Kalvan14

I am not a great lover of Michaels, and believe that - as a minimum - they must be well codified. Since I also play that the Michael is either garbage or gold, there is no problem here: 4♣. Pard will decide what to do, according to his hand. As an aside, I also play that 3N and X are to play.

Frances suggestion [P-(2N)-4♣-(P)-4♦-(P)-4♥-(P)-4♠] to make a slam try is quite nice. It will have to be done at 5-level, most likely: I suppose that W might compete with a double fit.

I consider E hand quite adequate for a 2N opening showing a weak minor 2-suiter, even R vs W (6 losers). It certainly is more reasonable to open E with 2N than N with 1♠ [i'd open N with a Mujderberg 2♠, but that's a different issue)

1M-1N-4M shows a hand which in 3rd position would have opened 4M. With a strong hand (say, equivalent to an Acol 2) it makes more sense to go more slowly (and re-bid a minor or a fragment at 3-level, creating a GF and leaving open the option of playing 3N). With the posted hand, a rebid of 3♦ stands out, either in SAYC or in 2/1. I would not judge too harshly N for bidding 1N: the hand is exactly in between a constructive raise and a limit raise. 1N (to be followed by 3♥ over the expected 2m) is standard practice in 2/1 (now if you tell me they were playing SAYC, things change :( ). I'm more and more convinced that S has to shoulder all the blame.

Are you really sure? My guess is that the points on this hand are more or less shared. It is also reasonable to assume that Pard did not come in because he had just 10-12 HCP and/or a distribution unsuitable for a t/o. Plus, he's in the sandwich position (which is why we tend to open light in the 1st positions, and to make light t/o in 2nd). It's all NV, so 1♥-2 is just 100.

That's a good point: I also play the same style of overcalls over 1♣ and 2♣; it makes it easier to remember.

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=s8765hakq2dtct865]133|100|Scoring: MP P-(1H)-P-(P)-?[/hv] It looks quite an easy one, doesn't it?

Very well said, Mikeh. I fully agree with your choices. I do trust my pard to choose 4♠ with xx xxx xxxx xxxx. Slam is pretty hard to bid, even if there were the right cards in front of me (x xx KQJxx QJxxx). What would you rebid with this hand? 4NT (good holding in the minors, 5-5)? The problem is that the same bid might come from a 5-5 minor with 2 spades and singleton heart :lol:, which might look even more attractive to pard.

We play: X for clubs 1D transfer to hearts 1H transfer to spades 1 S: Raptor (4 spades, 5 m) 1NT: Raptor, 4 hearts, 5 m 2C: minors (5-5 or longer clubs) 2D: majors (5-5 or longer hearts) 2H/2S: Mujderberg 2N: blacks or reds (5-5) 3x: pre-empt It is not a very aggressive scheme, but it works reasonably as both defense and offense. I've been toying a lot with the idea of 1♠ showing 0-2 cards, and a fit for the other 3 suits. IMO, it might be complemented by 2♣ as a t/o of clubs with spade anchor (and 1NT would show the minors).

It would be even more interesting if N passes, and E opens 2NT (both minors, weak). I suppose S would bid 4♣ for the majors. What should N bid?

I played some time ago a 7NT where a lead in either red suit would cut the communications for the double squeeze, while a black lead let communications intact. If I remember right, the hand was: [hv=n=sakqt98haxxdxcxxx&s=sxxhqxxdakxxcakqx]133|200|[/hv] The lead was J♣ (from JT98 - I doubt it can be faulted) so everything went well. If I had x Axx AKxx AKQxx, a club lead would have been the only one not to kill the squeeze at trick one :lol:

I play Paradox over a strong 2C, so we would have got to slam that way. Going back to the posted auction, there is something unclear: the only reason for N not to support immediately hearts (either constructive or limit) is if they play 1NT forcing (and this hand would be shown by a delayed JR). In such a case, S should avoid bidding 4♥ (3♦ describes the hand much better); again, if 4♥ shows a 18-20 with a self-standing heart suit, N should find the courage to bid again (but I believe he understood 4♥ as a weaker hand). 1♥-1N-3♦-4♦-4♥-4♠-4N-5♥(2 KC)-6♥ should be a reasonable auction.

Easy; 4♦. Shows at least a 6-4 and is forcing. Very good: pity, there is still no indication of a fit (or tolerance) for diamonds. Now I give you three choices (really two, :lol: ): pard rebids 4H pard gives preference to 5C (unlikely) pard rebids 4NT Are you still sure the hand is worth a GF without even the hint of a fit in diamonds? If pard persists with 4♥ in the face of my massive 2 suiter, he must a fistful of them. Why? Over 3♣ - He could have given me preference (real or false) in diamonds, raised clubs, or punted with 3♠. And over 4♦ he could have gone back to clubs. I expect at least 6 real good ones, and probably 7, sometimes 8. So I pass 4♥ Over 5♣, I expect very short diamonds, so I will try 6♣ hoping he has a cover for my spade loser . Fred's comment about making 5♦ across from any hand at the table is intriguing. I'm sure those that opt for 2♣ have a prepared excuse for their teammates why they missed 6♣ opposite: xxxx, Qxxx, A, 10xxx and were +170. This hand is actually real good for a version of Cole I have in development, where 2♣ is forcing. Different philosophies, I would say: this hand "xxxx, Qxxx, A, 10xxx" is not a pass; it is a courtesy raise to 3♣. IMHO, even with this almost-perfect hand in front of me, mark me down for 5♣ rather than 6. Pard would pass with xxxx Qxxxxx A xxx: I am fully ready to explain to my team mates why I stopped in a partial score, in such a case. I would assume you have also an explanation for scoring -800 when partner holds Jxxx, AQxxxxx, -, xxx

