Robert

Hello awm Are we looking at the same hands? AK10xxx AKxx void xxx opposite Jxx Qxx QJxx xxx You will lose three clubs and you need a 2-2 spade break or you are going to be putting that 4th heart in your pocket to avoid losing a heart, unless the suit breaks an anti percentage 3-3. If the spades break 3-1, you have to guess the spades(unless the Queen drops singleton) to avoid going down two if the hearts also have a fairly normal 4-2 division. The defense can also lead that 13th club and about 50% of the time, they get a trump promotion. If that 13th club is lead from in front of the AK10xxx suit, the Queen doubleton always makes a defensive trick when the 13th club is led. Even if the Queen is singleton, that 13th club will put you to a rather nasty guess if it is led from in front of the AK10xxx holding. Do you ruff high or hook the ten? Remember before you choose that the Queen can be Qxx in front of you or Q stiff behind you. The Qx always turns a trick with that 13th cllub led pass the AK10xxx suit. The odds are that a decent pair will beat you somewhat more times than you will make ten tricks. Those are bad odds to bid game at MPs. You want to bid 4S if vulneralbe at IMPs, you only need about a 38% chance to break even by bidding game. You likely have slightly better than a 38% chance. At MPs you want to get a plus score rather than bid a below 50% game. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone Have you seen POWER? They use a relay system that uses both 2C*=10-12 and 2D* to start relays over 1D or 1M openings with the same relay reply. 1z-2C*(10-12HCP)-2D shows 11-13HCP and 2H+ shows 14+ relay reply. 1z-2D* shows 13+-2H+ show the same relay patterns as the 2C bid started. Power relays bids normally bid to 2NT and 3NT with balanced hand patterns. Several of your relays bid 2NT or 3NT with unbalanced patterns. If you are going to play NT, having a balanced hand play the contract is often better than having an unbalanced hand take the lead. If you are not using 1D-3Ds, you might want to use it to show 4 card diamond support and @ 5-9HCP. Nine card fits should often get to 3m before the other pair gets into the auction. 3343 hands might be the exception to the jump on 4 card support. Your ruffing power is somewhat limited. If you adopt POWER relays, you can use 1D-1NT as a puppet to 2Cs. Reponder with xxx xxx x KJxxxx passes and with xxx xx Kxx Kxxxx corrects to 2D to show a 3 card raise. You could also play 1D-1NT-2C-3D shows that 3343 10HCP hand. Your 1D-3C bid works fine if partner has tolerence, however, an unbalanced 1D opening might often have club shortness. Getting to 3 clubs with Q10xxxx opposite x or void gives some people ulcers. Since you have not decided on higher bids meanings, you might also want to look at the POWER system. They include 'size asking' RKC, a 4D* puppet to 4H to sign off in any suit game and a number of good slam bidding methods. Their relay method also appears to resolve the exact pattern lower than some of your bidding does. Many relay bidders would gladly kill to gain a single step under 3NT. Bidding 1D-1M with 3325 with 5-10HCP is a bit much. You are not allowed to past in a presumed 5-2 fit? I can see taking a bid with 10HCP, but 5-9HCP? I play support doubles so bidding a 3 card major with 3325 5-10HCP has some risks. Even if you do not play support doubles. Partner raising on either 3-4 card major support might not lead to a good contract holding a 3325 pattern. I do not own stock in any POWER type company. ;) Regards, Robert

