound play?

Voted for other Invitational hand with exactly 6 hearts. These hands come much more often then big ones. So not forcing and partner is allowed to pass with minimum hand

I am not sure, but suspect that term 2/4 comes from Polish system, I think its internal part of WJ2000 I played few hands this way, they always lead low from doubleton ( BTW this applies, when you hold a doubleton, want to ruff and partner leads from AKxxx) , 4th best from suiits, 2nd best from bad suits. From Kxx? I have to say I dont remember. Sombedy more qualified should explain the whole idea behind 2/4 But quite a few people play it on BBO. I guess my point was that low from any doubleton is part of the system.

Dbl is not so clear cut but.... I expect them to go down, and shortness in partner suit is always good for defence. I would expect to go down 1 or 2, and would be surprised if it does not, only if partner bid on his good looks

Three reasonable lines: 1. Cash the ace and lead small to the queen. This line may still be the best, but looks like it ignores the fact that you have 10 in one hand... There must be a way to mathematically quantify this difference. Actually, I happened to observe on lecture on BBO, and lecturer, recommended one different line not mentioned here Lead the Queen, and if it loses , or its covered, lead small to the 10 next. I am not sure this is superior or inferior to the first line though,

Choise is only between pass and double, I cant imagine bidding with this hand again. Everyone seems to be freakish, but should be better off defending. Double may produce a big number occasionally , but I think I ll pass. I hope pd leads a trumps or club.

Dont you have a at least some worry you will get passed? There are lot of hands responder can have with 7-9 range and no good second rebid, so he will want to take a plus score and pass. I doubt he will be making game tries with probably nothing in spades. Most likely game is 3NT, and 5 minor distant second. I agree 2C is probably best rebid, but be ready to accept some losses occasionally when responder is weakish.

I agree, odds must be well above 50%. Should be bid in both IMP and MP, IMHO