dake50

Was that 1D under "rule of 19" under what sanctioning body? Very divergent from "rule of 20" even - mostly allowed in ACBL. Do they often open this light? Do they often pass with 5 hcp and 4-5MM? Quite unusual opening/responding methods. Even suggesting a psych fielded. Surely 2H > 2D, then surely another move from West - I would try 3D to keep 3Nt in the picture on this heavy stops bal hand. But won't argue against 3H. Why not 1Nt: 12-17 with a stop in passout seat instead of Dbl. Hard to crime E-W methods unable to see game-on here. Too rare an auction!

Jannersten Precision had an asking bid .. *** That is exactly where I first started to think 3-level slam tries.

It is also my opinion, but not within the rules, that those who play unusual systems should go out of their way to explain secondary aspects of that system rather than seeking to obtain an advantage from the unfamiliarity. I further believe that if that were both done and enforced it would go some way to making such systems more acceptable to certain regulators and to players. -- Zelandakh *** In my experience "What do you know from bids not chosen?" is met with "Those weren't bid"!! Do I need to disclose merely what the bid asks for (not how I intend to abuse it)? -- gszes *** Then every possible deviation in opening bids, preempts, overcalls by partner's judgment. And thus every "style" (aggressive, conservative, obstructive) that could be this time. Let alone I must guess what source opponents have for every treatment so I can warn them: not like "Jerry" But as "Peter". Even which key-ask agreement as per which writer. How far before this becomes preposterous?

My beef with key ask has always been the 5 or 7 hand. If the trump K is the missing key, onside finesse makes grand offside won't make 6. So the payoff is great to bid that grand. How can key asker ever know the missing key is that trump K? Second beef is why start so high with asking? Lazy system design - really can't assign a eg. 3C jump as A-ask and relay trump ask, show K, show Q.

Actually had an asking sequence where if a "slam off" bid occurs, ask next just to leave opponents wondering if the bad 2nd was slam quits. eg. ask trumps -> 2 missing(no slam) now ask Aces -> any missing/not -> quit at 4M. even Q-bid as a lead-inhibit to get another lead into AQ.

I'd guess 2S=H+D; 2Nt=C+D; so, 3C=C+H; and then X=6+H. Still a little shy on suit body for those diamonds - gimme D109 and yup show 2-suiter.

Must every 2-suiter with hearts start with double? Looks as if a H+D takeout gets to a cheap 5-red sac vs 4S. 5Rx-3 as CK is under CA.

You conflate two problems: GF v shape. How do I know if I'm game forcing before I show this rare shape? Fit makes slam close; misfit makes no game likely. Show your shape, let partner announce his fit and going up, or misfit quitting. I don't think any min/inv/GF can get out below 3-suit - likely not liking this high on a misfit. But must show this 6-5 because it plays very big on a fit. Is that what you intended your question for? Which rebids scream misfit => quit? Thus which others suggest fit => going up?

much much much prefer the ace to low. partner has pre-empted - the odds of finding a suitable honour combo are slim (especially given delcarer has the stronger hand so less scope for KJ misguessing and even if partner does have a doubleton and gets a ruff, we need 1 more trick which is most likely the diamond ace, in which case we had an entry to give the ruff anyway), whereas the odds of finding a singleton are pretty good. *** Even more, my partner won't preempt 3D with two Major honors. So I hope SKx (back by DK) or S-single trying for a S-ruff.

DQ, out a club. Intending to C-ruff declarer's CK entry to SQ to draw trumps. Wait for HK setting.

"1NT=natural, 8-12, usually but not always a club stopper" *** 1Nt just denying spades? Or suggesting 3Nt may be on? Esp after 2C Q-bid, why 2D, intending to quit 3D??? Surely going to 3Nt even without a H-stop is a good gamble. Then won't West visualize his H-stop? Looks like trying to avoid a game, not getting to a game as your agreements say.

