Robert

hello everyone I converted to the true faith several years ago. Double should be takeout from both sides of the table. If either parner has a penalty type hand, you pass and partner doubles for you. Defending at the two level with the other pair in an eight(or nine) card fit is not good bridge. It is also against the LAW. Playing double as takeout keeps you from defending most 8(9) card fits at the two level. It also often gets you to playable contracts when you should be bidding. Regards, Robert

hello everyone 2C-2D asks-2H*=I have 'a' 4 card major-2S*(asks)-2NT=hearts, 3C=spades(min.) and 3D=spades max. 2C-2D-2S*=min. values, no 4M. Responder bids 2NT or 3C to play. 2C-2D-2NT=natural max. values.(tends to be 6223 or 7222) 2C-2D-3C=natural max. values(tends to be unbal. 6331 or AKQ(J) type clubs) I use a 2C opening that shows 6+ clubs. I like to play 2C-2NT as 'two way' either a normal invite 'or' game forcing with a 5 card major. Opener must 'sign off' with 3C or bid his 3 card fragments to show a max. hand. This avoids the problem of opener wondering whether to raise on Hx or xx after 2C-2D-any-3M? Regards, Robert

Hello everyone You might want to try bidding 1D-1H-(!S)-1NT to show a max. single raise. It would take the pressure off of partner when you make a single raise. Holding 4 spades with shortness in hearts, you should pass. If partner has most normal hands with 9+HCP, they will double and you may take a nice penalty. If you pass, partner can bid 1NT and right side the contract if that is right. I agree with Flame that responding with weak hands to limited openings is generally correct. My style is 0+HCP. If you can show a max. single raise with a 1NT* bid you gain all the way around. Hello Jlall Even using support doubles, the jump 2NT bid should show 6+ Ds, 3 card support and a max. hand. Partner is well placed to bid on in either red suit or double them out as needed. Support doubles do not show added values or show 9 of your 13 cards in one bid. Partner sometimes passes a support double. If you also hold 6+ Ds and partner does not know that fact, the pass of a support double may be a real disaster. Hello Gerben42 I use the 2S cuebid to show solid diamonds asking for a spade NT stopper. My jump rebid of 3Ds shows 6+ Ds max., however, they are not solid. I also use Good/Bad 2NT when there is a bid to my right. Regards, Robert

Hello everyone You might want to try using a 4D* puppet to 'sign off' bid. If you want to sign off, bid 4D* forcing 4H and either pass or bid any other game. Bids higher than 4D* can be used in a number of ways. One method uses them as RKC in the suit bid. Another method uses them as RKC in corresponding suits(using the longest suit as the lowest step) POWER even uses size asking RKC! It seems funny when I first saw it, however, it is a good bidding method. As far as cue bidding goes, you might want to try 'negative' cue bids, you bid suits that you do not have a control in. Bypassing a suit 'shows' a control in the suit. 3NT used as 'serious' major slam try or used as 'weak' slam try are both good methods. I prefer the 3NT serious slam try, since it saves space and you have extra controls to show. Relay methods may benefit from 'breaking' the relay chain to bid naturally with certain hand types. If you do not know what to do with the relay information, you might want to 'break' from relays into natural bidding. The ULTIMATE Club uses negative cue bids, relay chain 'breaks' and natural bidding. Regards, Robert