dake50

On first, your double included 4-support for partner's clubs. When would you raise? 4C not repeat double! On second, 5-support and subsiding? They as much as told you 5C is on they fear.

Partner did not negX, nor 2D,2H, nor C-raise (of course after 1S overcall, he may not know real clubs here fits 3-support clubs). I still hope for 3xclubs and 0-1xS -- I get a S-ruff. Do I have DSIP? I try that. No. 4C.

Using XX as penalty, what hands does weak2 double on? SA + they hit my side feature? Less since XX asks penalty? I' m thinking eg. 2S <X> XX <3C>, X = SA + C-honor, P = not that?? even later business doubles must show something. Sorry to hijack this discussion and turn it back onto the opening side, but this dhould be agreed in A @ E partnerships.

This is one where I assume 5D was making so the decision to play 5H wins. I guess LHO 1-1-6-5. To SA, to SJ.

For those not showing spades on the first round. Is 2 honor 5-suit not up to standard? Or which two honors in 10-count? AK,AQ,AJ,KQ,KJ? Is 10 hcp with partner's 22+ not in slam zone? Little deduction for short honors when partner is expected to have gobs of fitting honors. How do you catch up when preempted? As here? Can you not Key-ask to get SKQ missing? Don't you overload 2D when 5-5 two suiter starts shaping-out later? Get 5-5 shown below 3NT?

The revoke law deducts 1(2) tricks from revoker -- say N-S. Now the non-offending E-W just gained 1/2 MP from other E-W. Their tie becomes a win when the extra trick cannot be gotten by play. This is inherently unfair to punish E-Ws that weren't there. A fair penalty gets back to the pair involved in the infraction. N-S get the adjusted score on this hand they played. E-W get the counter score on this traveler if you will. The penalty is assessed in the tally for N-S. A 1 or more MP penalty against N-S. Other penalties should be assessed this way also. ONLY THE PAIR INVOLVED GETS PENALIZED. Recognize that rubber penalties were meant for head-to-head. MP is not head-to-head. It is Us: E-W 12 vs. those other E-W. Another pet suggestion is a ding -- both ways if your table is late when a timed round is called. Two dings loses a MP. Progressive for more dings.

1D takes no space so must be willing to fight this one out. On 9 highs, quacky? Even with majors 4S-3H and prime cards this is a stretch. No wait 3S-4H so their spades likely outbid us. Wh-a-a-a-t!!! Do y'all bid whenever it is your turn or does your bid give partner something to trust?

No agreements on forcing pass after 2C? Not even default -- they get doubled or we play? Partner gives you a chance for penalty double bonanza. Won't go there. Wish my spades were in on first round. Now I guess 5C =pick a slam. Surely no 2-suiter agreements if no forcing pass agreements (eg. 5NT pick S-D; Q-bid 5C pick H-D; Q-bid 6C pick H-S).

What is your reopening understandings? What will partner do if he's in passout seat? Now those pre-reopenings must be some situation likely to gain that will not have partner reopening. I expect both majors (or other major) with some shape, shy of immediate action. Of course, I never trap pass, so those cases are considerable for those who do.

Will partner reopen double with some 9-10 mixed hand? If yes, I'll try pass hoping for that reopen. If not, I hope partner misfits his 9-10 (less? in my dreams) and beat 3C-2+. Don't have to like it but Pass is right.

Normal I don't know -- ask my partners. 1NT always here. I want 1NT above BOTH majors because I want 3NT not 4M on 4-4. I want to shut out our 3M partial. The 1NT on single K deviation may make sense when SK. May surprise a S-stop. Have minors so 3NT likely best. Seldom if HK as 1C then 1S over 1H or 1D puts partner well placed to decide. No rebid problem. Phil nailed this one. All kinds of auctions are 'ab-normal' if I start singleton in 1NT.

As Phil, be clear on follow-ups. What Mich-Q would rebid? Few! Rest are Q-bid strong. What Unu-2NT rebids? Rest are Q-bid strong. Theorists have defined these auctions for nigh these 30 years as ML suggested. They are rare -- so unheard.

In IMP surely the other table goes slam. What odds for grand? +17 :: -16 IMP. Are we there? D:5-0 fails, even D:4-1 pesky. H:6-0,5-1 fails, even 4-2 pesky. Put back in bad break may repurchase SK onside. What plan do granders propose? Doesn't feel enough. Two C-ruffs? How back? And back again? One C-ruff with S-H squeeze? What clues that? One C-ruff with SQ finesse? What clues that? Hearts run for 5 tricks? H:3-3 + [H:J. or H:Jx]

"4♦ shows a strong hand without fit and without an own suit. [i'd modify 'without an own suit' YET] - A direct 4♦ would show fit and a GF hand (4♠ is preemptive). - I think this is pretty standard." Free Yup. How else to show freaks in this auction AND get some cooperation.

Not an opener, yet good enough to score well at 4-level?!! Show me that hand! He claims he can set 3NT having some lucky holding. Trus-U-Partner, TUP

You seem to be asking your question as if they didn't up-/down-grade. Which makes the narrow ranges pedantic -- to assuage the hcp-religion. Their judgment is the 3rd point in each 2-point range.

Vs their 1m, I use Overcall Structure modified. Here 2C is 4-14 3+ in unbids, offensive hand (not 3+DT). I try that.

Wow! What is your top for 1S overcall? Responses other than pass mystify me. I have a misfit 10: unclaimed clubs J; HQ under 1H opening. A+K working. Y'all must allow 1S on 17-18 -- just to have hope of some making higher contract. Even 19-20 because this is so-o-o likely a misfit. I play 1S is near a minimum opener if a fit is found -- more starts T/O Dbl. Plus I allow much leeway when 1S overcall jumps over 1H (not here). Some leeway for S>H as in this auction as 2S>2H, 3S>3H, 4S>4H often cheap.

Rolling home on 6+clubs unless I find our trick to cash when I get SQ. Expect 3NT bid to always expect the other major => double H-stop. I will try D6.

First is simply discipline. Have I said my piece? Done and done. Second would be much more comfortable had I shown something over 4S. Now I trust partner has an offensive hand to second suit at the 5-level. I try 6D. Mostly hoping 4S then 5S preemptor sacrifices -- he twice insisted on HIS spades.

I suspect you find some parts of an automatic relay too slow getting info you want. Try asks in the suits of concern on some "problem hands". And second, accept bidding in a straight-jacket relay is just as you witness. Hope the forced relay for all strong hands gets many right -- eventually.

2S. Partner bids his feature with S:Hx, else cheaper of 2N, 3H.

Lukacs suggested a diamond from Kx to scare off finesse and win HQ. As per Hayden suggesting A lead. Let's compare master plays instead of what is on this hand.

"You've never led a singleton before?" -- mtvesuvius I often lead single in opponents rebid suit to ensure it gets established immediately. I want declarer clued-in as best I can. (facetious -- seems that needs pointed out) I cannot sense diamond is unclaimed, nor spade is non-tenaced on this auction, can you? (again facetious) Can anyone see those are both likely safe? Would rather give no info to declarer than "Here's my single".

Zelandakh, Yes, I do have a GI+ forcing bid. Freeing other bids to NOT FORCE -- EG. 2C here. Yup, a maximum (over-the-max to me) 2C might find 3NT. Do you expect max for partner's bids? I do not.