benlessard

If they are vulnerable, the double should be semi-penalty or penalty, they have no security whatsoever and will get nailed often enough that they might reconsider opening 1H with 4414 like i do or keeping the original prec 2D. Non- vul i could go both way, but i prefer penalt-ish style. I would double with 14 pts and 4H and + and 16 pts with 3H and 18 with 2H. Im using 2NT as a strong multi-suit 3 level bid.

What i play is 1H----1S (relay) 1Nt = clubs (12-14 or 18+) 2C = diamonds(12-14 or 18+) 2D = hearts 12-14 or 18+ 2H = 5H+4S 12-14 2S and higher = H +S 18+ GF 5332 with 5M are opened 1Nt or by a strong club

I agree with Antoine, our 1H response is GF or at least 3 cards, (so that when responder is minimum with 4H we can fall back in 2H) 1S response tend to be 5 except hands with less than 3H and less than 4D

I like to play 2 under transfers, so its allow responder to invite and stay at the 2 level and to be able to relay for slams, 1D----1H ??? 1S = clubs 1Nt = 6D or 4H 15-17 2C = spades min or GF 2D = spades 15-17 2H = H 12-14 2S and Higher Hearts (GF) 1D----1H 1S----??? 1NT = INV (with paradox responses) 2m = to play 2H = to play 1D-----1H 1NT----??? 2C = multi inv 2red = to play With a setup like this you have to work pretty hard to miss a slam, avoid the 3 level for no reason, Biggest drawback is cannot stop in 1Nt,

I think a 2nd negative is always a minor. So over 2M 3C is 2nd neg and over 3C= 3d is 2nd neg and over 3D there is no 2nd neg.

Over 4C he might stretch pretty hard to bid a vulnerable game, add to that he might make an advance save. I think its not that unlikely that opener has a 7-4 and partner is stuck with 2 clubs, or that hes got only 2H and wont manage to ruff a clubs after a H lead. (5251, 6241,4261)

Double is clearly better than 5H (not close IMO) , but i prefer pass. I have no reason to think 5C is a good spot for them.

If you like psych you should really watch "Better off Ted" wich is the best quirky humor show ive seen in a long time.

X in standard, however its an easy 5D in an unbalanced 1D setup.

Ill double except against the stronger pairs.

2D = good bid, 3d is a slightly too much for me. passing 4S with west = blunder doubling 4S = mistake.

IMO this is exactly the type of sequence why i prefer weak NT. Form responder point of view 1D----(2H)------??? you have a borderline hand (you are tempted to ..negative double,2Nt, 3D) ? Do you prefer that partner may have an unbalanced hand or a balanced 12-14 or a unbalanced and a balanced 15-17 ? It doesnt really matter if you prefer a neg that tend to show values or a neg that always show 4 in the other major, in both case opener has already take some of the pressure off responder by putting the most troublesome (12-14 bal) hand in 1Nt. For me its advantageous to be able to upgrade a strong NT into a 18-19 is the opponent bidding indicate that honors a well placed.

[hv=d=s&s=sakxxhxxxdqxxcaxx]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] 1C-----1H 1S-----4C (splint) ???

AJ9xx xx Jx AKTx Kx AKQx Axx 98xx Dealer is north imps

X better than 1 NT wich is still clearly better than 2D. Not close at all. Im surprised this post has 5 pages.

Unless i need to play agianst the field I dont see any need to upgrade here. I dont have a 5 card suit and rebidding 1Nt is not a costly underbid.

For me 3C by an unpassed hand is at least a bit slammish, i dont see why i would bid 3C with a GF minimum 55 in the black just for the unlikely case where 5C or 4S in 5-2 fit is better than 3Nt. So im not really afraid of going down in 4S, so i bid 3S, sure we have wasted values but its not catastrophic.

The classic plan is too bid 5D and defend hoping they guess wrong. The alternative plan is to pass and sac if they bid 6M with confidence (after showing a D void). Since the chance of them having a cold 6 is fairly high and my save rate to cost -800 ill pass.

