Vilgan

I guess I'd hope it was 6-5 with SI. With a pickup tho it could be anything from gerber to a weak 6-5 hand that passed 3NT because he felt like it.

I think this is one of those slams that precision people will find fairly easily and 2/1 or SAYC players will really struggle with. Not saying omg precision > all else, but this is definitely one hand where that system wins. opening 2♣ might get you there.. but its a tad light in uberness for me to open 2♣ on it personally. I've had 15 hcp hands that were much stronger. Eric

I think you are also allowed to intentionally underbid a hand by a point. If partner doesn't have a major, is it the end of the world to show 12-14 with a nonfitting 15 instead of opening it 1NT? This auction can also suck: 1NT p 2NT all pass down 1

^ I used to just routinely open 1NT on hands w/ 15 hcp. However, when it goes 1NT p p p (hardly a rare occurrence) dummy will frequently hit with a 4 card major. Opening a minor on a hand like this increases our chances of finding that 4 card fit where we can do a trick better. If responder doesn't have a 4 card major, we likely don't want to be in game even if they have 9 or possibly 10 points. At imps, I don't give a flip about the 20 points extra I might get from 110 over 90 and I'll just stick with the preemptive bid of 1NT. I'm not what you'd call a HUGE believer, its something I've started to lean towards recently and will judge results as they come. However, opening that hand 1♦ is something I might do now whereas I NEVER would have a year ago. With more than 15 hcp I think I would open 1 NT as rebids become more of a problem. Eric

K. I was the 3♥ bidder. Meant it as invitational to 4H or possibly 3NT (only if partner had Hx). Partner thought it was forcing and we got a bit too high. Just wanted to confirm I hadn't lost my mind. On the flipside though, X followed by 2♥ was probably a better way to bid the hand to have a shot at staying low if necessary. thx!

Auction went: 1♦(1) 1♠ 2♥ p 2NT p 3♥ p 4♥ X(2) Is 3♥ forcing here? 1: 5+ diamonds 11-15 hcp or 14-16 balanced 2: Thunder double

On the first hand, I would probably just bid 4 spades. Its maybe a bit strong, but other than 6 spades.. this hand isn't really that amazing. Its has lots of spades but doesn't really provide that many extra tricks. If I Jacoby, partner could easily get overexcited and we will end up in 5 down 1. Second hand, I'd bid a forcing NT followed by 4 spades if partner doesn't show hearts as long as this didn't show a hand type similar to question 1 (varies a bit by agreement I think). If I can't try for the 4/4, I'll just bid 2♣ and then support spades, although 3 NT might be the best spot.. I am not positive we will be able to play there.

K PM'ing responses :P Eric Sieg

What about undefined jump overcalls if partner is a freely passed hand? For example p 1♣ 3♦ Could be a 0 count or an opening(ish) hand that has no interest in game opposite a passed hand? I am a huge fan of this, but not a big fan of the regular old intermediate jump overcalls.

I'd take it as card showing with a willingness to defend. As was mentioned.. north should probably just cue bid. Odds are 3 NT is the place to play the hand, however if south has Qxx in clubs it needs to be played from that side. If cue bid might lead to confusion.. maybe just apply the Bob Hamman rule and bid 3 NT. I do (however) have some sympathy for south taking the X as penalty. I don't think it should be, but its a possible mistake (another reason north shouldn't double unless they are 100% sure south will understand).

X as negative sounds like the issue here.. not what call is forcing. If you play it as GF all problems evaporate. If you play it as a non GF response but near the top of that range (say a good 5 to a bad bad 8), then it seems like all calls but 2 NT are forcing at least one round (and 2 NT should be invitational I think.. been a bit since I played precision). Having to jump to force to game when responder has ALMOST enough to make game a good shot opposite your 1♣ opener sounds just makes me go blah. Main thing is regardless of what X shows (GF or not), it should be a tightly constrained point range.

Eh? How so. Criss cross is one (of several) nice easy ways to show a GF w/ support for openers minor. Could also do 2 NT as someone else suggested. I personally think a jump shift to the other minor has less opportunity cost though as I like 2 NT being natural there.

So... when I played precision, I loved XYZ. Playing 2/1 without a forcing club now, and I've been thinking about tossing XYZ back into the arsenal fairly soon. However, there are obviously cases now in 2/1 (not so much in precision) where it is now impossible to play in 2♣ which could be our best spot. For example, holding xx KJxx xxx Qxxx as responder, auction could go: 1♣ p 1♥ p 1NT p 2♣ all check, For those that play XYZ in a normal 2/1 type system, what would you say the payout ratio is from hands where bidding did better in XYZ as opposed to those where playing in clubs might have been better (admittedly 3♣ is still an option, but it is a bummer to HAVE to go that high)? I would assume on most hands it doesn't matter.. but I have had a few auctions stopping in 2♣ recently that made me wonder. It seems likely to still be useful, especially since higher level competition isn't likely to pass 2♣. Just thought I'd do a quick check and confirm it really is friggin useful, or maybe its sort of a give take and I could focus on teaching partner other things first instead.

This is like 100% no doubt about it quant. Problem with a lot of newer people is they learn blackwood and then try to use it or respond to it too much. Sounds like your partner was one of these. If your partner has trouble figuring it out, an easier rule for a while might be that 4 NT is never straight blackwood. Its either quant or possibly keycard. 3 NT though after a positive response is also a very wretched bid.

