benlessard

A side question you hold 5332 1S--(2C)--X--(P) ?? ive always bid 2D with that shape with the logic that we could still endup in 2H. But with the philosophy that X really show only hearts and the fact that X with 53 is a lot more likely than 35 in the red some prefer 2H. Other than this case i agree that X doesnt promise the minor so 2D is a reverse and 3D is GF.

this and the fact that both opps showed a 4M wich increase the odds the D break 3-3.

In standard im pretty sure its natural invitationnal. If 3D/3H/3S are all inv I dont see why 3C would be different. However after 1D-1H-1NT imo 3C is to play while 2C followed by 3C is GF. I think if you have 6C inv you have to settle for 2NT. In french expert standard 2NT is a relay to 3C and its a part of Roudi or Xyz. 2C nmf doesnt promise a 5M.

I think the best lead and the best DD lead is easy. Its the 2nd best DD lead that is tough.

[hv=pc=n&s=s6hak96432d7cak72&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1hp2dp3cp3dp3hp3sp]133|200[/hv] If you dont like 3♣ Assume the bidding went [hv=pc=n&s=s6hak96432d7cak72&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1hp2dp2hp3dp3hp3sp]133|200[/hv] You play a style where 3C show extras and shape (55 or 64 with a good 4 card suit) and 2H is just a catch all bid. You have no special agreement for 3S. What your bid over 3S and why ?

NF or artificial forcing is the way to go. I dislike natural and forcing because the target is too small. I even the 2S jump shift being passed from time to time with a hand that could/should have passed 1C. xxx Axxxx xxxx x

Its 10 to one when we compare trash to GF by advance. I would not use 3D as forcing, I would play 3m with the upper half of the range and 2NT with the bottom range with the rare GF i would cuebid. its mostly because we play this way elsewhere (2nt weaker 3X INV) and switching would be too dangerous but also because with 2NT with the stronger hand you will wrongside 3NT more often when partner got Kx(x). Normally im a Rubensohl fan but when its too unlikely that we dont have GF value I prefer the other ways. Also possible is to use X as artificial (lebensohl double) rather than negative.

I like to play a style that very few advance are forcing. But i do get some strongish hand from time to time. I know that for many 2Nt is a 4 card spade raise but i dont care too much for this convention. Im wondering if 3m directly can be quite good (forcing ?) While 2Nt is competitive in one of the minor (lebensoshl-ish). Also is it sensible to play transfers here ? I do seems to get 10 times more trashy hand with a long minor than hands where i would like to bid 3m forcing.

I feel that in close call you can raise 3M to 4M and pray. Either 3M was going down or 4M is going to have decent odds. But with a long minor if the suit is crappy 3NT will have no play while 3m may have some chances. S oi feel the positive from good or bad is more important in the minors than in a major. But its not 100% clear.

Its a 6NT or 6S thing. Both case will go down if you cant pick up the spades Axxx-x but there will be more undertricks in 6NT. 6NT will fail when opener got the stiff ace of spades but not the K of H and they lead H. 6S might fail when they lead H and you discard your 3H on clubs and diamonds and play trumps they win with ace return H or D and try for a trump promotion. Ex west got A9x or ATx 4H and find the H lead. or spades are Txxx ---- A and his T get promoted if you ruff D or H high (irrelevant if west is singleton H or not but he must lead H to give you problems.)

The rule is 3m keep 3nt in the picture even facing a passed hand. 2NT is a serious warn against 3NT. Of course vul we are not crazy and 2NT vul is still a decent hand but its one where we might not like our chances in 3NT. 3m vul is basically a hand that many will open 1m. Over 3C i like to play 3M = 6 card suit and 3D ask for 3M (Rosenkraz) A jump to 4M is asking for a control and keycards at the same time. over 2NT-- 3C,3D,4C,5C are pass or correct. 4D & 4NT should be slammish but they never happen. Im the type of player who like to double so I dont like to have no defense in my 1 level openings. Weve change 2NT-3M to be forcing but it never happened i think. I think when the preempt is very weak new suit not forcing is not that a bad idea but its a bit pointless at the same time. 2nt with a weak preempt in unknown minor is midchart, add the 5-5 in the Majors and its not.

