Kalvan14

6S may or may be the most likely contract, but would appreciate seeing more logic rather than just saying so? With 3 little clubs, AQ tight in hearts, no voids, no stiffs, how likely is 6s at the other table? 90%? 60% 40%? If we make some wild assumptions, 80% possible at other table times 50% making, really less, equals 40% winning x amount of imps and 60% chance of losing X amount of imps? Add those 2 numbers and you get an expected number of winning or losing imps with what degree of certainity? Not sure but I expect I would be in 4s not 6s often. NS hands include all the 12 controls (4 A and 4 K), a 4-4 fit with very good intermediates, and some very useful intermediates in the secondary fit in diamonds. Playing at a decent level, I would anticipate that the contract will be 6 spades more than 80% of the time. Oppos do not have a nice lead, unless they can lead from QJT of clubs: a trump lead would be quite normal (and the lack of a trump lead would also give very useful indications). I prefer (at the assumed stage of the IMP match) not to swing: therefore 6♠

Penalty: good 7-8 hcp up to max pass

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sq64hkt5dkjcqj972]133|100|Scoring: MP P-(1D)-?[/hv] If you pass, LHO bids 1N, which is passed back to you If you double, LHO bids 1N, and N doubles; E passes. E-W play 2/1, same system as you do.

Ducking ♣K wins always, unless clubs are 6-1 or diamonds 4-0. I would duck at the table.

I'd like to see the full hand too. and to know how it went in RL Reemember that my bidding decisions are predicated on LHO being a good player :P

Robert, how can a double not being for penalty in this sequence? I hope you are not one of those bidders who like to lob always the ball in yr pard's field. If I had interest/desire of bidding a major I would do; what I propose here is clearly a penalty. If pard has a 5-5 in the majors, he'll be certainly intelligent enough to pull.

Splintering in a singleton ace is at least unusual :lol: The other reason to avoid a splinter on the given hand is the clubs suit (which should not be suppressed): any reason not to bid 2♣? Splinters are quite popular, but I would not say that they are a law of nature. And I've seen too many different styles to be very comfortable with a pick-up partner.

6♠, which is the most likely contract in the other room too. I might get a spade lead (and missing that I'd play the ♠Q with RHO)

I would have likely passed 3N (the most important consideration against passing would be our good scoring up to now, which would suggest not to make anti-field decisions). I would certainly pass 3N at IMP

I will go for X too. I trust pard to use his judgment.

Quite a good line of play. I don't see anything better

I'd open 2♥ (hearts + spades) with my normal partner. Without this gadget, or a similar one, I'd open 1♠ The 2nd hand is an easy 1♠. The minor 2-suiter: in my system is a 2NT (5-5 in the minors, or 6 clubs-4 diamonds). In a pick-up partnership, 4♣ if available as pre-empt

I would expect that LHO is fishing, hoping to be doubled in 4♣. I agree that pard is broke, or almost broke, but Jxx in spades is almost enough for a game. I double 3N, and bid 4♦ over 4♣

2 tricks in hearts + 1 spade + 1 diamond + 5 clubs = 3NT. Partner has possibly a queen: I would return the 9♦

We'll have to agree on our disagreement :lol:

with my normal partner I'd open 2N: exactly the posted hand, 12-14 HCP witha 6-card minor in 4th seat. In a pick-up, or playing standard methods, I'd open 1N (4th seat, but even 3rd)

5♠

I'll take my chances defending 4♥

In 4th seat I play: 2D [Multi]: 6M (10-13) or strong bal. or strong minor 2H (mod. Ekren]: 5H + 4S - 10-13 2S (Muiderberg]: 10-13 hcp 2N (other seats weak with both minors): 6 cards in a minor, 1-2 stoppers outside, 12-14 hcp 1N: 11-14, balanced

As far as the original question, I would have bid 4♠ immediately. As a matter of fact, it was better to bid it on the second round, since we got some indications from both passes: LHO has 4 or 5 hearts, and likely 5 or 6 hcp. OTOH he passed, and this should tend to deny a singleton spade the lead appears to be from a diamond honor RHO did not double 1N (as he might have done with 15 HCP and a singleton spade) RHO hand might likely be: AQ Kxx Kxxxx Qxx or AQ xxx Kxxxxx KQx [neither of these hands would be would anything over pard's 1N] LHO would have T Jxxxx Qxx KTxx or T KJxxx Qxx Txxx I do believe that LHO would act with a chicane in spades. Club honors cannot be doubleton in E hand. A finesse in hearts is free. If it holds, play spade. Otherwise ruff ♦, back to dummy with ♣A, discard on ♥A and lead spades [playing K over T]. The alternative play would be to try for an end play on E, leading spade from hand at trick 2 (now it is a toss of the coin: K♠ caters for a singleton Q, small for a singleton A). But the end-game will not work unless both clubs honors (or at least HT) are in E hand, together with the ♥K

4♣ was certainly fit-showing, and, being a passed hand, it is not an overbid. Now I double over the forcing pass of pard.

The auction does not make a lot of sense, unless pard is one of those players who like to bid the hand twice in a row. If he/she has a strong 1-suite in ♣, it would be better to clarify the hand with 4♣ [certainly forcing]: I play it as RKC, but in a pick-up partnership it should ask for a cue-bid. Hearing 4NT, I've no doubt: pass

Looks like noone wants to answer my question: (1♦)-X-(P)-1N-(P) Btw, I would assume that all the doublers would never open this hand

♦J. But a case might be made for A♥ (my 2nd choice)

The problem is not the 1st bid, but the second one: after it goes (1♦)-X-(P)-1N-(P) what are you going to bid? Provided that you get a 2nd bid: you might end up playing 1♦X :P I'd open 1♠ with a suit so weak: therefore I'd be not unduly worried in overcalling in it