Kalvan14

This is a much more reasonable position. In my seat you do not have either the information to express doubt or the strength to XX to play (which is the position expressed by Marshall Miles on this kind of XX). I told a white lie: RHO did not double, and we played 3N undoubled. Theoretically it should have been a good hand; pard had Qxxx AJx J Q9xxx, and the hearts were split 7-1 between oppos. Unfortunately, RHO (the "doubler" had T9xxx in diamonds and ATxx in clubs), while LHO had ATx in spades. Theoretically you have 9 tricks (5 diamonds, 2 clubs and 2 hearts); in practice you are unable to cash the 9th trick. One off.

The results obtained from the data base must be taken into consideration, but without forgetting that the sample is very limited. I find it quite funny that you get better results opening with AKJx(x) rather than with AKQx(x)

If you don't bid 3S because you are catering for partner not having an opening bid, perhaps you should alert partner's 1S bid. I would bid 3S. Seems to about down the middle for the call. But I did bid 3♠. My comment was related to the apparent unanimity of the first posters. IMHO, at this vulnerability and keeping in mind the 3rd-seat opening, but without hanging ourselves to cater for a pard's psyche, 3♠ is still the most descriptive and the most pre-emptive bid. We play picture bidding (from passed hand), but with better distribution (5-4) and stronger values (at least one more Q in the blacks)

The discussion was interesting. I am quite satisfied with the bidding up to 3N: I might have made another slam try (probably with a quantitative 4N - catering to a minimum hand with better spades). Still the slam (opposed to a confirmed minimum) is in any case marginal.

Funnily enough I find myself much more comfortable with the Hardy/Lawrence approach, rather than the one you are advocating. I find particularly ugly the idea that 2♠ should promise 6 spades, while a 2N rebid becomes a catch-all without guaranteeing stoppers in the unbid suits. Finally, in my book, KQT9x xx Qxx ATx is an opening bid. Always.

"An immediate 3D would have shown extras" What was partner to do over 2D holding KQxxx xx Q10xx Ax which not only doesn't have extras, is close to not being an opening bid? I'm just wondering, because all the discussion about partner's possible hands for the 3D bid have only 3 diamonds. With 5-2-4-2 and a minimum hand, opener would first rebid 2♠, and later show his support in diamond. If his distribution were 5-1-4-3 or 5-3-4-1 he would splinter over 2♦ (and the splinter in principle does not show extras).

The best example is the real hand: slam is playable (even if below 50% chance) because the black Ts are worth almost like Qs. Give him the Q♥ (2 HCP more) and take away the Ts: no play for the slam. Responder hand is unlimited: it would be quite unusual that the stronger hand is disclosed rather than the weaker. Opener hand is quite limited: minimum, with fit in diamonds (which he has to give, rather than going directly to 3N; if pard had bid 3N, there would be no discussion of slam tries). Over 3♥, 3N denies the ♠A certainly; it also denies a hand which might be willing to go forward (a hand with a shortness maybe: 5-1-3-4, or 6-1-3-3). So here we are again: likely distribution 5-2-3-3 or 5-3-3-2; 11-13 HCP; no ♠A. Which is what he had, you cannot fault his bidding :D

The problem is: doubt about what? hearts? diamonds? spades? clubs?

there are 7 clubs; another small heart is missing.

Over 3♥, LHO passes, partner bids 3N, and RHO doubles. Keep it or run?

The problem is that you have 7 clubs and the ♦A. So 3N is quite likely, if the clubs run. Which they did. This time I was defending: at my table the guy with the long clubs bid 4♣, and ended up in 5♣ (which had no play at all: 1 off). My team-mates bid 3♣, and made 4. A slight gain, but with AKxx Jxxx xxx Qx in N, you make the same 10 tricks in NT too. IMHO, 3N is almost always the practical bid, with a long, amost-running minor and an outside ace (and your pard promising values in the majors).