Two comments about passing 2♦ First: Passing 2♦ leaves you in a 5-4 fit 13.6% of the time. However this also leaves you in a 4-2 fit 11.6% of the time. The decision to pass fails catastrophically nearly as often as it succeeds. Second: This is matchpoints. Nuff said I did not run a simulation, but I was another of the (minority) 2♥ rebidders. At MP, obviously; at IMP, pass 2♦ (or maybe pass 1N too)

I bid 4♥ (after the double there are not a lot of chances to play in spades - and in any case pard has shown a tolerance for hearts). 1 down, with pard holding xxx, Qx, xxx, QJTxx. Quite a reasonable contract, which goes down just because LHO hold KJTx in spades. Out of a 25-tables SWISS, 20 results were 4♥-1; 4 optimists were in 6♥-3; 1 pessimist was in 3♥=. It goes withjout saying that the pessimist was playing against us :lol: 6 IMPs down the drain instead of gaining 10 :(

Looks like a popular topic. Let's define better what we play: No overcall with a balanced hand, and good opening values. Which means 14-15/+ in our understanding. OTOH, a shapely 1-suiter (or even a 5-4-3-1) can include opening values. In the posted hand, pard is limited to 14 HCP in any case, given 1C opening and my 10 HCP. The overcall is >90% with 5 cards: 4-card majors with a 5-card minor are shown with Raptor. There are dedicated bids to show a 2-suiter. OTOH, since direct 2-suiters are either weak or strong, 1D (H) and 1H (S) can include an intermediate 2-suiter. The main aim is to disrupt oppos' auction. IMHO, the fact that we are at a low level gives us a chance to cater for constructive bidding too. IMHO, I needed to make pard aware of 2 things: a 4-card fit and good values in clubs. The former is the most important, therefore I considered 3♠, given the better pre-empt value; however, at the table I went for 3♣, which better defines the hand (a limit raise, with 4 trumps and values in clubs). LHO bid 3♥, and pard went to 4♠ with AQJxx, x, KJx, Txxx: the double fit justifies this 2-way bid, even with the risk of some wasted value in hearts. As an aside, if I had a better hand (say KTxx, Qxxx, x, KQxx) I would bid 2♣ (fit-showing) and show my shortness at 2nd round. 1NT (cue-bid style) is interesting, but I am not sure that it is better than our way of using 1NT to deny fit and offer a choice of the minors. I'll have to think abt that.

Easy; 4♦. Shows at least a 6-4 and is forcing. Very good: pity, there is still no indication of a fit (or tolerance) for diamonds. Now I give you three choices (really two, ;) ): pard rebids 4H pard gives preference to 5C (unlikely) pard rebids 4NT Are you still sure the hand is worth a GF without even the hint of a fit in diamonds?

3♦ is what I choose: LHO passes, and pard bids 3♥

RHO pass shows less than 5 points, and no suit 6 cards or longer. I wanted to have an idea of the level you want to pre-empt, without any special agreement. However, you are probably right: 1S would deny a good fit or shape Pass would be 0/1 spade, and at least 4 hearts 1NT would be deny fit again, and in this particular case would show length in the minors any suit at 2 level would be fit-showing (generally with 3-card fit, but can be 4 in a bad shape) any suit at 3-level would be again fit-dhowing with 4 trumps a raise or jump-raise in spades would be pre-emptive Overcaller may have: 5-6 cards single suiter in spades 5 spades and 4 hearts 5 spades and 4m (in this case the m would be poor)

2♠ is a nice bid over a 2♦ preference. 4♦ would also be forcing, IMHO. Now the question is what the 3♣ers would rebid over 3♥

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=skt64h82dqt2ckq95]133|100|Scoring: IMP (P)-P-(1C)*-1H**-(P)-? * : Precision, 16/+ **: Transfer to spades (5/+)[/hv] Pard struck gold. What are you rebidding?

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=saq752hakj9872d4c]133|100|Scoring: IMP (P)-1H-(X)-P-(2D-?[/hv] What is is your rebid?

There are 6 diamond cards available for the other 3 players at the table: on avge, 2 each, but... I find it a bit ominous that noone has been bidding (considering that there are 11 spades and 13 hearts ;) ) except my partner. In a normal world, the bidding tray would have come back to me at the 3 spades level :D . IMHO, pard is likely to have 9 or 10 cards in the majors. How many diamonds do you think he may have? Once you bid 3♣, you are committed to game; and this game can only be in diamonds, don't you think? I'd feel very nervous playing 5 clubs, even if I were sure that pard has 4 cards (in which case he's chicane in diamonds, wanna bet?) While opener's hand is very good, it need a minimum fit in diamonds for game. Qx would be ok, but facing a small singleton (if not a chicane) it can be 2 or 3 down (certainly doubled). Is anyone willing to play 5♦ facing a partner who would pass a rebid of 2♣? Mind, if I get a preference for diamonds, I'll not stop before game at least.

Over a weak 2♦ (which is a bit more frequent than a weak 2♣) I play that X guaranteees 4-3 in the majors (or better) with opening values or a very strong hand; 2♥ & 2♠ are a take-out of the other major (4/+ cards, limited strength), which would work pretty well in this case.

Why would an overcall be forcing? I will bid 3C, but I certainly don't consider it remotely forcing. It is a matter of agreement how strong the 3m bid can be, but what is 100% sure is that it cannot be weak. As I said in my post, my partnership agreements consider this bid 1-round forcing. Playing std, I would not consider it forcing, but would expect my pard to make an effort to keep the bidding open.