benlessard

Maybe its a good idea to play that after a 3H preempt, NLM can be a 6-4ish type and that 4D is a slam try while 4H is pick a game (3-3, 2-2 or even 3-2). Having 2 slam try and no pick-game is probably not optimum. After a S preempt however 4H is to play and 4D is better played as a slam try than a pick a game.

I think 3Nt will be slighty better than 5C in the long run. After a X, of course.

Playing NLM do you prefer to double or to jump to 5C ? The only time X will backfired is if partner jump to 5D/6D or if 5C is way better than 3NT.

(3H)----??? [hv=d=e&v=e&s=sakjxhxdxcqjt9xxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Is it WTP ?

Agree with all except the last phrase. Once 4S come back to me im slightly glad that ive X instead of 2D. Partner wasnt able to bid 5C over 4S so its likely hes got balanced crap. Its possible we got a good safe but its possible they go down.

I think that if you play a 2/1 scheme after 1S-----2H------??? 1- 2S is a way better catch all than 2Nt. Not close at all. 2- 2S is an economical bid but you cannot wait to have plenty of extras or a full 5-5 to bid 3m. 3- 2Nt is often the undersused bid here and I think we shouldnt wait to have full stopper in both m to bid 2Nt. With a 5143 and half a stopper in clubs i much prefer to be able to bid 2Nt if the system permit it. So under these condition ill bid 4C wich is a pick a game punt (4D would be RKC for us and 3M would set trumps) Under poster condition ill just bid 3S (if i dont play serious/unserious 3Nt.) Playing serious /unserious 3nt and minorwood ill be a dead duck stuck with 3Nt.

I prefer to stay away from offshapes doubles and make 4 card overcall. Matter of style i guess. Bidding at the 1 level with 9 pts because you have a 4 card suit is just putting too much pressure on the doubler. I like to play that (1C)----X-----(P)------1S (2C)----2S 2S may show slight extras with 4 trumps but (1C)----X-----(P)-------1S (P)------2S show the real stuff. I agree 100% with JLOL.

Assuming 2m is GF what is the best use for 3H ? big 2 suiter with decent suits or splinter 4 trumps ? Sorry if this has been discussed before.

This is not played by everybody, and ive seen a good share of disasters because 1 thought that 4Nt was RKC because he didnt spot the artificial raise. Its also nice to show the A in what is possibly a stiff or a void. This is exactly the type of sequence that make me hate 4th GF and new m forcing. Sometimes partner just raise to 5D and you dont have the chance to RKC. I play minorwood 100% and strongly suggest to play it. When you make a temporizing bid vs a direct bid you risk something. The choice is wich do you think is easier to delay. 1C------1H 1S------??? Assuming you dont play minorwood. There is tons of ways to reach 4Nt. But RKC with spades is the easiest to delay. (4th GF, bid S, bid 4Nt) RKC in H will probably be the toughest. Its possible to see. 1C------1H 1S------2D (GF) 3C------3H 3S (no D stop,stiff or void in H)--------??? Do you bid 4D hoping it show solid H and that partner will bid 4H even with a void so that you ll be able to bid 4Nt asking for keycards ? This was a messy sequence despite being able to make 3 bid at the 1 level and a low 4th GF. Its not too hard to imagine worse. I dont think that an early quantitative bid is particulary useful, just that in many sequence its so easy to RKC in the last suit that the " if you can make a GF raise 4Nt is quant and if you dont its RKC" make sense

I agree that responder will bid 2Nt way more oftne than 4Nt. Just that with a lot of soft values in the unbid suit sometimes 4Nt is best, any bid that grudge a lot of space while slam is still possible. Should be well defined and rare. Bidding 2Nt can also backfired after opener rebid a suit that was already bid. 1C-----1H 2S-----2Nt 3H-----??? here 4Nt would be H keycard. If you dont play minor wood 1C------1D 2S------2Nt 3D------4NT (Is it RKC or quant ?) Also for some 2Nt is artificial. I prefer to used 2Nt as showing half a stopper or a positionnal stopper. So that if you dont bid 2Nt either you have the A or nothing at all. The reasoning behind this is that the payoff of rightsiding is huge when you "know" what theyll lead. There are also some other case where agreements can save you trouble. 1H-----1S 2D-----3C (4th s GF) 3M-----is 4Nt quant or RKC ? 1H----1S 2H----3C 3H ---4Nt Quant or rkc ? Im quite pro-splinters but here the big 5-5 is way more frequent than the splinter with 4 trumps. So im pretty convinced that 3H is better played as natural. If it goes 1S-----2D 2H-----3Nt ??? does 4H show a big 5-5 or a weakish shapely hand ?

