benlessard

What i suggest you to play is that ur unbalanced 1D could be better then 16. And play that 2nd rebids are in transfers. 1D---1H ?? 1S= 4s 1Nt= 4 or 5C 2C= 6D 2D= weak H raise or GF 2H = medium H raise rest is GF. 1D---1S ??? 1Nt= 4 or 5C 2C= 6D or reverse D+H 2D= 4H not reverse strenght 2H = GF or weak S raise 2S = medium raise 2nt + GF That is what we play and i have no complaint. Wanting to show wich of the C or D is longer inst worth it. Same for the 4441. You wont get rich opening 1D with light hands (8-10 pts) IMHO.

Agree here too. In standard when you play after dummy & before partner and you want to split (insert) you should play the higher of touching honnors. The rationale behind this is that to deny an honnor is more important then to show an honnor. inserting the J= denies the Q may or may not have the T. Inserting the Q= Denies the K may or may not have the J. If you play the otherway around. (playing the J from QJ) J= denies the T may or may not have the Q. Q= denies the J may or may not have the K. most of the time method 1 is superior. So if partner put the J = i always win. If partner play the Q = Qx or QJ. Qx is more likely.

Clear pass first turn. (second turn too easy pass) Bidding 3H insufficient bid corrected to 4S is the only time ill be bidding with these kind of hands :) Bidding 4S will mostly lead to terrible slam or 5 level contracts. After the X I guess ill be running.

We play transfer lebensohl. (2H)----X------(pass)-------4m 1Nt-----(2M)-----4m 1Nt------(3C)-----4D (1M)-----X------(2M)--------4m These are all leaping michaels for us. Holding a good 2 suiter we like to show both our suits as soon as possible because the risk of further preemption is higher then when holding a single suiter. Qx KQJxxxx x AQx Qx KQJxx x AQxxx 1Nt------(2S)--------??? The preemption risk is higher with hand 2. With hand 1 its more a level problem then a strain problems so if they are further preemption you are in a less vulnerable position. 1Nt------(2S)---------3D (H to play or GF)---------4S pass-----(pass)--------??? would a new suit be natural or a cue-bid ? Whatever you choose will give you some problems. void AQxxxxx xxx KJx Here you would want to cue. Qx KQJxx x AQxxx Here you would want to bid 5C natural. If your 2 suited hands are out of the way then all that is remaining are cue-bids and 6-4, 6-3 etc hands

4D leaping michaels. and ill make a further move over 4H.

agree with Roland. Since opps double i assume they had some side strenght elsewhere then in H. So not only there was a strain problem but there was also a strenght problem. So that why i thnik Roland is right.

2S is it for me. Not strong enough for a X since so many bad thing can happen. I assume that passing and 2S is an overcall. So a direct 2S shouldnt be complete garbage.

Of course defending might be really bad since we could have a slam. But in practice it never happen to me. Heavy hands with heavy distribution = partner rarely pass for penalty. I have a stiff H so im expecting partner to bid 3,4,5 H 98% of the times. Its hard to compare the upside of getting good slam vs the downside of defending when slam is making because these hands are rare anyway. But my feeling and my result inclined me to suggest that X and game is best used as a slammish one suited hands. I much prefer to play cheapest minor take-out and X as semi penalty (and playing standard ive always hated X with a void). So im no longer in position to be able to judge the danger of X with the slammish hand. But im still in position to collect the imps when it goes (3C)--4M all pass making 6.

with 0364 or 1264 you are going to bid 2Nt or 3D ?

I make a distinction between double & bid below game or double & game. Double & bid show doubt about strain (64,6331 etc). Double and game show half a trick over my bid. AKQxxxxxx x AQx --- over 3C i will X and bid 4S. 3C-----X------pass-------3D ???----??? 3H= 6H+4S 3S=6S+4H 4H=10.5 tricks in H 4S= 10.5 tricks in S I understand these hands do not happen often but they are imps worthy enough. The only exception to this rules is after 4m response where my bids is either both ways or ill need to jump to show my 10.5 hands. 3D----X-------pass------4C 4H= 6H+4S 4S= 6S+4H X followed by 4C=clubs and doubt about strain. X followed by 4S= Huge hand with S.

easy 2C for me. If my partner has 4D ill be better placed after 2C-2D-3D then after 2D-3D. So only when partner has 3 good diamonds and less then 3clubs and that 5D or 6D is the best contract that 2D will turn out better then 2C wich very unlikely. I think that bidding 2C instead of 2D give way more all around benefits then the times where 5D or 6D in a 5-3 fit will be the best spot. Partner with AQx or AJx in D & Jxx in clubs = 6C will be a unbiddable better spot.

Close call between 1Nt and 2Nt. Usually over 1C X 1Nt is stronger then over 1M X. (bidding a 3 card suit at the 1 level with weaker hand give me no problem at all). So with a partner that plays the same way ill bid 1Nt. Otherwise ill bid 2Nt.

