Kalvan14

[hv=d=s&v=e&s=sj976ht53d87cajt8]133|100|Scoring: IMP P - (P) - 1S - (X) - ?[/hv] Your bid, please

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sakt9xxhqjxxdqcjx]133|100|Scoring: IMP 1S - (2D) - X - (P) - ?[/hv] Your preferred rebid

5 cards, 10HCP, no fit in spades (but without a minimum tolerance I'd prefer answering 1NT)

IMHO, if pard bypasses spades for any reason (bad suit, 4.3.3.3, whatever), you'll never find the fit when opener is minimum. 2♠ should be a non-minimum hand, with values in spades, and possibly even 4 cards. It is quite likely that it includes a fit in hearts (at least Hx). Advancer obviously raises spades with 4 cards, and opener will place the contract. It makes sense to have also 3♦ as fit in hearts with a feature in diamonds

Pass, WTP? S has already bid his hand quite exhaustively

4♠ for me too. It's likely to be the practical contract

3NT is 2 off: 6 spades loosers on the lead (pard has 2 small spades). Good result, considering that 6♦ is a lay-down. Sorry guys: no one has convinced me. I'll go on opening 1m this kind of hands.

I would have much preferred 3♦ at 1st opportunity. I do not feel up to doubling (no defense, and the 5432 suit in hearts is not encouraging). And if I've to bid 4♦ now, I should have introduced my suit earlier.

I did not found the defense at the table. I've been thinking about this hand for the last 2 days, and I'm in the dark as I was at the table. This is also the reason for my bblack/white statements (which were obviously untrue: if partner has the intermediates in heart, a heart return beats easily). However, not double dummy, what would you have returned?

I'd open 1N, without any qualm. If I had opened 1♠, I'd rebid 3N over Drury. P-1♠-2♣-3♣ is in principle a game-try (can be a slam try)

In the actual layout is true. But allow me, is it reasonable at the table? If E has KT8x, you have given him the 9th trick. Why not play on spades, then? At the table, I cashed the ♠J [partner would unblock the T] and returned a club.

I do. Go ahead.

I agree 100% with Mikeh: 2♣ is a specialised bid, necessary to take some pressure off the 1-level openings. Either you restrict 2♣ pretty well, or otherwise you will never be able to bid it, starting from so high a level. This is the rationale for the big club systems; obviously, since it is a zero sum game, you gain something (better definition on strong hands, and limited 1M openings) and you loose something else (1♦ is a kind of garbage bin, and often you need both 2m's to simplify a bit 1♦). I've played Big Club systems for year; then I went back to natural systems.

I play (over 2♣): 2♦, waiting bid at least semi-positive; 2♥ and 2♠ are paradox-style, with a bust in the bid major; the other bids are positive, and quite well defined. In the posted hand, if you open 2♣, you hear 2♦. What is your pleasure now? 2N or 3♦? I'd like a quick poll. Over 1m, we bid with minimum hands too (1M promises 4-5 HCP)

It was obviously E with no more than 4 diamonds. And you are right also in drawing two rounds of diamonds immediately.

The play at the table was: 4S, small, Q, K xD, small, J, small JH, Q, K, A JS, small, small, small xC, A, small, small AD, small, small, T Care to go on? Without a club lead, if declarer plays well, there is no defense.

Good work, Frances. It is the only line that works (not that it is a great percentage: around 20%, or a bit less). No need however to finesse the T♠. A♦, A♠,K♦,x♦ ruffed high, spade to the K, diamond ruffed, small spade to the 9, and heart from dummy. E is endplayed. You need AK of hearts with E, clubs honors divided and no more than 4 diamonds with W. Still it works in this hand. The added bonus is that you win also wif anyone has QJx of diamonds.

[hv=n=sq7hq87d8xxxcqtxx&w=s9xhjxdaqjcakj9xx&e=sktxxhktxxdk9xxcx&s=saj8xxha96xdtxcxx]399|300|[/hv] There is an obvious problem, otherwise it would not be here, would it? If you want to beat this 3N, you must lead a club (before you ask, I led a spade). I just wanted to see if someone was so inspired as to lead a club :)

I know the argument for showing features. It is also the best way to give opponents a roadmap of declarer's hand. I grant you that it may be useful in a limited number of hands (mostly for slam exploration). How many times does damage?

How much was 5♣X? My choice was between P and 5♦, obviously. It would have been an agonizing one in either case

3♥ for me too. The hand is a bit too good for 2♥ (or maybe I'm not chicken enough)

In which system is 1♦-1♥-1♠-3♥ forcing? Why did you not rebid 2♣ (FSF)?

Double by N is aggressive, but it is the only possible bid. 5♣ is lunacy, and 4N would work on the posted hand, but not on a majority of others (and should be 5-5 or 5-6, not 4-6). Pass by S is the percentage bid: if there was a shade of doubt on N double, there cannot be any doubt on this pass.

always the same pro?

I'd have been much more willing to open 2♣ with a 2-2-6-2 (3N would be almost sure). Strong hands with 6m / 4M are not easily bid when you give away the first 6 levels of bidding. The ♠K is more of a red herring than a full plus. And IMHO it would be very unusual if 1♦ would be passed out.