Hello everyone Support doubles are a matter of bidding style. They often get very good results. One of the best results of playing support doubles is when you do 'not' use them. Playing support doubles, your raises 'show' 4 card support. Partner is better informed as to how high he can compete. Using support doubles correctly is another matter. You have to define your correct hand requirements and also 'up to' what level you play supports doubles. Meckwell(American world champions) play them up to and including 4Hs(I think?) I like to play them as somewhat 'optional' bids. With(I use a 11-15 range Big Club system with a 2+ diamond opening) three card support, I like to play support doubles up to and including 3Hs(3HX=3 card spade support) With Axx x AKxxx Axxx showing 3 card support with 3HX has full values. Without the King, I would pass at the three level. I would still bid holding AQxxx of diamonds in a 3 level decision. With Axx x Axxxx Axxx over 2HX seems to be a good bid. Partner can invite with the right hand and will not expect more than 3 trumps. If your style is to play them only at the two level, enjoy. Some pairs play the 'safety level as 3Ds. With a minimum or near minimum hand or a hand that lost value(a Qx holding in the enemy suit) support doubles are not 'required' to be made while 'playing' my 'style' support doubles. With a hand 'worth' a support double(every partnership should decide this matter for themselves) I make a support double. Doubling with xxx QJx AQx QJxx to show 'three card spade 'support' is an 'big' overbid in my opinion at the three or four level. I also would not make a support double with that hand at the two level. An unbalanced 1D opening holding xxx x KQxxx KQJx(add the Diamond Jack if you do not open this hand in Precision) and making a support double 'just' seems wrong to me. If your partner 'shows' five spades by bidding 1D-(1H)-1S*(rather than doubling to show 4 spades), I would show 'support' at the two spade level. If the enemy suit is clubs, it really seems quesionable. Do you want to encourage partner to out bid the other pairs' club contract? Playing 3 spades doubled holding Qxxx opposite xxx with not highly recommended for nervous players. Even undoubled this might cause partner some small discomfort. I started out playing mandatory support doubles up to two of our major. I switched to 'optional' support doubles and raised my limit to 'up to and including a 3H call. It fits my style of play. :) You might want to test various ideas and lplaying 'levels' to see what 'fits' your partnership style best. Regards, Robert

Hello Winston I often post when I disagree with something. Justin happens to be correct about this thread(That means that he agrees with my viewpoint on this thread!) so it is difficult to disagree about post on 'this' thread. World Champions do make mistakes. They do not make nearly as many mistakes as other pairs make, however, they are not by any means perfect. Check some other posts. Justin sometimes gets 'kidded'(I joined in too!) about his 'timid' bidding after Arend(?) made a comment about his bidding 'shyness' was a result of the fact that Justin was 'getting older.' W.C. means that you won a world championship, not that you are never wrong. I have only met a few WC players, I have just so happened to have met many, many more players that have 'never' made 'any' possible mistake. None of the self styled 'perfect players' were world champions. :) I have not seen his picture with the new hair growth(beard?), however, that has already drawn a couple of barbed comments. Sometimes I follow Justins' style and I just forget to shave for a couple of days. It does feel great to shave off the mess after missing a few days. No Wussy here. I call them like I see them. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone I tend to lead a partners' suit. So I will lead... ? Oh? Whoops! Diamond Jack. We seem to have very strong diamonds in an auction that LHO jump bid 3Ds and partner also 'thinks' that the diamonds are not running. If Partner holds, any two of the AKQ honors four times(??9x) or any one of the AKQ honors heading a ?98xx suit this hand could become a lot of fun. Partner thinks that we are beating this, so I will try to get off lead and let my partner make his usual 'killing' return. Partner should have the diamonds 'under' control. Otherwise they are very likely making 3NTXed. Since you have no agreement calling for a certain lead, he should not have doubled 'if' it required you to make some 'unknowable' special 'killing opening lead.' If his double suggested that beating 3NT required a spade opening lead... ;) I also like to play a delayed bid of openers minor as natural. Are you sure that your partner also shares this same style? If he thinks that you were showing a cuebid in support of spades, this hand could have a really, really bad ending. My normal style is to 'not double' auctions that include strong bids by the other pair(1NT=18-19 or Blackwood!) or an invitational type jump bid by the other pair(that 3D bid may have invited!) This auction has not just one but 'two' of these possible warning bids included. If this hand went down would you really be asking for our opinions here? Or would you just tell your partner that he had made a really good double? I sometimes used to tell partner 'that was a great bid' and very quickly add, 'do not do that again.' Sometimes bad bids pay off, however, I do not want to include them in my normal bididng style. Regards, Robert

