benlessard

The only reason why i can bid 7♦ it its because the exclusion keyc would end-us too high on that particular deal. With our normal exclusion we will stop in 6s. K842 8753 AQJ84 A9753 AK96 K6 AK pass----------------1h (show 5s (12-14 or 18-22) 1s (6+ relay)------2c (4h) 2d GF---------------3c (5422) Now our keyc sheme is ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ void (based on big ♥ fit since we are a PH) ♥ void (based on big S fit since we are a PH ) ♦ void ♣ void 3nt to play (but since a PH forced to game its sure we have a fit and shouldnt be natural) and 4♦ polish end sign off relay. so ill bid a 3d ---------------3s (0 or 3) 4D sign off------4s i dont have 0 keycard and im not 12-14 ! but no ♠Q 4nt ♥K ?-----5s (yes + K♦ + K♣ no Q♥ now we know Axxxx (no S♠) AKxx (no Q♥) kx AK So 7♦ become the best spot. Having a void in partner short suit is so annoying for us in particular auction (where the hand shape is described in 1 bid) because the exclusion is so high. But on that particular deal its good for us ! Ben If west open we will endup in 6s since from east point of view the Q♦ is a useless card and the lack of Q♠ and Q♥ will stop us. 1nt (5d unbalanced 12-14 or 18-22) ----------2c 6+ relay 2h 5d + 4h (12-14)-------------------------------------2s GF etc

passing with north is automatic. playing standard methods ill bid 3h with south hand. But pass isnt terrible. Those who think north could raise must be doubling very very light. Bidding 2d with invitationnals values is a superior method IMHO.

Responder (or declarer if you prefer can have the ♥K) So leading an ♥A inst so clear. we are keycarding at the 3 level and we have 4h opposite 2 in that case there is no chance of a lead directing X before keyc Overall i agree with your point. But its still not sure that cue-bidding is a better option then having extrakeycard and being 1 level lower. Cue-bidding take a lot of space and at the 4 level space is very precious IMHO. Ben PS this was a hand somewhat defavorable for the NO Q-BIDs methods. But on most hand we do well.

Playing Walsh its dangerous to bypass major when you are responder since partner will sometimes bypass his majors (even if he don't bid 1nt) xxxx x Ax AKJTxx IMHO playing walsh the correct rebid for opener is 2♣ not 1♠ So with ♠KQJx partner could easily have 4s. With your hand ill rebid 2♥ tactical or 2♠ natural ...bidding 3nt seems a non-neccessary slight gamble. Ben

Playing relay system (transfer openings) and using multiple Keyc and exclusion but no denials Q or controls asking bids. Do you think not being able to cue-bid or to ask for controls is a heavy penalty ? 1st I think losing 2 quick loser (AK) in a fragment suit isnt so terrible as long as slam is cold if they fail to find the lead. 2st - cuebidding often allow them X to stop you from bidding 6 or to help them find the best lead against your good slam. Example 1♥ 5s (12-14 or 18-22)-------------1♠ rel 6+ ? 2♣ (4h)--------------------------------2♦ GF 2♥ (A= +1)----------------------------2♠ (rel) 3♣ (D=1 1+1=2nd hand 5431)----3♦ ♠keyc♠ 4♣ (2+Q no ♥K♥--------------- ??? partner showed 5431 2 keyc ♠Q. your hand is KJx xx AKQxxx xx Partner is likely to have the ♥A♥ and the ♠A♠ but about 20% of the time he will have the ♣A♣ in wich case a ♥ lead will set the contract. 4♦ is signoff 4♥ is asking for the ♦K♦ 4♠ is asking for the ♥Q♥ etc But we have no controls asking bid (at least now) This is a hand that we endup relaying early but a hand where the opps have good info that make the ♥ lead is likely and responder will play the hand so underleading ♥K♥ is safer. But my conclusion is on most slam we bid we have controls on every suit anyway. Telling the suit where you lack a controls is costly. Finding the killer lead when defender can cash 2 quick loser isnt easy. Even with ♥AK♥ a lightner X may backfire because responder could easily have a singleton (he will play the hand by the way ) So is life without cue-bidding or controls asking bids possible ? Ben

2c is the only bid playing DONT. To not want to show a 4 card spades suit is plain bad bridge. Plus 2c take more space then X. For a review of defense over 1nt go to http://www.firesides.net/mcguinty.htm What i like to play is 2M to play 2m 5m+ 4M or both minors if 2c X 5M + 4os or both Maj The trick is keeping the 2 level safety level. and sacrificing the 1-suiter minors to be able to show wich suit is longuest. Woosley over 1nt isnt safe enough IMHO.

