TylerE

Not 1NT. Simply consider the number of 6, 5, and even 4 counts that give reasonable play for 3NT and the reason why 1N is bad should be obvious. Even if I were to ever downgrade 18 counts into 1N (and I don't), I'd never do it with a decent 5 card suit.

Pay more attention next time. I don't allow a change in either case.

For normal club games, they can do pretty much whatever. For sectionally rated games (e.g. STAC, possibly NAP and similar also), it is likely there may be a stated CoC from on high.

I've got a singleton don't I?

LHO has NOT shown 5♦, depending on agreements his minor suit shape could be as extreme as 3♦-5♣

The 1N bidders are nuts. Partner can bid 3♠ over 3♣ if he actually wants to get to 3N

You bid 6♠ like you were always planning to anyway?

A♣ and a ♣ seems too obvious to possibly be right... If partner is leading from 9x or 9xx tell partner not to do that...

How many players and sessions?

I open 2♣, because I'm planning on always driving to at least 6M, and I think if I open 1♠ I'm going to run out of forcing bids rather quickly, and it could get awkward if opponents start bidding lots in the minors.

Pass at these colors. The red suit shortnesses are on top of me, which could get ugly. Txx/Jxx in opponents suits are terrible holdings. Would bid 2♠ if the colors were reversed, or all white, or if I was, say, 5-2-2-4... or 5-1-3-4.

I think N/S deserve each other. Bid ♥ over 1N directly or GTFO out the auciton and STAY out.

Uh, if you're getting past 1N on 22 combined highs your methods just plain suck.

3♦ and 3♦.

We have also.

+1 to this idea.

You clearly play against different opponents than I do then...

I don't think so at all. For instance, if you try to write, say, "Pulling trump, taking the proven finessee", you can't type in finessee.

One legimate problem is that the claim box will only accept about 40 characters...often NOT enough to reasonably state a line of play.

Your minimum hand is a 1NT opener with 5 decentish clubs.

2NT is terrible. Bid 3♣. Why would 3♥ be his *second* suit. It's his FIRST suit.

I'm tempted to say the best defense is to always pass and let them try to find this best contract...

Basically, when partner has the 12-14 hand, I expect to do much better at MP bidding 1N. When he holds the 18-19 hand, it make or may not be ok. (Txx does have some benefit oppos. something like QJ tight, for instance) I expect the 12-14 hand to be more likely than the 18-19 hand by at least 4-1, could easily be 10-1...don't know the odds off the top of my head. MP is all about frequency of game, so I think the pragmatic 1N bid is a real long term winner, over some genius bid that will trade many small losses for the occasional big gain...which is fine, even desirable at IMPs, but anathema at MP.

4♥.

I bid 1N. Even if all the hearts are running, they still need to find two more tricks.