hello everyone If you are going to play 2D* as GF, perhaps opener should not get in the way of responder. Opener bids 2H* 'waiting' without 3 card spade support. Now responder can bid out his shape or support diamonds. 1D-1S-1NT-2D-2H-3D sets diamonds at a low level and allows an exchange of cue bids. It seems that your suit agreement rules have some problem areas. Maybe a review and a possible 'repair our rules' session is needed. If you discard that 2D* GF bid, you can play your opening NT bids here with a few adjustments. 2C* forces 2D to sign off or invite with your next bid. Jacoby transfers of 2D or 2H. If you play 4 suit transfers continue to use them. I play 1NT-3H*starts a CONFIT auction, if you want to check on controls and check out openers shape for a slam try. If you play four suit transfers, 1D-1S-1NT-whatever method place here*-can transfer to 3D. Various methods can be used with the majors. You can transfer 1D-1S-1NT-2D*(H transfer)-2H-2S shows 5S and 4H. With 5-5 majors, transfer to hearts and rebid them with 5-5 majors. If partner has a super accept of hearts, he uses that method over the 2D transfer bid. You can make mild slams trys, use Texas transfers and still use all of your other fun tools. You do know what is forcing in your 1NT and followup bidding. Use the same rules and there should be very few problems. Regards, Robert

hello 000002 If any of the bids from the list below occur, you are allowed another chance to 'double or redouble.' If partner does not bid game over your double, you may decide to raise his heart bid(to 3Hs or even game?) because you hold this magnificent 'six loser' hand. 1) I cannot remember the last time that I overcalled with a one bid and I missed a game. 2) How often does the other pair and 'also' your partner pass out a one level overcall that just happens to also miss a biddable game? 3) The bridge odds suggest that someone will take another bid in this auction after (1C)-1S 4) The other pair does hold 19HCP. If RHO has 18-19HCP, he will likely reopen either with 1NT or a takeout double. 5) LHO is a heavy favorite to hold 6-8HCP and at least one spade stopper in this auction. Many people bid 1NT holding 6-8HCP and a stopper in the overcalled suit. 6) I play negative free bids, so I tend to bid any decent suit 'when it is my turn to bid.' A negative free bid is unlikely on this example hand. 7) You might be surprised and hear RHO reopen with 1NT. 8) Opener will sometimes reopen with a take out double. It is much less likely here because you carefully gave partner a stiff spade and six hearts. 9) The other pair does have 19HCP between them. They also have an 8 card club fit. Unless the clubs are 4-4, one of them holds 5(+) clubs. If the clubs are divided 4-4 LHO will sometimes make a club raise. 10) Opener will often rebid 2Cs when holding 5(6+) clubs. 11) If RHO has 5 spades, opener has two spades and might reopen with a takeout double. 2=3=4=4 shapes are also likely to make a takeout double by RHO 12) If the other pair normally passes out one level overcalls, would you ask them to play at my table? The heavy overcall style has served me well for several decades. Are you sure that doubling and rebidding a 'poor' Ace fifth suits 'with a six loser hand' is good bridge? A number of very good players will argue that point with you. Regards, Robert

hello everyone Has the ACBL opened a branch office in France? :) I often support partner on 3145 shapes playing standard methods. Oh well, my French tour is now deleted, so I can just skip playing bridge there. If they bar you for a year for 'that infraction', just looking at my CC would be cause for them to lead me off to the guillotine. :P Regards, Robert

Hello everyone This is a matter of style. I am in the 'very strong' double and suit rebid camp. I would also venture 2NT(withholding my spade support) because of this hands strong NT 'values with a 'like minded' partner. Playing with an average pick up partner, pass is clear cut(IMO) If he might hold 16HCP opposite this hand, he might continue to bid after hearing my 2NT bid. If partner happens to be of the Edgar Kaplan style of bidding, I jump to 3NT. :P Regards, Robert

