dake50

I'd get to 6C, and a hope the 4th heart corrects to 6H. An asking bid structure finding CKxx+, and Hxxx+, no side A, ask any else?

Do I assume ALL shapes are packed into partner's double? Or did he have some shapes shown with his 4C,4D (non-leaping Michaels, eg.) I play a particular "Defense Against Opponents' Preempts", DAPO. Thus partner's double denies a 2-suiter, denies 6xH, by a process of elimination, he has bal without a S-stop, a 3-suiter with 4+H, or a 1-suiter strong enough to go 5C,5D,5H over their likely 4S and/or my likely response. Then I try 4C.

Partner opens 1C with 22 HCP 2-3-3-5 Her 2 spades are xx. I respond 1D with 5 HP and Qx in Spades. She bids 1H which is just a waiting bid, which asks me to bid 1S, and then she jumps to 2NT which shows 22-23 HCP balanced. I take it to 3NT ( I am 2-3-5-3 distribution) and opponents lead a Spade and we get set. 1C-1D- 1H-2D- .1H asks 4+ to show something; 1S if 0-4. [1H is NOT a waiting bid] 2H-?? .2H shows some missing stop. Asks 2S with S-stop; 3C with C-stop; 3D with only D. .I'd have played in 3D.

The mixture of control bids with the need to say "I have a lousy hand" is one of the drawbacks of a simple cue-bidding approach. The issue is known, and theoreticians invented conventions like serious/frivolous 3NT or "last train to clarksville" to try and mitigate it. Serious/frivolous is simple, but you don't always have the luxury to use it. LTTC is quite complex and will probably never be used outside expert circles. I'm trying to find a middle-of-the-road approach but it's still work in progress. -- whereagles . *** The mis-mixture of min/max rebids with slam tries is one of the drawbacks. That mixture obfuscates both partner's intent. Is partner looking up OR just-in-case I'm looking up???

I'd expect it to be a hand that wants to raise to 5♥ but would like a diamond lead if they continue to 6♣. -- gordontd *** With or without C-control? What suggestion for higher can mystify C-control??

Pard tried to apply the breaks a few times, so he's probably min (11-12). Seems like 6 is the limit, so I'll bid that. -- whereagles *** Of course his ace-less hand is braking, braking. That's his good judgment. But I-I have them all. Though I do think 7C hopes too many perfect cards - wish I could have questioned and gotten answers lower.

I am also in the limit raise category here (when not playing fit jumps). I use jacoby 2NT plus pretty much as described by Glenn Ashton on his bridgematters pages, and allow three card support for the limit raise (which is rolled into the 2NT raise). This has worked well for me. --- inquiry *** I assume that means over 3D= D-short, or some other-than-Jacoby method, you can quit in 3S. In ACBL, aren't you forced into 1NT:F1 or, 2NT:limit +? Because a 2C relay must be GF?

Yup, a Q-bid. But the problem still remains, as you say "too much wasted in diamonds" I would have Exclusion keyed this one anyway -- wouldn't 5D have been ExK? Should ExK be tried??? On this with a void and primes?

Bounce around as much as you like. DD simulators SHOULD tabulate opening leads -- agreeing Goren, Journalist, Rusinow, Combine, etc OR disagreeing each. Then tabulate those scores. Who has done that?? It's been computationally available for decades -- just not done.!

2N seems just right here. It's not like 2N is not constructive, with nothing we would bid 2H. I would say the point ranges are something like 0-4 2H, 5-6 2N, and 7-9 3N. Ofc if you had a good 4 count or a hand with only 3 hearts you might bid 2N. -- PhantomSac *** Where does an initial 1NT to the T/O Dbl fit in??

If 5S is cheap against their making 5H, then S:3-0 and no 2nd D-trick from DKJ (discarded on clubs or DQ with LHO) and HJ is also not a 3rd defensive trick. Defending gets CA +DK; CA +HJ; and no other.

I'm evaluating this hand at 14. And expect on average to have game with partner. edit: leaping Michaels 4D.

The D10 with K-4th stop(s) persuades me to 3NT.

I had a dream that this hand went 4S X p 5C p 6C p 7C -- PhantomSac *** My dream was similar: 4S X p 5C p 5S p 7C.

If this hand acts directly, what to do with DK +CK +HA added?

while I appreciate bidding discipline as much as you, laying unconditional confidence on it might be taking a good idea too far. As you know from practice, some people preempt twice and, what's more, get away with it. Even Robson/Segal admit that preempting twice may be right on occasion. ..As for the hand in question, I admit I would have doubts on whether to pass or bid 6♣. I'll probably end up passing, but I certainly won't hang partner for bidding on -- whereagles *** Starting out with a bid that lets partner captain, then "no, I won't" is the un-discipline. Start 2D, then 5C if you think 2 bids are justified.

