dake50

Opponents are not finding their S:3-4 fast enough. Here, have a shot at me.

'Kiss of death' D:xxx. I go tame 2S. Hate 4531 primes not jumping to let partner know 'good stuff'.

Am I hearing this right?! I open 4441 as if balanced and do not inform my opponents that 4441 is systemically "balanced"? Or do I inform them that 80+years of 4441 is UN-balanced was wrong?? And because my partner need not know either, this is okay? Of course the justification is that 4441 is only 3% of shapes. Thus this category is just too small to much affect our system. The beechers/moaners are over-stuffed with themselves - not attempting to solve the 4441 problem without just relabeling it BAL. What a brilliance.! Just ignore a singleton and y'all bid much better. I DOUBT IT.!

Need lots to persuade me off DQ. Don't see lots. Close on value for Double. I choose that. Clear double with 4+Spades. A 4S upside possible. Will partner stomach a few 4H-X= losing 120+50 =5 imp? Will he choke seeing he's in 4S on S:4-3, getting S:2-4? Toss these onto the loses side of double. Hate missing penalty bonanza 500+ - this one feels like: CKA +HK +SK +DKA.

Already put my 2-cents in. My X of 3S+ has 2+losers in their suit. Partner chose 5C, not a S-short, up try.

Immediate 1S as double negative: 'neg2' instead of 1C(F1) - 1D(neg1) - 1H(F1) - 1S(neg2) seems to choose a bid for a rare 3% case that can be handled okay.

Heartily recommend TAB's - that's my main reason to dislike Key ask: should already be known. SAB's are confused by two messages: good controls/bad controls fit/non-fit. Simplify them. Fit was asked, answer that. Asker knows if Q-single is gold/dross, show it. I actually like SAB as pure "what you got in this suit?" A good answer may be critical to a 7-suiter for trumps slam.

With these 2NT structures, would splinters be needed? If more than game - here's my short to help evaluate tricks/duplication. Wouldn't the splinter hand just best-guess game/not. Surely splinters on top of this 2NT structure can be very narrowly defined.

Now, is this different?: 1♦-1♥-1♠-Pa 2♠-3♥-X What's the top for 1S? Would partner make a Q-bid raise with 4-support? Does partner have strong bids? I have a scheme of bids over 1H that suggest this suit +4+S - expanded neg-X. Now I know try penalties(bonanza) on our misfit.

I play forcing pass ON below 2S - 16+ must have a partial. And above 3S - 16+ must have 4+DT. Neither assertion is guaranteed, but it puts a schedule of responsibilities for the rest of the auctions. Especially, did not use forcing pass why? Good suit? Good shape? Good honors?

What is my "how good are your spades" ask? 2-tops to 4S; less 3S.

3N with 7 controls and C:Kx support is very timid. Isn't 3S forcing? Then 4H to ask D-control to 6C.

On the first, that's the reason 1N overcall bottom is good 15 with double stop. You are expected to pass with less when "stuff in their suit". On second, does 2C deny S:Txx? What of 2C, then later X? Partner can then judge how good a Major he needs to come in. Does T/O Dbl promise 4x other Major - that's useful for partner.

What's my ace-ask? 2xA =grand; 1xA =6H; 0xA =5H. Further jamming and hope partner can D0P1.

Let me guess. This hand showed willing to 5-level, BUT partner slammed into a hopeless contract. I pass - even though I REALLY like my shape.

"Here's what a local expert pair does... P-0-7 or trapping dbl-8+ with 5+ hearts 1N-8-12 balanced with a stopper 2m-8+ natural 2H-8+, 3-suited with short major, relays follow 2S-8+ balanced with usually no spade stopper" -straube .. Agree except dbl says misfit other major - thus willing for penalties now or next as no 4M game likely. 3+N maybe, 5+minor maybe. Later auctions are now clearer. .. Pass is forcing below 2S - trust there be an acceptable partial. A 5-7 passed hand must show next if game is possible.

Nearest my thumb. Right thumb if they're good. Left if they may err. SA. Hope SAK and later in the wash. RHO did not seek 3NT as if S-stop. Did I just blow our 3rd trick?

This is not as scary as first glance seems. Partner may indeed have 4-5xH +0-2xS fearing to get into an auction against their spades if they own this hand. Pushing into 4H may induce 4S - just a little less likely to suffer a bonanza double. I double and partner leans to 4C leaving both 4D,4S for them. The game upside is good - the downside is bad. The 3S preempt intended to steal this hand.

Two immediate thoughts: 2D ->H now ->S; so 2H is Q-bid takeout. OR 2D ->H is Q-bid takeout; 2H ->S. I don't like their bid taking xfers away - I still want the likely tenaces to declare.

I'm trying to see how to suggest any upside. Clear 5S has little/no downside - makes on near make. But, what if partner is going up based on 5S raise? Take those lumps? Expect pass to X then 5S if A added - pass and pull strong? I think this is a slam help vs. competing problem.

If this is 5S, how do I show an A better? How can partner guess we make 6S or 7S or just near 5S? KJxxx side suit enough with 4-support? I can't believe partner has S:AKxxxx H:AQx D:x C:Axx and only jumped to 4S - not eg. Q-bid/Dbl first.

I think y'all are confusing balanced-by-definition with "I'm going to bid as if balanced - get into NT" 5422 is not unbalanced: has no single, void. Treat it as bal if doubletons look to be stops (or need little from partner to stops). The "I have tenaces, so I should declare" even if slight deviation. Conversely, AQxxx +AKxx always shows each suit -let partner decide if NT.

Similar to what I play. ** suggestions ** strong hands (15+ points) are split between 1♣ and 1♦, ** I partition 1C has spades: S1, SH, SD, SC, or bal 18+, or C1 ** ** 1D has not spades: H1, HD, HC, D1, DC, bal 14-17 ** 1♥ = 4+ hearts, 8-14 points, unbalanced if 8-9 points ** I only open 1H 8-11 if 0-2xS - with 4+H and 3+S, we can reopen 2M. ** 1♠ = 4+ spades, 8-14 points, unbalanced if 8-9 points ** 1S 8-14 bal/not as take 1-level is valuable. ** ** 1S on bal 10-13 iff honors in S+2nd; 1N else ** 1N = 10-13 points, balanced, no 4 card major ** 4xS iff 4=3=3=3; 4H iff 2-3xS to get above a 1S overcall ** 2♣ = 5+ clubs, unbalanced, 8-14 points, no 4 card major 2♦ = 5+ diamonds, unbalanced, 8-14 points, no 4 card major ** 8-12 2m has the old disciplined weak2- a source of tricks if slight hcp. ** Send me a system notes file if you would. I think we have near jelling minds.

Have formal rules about what/when partner needs to know. You are starting from the "I want to signal something" instead of "We expect to need a signal here." Eg. count to help holdup - I think is needed. A 3rd count signal after a 2-suiter has been shown is not.

I have a trick extra for this auction, I try 4D. Partner is in the picture. He reins in or gallpos on.