dake50

Partner didn't like the 500+ penalty in 4S. Did double of 2S promise 4xH? Or primes? Else? What would pass mean? Not 4xH? Typical 1NT? Stay out the way? What would 3C instead mean? Liking offense? I'm expecting S:Qxxx and 5xgood diamonds - source of tricks.

Agree 1C. Unlike 1H openers, I don't have a rebid to show 5-5 +6Controls +S-void. So my only way to get reasonable cooperation is open 1-forcing(I actually open this 1D-F1) and make my 5-5, S-void rebids. Agree 2D shows something near 5-7 not much in spades (Ax(+) to later Q-bid; <=Jxx else). Let opener X to suggest penalty bonanza if S-winners after pass. Similar to straube rebids. Get 5-5 in with 4C. Get S-Q-bid in - repeat if convenient to show void. Define a 5S bid - what is jump Q-bid? Void +5-5 +6+controls?

Ruff SK, underlead DA.

Double. "I have a max for previous neg-X at 2-level." Do you see what to play, partner? Have you 2+DT? S-stop? Offense, not much so 3D?

Why don't you have a 3-seat 1N for these blah "I don't like majors hands"? EG. 1NT:11-14 in 3-seat.

Agree mtvesuvius. With no H-raise, I expect a second H-stop - partner has HJxxx,HKxx or similar. Where are tricks is the problem.

How many tricks will partner count for declarer? Looks as if he must not let 5xC fear impede the most likely set. At least in IMP this seems solvable by that thought. Now pairs to not let 2xOT???

4S. . I expect partner has 5-5 with tops or near to suggest 3-level. DKQ +SJ-5th all fit his 5-5. 3S here would be tepid - take away DQ.

Likely H:A9 +SQ or CQ or CJ scores in defense. Does partner have 3+DT? ALWAYS.! Try for a bonanza 800+ against no sure game.

Show your short or deny a short. Rebid Spades is no short Next for side fragments(AKx,KQx,AQx)/no. Cheaper [NT,Spades] is no frag.

Wei makes more sense. The strong opener (likely to have tenaces) bids his suit. Jacoby is more common to keep one scheme after any/all NT.

Quite prefer C. Especially, str bal 1C rebids a "may be artificial" 1H over 1D:neg, which demands 1S on bust. The 2N for minors vs 3C for minors saves a memory load as ~2NT unu overcall. Use these preempts VUL/nv agressively in IMP's as this is the vul case where their game/slam decision is critical. nv just has to get their decisions razor right: 6/6 IMP on game/part decision. Vul has a 10/6 IMP for game bid, not partial.

Looks to be another "have an agreement is wa-a-ay better than no agreement". SO WHAT.! While no intent to show "what agreement is best" in an ADVANCED & EXPERT blog. This is the "buffet" style of bridge - pick what you like. I detest no activity to answer "WHAT IS BEST".! EG. Are sims sufficient to compare 4th best leads to attitude leads vs. 1N:15-17? Is Flannery > weak 2D? > 3-suiter(Roman)? > natural 5+suit 13-17? Does 1N:15-17 beat 12-14? 10-12? 13-15? 14-16? . I absoltively guarantee 1C forcing beats "prepared 1C". Guarantee xfers in competition win. Guarantee some generally forcing response freeing many others for "picture" bids wins. I can produce those sims.

For those playing UDCA, is this Spade holding: J92 an unblocking exception?

"Do you consider the lead obvious? Yes. "If so what is it?" The obvious. Slightly prefer a heart. The only pin-my-hat on clue is no major xfer, no Stayman. LEAD a MAJOR.

4H if H:Kxx if H:xxx +D:KJxxx if H:Qxx +D:Kxxxx if H:Qxx +D:QJxxx

Yup, forcing pass. Penalty X before. Not X, but pass here fears the comparison is C-slam verses Penalty.

Agree Hanoi5. Don't quit trick one until you think - about 20secs does not convey UI. Partner in 3rd seat should always assure 20 secs. think time. Gamesmanship is to imitate a slow declarer. Even to late play - you have just as much ownership of "bridge time" as he. Slow play verses a rat-a-tat-tat declarer - his mind races off topic.

"Dake, the op plays MAFIA, so the minor is NEVER shown first, regardless of strength." -- the hog . So 1D then 2S doesn't exist? Or is that the artificial GF, I alluded to? . But, you are right I had always assumed MAFIA was an opening bid scheme. It awakens me to RESPONSES may also MAFIA. I'M acronyming MAjors FIrst Openings: 'MAFIO' not MA FI Always.

If playing MAFIA, doesn't showing the minor first claim a stronger hand? IE. does 2D first then 2S shows 14+, so 1S then 2D less than 14. (esp if some GF artificial was available but wasn't chosen).

Agree mtvesuvius. With this shape (H-single) all these hands are in T/O X. Hate H:K-single as ups likely 3H has side stuff and doesn't help develop our suit(s). 1xH-ruff = 3 points. Now question 3=2=4=4 and same honor location. Even 3=2=4=4 with HK in another suit. Which make another move over 3S say?

Trap passed. Thanks for giving me the chance to suggest a penalty bonanza, partner.

My partner already opened 1S lightly, unless he had both majors 10-ish -leaving this hand to me to start/not. I start 1H. Without spades-in-lightly from partner as a negative inference, swayed by "where are the spades?" NOT US - SO NO ENCOURAGING A 1S OVERCALL.!!

Do any others out there see BIT, X: "I really don;t want to hear 4H." Verses in tempo X: "I have my 4xH?" . This hand I kinda fancy 3NT, expecting X, now SOS XX asks minor. Or I go off 2-3 undoubled when partner doesn't insist his suit.

Another why isn't a splinter well-defined? Can it have A-5th support and not going to 6 anyway? (ie. showing this along the way to slam in case you can grand) Can it have 5x support (no A,K,Q)? Can it have 2xA,3XA,1xA,noA? Can it have 5-suit TTxxx? Can it have 7 controls, 6,5,4,3,2? Can it have void and 5th? With nxA? With 5-suit: TTxxx? The simple point is an undefined bid takes space and this slam is missed.