What does the 1M structure of forum posters who play light openings (defined as lighter than the typical 11-15 range) look like? Specifically:--akhare 1) What is your opening range? What is the minimum strength for balanced hands? *** 1S=8-15, 1H=8-17, 1N=10-13, 2m=12-17. . 2) What does your 1N response promise? Is it forcing, semi-forcing or something else? *** 1M-1N=10-13. . 3) What do your 2♣ / 2♦ / 2♥ (over 1♠) responses promise? Are they natural GF, natural non-GF, or something else? *** 2m= 14+ or 2-1/2 raise. 2H nf asks support with 3+H, 10+. I did prefer 2C as Golady, 2D as other suit/strength exploring. . 4) What does your 1M - 2M raise show? *** 6-9, 3+support. . 5) What are your 1M - 3x responses? *** 3C is an artificial slam ask, 3D,3H are strong asking support. . 6) What's your 2-level preempt structure? *** natural 2m=12-17, typical 2M. . 7) What is your opening 1N range and do you systemically open 5M332 if in range? 1N=10-13, 4cS permitted if 3 suits have honors in 4333; 4cH if 3 suits have honors in 3433, 3424, 2434. No need to look for 4-4M fit, freeing responses. . 8) Is "putting on the brakes if opener is light" a significant concern and what mechanisms to do you have in place to handle it? *** After 1H-1S, 1N rebid has 8-11 intending quits. After 1M-2m, 2 of opened Major is required if 8-11. Let 8-11, 5S4H,4S4H,4S5H plan to reopen. Thus no search for the other Major if minimum.

A thing that cannot ever be shown is a thing that is easy to disregard. A seven-card suit headed by the Ace-King-Queen is nice for 3NT if partner has two quicks and control. But, barring a 2♥ opening and Ogust, no approach allows discovery of the Ace-King-Queen combo. If I open 4♥, I have already bypassed 3NT. If I open 1♥, no rebid shows solid hearts unless there is a 2/1 bid, and then only if I play that the rebid shows a solid suit, but even then I cannot get to 3NT. The hand is too strong for 2♥-P-2NT-P-3NT, and that doesn't even work because he expects a 6-card suit. Plus, he won't ask with two quicks anyway. So, it is "easy" because no other options work and because I meet the definition of the 3♥ call exactly. -- kenrexford *** The very point of having an expert forum. For you to assert ** standard treatment** as your defense denigrates anyone who sees 7-solid is not a standard hand. An expert strategist would at least acknowledge this problem and bemoan 7-solid is bad for the balance sheet for preempts. Why on earth do you think the question was posed??? To get instructed in preempt standards???

I open 3H red on white. Seems easy. I have a 7 card suit, poor defense, and lousy shape. I have 6 losers, which is what partner expects for a red on white preempt. -- kenrexford *** And solid 7 tricks for 3NT????? *** That is certainly NOT "Seems easy." as partner expects.

It could easily be right to bid here, but pass might also be the winner. This awkward guess is partly self-inflicted. With 5-card support and a void in RHO's suit, it must be quite likely that LHO is about to raise hearts to the 3- or 4-level, so is it really right to double 1H on the first round? I'd prefer to raise diamonds. Whilst none of 3D, 2H, 3H or 4D is ideal, my preference is to make a fit jump of 3C which describes the hand quite well and helps partner to judge over the expected heart raise from LHO. I know I'll sometimes miss a 4-4 spade fit, but that doesn't have to be a disaster. Diamonds will often make an extra trick and at IMPS 5D= is fine even when 4S was making. Opposite a good hand like Axxx xx AKxxx Ax, the fit jump will make it hard to get to 4S, but we might find 6D. *** Fit bid 3C is okay. What more is needed for a splinter 3H?? Esp with H-void? 3+ controls? A top Dia? Is the fit bid the one available because this hand fails for controls/trump top?

Wow counter culture. Now develop the frequency of payoffs tables for showing each singleton/shape. The double-dummy databases exist. Just need some bridge player/programmer to code regres, delta, delta heart pass, and others revealed from that charting. I'd be interested in those chart results.

Are you thinking we open eg. 1C, then opponents overcall from their set of agreed overcalls, then we must counter. And then they "put it to us" at some high level? ..Isn't that situation/scheme already an input into the original system design? Thus question that system's counters? That's one I have railed against: how do you untangle this system against interference? By guess and by golly seems their answer. ..Yes those design questions should be answered. And long ago. Select from solved databases those in which that could have occurred. Compare that result.

Would South complete the transfer to spades or would south show the heart suit? *** When South sees his own tricks ask what are added from partner. But, yes generally, accept shows 3+, so show own 5-suit.

7 is obviously cold. Anyone have a suggestion on how to find this one? 1C-1H- 16+ - 8+, 5+Spades 1S-2H- trump ask(spades) - 2 tops (AKQ) 2s-2NT- number aces - 0 3C-3D- show K - DK (3S is none) 3H-3S- show more - SJ (4S is no more) 7NT. counting 5+S +5xH +DAK +CA

In your "approach", what is opener's bid with: S: xxx H: AQJx D: AQxx C: KJ After 1C-3S-P-P-? -- glen *** Exactly. This 17 can assume the typical 7 (which should have been discounted for just this reason) when an auction gets preempted and reopen double.