3♠ bid will be punished once in a while like most unsound bid are so when its work its work that all . On that deal we cant say 6s is a great contract. its was just a lucky deal Ben

An interesting way to reply to 1c is 1d = waiting denies 5M unbalanced 1h = 5s -------1s-----1nt--S+ diam ---------------2c -- H ---------------2d-- 6s ---------------2h--S+C 1S = H+ C 1nt = H+ D 2c = 6H 2d = H+ S 0-8 or GF 2h = 5H + 4s 9-11 inv 2s + 5h + 4s GF 12 + our 1c opening is 12-19 bal or 15-17 any shapes. all Bids are 0 + inv bids are 7-8 Its allow to GF early without playing positive or negative responses. And its alos permit you to relay whatever you pts range wich is the key to a successfull relay bidding system IMHO. Drawback is you cannot stop in 2c unless opener is 15-17 with clubs. you cant stop in 1nt if opener or responder have a 5M unbalanced.

Its a passed hand cue-bid so for me its not GF. It show more then 1 strain of contract like 4M-6m or both M or weak 4M but stoppers in the opponent suit and at least value to go to the 3level. Not sure the hand is good enough for it but its certainly better to cue-bid 2♥ then to bid 1s or 2d. Wich show no values. so 2♥ followed by 3♠ make sense. A direct 2♠ seems like the proper value bid. Ben

In theory you cannot pick up Jx♦ but in practice you will sometimes succeed because the opp might discard ♦ from 8xxx. IMHO The main lines are rise with the A♥ pull trump [hv=n=shqdakqxc&s=sxhxdt9xc]133|200|[/hv] Assume nobody as dicarded a diamond Now 1--you dont cash the last spades and finesse ♦ 2- cash the last spades 2a-- play diamond by the top 2b--finesse diamonds if east doenst discard a ♦ 2b is better. finesse is better then 3-3 drop On the last ♠ what if West discard a ♦. He could have 5♦ or 4 with the K♥ but i still think finessing diamond playing west for 5♦ is reasonnable but playing for the drop looks better. line 2b work when J♦ is onside or when east discard a ♦ and the J♦ drop or if they discard too much diamonds it aint great but i see nothing better in the other post. I cant see any psychological reason why the ♥ finesse would be better then 50% When the ♥ switch come the table. it mean they trust you and if they trust you... then the ♥ switch is obvious wheter East got the K♥ or not. I don`t think its the level of the defense that matter it the level and reputation of the declarer. If declarer is a beginner everybody will try to cash a 2nd round of ♣. If declarer is an honest hard working man even the beginner will know a 2nd ♣ cannot be cashed If declarer is capable of Zia cue-bid cashing a 2nd clubs might work so ... its a different story.

Same as Alain There is no squeeze against RHO. IMHO best line is play A♥ run all the trump except 1. Take the direct D finesse. (Unfortunatetly you cannot play a high ♦ first because you will lack communication) But at least it make when the K♥ is stiff and when J♦ is onside. Or when West discard diamond from xxxx or xxx. Ruffing a club first seems pointless Ben

3s first choice, 4s 2nd, 2s never. in my book partner can bid 2s with only 2 so partner can easily have a stiff spade. On a side note wich bid tend to show more strenght ? (trump support + cover card = strenght) X or 2♠ 2s can be pretty weak with 3 trumps. X can be stiff ♠ but show sound values.

Sorry to tell you that i think you would loose a lot of money if you keep making bet like this. 3clubs tend to show at least 17 HCP (especially if made with a 6 card suit) because with a less pts and a more distributionnal hand most decent player will make a simple 2 clubs rebid (wich doesnt show a minimum hand by the way). The 3nt bid cant really be weakish. Because its show ♦♠ stoppers and the odds are that he has an heart honnor. Unless West is a known overbidder playing partner for more then 4 HCP is dubious. Odds are that you have no way of settings this contract. Ben

Transfers are the optimum structure for forcing bids. They are simply the base of many relay systems. It also give the opportunity to put the known hand on the table. Ill play any tournament without neg X before playing a system without any transfer.