1C---1D-----2S-----4Nt Since responder can show a fit in a forcing way i play 4Nt as quant. IMO it make sense that when you cannot raise in a GF manners 4Nt is keycard in the last bid suit but when you can it should be quant. 1S-------2D 2H-------4Nt = quant 1S-------2D 3H-------4Nt = H keyc Do you play similar methods ?

I dont play 1S as forcing so 1C-----1D 2S-----3D 4D(keyc)----4H 4S (Q ?)-----5C yes but no K 5D----pass

ill just bid 4S showing shortness and no problem for trumps (solid clubs or H support). If partner bid 6 ill bid 7 otherwise ill just bid 6.

Ive thought about 5C, but i prefer it to show the Q. Partner rate to have 6 clubs here so there is a gap between J9x and Qx or better. Without too much thinking i would play that 5H focussed on the trumps but that the S ace is still a working card. With all S void i would bid 4S. I have a strong reflex to show a void that is difficult to overcome. With more thinking It make sense that 5H is still showing a S void, because with a stiff S and looking for trumps quality you can ask for keycards, but often like here you will KC and partner will respond 5D (03) and you wont be able to ask for the trumps queen. Ill discuss this one with regular partner for sure.

We will get a D lead for sure. Holding a spade void partner can open 1C instead of 2C with a pretty huge hand but there is still a limit to this in my book. --- AKxx Axx AKQxxx --- Axxx AKx AKQxxx Are almost 2C opening for me. Edited i prefer 4Nt now. Tough hand.

I hate 2S, either 1 or 3 but not 2 at these colors. I psych 2Nt quite quicly without thinking too much about it. Ill have to ask to an experienced director if its legal. I think passing 2NT is a big joke. Partner rebid 3S because he didnt know that he could show a stiff with a super hand. I think 4H is a flyer, why not double ? At the other table X is clearcut the hand is too strong for 2H. I would have rebid 1Nt not 2m because i feel that 2m is too likely to miss game. After 2H, 2S is completly GF. West 3S is just bad you want opener to lead. I have no preference between 3Nt and 3D. I think that even if 3Nt is played by west north will lead a low spade, 9,T and it will go down.

I tought the X of 2S in balancing was a real joke and deserve major punishement.

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sqtxxxxhxxdk2cqxx&w=sakjxxhqxdxxckjxx&e=sxxhtxxxdajxcatxx&s=shakjxxdqtxxxxcxx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] It was imps. At one table they overcall 2D and East bid 2S in balancing. South double with 2 tricks hoping partner got nice trump stack -100 3D is going to be doubled for -200. 3Hx will be a disaster. I believe that at these color a michael should be done only with a strong hand. IMO south hand qualify but has no extras and i think that 2D is probably ok too.

I pass in the first case since i dont want partner to lead a S instead of a H.

R vs (W) (1S)-----P-----(1Nt)--------??? void AKJxx QTxxxx xx 1Nt is forcing. Does it change something if a further 2NT is showing a 6-4 type of hand ?

I can live with passing 3Nt but if i bid it will be ,2D followed by 3S and 4C.

[hv=d=n&v=e&n=skqxxxxhkxxdkxxcj&w=saxhaqj7xdajtxcxx&e=sj9xh9xdq9xxcakxx&s=stxht8xdxxcqt9xxx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Table 1 2S----(P)------2Nt!------(P) 3S!---(P)-------P--------(4H) Making 2nt is ogust type and show at least 2 trumps. 3S is showing a pretty good hand (but 3Nt and 4 level response are available to show a even better hand according to south) Ns play sound opening bids. Do you agree with 2S ? Does south has the right to bid 2Nt (if responder can bid over 3S) or is it a psych control ? (here forget that north hold a super maximum and bid only 3S) Does west should X 2nt ? What do you think of the 4H bid ? Table 2 1S-------(P)---------P--------(X) P--------(2D)-------p--------(2H) P---------(2S)------P--------(3S) ----------(3Nt) Agree with the double or do you bid 2H ? Do you like the 2D bid ? What would you have bid ? Is 2S Gf forcing ? Do you like 3S ? Assuming West rebid 3Nt instead of 3S do you think the contract will make ?

You can think about 2C as fit or balanced, and use 2nt and 3 level bids to show GF with clubs.

At imps it does pay to be pessimist and at MP you should play 2nd neg allowing you to stop at 3S. As for special method im also fond of a a pass or correct setup like Inquiry.

South pass is clear cut. North should act like hes in the balancing seat. Surely if it goes (3S)----P-------(4S)------P (P)------??? and you have a 0544 and some values, passing W/W would not cross your mind right ? So its the same thing for me.