4♦ would not be RKC, if bid after 3♥ (you cue-bid in hearts, pards does not make any forward move, and now suddenly you decide to ak for KCs: if you needed just that, it would have been better to ask for them the round before). Otoh, after 3N I gave in: we should have a combined 30 HCP, without a good fit (except in diamonds). Pard had KQT9x xx Qxx ATx, and it is not a "great". Still the 2 black Ts give you a reasonable chance. Obviously the diamonds were 3-2, the spades 4-3, with Jxx and the K♣ was on-side. Both 6N and 6♦ are on (even 7, if you are crazy enough to bid it :D )

Have a look at the bidding. I opened 1♦, as S; LHO bid 2♥, pard doubled and RHO passed. Redoubling pard's double will never be allowed :D

It is a strange world where you have to bid twice to show the same hand. IMHO, 2♥ rebid shows a clear cut minimum, and I am not convinced that responder should give a raise. I'd like to know what happens when opener has 5-4-2-2 (or even 5-4-3-1), which is not completely out of the picture. It is likely to be a matter of style: what is certain is that our opponents bid 1♠-2♦-X-P-2♥ and all passed.

Same bid I choose. Your partner bids 3N. Do you feel up to another try?

If pard had opened in 1st or 2nd seat, I'd have no doubt in choosing a simple raise. The problem is that he opened in 3rd seat, and we are at fav V. IMHO, I ould again give a simple raise over E pass; when E doubles, I believe that the priority is pre-empting W. 2♠ is just not enough.

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sj92hqdakq742ckj5]133|100|Scoring: IMP 1D - (2H)* - X - (P) - ? * weak jump[/hv] The double is negative. What should S bid?

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=s98ht5dacakj8532]133|100|Scoring: IMP P - (P) - 1C - (2D)* - X - (P) - ?[/hv] Playing SAYC, or 2/1. 2♦ is a weak jump, and the double is negative.

The problem is that 3♠ cannot be natural, otherwise W would have 15 cards (6 clubs, 4 diamonds, and 5 spades). IMHO, W cannot go on after 3N, unless there is a complete mistrust in E capacity to make a decision; the possible (likely) UI comes on top of this. Did you ask the meaning of 3♠ before leading?

If you had led 4th best, as per agreement, pard would know that opener has just 1 higher card in his hand; there would not be any problem in unblocking the J. Pard with J9x should unblock in any case, IMO; same with J9: playing the 9 is too ambiguous. Declarer taking the A on first round holding KJx(x) would be again quite unusual. Ok, there might be cases where declarer want to keep a communication in spades, but.... Conclusion: try to follow your own agreements

I'm with the majority opinion: the negative double, in principle, is trying to find a fit. 3♣ does not promise extras. With you interpretation, opener with xx KJxxx xx AKJx would rebid 2♥, and play a horrible contract in a 5-1 fit. A rebid of 2M should deny in principle any of the unbid suits: the only exception if when the holding in M is something like AKJTx and the holding in the minor is Jxxx (if Jxxx is the holding in OM, I'd re-bid 2OM, no doubt). The situation is in a way similar to (1♦) - X - (P): I would not choose 1M in a 3-cards suit if I had 5 clubs, even with a weak hand.

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=saha532dak872cqj3]133|100|Scoring: IMP 1S - (P) - 2D - (P) - 2S - (P) - 2NT - (P) - 3D - (P) - ?[/hv] 2/1, and 2♦ is game forcing. 2♠ does not promise 6 cards, and denies 4 hearts. An immediate 3♦ would have shown extras. Same for 3♣. You have available: 3♥, cue bid; 4♦, RKC; 4NT, quantitative. 3♠ would deny a 1st-round control in hearts, and might be a proposal of playing in spades. Any ideas?

Thanks, Justin. I felt a minority of one :) I went for 3♥ too, and partner raised to 4 with Q AKxx Txx Qxxxx Spades were 4-2, and hearts 3-2: there was no problem in scoring the game. Which was not bid in the other room, after 1♠-(2♦)-X-(P)-2♥-all P

I'm quite happy to see another position in this thread. I'd the fear that everyone would back 3♠ :) Still, it is a 3rd-hand opening, NV vs vul: who guarantees that it is a true opening bid, and that there are 5 spades?

1♥ is clearly masterminding. Why bid a 3-card suit with such a strong hand, and with the obvious 2♣ bid available? The obvious answer is that advancer is looking for 3N, and is trying to interdict a heart lead; IMHO, this means go out of your way to look for trouble. 2♣ is ok with me, since I have a good fit in hearts. I'd not bid 7 withjout the ♦Q