benlessard

I would have open 3C because i like to keep 3Nt and 4H in the picture, also these hand is why i think namyats is superior to 4m preempt. But anyway i dot have big problems with 4m but im pretty sure taking a save at 6C is pretty bad bridge at imps. So at a good level ill expect 5S making at almost all tables. 3♣-p-3NT-4♠ p-p-5♣-p p-5♠-p-p seems like normal bidding to me.

I like to play that 2Nt show at least half a stopper and doesnt deny a fit or a solid suit, the only exceptions are hand where you are sure to bypass 3Nt. This one is one of them but ill still bid just 2Nt.

Slight precision on this it was Rodwell who invented it because with weakish hands Meckwell responded 1M over 1D openings on a 3 carder instead of a more foward going 1Nt.

And lose 2 A and 4/5S ? partner will bid 3Nt with KQ 6th and K of S. He will bid staymna with 4S. So unless partner Jxx of S + (spades are 4/4 or you get a non S lead) game will not make.

I think that with the minimum hand just making the simple raise will lead to equivalent results. You might miss magical game but youll avoid going down at the 3 level for no reason. With the monster hand you just JS in the fragment and return in partner suit, sometimes partner raise you fragment and its not perfect but on the long run youll do ok. However what i strongly believe is that 1m-----1S 2H and 1C-----1H 2D here both of those bid can be used as artificial raise to allow to show the 2 & 1/2 raises and still stop low. As for 1m---1red----1S as forcing i have no strong conviction. Some say that 1S rarely never go all pass but at the same time i like that my 2S is showing extras instead of a forced bid again you ll avoid playing 3 will compensate for some touhg hand if 1S isnt forcing.

2Nt. but at MP ill bid 2S. 3C will probably be a better contract then 2Nt because partner is likely to be 5341 but still i prefer to make at least a foward move toward game. Tough hand well worth a simulation.

Easy reject.

Hand 4 for is a bit complicated without discussions. Over 3C what is the waiting bid ? For me its 100% clear that 3D is a punt and that 3H show 3H and a cover card with a fit and no cover i bid 4H. So holding all the 6 keycard i would surely go on after 4H. Also on a S lead slam is less than 55% so i would like to be in 6 but i wont cry if im in 4. 2ndly once a fit as been established are you in cue-bids mode or are you in shape-showing mode. Also what would have been the meaning of 4C over the forced 2S. If 4C is a 55-65 than 4C should mainly ask for a S control.

Here its highly relevant if you play namyats or not.

Pass even if my partner may have 6H and 3D. In our relay system. We are playing that we dont relay if we dont have a sure 7 card fit somewhere. 1S------??? 2C= C + others suit 10 cards 2D=D+H We do this to play better partscores but it rarely happen, so IMHO standard bidder shouldnt be too scared of 4-2 fit.

Interesting treatment. So i assume 2S is only 4C when holding a S stopper.

You bid garbage stayman with 4342? As long as i hold 2 small club im pretty sure its the correct % (play assuming 1Nt may easily have a 5cM and that im not heavy enough to be sure 1Nt makes).

X followed by 2S over 2C and 2Nt over 1Nt/2H. At least i give myself some chance to rightside the contract.

Tough luck for you then.

1-4♦ is obvious but over 4H (denial) ill just bid 4S. 2- 4H hoping partner got AQ♥ KQJ in a pointed suit seems like a lot to ask. Where i live we dont splinter with a reasonnable 5 cards suit on the side. 3-5C again obvious signing off is just terrible. 4- 4H I already showned a cover card by bidding 3H instead of 4H. So i have no extras. Its possible to see the 4th trumps as a Q but i dont like it. Edited for 3... If 4H show 18-19 balanced I pass and change my method afterwards. so its not obvious after all.

With a doubleton ♥ partner will be please to bid 3H over 3D. Unless holding 2 spades stoppers. As for 10 counts ive wanted to showed the possible core of the hands since the soft values wont hold there weight here. Stiff Q or J of H pretty useless. Qxx or Jxx ♠ useless also. J of D will probably only have value if supported by the T. Im surprised that im the only 1 that bid 3D here, i really believe that this bid is the only 1 here.

If you play the full garbage stayman 1Nt-----2C-----2D------2H (weak with both M) its still ok to make GS here. If you dont 4432 is the only hand where GS isnt available. An insignificant lost compared to all the hands with 5-6♣. On top of that i hope you realized opps going to have clubs about 30-33% of the times.

All penalty here. With a hand short in clubs you would have made a garbage stayman anyway. The only remaining hands are 5D and 4M but with those you can bid 2D anyway. Imo it make sense that 1Nt----(2D)------X is TO but with 1Nt----(2M)----- X is much better played a penalty/optionnal even many expert play neg X here.

Why do you want to be in 4H if partner hold xxx x Kx AKxxxxx Kxx x xx AKxxxxx xxx x Kxx AKJTxx etc. and im even not telling cases where partner is void.

3D, 4H deserve major punishement. Over 3D partner can bid 3H with 2. If he doesnt have 2H 5C will play at least as good as 4H.

Not strong enough for 2H and X, so X is a better bid than 2H. At MP ill be more tempted by 2H.

X is obvious. If partner pull because of a S void its likely 5H makes.

My point was that i pass and i think that if partner cannot balanced we are unlikely to miss game since i give real values to the 3D preempt. If opener D are solid he may easily have a side Q if opener D arent solids he might have an A. xx,x,KQJTxxx,Axx is IMO what a 3 level R vs W preempt tend to look like. Traditionnally is was a 7 or 8 playing tricks with a solid suit but if you use 3Nt gambling then the its more likely to have a side A or K and a 1 loser suit or to have extra lenght. With my hand i expect to go plus more often after 1D than after 3D by RHO. Its also a matters of what is your balancing style. Against weaker players ill be more tempted to double since they underestimate the importance of the vulnerability.

Well lets just say that a 3 level R vs W preempt has more playing strenght than a strong NT and 2 quick trick is possible. And we do play play that 3m is showing a strong preempt and 2Nt is a m preempt in wich 3Nt isnt likely. And so far opponents are not happy ! Even in standard R vs W pass-----(P)--------3D--------(P) Axx Axx Qxx JTxx Not Bidding 3Nt here is crazy.

4D is just dumb but im pretty sure 4C is a better bid than 3S. Partner hands could be 4/5, 5/4, 4/6, 4/4 in the blacks. 4/4, 4/5 in S+D. Note that 4S and 3D without 4C is highly unlikely since that would mena having 3H. With most 6S hands he would open or preempt. With all 5S+3/4 D hands he would bid 3S.