Hello everyone After doubling with this hand, I would bid 2S over 2Cs. This manificent 19HCP hand does have six losers and a fairly weak main suit. My normal style is to overcall with this hand. How often will it go p-p-p and you have missed game? Competitive bridge has a wide assortment of ways to bid. Doubles, weak jump shifts, weak jump raises, 'mixed raises', negative 'free bids' in addition to normal raises. You will rarely be passed out 'if' you have a possible game. If you play standard methods, opener is virtually certain to reopen with a double 'unless' he holds spade length. If he does hold spade length, do you really think that you have missed anything? Don't your current methods have several ways for partner to support your overcall with @ 6-9 dummy points and xxx? My partner would cuebid with 10 dummy points and 3 card support. I jump raise a major overcall with 4 trumps and about 7-9 dummy points. With 4 trumps and 'mixed' values, partner could make a 'mixed' raise 'jump cuebid.' Since LHO did not bid and RHO also managed to 'only' bid 2Cs. If you rebid 2Ss, partner may have an easy raise to game. If you pass here(after first doubling?) the bidding could indeed sometimes end with us missing a game. Was partner supposed to bid a Kxx spade suit in passout seat after you doubled and later passed a 2C rebid by opener? Regards, Robert

Hello everyone Wasn't there an article in Bridge World that suggested that playing a 5-3 M fit in 3NT was normally the correct choice? If I can find that issue, I will post further details. If partners' hand could be 5422, the decision is much closer. If you have the agreement that partner wants you to 'bid' with 3 card support, this is a no brainer. I do not believe that the 3 card major support 'always' bids 4M is the best possible method. My guess would be to pass here. If partner has a 5332 shape, we would likely be better off trying for nine rather than ten tricks. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone What is the overcall range and style? 1m-1M is 100% forcing in standard methods, however, it only shows @ 6+HCP. Advancers' 1S is 'forcing', what HCP range does it promise? Is it forcing to a certain level or just for one round? This is an interesting question. The bidding space is rapidly disappearing and we appear to have few options that have standard meanings. My guess(with a pick up partner) would be to repeat the hearts to 'deny' extra values. Using my current 8+HCP overcall range, I would like to have the agreement that my cuebid showed 12/13+ with a regular partner. Hopefully partner can bid something that gets us to a playable(reasonable?) contract after a 2H rebid. If partner can bid 1S as forcing with @6+HCP, we really do not want to get very high. If partner has 12+HCPs, a minimum rebid holding 12+ by the 1H overcaller could miss game. I suspect that partner does have some cards 'or' LHO is 'waiting' with the rest of my heart suit. Hopefully, it is partner with the good hand and he will know what to do over after my 2H 'nothing to report' rebid. Regards, Robert

hello everyone My bid with that hand is X. A somewhat better bid than passing. If that makes me a chicken instead of overcalling a 'stopperless', 'overbid' 1NT, than cluck, cluck, cluck. I am not proud of that X, it is just that passing with that shape and HCP seems even more wrong. I am a proud member of the too chicken to 'overbid' with NT when a much better double is available. I also happen to be a 'rooster' if that makes any difference. See you at sunrise. That will be me crowing! Regards, Robert the Rooster

