bid_em_up

Personally, I think this hand reopens with a double and then bids 3♣ after partners 2♥ bid. 1♦-(1♠)-p-(p)- x-(p)-2♥-(p)- 3♣ should be how the auction progresses. Bidding 2N at this point is just plain wrong with no spade stop of your own. Alternatively, a direct jump shift to 3C describes the hand adequately, but gives up the opportunity of partner having a trap pass of 1S.

Play the Jack from dummy.

I agree with this. 1♠ originally makes little sense with this suit and a 9 count. I agree that 1♠ makes little sense, but isnt this what X shows after 1D-p-1H-?

No.

I pass. I already stated that I had ~10-15 hcp with support for all other suits with the original double. That is still what I have. Anything further is up to partner.

You must be the perfect player then if you have never done anything wrong at the table and then try to "correct" it... As much as it pains me to say this.... I agree with The_Hog. (no insult intended this time, Ron) :P

I bid a direct 3N and expect to make more than the desirable ~40% of the time for it to be profitable.

The problem with this analysis is that it probably does not include those cases where the A♦ followed by any switch still beats the contract (maybe it does, I don't know). If it does not include these cases, then the A♦ lead (winning whenever diamonds were right), or the A♦ followed by any switch that still beats the contract, will make the A♦ the superior lead, imo.

By breaking the relay to 3C (via the 3S bid), North has to be able to provide a source of tricks for 3N. x Kxx Ax AKQxxxx or similar would be good enough for me. The given hand has HCP but no real source of tricks which makes it wrong to bid 3S opposite what could be a total bust (from the 2N bid). I agree with others, South should bid a direct 3C instead of 2N.

Pass is not forcing. I bid 5S.

And all this time I thought the sole reason was to look at porn?

You know what Shakespeare said... A rose by any other name? :blink:

Personally, I think the 3N bid over 3D is the key factor in choosing a non-diamond lead. Dummy is quite likely to have K10x/A10x allowing declarer to make 3 tricks in the suit. jmoo.

I'm fairly positive that this is not true, there are many more imp tournaments than MP (and by a wide margin, unless I am seriously mistaken).

This hand is not a limit raise, imo.

I think if you are going to take a call, double will work better than 4N. jmoo.

I'm curious. Why don't you just ask your opponents instead of attempting to guess what their bids mean? .

Yes, I open it 2C. Partner bids 2D, I raise to 3D. LHO doubles and it goes pass-pass, I bid 2D and thank LHO for giving us the opportunity to show diamonds one level lower. Is there really a problem here?

hanged. So this is where the expression: Hung like a horse (thief) comes from? :)

2N rebid is either 12/14 or 18/19, and the 3N rebid is 15-17 unbalanced, most likely with a stiff club (15-17 balanced would have opened 1N).

In a similar vein, be careful not to call "anything" or "any" or similar statements when calling for a discard from dummy. It gives the opponents the right to name what card they want played from dummy.

buy an air-conditioner.

I'm an idiot?

Not sure what you mean by "or I could hold the hand I have". The hand you have, is not a 3C bid to me, but you did not ask if we agreed with 3C. The "expert" doesn't know you dont have your bid and is bidding accordingly. Secondly, even holding the hand you have, 8xxx will be a stop most of the time. Why would he want to play 5C when looking at 10/11 top tricks in NT? So if he's not going to consider 6C, 3N is the correct bid. After a 3C bid, he can (and should) cue 3D. In fact, after a 3C bid, holding this hand, it would be difficult to keep me out of 6C unless we managed to discover the lack of spade control in time.

And why is that? 3N's a fine contract, and a lot better than 6C. I agree with the 1C opening, and pass 3N. I happen to think that 3N is the correct spot as well. After Ive shown 16-18, ♣ hand I dont think 3nt holding xxxx ♠ and an opening hand is the smartest bid but then Im not an expert. jb, you have nothing (worthwhile) in diamonds. The expert is looking at the AK. you are missing the club K, so your club suit is not solid. you are missing the heart A. The expert is looking at all of these cards and knows you are missing them. And yet you could still bid 3C. You must have some values in spades to justify the 3C bid. The fact that his spades are 8xxx has no real bearing on the 3N call.