dake50

Do you accept any 5-2 or 4-3 landing? Or continue to find 4-4 or 5-3? Quits in a 5-1 or 4-2 when the better fit is not found?

5C not 4S by South. That gets partner excited about his clubs for slam.

This auction screams for a trump lead from partner, even with his void. Could this be forseen? Yup! 3NT makes some sense instead of South's second double.

Can I ever hope to catch a 1S psych? Not without showing stops. Can I punish S:Q10xxxx at best? Nope, not in 1S. Where are the 13 hearts? No LHO Michaels. No NegX from partner. RHO has 6xH. Do I fear 4H makes? Not much. Got AK+AK. Do I fear 3NT is on for us? You betcha. 6xC +2xS +partner's H-stop. I'm bidding 3NT. Can partner reason that if 4H were possible I'd double? Yup.

As I play the 3S Q-bid shows the other major and an up-going hand with S-single/void, 3S. When else am I going to show this control to allay partner's fear of 6H off 2xS-losers. Now he is encouraged to 5D with H:Qx, D:Kxxxxx, etc. Anticipate 4S trying to shut out our slam try - get it in now with little overbid.

Doesn't 6S show 2 keys with SQ and the expected void? Looks as if 6S has many threads to make that 6N does not. D-ruffs here, eg. Leave 6S.

Can direct seat trust passout to reopen? That means an immediate penalty double has a suit to lead and entries to cash it. Easy to pass that with flat 0-6. Of course, reopener must cater to 16-19 bal in direct seat that doesn't penalty double, and reopen double with 5+. Scramble when stepped into it.

Wish partner had made a "September" ask. I like that much better. This hand is good if partner is angling to 4H. Weak if he is angling 3NT.

"I had this problem recently playing 2/1. Well?" -- Gerben42 ** Exclusion 5C? After 4H accepted. ** But I do see your point. After a reverse + rebid 3S, ** can 5C agree clubs? Bizarre! Yet, what if 5=6=0=2? 5D exclusion?

Not playing transfers, I could always get this auction right by sign-off 2D a shotgun fast BIT; invite 2D by considered BIT before 2D bid; GF by "is your 1C natural?" 2D. I think transfers are right for solving this force/non-force question ethically. Besides 'stuff' in diamonds may be gold to partner, encouraging a borderline decision to show his spades. Quits in 3D in reserved. Yes even at the one level this 'stuff' information is useful.

If you all play KeyCardAsking, what is the "agreed" suit among three available? I always "agree" the unbid major, hearts if both majors might be ours. Do you agree no "agreed" suit, so straight A-ask? Or a default "agreed" as I suggest?

Agree whereagles, transfer help suit raises. Without transfers, this is tough. I don't need typical Qxx+ support. Ax,QJ,Q10 work. Can I bid 4S hoping that is what I show - lesser support OK? Can I bid 4H hoping that asks choice 4S or 5D? Or would S+H start 3S? Then 4H is a heart suit.

Partner has solid spades AND A-3rd in my suit and not bidding 4S?? I could not have described this hand to invite 4S any which-way that he would accept.

Key ask on the way to 5H. Only 4 or 5 keys to 6H.

4H shows H-void splinter and no other control? My splinter has H- D:Kxxx+ AND an A. Otherwise he starts 2H Q-bid, then repeats. My question is what controls/D-honors separate lower Q-bid and repeat from 4H?

I would have responsive doubled over 3D. Now I have a monster for having passed and yet urged again. 4D.

Gotta reopen. Doesn't partner expect he can pass for fear of overheating eg. if he bid 2S over 2H? Now expecting some fight from you, 2S is played.

This is just the hand type I use 3D for: good 6+D, weak Majors, 14-18. I open that. Have you all tallied your +/- (IMP or MP) for your 3D as weak preempt? I didn't like my tally. Use something else - intermediate jump overcall opening.

Thrump.

Hate 2S. I have self sufficient 6xH. Keep my shape unknown. Doesn't the T/O Dbl have 4xS? Jump to 3H instead of 2S.

I keep my 1NT competing structure over 2C. I show S+2nd.

Agree 1NT as this is presented. ** Hijack: how will we ever catch the 1S psych on say 4+H and 0-2xS?

Yeah a lost opportunity. Big loss is not fast fit against their ambiguous 1C. X: big hand with transfer responses. 1S: pre-bid on a long minor source of tricks. Asks 3NT by partner's S-stop. 2H: WJO/H-overcall don't yet need to be distinguished. Just a suit.

YUP!

Both majors and prime cards. And partner can out at 3-level. West doubles! 5-5 majors and a side A. Preempts intend to shut out majors. East 4D!