Its an Unusual VS unusual type auction. So it depend on the method. An easy and efficient method. pass and X penalty X = show cards and at least 3 in each minors cheaper Cue= H weak or GF 2nd cue = S weak or GF 3h = H inv 3s = S inv. easy and efficient method. But since you wont play in ♥. The method become 3c GF with half a stop 3d GF without H stopper 3h weak or GF s raise 3s INV s raise

This is much more improbable then finding partner with ♠Kxxxxx or ♠Kxxxx with ♠Ax for declarer. or rarely with ♠Axxxxx ♠Axxxx Q♣ singleton and QTx facing xx are specific holdings dont count on them too much. If declarer has KQx♦ your chance of defeating the contract are quite slim if you lead low ♦. Declarer will bumb your A♣ and be able to keep your partner off the lead most of the time. IMHO the chances of defeating this contract are not good if partner doesnt have a 5 card suit (partner will need a side trick entry or ♦Kxxx) Caring for the possibility of partner having 5 or 6♠ by a K or (rarely A ) seems better. Ben

if 2c is at least INV Pass with most minimum hand X penalty oriented 2s 5s Minimum if max ill bid at the 3 level. if 2c could be weak X should show both majors. Bidding 2s with 4 is running after trouble IMHO i would bid 2s with 5 and a non-minimum hand.

At IMPs Low to the J is clearly the best line. The ♣ switch is too probable. In a tough field maybe you wont get a good score for 6h making. So maybe running the ♦J is better. But in a weakish field low to the J is a reasonnable anti-field "semi-safety play". Ben

They probably have all the tricks they need. But they need to kick the A♣. So you need to find partner 5 card suit headed by an honor. 9♦ will work when partner have 5d headed by the K or Q + the T or 8. Q♠ will work when hes got Kxxxx. But the best lead take of both combination. A♦ !! Only case when it backfire. They have 5h trick. 3D beacause of your lead and 1S. (leading ♠ would work but leading ♦ fail anyway) The A♦ lead is best and its not close. Ben

a borderline game. You cannot say bidding 1 is a success and bidding 2 a failure. You need clubs 3-2 or a stiff T♣ (south chance of having a stiff clubs are good) A non-spades lead (unlikely) King of diamond onside You need 2/3 to make game.

I can see no intelligent reason not to be able to enable and disable FD. Learning a new system its very useful on while practicing and for serious match practice i would like to turn it off . Private game well... is private and i see no reason why it coulnt be on or off. Could even be on for NS and off for EW. Individual tournament it might be good to leave it on but its TD choice. Myself playing against weaker opposition i prefer them to see what they are doing then defending ridiculous contract. As for running a 2nd FD running lets just say that its cheating and nothing we can really do about cheater we are on-line. internet= Young mens are mens (not so young) Young womens are mens. Young girls are FBI agents.

Save your genious leads for IMPs. I think we make too much unusual lead at MP and not enough in IMPs.

Ive assume 2s as help-suit game try but i think youre are right its advanced natural (esp since Fred bid 2s with AKQx instead of bidding 3c with 3 little) therefore a stiff is a minus and 4h should show . 2425 shapes. We need to know if 3 clubs could be bid with a minimum with solid clubs but i dont think so. As for the Q♦ or the ♠J its depend on how light they open and how light they bid game instead of bidding 3 wich is probably very light in both case. Ben

In 6c He could have the ace of clubs and no ace of h in wich case a ♥ lead wont be fun Expert opposition can underlead the ♥A because they know you are missing the Q♥. so 6nt seems like the best contract. A- x Ajxx Qxx KQT9x B- x jxxx Qxx AKQxx C- x Axxx Qxx KQJTx As for finding tough play problem. All i see is a clubs guess or a h guess. Unless partner partner only have 4♣ and extra values. But im sure its not that. Jx JTxx Qxx AKQJ edited Maybe partner doesnt have the ♦Q in wich case 6♣ seems better.

close but i pass. partner X is optionnal. Saying he got enough pts to get a + score. I would prefer having ♣ instead of ♥ since partner can sometimes correct. Ben