hello kenrexford 1. Aces are undervalued. 4333 shapes often 'reduce' the playing value of a hand. Your diamond 'stopper' 'xxx' is a bit thin. 2. Having partner 'transfer' you to 3Ds requires that you now take nine tricks in some as yet 'unknown' suit since you 'did not' have a diamond stopper when you overcalled 1NT. Making a bid of 3 spades in a weak 4 card spade suit 'invites' the other pair to produce a Red card at the worst possible time. Some pairs lead diamonds some of the time. That might be a problem after they cash three diamond and still hold the lead. Remember that you did bid to take 'nine' tricks in a weak 4 card spade suit. Losing 3 diamond tricks will almost give them book with ten more tricks to go. Do you really believe that you will win nine out of the next ten tricks? Where were you planning on 'throwing' your 3 small diamonds even if they do not lead them at the first trick? 3. The other pair can use simple addition 'before' they place a Red card on the table. A NT overcall is an easy bid to double for penalties. 4. You will win the race to bid 1NT with 'this kind of overcall.' That Red card produced 'shortly' after your 1NT overcall will suggest that winning the race to bid 1NT might really be a losing option. 5. Transfers and Stayman are nice here. How does your partner 'know' that you did not have your bid? Most players use transfers and Stayman and often 'bid' again thinking that partner might have his stated values. You are a bit short of values and also hold 'no diamond stopper.' If your partner does select a suit, you also have 'zero' ruffing values 'until' the fourth round of some suit is played. Does your partner also 'know' to bid 3Ds 'if' Stayman reveals that your partnership does not have a spade or heart fit? You would still have to take nine tricks in a possible 4-3 major fit with Zero ruffing values in your hand. NT overcalls with a stopper and with the proper values do produce positive results. Your NT overcall version is slated to have many more penalties and far fewer positive scores than 'normal' NT overcalls. Regards, Robert

hello everyone That jump to 3NT without a diamond stopper was quite a bid. 1S-2C-2H-3D* is 4th suit forcing and normally asks partner to bid 3NT with a diamond stopper. The opening bidder is very close to a jump shift to 3H if that is natural. Some play a jump over a 2/1 reply is a shortness showing bid showing club support and heart shortness. Maybe not many play that bid in this section of the forum. A better auction might be 1S-2C-2H-3C-4NT Ace asking would get you to slam. 1S-2C-2H-3C-3D does not 'agree' clubs. It is 4th suit forcing asking partner to bid 3NT with a stopper or make another bid to describe his hand. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone I fat fingered my typing. Down towards the lower part of my last post in the 4C* explanation it should read, "A 5S jump or 4NT(I typed 'of' rather than 'or') Me bad. Sorry. No natural bids were made 'except' for opener naming the final slam contract. Ain't science wonderful. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone I am not a relay method bidder. Even if some disagree because many of my auctions are relay type methods. 1C*=16+ 1D*=0-7 1H*=unbalanced hand with 5+ hearts or 5+ clubs 1NT*=4-7(an Ace if 4HCP) with 4Ss 4C*=shortness, agreeing spades 4NT*=since opener has not bid Ss yet, you bid 4NT to show 'good trumps', if partner had bid spades earlier, you would jump to 5Ss here to show 'good trumps.' Opener is doing a lot of bidding opposite a 4-7HCP and trying for slam 'without' the AQ of trumps. A 5S jump of 4NT 'trump cue bid' substitute bid gives opener everything that he needs to bid a good slam. 6S If partner has two hearts, you ruff them out, if partner has 4 hearts, a normal break brings in the suit. If partner has 3 hearts, you need to bring in the suit or get a heart lead that is not ruffed. Normal distribution gives partner two hearts and the contract is good one. The bad break of Qxx off side beats the 6S contract, however, I do not feel bad about bidding an above average slam that bad distribution defeats. Regards, Robert

Hello Jlall I play two way game tries. 1H-2H-2S* asks partner to bid 2NT unless he has soft values concentrated in clubs or diamonds, when he bids 2S-3m. I can evaluate better what his soft values might be worth. 1H-2H-2S*-2NT*-3H* is a long suit game try in Spades(you skipped over both minors after showing a 'long suit' game try. With 6331 pattern you make a direct short suit game try 1H-2H-3m and 1H-2H-2NT* is the substitute bid with short spades. Unless you have some special agreement, after finding a 4-4 spade fit, many people play that 4NT is RKC for spades. If you hold 3=6=3=1 and you play two way game tries. Spades are never considered as a possible trump suit. 1H-2H-3C* direct bid show a short suit game try. Whether partner bid 3H or 4H or 3NT*(serious or non serious) or some bid, 4NT is RKC for hearts. You never found a 4-4 spade fit because it did not exist with your 3631 example. Regards, Robert