Had an interesting thing happen yesterday. Was practicing with partner against 2 GIB opponents. Auction was the following (we are silent, GIBs bidding) 1NT 2♣ 2♠ 4♣ (splinter, showing 1- clubs, strong hand) 4♠ all pass Dummy hit and there was a singleton in dummy in dummy. However it was in hearts! When we clicked on GIB's bid it even stated it showed a singleton club. So GIB can psyche? Or is this just a bug in their bidding algorithms? I can find the hand if it would be useful. Eric

Auction should go: 2♠ p p X p 2NT p 3♥ p 4♥ 3 NT is just a total shot in the dark, removing partner completely from the auction. TBH, east should probably consider a 4NT invite after the bidding given. 3♥ shows exactly: 5+ hearts, was too strong to simply overcall. It is not omg we MUST play in hearts. It just states his hand, and leaves it open to partner to pass (if super mega weak), bid 3 NT with a stopper, raise to 4♥, or cue bid 3♠ asking for a stop that can handle being led through. Eric

Bob Hamman rule about 3 NT seems to apply to this hand. Automatic 3 NT here.

So like... I did the mini spin last year with some other junior types. We made it to the finals and then everyone collectively lost their minds (at least it was the whole team so no one person felt wretched). Would love to do it again, but our team won't be coming back. Most of the members are playing in different teams in the 5000 this summer. Soooooo, are there people interested in teammates for the 1500 or know someone who is? Mostly just in the exploratory stage at this point, as everyone I know personally isn't eligible, won't be going, or isn't going to do the 1500. Would love to find a solid pair or two to do this with, as it was a really fun experience.. especially towards the end when screens came out. If this sounds appealing to anyone.. maybe respond here or shoot me an email (easieg@gmail.com) and maybe we can plan something out. I apologize if this isn't a good spot to post this. Obviously plz remove if inappropriate. Only forum related to partnership stuff seems BBO oriented, and the forums on the "Bridge is Cool" site that were promised 2 years ago have yet to materialize (How hard is to to make a friggin forum?!? but that is another topic). So ya, anyways.. kinda just tossing a shout out in a way that hopefully is not against the whole offline discussion concept of the forum.

Not sure what the point of doubling 4NT is. Easy X though, as RHO has shown the red suits and I'm sitting behind them with 2 red kings and hopefully 2 club tricks.

How is off 1 a bottom? 2 tables were in 5 x'd, 1 in 6 x'd, and the rest everyone was defending a major. I am beating EVERYONE but the 5♦ x'd tables already. In a different situation where they might pull it, pass is immediate. But table feel was pretty much 100% that they wouldn't pull. So say we are sitting at 80% of the matchpoints. XX gets either 100 or 60. I thought it was a good chance to make so I went for the extra 20% of the matchpoints. Not going to say omg redouble was a brilliant bid. But suggesting it is turning a top into a bottom is a bit ridiculous. Just seemed like one of those rare situations when something X'd making would be a common result. Soooooo thought it was a fun hand. Was also cool to be 6/6 in the minors and hear partner open a diamond.

Why does LHO need to have the 8 of clubs? As long as he has the T we are golden. A club to the 9 now provides 3 club tricks to go with our 2 hearts/spades/diamonds to make 3 NT. I mean yes.. I could see LHO having it after the duck. However, there is no real need for him to have it to make our contract.

So, after 2 boring hands I was dealt: ♠ void ♥ x ♦ AJT9xx ♣ JT8xxx Partner deals and I see her reach for her bidding box. I know a major is coming out, but the question is.. how many? Then she pulls out and lays down the card: 1♦!! Auction proceeds as follows: 1♦ 2♥ 3♥ 4♥ p p 5♦ x (at which point the opps started writing down the contract) p p ? Now.. how crazy is XX here at matchpoints? It seems like 5♦ X'd will be a fairly common contract (rarity for doubled contracts) and it has a pretty good shot at making. All partner needs is the K of diamonds and either a top club honor or a stiff or the A of hearts, which seems very possible and the opps seemed very unlikely to pull it if i XX'd. Anyways, I xx'd and it went down one. So we lost to the tables in 5♦ X'd, and beat the tables who let the opps play 5♥, 5♠, or 6♥. Anyways, was a fun hand so thought I'd toss it out there. Would anyone else XX at matchpoints? At imps I think pass is automatic since they could easily make 5♥ and the extra 200 or whatever wouldn't be worth the risk.

I am simpleminded. After the duck of the heart, I am going to play west for the T of clubs. If east has it.. I think I was fairly screwed anyways assuming east knows to unblock his/her diamond honors.

I'm not sure that 5NT would clearly ask for honors (for us anyways). Is this even a standard understanding? Also, it only works if the Q is an honor but the J is not. I think we play 5 NT as almost always pick a slam.. so bid 6NT or 6♦. And to the other posters: I KNOW lebensohl over weak 2's is useful. I've played it and I love it. But I am not going to tell someone "I don't care about your feelings on the subject, we are playing it now", especially when that someone is your significant other :P

I'd bid 3♣ probably. Surprised 3♥ wasn't part of the poll playing 2/1, since if the K was something smaller I think its fairly automatic, and still a possibility even w/ the K imo.