I use a 3S bid to show H+D with enough to force the auction to this (4) level. I try that. I have an A + KQ in my long suits + void = good enough to risk 4-level. The scheme: (over 3C) 3D: MM; 3H: S+D; 3S: H+D; Dbl: 1-suit or 3-suits or bal without secure stops: Pass: some other - left to partner to reopen (strain his gut over 3C). 4C: 6-controls, big: 4D,4H,4S: one suiter to play - judge your fit + controls, partner. add: I think a lot of value/clarity to take 2-suiters out of other auctions, give those their due immediately.

OP doesn't have the luxury of discussed continuations, so it seems he has little choice but to roll the dice (probably Timo's suggestion of a Pass for now and worry later). 3C, if taken for the desire to play in clubs regardless of Pard's minor, could launch more doom..as could anything else taken wrong. It could also locate our 1-1 club fit instead of our 6-6 Diamond slam. *** So commenters should/should not suggest what those "luxury of *to be discussed* continuations" SHOULD BE and why? This is an expert forum, so should have diverse and useable suggestions justified.

I suggest to nominate you for the dreamer of the year award. Why not x AKQJxx - AKQJxx, surely part of your style, and a grand looks quite reasonable. Rainer Herrmann *** Then wouldn't "impending doom" become "impending glorious"?????

"impending doom"? Doesn't your partner always have S - HAxxxx DQxx CAxxxx for his bid? I try 3D as good hands go thru 2Nt ask. I got an A+K in-the-bank if partner goes uppity.

Both 'game theory' and 'information theory' should be applied by system designers. Both in the raw suggestion phase and in the critical stages. I doubt the few mathematical minds capable of these applications would persuade the pedagogues. "Listing is not analysis" -- my philosophy professor.

Would 2D = new minor force handle the hands with 4xH? Thus 3C denies 4xH.

"W's double ensured a cold bottom." Jinksy *** Good defense to stop the 3rd round C-ruff (or 2nd C-honor) You play in a tough crowd!

Yes lose a few best scores to keep opponents nearer honest. My partner asserted go close games - let them decide to phantom often. Pass with middling - willing to defend (as your leben-like suggests). Double wants to slam try - unless partner insists defend (DSIP). Bid really has offense.

"Assuming we would have hearts instead of spades, I am leaning more towards a direct opening, maybe even towards 4H." -- Marlowe *** Exactly. With HAxx + void, we may set 4H OR bid spades at the same level. Switch majors and much more to obstruct their 4S. Can't overbid at the same level or decide to defend, must go a level higher. I like 3S with the 'Lightner' double option to 4H: D-ruff + Suit prefer back + D-ruff-2nd + HA looks doable IF partner sits - 4S if not.

"Assuming we would have hearts instead of spades, I am leaning more towards a direct opening, maybe even towards 4H." -- Marlowe *** Exactly. With HAxx + void, we may set 4H OR bid spades at the same level. Switch majors and much more to obstruct their 4S. Can't overbid at the same level or decide to defend, must go a level higher. I like 3S with the 'Lightner' double option to 4H: D-ruff + Suit prefer back + D-ruff-2nd + HA looks doable IF partner sits - 4S if not.

When the opponents have taken four diamonds a Spade and a club to your one diamond and one club before you can claim, you will be at trick nine and can reconsider your choice to bid 3NT while claiming the rest. And Dake's partner will duly notice that you had both red suits stopped and a source of tricks. Regarding whether to try 2H or 3C, I probably would have chosen 2H at the table; it sounds like the partnership choice, but on reflection it probably won't accomplish anything in this case except to give those other two guys more information. *** And we're cheap against their game, ain't we if all that conception is true? Further, partner can go 4C - certainly cheap when all that bad stuff happens. You can disagree because of the worst possible outcome, but source-of-tricks plus stops is obvious.

I try 3S. The worst case is partner has a 13 and we miss 4S on this 'scramble to our least bad' hand.

"3NT. Partner will take care of spades." -- Hanoi5 *** Like-minded. How will partner ever believe I have both red stops and a source of tricks, if not 3Nt?

As others have asked, what would resp-X last round have been? Do I thus have a max with A+K now or a min since 2S suggested a 7??