hello Echognome Just my two cents worth. I like both competititive and non competitive auctions. With such a large group of members on this forum, you might want to use one pair to provide their systems' countermeasures. If might be very interesting to see the 'thrust and parry' in the bidding. Bridge Worlds' Challenge the Champs is a long time favorite of mine. As far as 'trick' hands in bidding contests, I seem to recall that many strange actions have been taken in some contests and the pair doing them suffered. I also remember a set of 'rules' that was supposed to help solve some Bridge World problems(25-29HCP balanced hands without a 8 card major fit should either bid slam or stop in a part score was one of the rules 'if' I remember correctly) I am currently exchanging notes with a WOS type relay player, seeing his methods or various other methods 'in action' would be of major interest to me. The ACBL bars many systems and some conventions, however, on the net we might be able to loosen up the bidding 'if everyone(most everyone?) agrees. I have heard a suggestion that a possible solution might be to have an 'unlimited, no holds barred contest and another with strict limits. I would follow both, however, I strongly suspect that I would read the 'no restrictions' section first. As long as full disclosure is followed. We could post or e mail the system bids ahead of time to the other pair. Looking forward to a new bidding addition to the forum 'in any form.' Regards, Robert

Hello Kalvan 14 What do you do with a strong 1345 or 1354 if (1S)-2m-(2S)-p-p-X=hearts and the minor? I play that as 1336 1354 1345 or 1363 My normal style would be to just double 1S with 13 majors and 54 minors. If you promise 4 hearts to double 1S, you have to overcall a 5m or pass. With 1435 or 1453 why didn't you just double one spade 'if' you have the values to compete at the three level? Squire(bright green cover) book and others suggest using 2NT to show the odd suit. Do you really bid (1S)-2D-(2S)-p-p-3C on a 5D-4C hand? A new 4 card minor suit at the three level and partner has never even 'hinted' at values or a fit? Regards, Robert

Hello everyone Anyone want to tell the newby what a 'Bourke Relay' is? Thanks in advance. Regards, Robert

