Kalvan14

I also think that transfers are flawed when playing a weak NT; a 2-tiers Stayman works probably better. OTOH, I see that the majority of weak NTers play transfers, so they may have a point. In the specific auction, I'd need the Q♦ at least to bid a GF 3♦. I trust the invitational 2NT does not automatically end up into P or 3N or 4M: IMHO, opener should indicate where his holdings are.

I'd be sooo very tempted by a pass, hoping that LHO will take the bait :P In reality, I'd bid 2♣, and pass any 2M. Over 2♦, I'll probably bid 2♥: I am not too excited by the idea of playing 2♦ in a possible 4-3 [4-2 ;) ?] fit.

Opener's 1st rebid is much trickier than it appears. 3♥ is GF, but does not guarantees 5 cards: on the (more than likely) 3NT by pard (on an average/+ hand, mind: say Qx xx Qxx KJTxx), I'd expect that anyone will rebid 4♥. Now both 4♥ and 4♠ are not a very nice contract. 1♠-1N-2♥ can be up to 17-18 HCP; there is no reason that pard with Axxx in hearts and Hx in spades will refrain from raising your 2nd suit. I am mostly convinced that slam is a bit too fancy (2 perfect hands matching), but it can be reached (if ever) with an auction like 1♠-1N-2♥-3♥-4♦[fragment], which makes clear to advancer that all of his cards are working. If there is a JS at 2nd round, the bidding will certainly end up in 4♥. As an aside, I do play both light openings and light 1st bids by advancer: this is ok, IMHO, provided that your assessment of losers and shape is reasonable. IMHO again, this means that: if opener wants to invoke a GF, he must have his bid (and 1S-1N-3H is a GF 100%) advancer cannot tailor all his bids on the assumption that opener has a shapely 10 count. The invitational bids are targetted for mid range if anyone is uncomfortable with this philosophy of life, I would submit that there is something which is wrong: the system (a strong club system is quite helpful in limiting opening bids) or the light opening bids or the light bid by advancer

2♣, and I am not agonising on this choice. Nothing easier than finding pard with a nice 6-4 in the majors. there are 2 "bad" things in this hand: the diamonds lack intermediates, and my chicane is in pard's longest suit. 2♣ might end up loosing a game (IMHO, the only risk is finding pard with a singleton honor in ♦, and 3♣), but if pard cannot rebid I'll take this risk.

2nt after a 2♣ rebid by pard is quite ok. If pard bids again 3♣, I'm not so happy with this hand, and I would be happier with signing off in 3♦ (rather than inviting with 4♦): IMHO, I have already given pard a good picture of my shape and strength. If he is x xxx xxxx xxxxx, 3♦ might be the max we can get on a trump lead; and even if he is 5-5 in the minors, there are too many things to do to gather 11 tricks.

In a pick-up partnership (or playing "standard" without any further discussion) I would consider it 1-round forcing. In my partnership, I play Leb-over-rev (and in this particular auction 2♠ can be passed by an opener minimum and in misfit)

3NT (asking for specific A) - 4NT - 2A same color - 7♦

4♣ was not a good bid: the rule that there is no pre-empt over a pre-empt would have excluded 5♣ too. Since you choose to bid 4♣ in the direct seat, now the only thing you can do is pass.

3♣. I play 3m forcing over a weak 2M, btw

3♦, wtp? I'd never double with a chicane in ♠ and 2♦ is a bit timid

Agreed. Bidding a fragment at 4-level is likely to be the best way of making a`slam try (even if I am not so convinced that N will accept the invitation). With a pick-up partner, I'd be likely to bid 3♥ at 2nd round (it's an overbid, but a practical one)

Texas at both MP and IMP. There are a lot of hands that can be useful, and defense is often far from accurate. I agree that this is not an invitational bid.

#1: Pass. It's a bit unusual that pard cannot reopen with a t/o double #2: Pass. very quickly.

Pass. I'm not so worried about a rescue in clubs, btw. I'd not be surprised if pard's hand were 1-3-4-5

I'm quite late too. However: I would not have doubled in the sandwich position - it shows either a 5-4 in the unbid or a stronger hand 3 H is quite ok, more or less what I expected. Btw, another hand that shows the advantages of Lebensohl in these auctions

3♥ for me. Too good a suit, and the black Qs can complement pard's values

1♠ here too. There are different ways of showing a weakish 4-6; I play: 1♥-1♠-2♣-3♦ as showing this hand. I'll not let go the chance of a spade fit; interestingly, the oppos being silent might indicate that pard does not have a lot of hearts.

I don't like at all W double. 3NT stands out. E double is pretty normal (and might have been done with the mirror distribution, 3-1-(4-5). Sometimes I think that one of the "lost skills" is choosing to play 3N instead of 4M with an 8-card fit

With interference, 6♠ is a more than acceptable contract

The auction is already committed to game, and so a pass would be forcing. A double would show extras now. It can be discussed if it can include or not 4 hearts. If it can include 4 hearts, 3♥ is either a 5-5 in the majors (distributional extras, can be still a minimum) or a 5-4 with extras. IMHO, this is a better treatment than the other one. In reality, I wanted to have a discussion on the meaning of pass/double/3♥ in this auction, rather than just a simple yes/no to 3♥ with the given hand.

2N good/bad would be a great help. Lacking that 3♣. Double is attractive, but I am afraid that pard would rebid 3♦, and now I'd have to go to 4♣

Against 6N, W is endplayed on the opening lead. A diamond or a spade present immediately the 12th trick, and a heart lead just delays the stripping squeeze, and the final endplay. Against 6♣, the ony defense id E leading T♠.

Difficult to answer without stating the obvious: because it has enormously more playing strength. As a general comment: 4C is (in general) not just a wishy-washy bid that just pushes the opponents into game. It takes away a lot of room for investigation and it allows partner to save over their game (or slam). There's another thread here where there's discussion of the right call after (2C) P (2D) and a few people have commented that bidding 2H is a waste of time because it doesn't pre-empt. No, it doesn't, but it's not a waste of time because (on that hand) it gets the right lead, and - in general - it does allow partner to raise. I'm not working for the missionary society of aggressive pre-empts. Yoy are welcome to play the style which better suits you, as i assume that I am free to play the style that better suits me (I have to remark that you have not answered my question about "standard" pre-empts, though). To reply to your general remark, I remain of the opinion that 4m is very seldom an effective pre-empt.

3♥ - at equal vulnerability - looks pretty aggressive, and can often back-fire. N should double with a balanced/semi-balanced hand. Pass is forcing.

I've seen 2M pre-empts bid with a 6-5 shape (6-4 is so tame nowadays :rolleyes: ). Overall, the lack of the 4th trump pushes me toward 3N, if I have a minimum confidence in the skills of our oppos.