Clear 2S opening. Bidding 4S is bad. At Mp hoping for -500 or -300 is a good gamble but at imps its a dubious tactics. Do you really think a double swing game is possible ? Chance for making a phantom sac are more likely then finding a super cheap save. Here are possible result. they make game we are -4 = -5 *** we are -3 = +3 *** we are -2 = +8 or (+11) ** we are -1 = +11 * they dont make game. we are -3 = -12 * we are -2 = -9 (-5) ** we are -1 = -5 (-4) *** ()= they dont X us. Its possible we are down 2 and they dont X us. But its also possible that they go down more then 1 (vulnerable undertricks) or that they bid 5H anyway and make it. Also it wouldnt suprised me that S break really badly and we go down 5. Or that they dont make game and we are -4. *** = more frequent ** = less frequent * = rare

We don't play transfers nor 2way stayman. All our sequences between 2C and 2S are taken for things much more important then a Club Soff. So the only spot im willing to give for clubs is 2Nt and 3C(minor suit stayman). We used to play that 2Nt show clubs Soff or GF so after 2nt opener had to bid 3C. But some tough slammish hands with 6C-4D, 6C with a stiff or a strong balanced with 6C are annoying when you start at 3C and have many thing to show. But if 2Nt is GF then opener can superaccept, show stopper etc. Considering that i dont remember the last time ive wanted to signoff in 3 clubs + the fact that its unlikely to win or lose IMPs anyway i dont think its a big sacrifice to let it go. Also maybe playing 2Nt as Minor suit stayman and 3C as clubs GF is better.

All our m INV are in 2D. So these are no problems. Very weak hand I dont want to play 3C anyway. Ill wait opps for X and use whatever run-out method to stop in 2C and let the opponent bid on. So the only hands really troublesome are non-inv but not totally broke competive hands with 6 or more clubs where preempting is important but my feeling is that these hand are rare and do not bring enough IMPs/foot squared. So the bidding space could be used for something else. Our weak Nt is 10-14 (12-15) and can have 5M and we play a system that is geared to stop in low level partscore (like Keri but better) so we clearly dont have the luxury of having 2Nt,3C & 3D bids as non-forcing. PS our D sign off is at 2C --2D pass.

3S. Partner is surely bidding some of my values. Partner most probable shape is 6313 and it doesnt look too attractive to me. Partner red against white isnt balancing too light but still hes playing me for some values and i dont feel ive got that much extras. (where are my H spots ?). However the fact that LHO respond 1Nt tend to say to me that the M will break but not clubs. (the 3D bids is probably done on C shortness). So partner AJx of clubs will be a great holding. But stiff club to the A and club ruff will sunk our contract quite often. Also if partner doesnt have the J♣ our Q♣ is useless. AKQxxx KJx x KJx , club lead followed by club ruff. AKJTxx Kxx x Axx lose 1H,1D,1 or 2C + may be a S. AKxxxx KJx x AJx 1S + 1D maybe 1H. Its probably a close call between 3S and 4D-4S after all. (PS For me 4D would suggest 4H and 2S)

Red i will pass except in 4th seat. white i will always open. playing weak nt & white = easy opening Im not fond of LOB but white ill always open this 1. If partner has long S he wont be disappointed with my hand if hes is short in S i have 2 quick trick. The only problem is when he is medium S length and opps are void or stiff S. Playing weak Nt(12-14) and being white Its doesnt make anysense to pass this hand imho. In 4th seat its an opening if you play some method for INV hands that will enable you to stop at the 2 level. Otherwise its dangerous because partner will often put you in 2Nt or at the 3 level.

Agree with Justin. For me X,cue and 4H wouldnt show solid H au contraire it would show doubt & minors possiblility. I see nothing wrong with X followed by 4H. 3H tend to show (7.5-8.5 tricks) 4H tend to show (9-9.5) tricks. X followed by 4H is stronger. X followed by cue is no clear cut path.

Do you think to be able to signoff in 3C is sligthly useful or rarely useful. We are playing weak nt and i dont remember the last time we soff in clubs. Either we wait for the X and pull to 2C or we pass 1Nt. The only time where i feel that the club soff is useful is with intermediates values for preemptive purpose. We are not playing transfers so for us 1Nt ----2Nt (that do not force 3C) would be useful sequences for something else.

Partner could have bid 2H,3H but did bid 4H. So this for me = a void therefore i can bid a simple 4S. If i know partner show a stiff then i have so much extra that ill bid 5C.

For us its a bit different because our 1D is unbalanced but. 1D-----1S ??? 1Nt= clubs 2C= 6D or reverse D+H 2D = D + H not reverse strenght. 2H = raise minimum or GF 2S = raise 15-17 And we are very satisfied. To be able to invite and stop at 2S is so important imho. To be able to raise and make another bid (splinter, void or strong primary suit) is great. Its make sense to sacrify some of hte H reverse to get more raises. in standard structure something like 1D----1S 1nt,2c,2d natural. 2H= S raise,minimum or GF. or 18-19 bal. 2S= S raise 15-17 2Nt= H reverse surely make sense in my book. one of the strong point is that since we dont need game try. 1D------1S 2H------- anything else then 2S become a slam try. except 4S or 3Nt 1D------1S 2S------anything else then pass is a slam try except 4S or 3Nt

XX is an offer to play. AKx doesnt qualify for me. But im probaly not passing with north anyway.

clear pass i dont see how im going to make 8 tricks.

I would even pass 2S. Partner is heavy favorite to be balanced 12-14. So with my 7 count we are in the 19-21 hcp range. For game around 19-21 HCP i want real magic like 6-7 cards suit or voids. This 5242 facing a balanced hand is far from it.

The difference is that in Imps your partner will not bid 5C for a save . Hes not hoping for down 2 hes not hoping for down 1 hes hoping to make it. Not always of course but at least some amount of the time he wanted the contract to cash in. The same for bidding 4S red over 4H all RED. In MP down 2 is probably going to be a good result so it might make sense to bid 4S with no hope of making it. But in IMPs its would be foolish to concede 500 when they might go down in 4H. So a 4S here (like a 5C in the problem) show at least some slight hope of making it.