Hello Jlall I have already read(in another post) that you do not use the LAW. I did not put in that 'LAW' message for those that do not use the LAW. It was meant for anyone that wanted information about the LAW) Mike Lawrence also does not agree with the LAW. Larry Cohen(who wrote 3{?} books about the LAW sometimes gives answers in Bridge World which do not appear to agree with his books about the LAW) They are two of my favorite authors and if you agree with either man you are in good company. I play bridge in one of the three strongest major city areas of American bridge. Most IMP players do not double for one trick sets in America. The bigger doubled contracts that you suggest are common, only happen in extremely rare cases where I play. If you follow the LAW, it suggests that you should bid after the other pair bids and raises to 2Hs. Sometimes they only have seven trumps. Sometimes they have 8 trumps. You do not get rich allowing the other pair to play in a freely bid 2M(most of the time anyway) Which opponent makes the double after I balance? The opener who could only make a single raise or his partner who did not make a game try? We recently had a post on what to bid(pass?) with an offshape double type hand with AQJx of spades and only two card heart support after a 1C(?) opening. The results were split. Some overcall a 4 card suit, some passed and some(?) doubled. My style is to bid 1S(I do tell partner about my style) with a good suit and @ 12+HCPs. Your argument that partner cannot hold good spades(and/or good HCPs?) looks somewhat strange if he was one of those players who 'passed' holding AQJx of spades and @13HCP. Some of my partners do not overcall with a five card club suit when they hold 'non opening bid' values. When I balance, they sometimes produce a fair hand 'and' a 5 card suit. A good partner sometimes produces the cards needed to make my bidding look better than it is. The other pair is also allowed back into the auction. When we do compete to either black contract, they sometimes will save us by bidding on. Changing subjects to that 'miserable 2S jump overcall.' We would have been in complete agreement 'before' I read Partnership Bidding at Bridge(The Contested Auction) by Andrew Robson and Oliver Segal. Their book is one of the best bridge books ever written(IMO) Players have responded with glowing comments whenever I mentioned the title. If you do not agree with their proposed methods, that is also fine with me. They discuss many areas of competitive bidding. They outline methods and agreements in 'pressure bidding.' After discussion and agreement, I use their ideas and partner is expected to also 'adjust' his bidding to 'fit' the situation. They recommend(I believe with the example hand) a 2S overcall at the vulnerablity mentioned. Partner is supposed to hold back somewhat 'because' of the presumed 'pressure bidding' that the 2S overcaller was using. I might have misread the book, however, Arend(and others seem to agree with making a 2S bid) Maybe they have read the book and maybe their ideas just happen to agree. Bidding is often just a matter of style. I used to make a lot on much stronger bids than I currently use. I play almost everything weak now 'except' a few cue bids. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone I also like to play two of RHO suit as 'natural.' Losing a single suited 1S overcall is a high cost to show 3+ and 5+ cards in the 4th suit. I am also not really happy about losing the ability to show hearts over 1C-1D-? If they end up in NT or any suit, I want make my lead directing major bid. I also like to play a 'skewed' cue bids of LHO opening shows 6+ in the lowest unbid and 4 cards in the highest unbid. With 4-4 or 5-4 in the unbid suits, I can double or overcall a 5 card major as needed. In my methods, a sandwich 1NT shows 5-5 in the unbid suits. Your 5-5 showing bids often are forced a level higher than my version. If my partner has a 4 card fit, he will bid to the three level. If your partner has a 2-3 card fit, he will still often will be bidding at the three level. Changing to your methods apparently will cost me virually all of my current methods. I do not understand how showing a 3+ card suit lets us bid better. If we raise on 4 trumps, we might be in a 4-3 fit(which I play very well, however, not always making quite as many tricks as when I play 4-4 fits) Modern defensive methods 'often' permit partner to jump raise with 4 trumps and fairly weak hands(I play @7-9 dummy points and 4+ trumps) and I also play mixed raises(some defense and some shape) If you use this method and find partner with a 3 card suit, you are now playing at the 3 level in a 4-3 fit and sometimes with not very many HCPs. If you like your methods, by all means play them. The cost in changing over is much too high because of the methods that I would lose in exchange. Regards, Robert

Hello ArcLight You made several excellent points. Sometimes the right decision ends up going wrong in bridge. Avoiding a poor slam 'sometimes' gets you a poor result. Making the right bid does produce good results over the long term. Jump shifting on misfitting two suiters is not a good idea. Your handling of a first time partner was very good. Do not rebid that spade suit. A good partner will show support, 'if' it is right(with three card support 'later in the auction' after not making a direct raise) There was no reasonable 'blame' to accept for, you did nothing wrong. All of your decisions were correct. Well done. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone 1. 4D 'directs the lead' and shows a club fit. They opened 2C, however, they do not always have a slam after bidding 2Cs. I am looking forward to making a penalty 'lead directing' double of 6H/7Hs. Partner can 'look at his hand' and see how our hands fit. If he is looking at a shortness in diamonds, I rather like our chances in defense. If he has 3(+) diamonds, he knows of our double fit and can bid higher. With two diamonds, he can take an informed view. My 0-1 major holdings are a double edged sword, if they happen to land in 6S/7S I am making a 'penalty' double 'to get' a heart lead. If they land in 6H/7H, I will let partner decide our fate. There was no comment over the 4C-pass bid, partner may have a card or two. What does the pass show in this pairs methods? Meckwell plays a double as a 'forward' going bid, pass here would 'ask' for a double. Good methods. 2. If you have decent agreements, 2S stands out. Justin might be getting old, however, some players still bid up their cards. Arend also noticed the clear cut 2S bid. 3. Double. Clear cut, letting them play in 2Hs is wrong. If you do not follow the LAW, at least make some attempt to push the other pair around. :rolleyes: Regards, Robert