We use 2NT as a 3m preempt weakish or 5-5 in Majors 3-4 losers. 3m is a good preempt. it not great but I like it, opening 3m instead of 1m is where the biggest gains are.

[hv=pc=n&s=skqj8532ha853d6c4&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1dp1hp3dp3hp3np4cp4dp4sp5hp]133|200[/hv] 1H was natural or GF. 3D was 1444 18-22 here we dont have a S keycard available. So south RKC in H. 3H-3NT (30) 4C-4D (QH ? , no) 4S-5H (KC ?, Kc+Kd+Qc no Qd) ?? now 5S would ask for JH 5NT would suggest 2 place to play. rest is to play. opener showned 1444 with 3 H keycards + KD+KC+Qc and he denied red queens On the same day of the 2 sessions swiss on the last weekend we had... [hv=pc=n&s=s6haq7dkt63cak964&n=sakjt753hk853d8c7&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1dp1hp1sp2sp]266|200[/hv] 1D-1H (4D unbal 11-22, nat or GF) 1S-2S (54 or 45 in minors, relay break showing one loser in spades) I knew we were missing a keycard and the Qs. Anyway this one i was asleep at the wheel and choose 6NT instead of 6S to protect my red holdings but forgot that I had bid 1S.

Where are the hearts ? Est didnt make a negative and our partner didnt do a Michaels. So declarer got at least 2/3H and is sure to have 0 or 1 clubs (not a big surprise). Declarer could get rid of a club on the 3rd H its its 4342 around the table. If we lead clubs however he could get rid of dummy H loser on AKQ of spades but there is not a lot we can do about that. For sure it look like declarer spades are good and he will need only to ruff 2 more often than 3S. to be cont later...

Surpringly missing AKQx is not always that bad for your side, these values often translate into offense even when facing a stiff if responder got long trumps. So they could still make 4H. What im more worried about is missing QJTx or similar holdings where 4S rate to be -2 and 4H will have no play. That why its safer to overcall or preempt with solid intermediate without AK than AKxxx(x). QJT8xx with a side ace is a much better and safer preempt than AKJ7xx and nothing on the side, I know most wont believe this so all i can say is keep a track record of preempting/sac gone wrong and you will see that 85% of the bad results is because of bad intermediates/slow trumps loser.

♠A,♣A seing bad break. Ruff S C finesse and play on the H. This will work when east got J,Jx or H are 3-3. If H dont work you have the D guess. Again this doesnt work if clubs break and all i had to do is to ruff 2S.. :(

im ok too, ruff ♠, ♣T to ♣A seeing the bad break, ♥K overtake ♣finesse and its over if east got Jx or J. If the ♥J doesnt fall ill pitch a spades and rely on D finesse. EDIT ....Ok i made a mistake I blow a trick when I overtake in H. good problem.

I agree with Andy west having a clubs void is my biggest fear.

I think the answer MrAce expect is the unblock the of the T of clubs in case clubs are 0-4 and the Jh is doubleton

Yes I agree and do like this scheme but its still not always equivalent. 2C-2D-3S (D+S) here responder cannot show a H suit etc... 2C-2D-3C is just a better start than 2C-2D- and you have long D. So I think that all others things being equals you are more likely to open 2C with primary clubs than with primary diamonds.

I am more likely to open 2C with C+M than with D+M. 1-wrongsiding D contracts. 2- over 2C-??-3C- a 3D rebid by responder can be a punt. After a 3D rebid by opener 3H got to be natural.

Maybe switching 3C and 3D. 3C= long diamonds 17+ 3D strong 5D+4C 17+ it will wrongside some D contract but the step saved is worth a lot. Note that known singlesuiter is usually 3 times more likely than a specific 54. However if you remove the hands with 3M support its probably 2 for one.

board 3 is a clearcut 1C since it has very close to 0% odds of going AP. B4 I would also open 1C but I dont blame 2C that much.

Maybe just 2C = 3trumps or good D. 2D= clubs denies 3 trumps if 17+. over 2C-2D-?? 2H/2S/2NT/3C show 3 trumps rest is D strong. Im assuming that since clubs is 15+ but D start at 17+ you want to give more space for the clubs hands. I personnaly would play 1S artificial here but it doesnt solve the problem after 1C-1S anyway.

Play 1D as 11-22. Very quickly you will see that its dumb to open 1C with long D and 16-21 pts.