Im wondering about the weird 3D bid is it fit showing ? It doesnt seems likely. If so why did he bid 3D and pass on round 1 ? My guess is that hes 4-7 in the pointed and will find the S lead to give partner a ruff at trick 3 or 4. I think i would chicken out big time and just bid 3H.

if having a 4M when opening 2C bother you I suggest what lowerline say. The unbalanced 1D showing 4 is clearly a better upside then the downsides of having a possible 4M when opening 2C + the downside of a wider 1Nt range (not close at all imo). Some slight variation (41)35 or (14)35 that you can open with 2C or with 1D. I prefer 2C unless the D are great Also you might want to keep a weak 2D and decide to open 1H with 4414 and 2C with (43)15 im in the minority here but i prefer the weak 2D+2H rather than 2d ROMAN because I dont mind too much having a 4M with my 2C opening. Also its very clear to me that diamonds hand in the 16-22 range are better in 1D than in the the strong club. As a nice side benefit 1C--1?---2D show a strong balanced hand.

I glad to have read this post and the 1 by kfay. Ill have no problem convincing partner that X show a void in our suit. These problems appears frequently and it always a pain me to see a slow pass at the 6 level. However i see a major problem with X is that you are strongly inviting them to bid 6Nt.

The holder of a 7 card suit will often lead a singleton instead of leading his own suit. So it surely make sense that the lightner still ask partner to lead his own suit. By default i play that X ask for unusual lead (so not H here), but X show a void is probably better when partner show 7-8 card lenght.

The best way to avoid a club lead is to X 4C, i dont have the balls for it but im tempted. My guess is that most partnership wont be able to play 4C X here. Since their 4C is forcing, you can bid 4S directly, pass and bid 4S or bid 4D followed by 4S. So 4H has to be a cuebid

If you want to adjust yourself with vulnerabilities. I suggest that when NV preempt are wider so your opening should be tighter and show defense. When vul its the opposite your preempts should be tighter and so its possible to open lighter especially when it come to ODR. IMO our style is to have no gap between 1M and 2M so that when a passed hand overcall or balance at the 2/3 level hes showing a side suit. P----(1D)------P------(2D) ?? 2H = 5H+4S, 6H+4S or 5H + 5C 2S = 5S + 5C X and pulling 2H to 2S should be 4S+6 clubs P-----(3D)-----P------(P) 3H = 5/6H +4S X = show both majors with usually better spades than hearts. P------(1C)-------P--------(1S) ??? X = take out with values instead of shapes 1nt = take -out with shape 2C = natural 2D = 6D +4H if you have D and spades its sad but you have to pass. Non-vulnerable i really believe that its the better style. 1- It forced you to preempt first and ask questions later. 2 - You get in partscore battles in better shape. 3- some inference are there The downside is when you are vulnerable and have a nice 5 C suit in a balanced semi balanced hand a hand too dangerous for a vulnerable preempt but strong enough to compete when the bidding die low. As for a ODR POV its mostly a matter of style between If your preempts have high OvsD Ratio (xx,xx,Axxxxx,Axx) and your opening could have very little defense (KQJxxx,Qxxx,QJ,x) at the end you wont be able to double them too often + sometimes you will defend instead of sacrificing) If your opening show some defense & your preempts have high ODR than some hands you have to pass (gap between 1M and 2M wich imo is costly when non-vulnerable) our style = opening show some defense + preempt are wide ranging in term of suit quality and defensive side cards Tougher to defend against because preempt are more random in nature Less inference for declarer when our side is on defense. Its tougher for me to get it right when my partner made a preempt (when it come time to sac or not and for leads) Doesnt fit well with LOB You get nailed more often becausee your preempt are crappier

Even with hands where 1Nt will likely score better than 2D partner may bid 2D with 6D and extra shape (especially with a S stiff), the reason is that you wont necessary buy the hand at 1Nt anyway. xx xx AKJxxx KJx since responder didnt make a neg X its likely opps have a H fit. Instead of passing and having to take a decision over 2H/2S why not bid 2D right now ? Its sure that you would prefer to play 1NT but you have to be realistic about the chance of them not competing.