brianshark

Balancing in direct seat. Though I might panic a little when pard doubles them as well! :)

Wayne, do you normally lead smallest from xxxx?

The fella who doubled 7♠ was on lead against 7♠. It can't be lightner. The double of 7N was simply because he felt that too was going down.

I don't mind double, or the pull to 5♥, or the non-raise to slam. Not sure what I'd actually do at the table, but all of them are reasonable moves.

I'm leading the ♣J.

To answer the subsequent question, I don't think after 3♣ I can bid more. I would be extremely uncomfortable selling out, but I think I'd have to. My second choice of bid, if I feel I'm worth pushing to the 4-level, is 3♥. It's a mild overbid (someone mentioned the lack of A/K as a detracting factor - I agree) but at least if it is a double fit deal (as it turned out to be) then partner can know whether to defend or compete and I'll feel my hand is shown then and I can leave partner to make the call. I dislike 4♣ because that is a blind call and doesn't help our partnership tell if it's a double fit deal or a misfit deal. But it, at least, doesn't promise the extras that I don't think this hand has. So a conservative 3♣ just ahead of an aggressive but descriptive 3♥ call in turn ahead of a right-on-values but otherwise undescriptive 4♣ call.

As for the choice of lead, I have complete sympathy for the ♠ lead. Pard's most likely holding to double on is a slow ♠ trick. Therefore, the last thing I want to do is lead a ♥ honour and potentially give up my stopper in case declarer needs heart tricks to make 7N without needing to run the ♠s.

Did you see his previous double of 7♠? Double of 7NT is not lightner. Double means they are going down.

It doesn't matter what's written on their profile... unless you agree to play keycard, you should probably just assume standard blackwood. I tend to just play with friends online. I don't play too much random teams matches lately, but a year or so ago when I played more of them, I found the standard much better than you'd get in a typical tournament of MBC. I don't know if that holds true still.

3♣ at all colours.

I think it's worth 3♠, just about.

Wow... exactly 4 votes for each of the 4 options.

Only the first one. I don't like Dbl on the second one at all.

Double is often used as the 4th suit with some fit for opener. If so, I'd imagine this is non-forcing, non-fitted. Just a guess though.

I rebid 1N with both hands, slightly bemused at the amount of 3-card raises I've seen on these forums in the past few months. At least I agree that 2m should never be considered.

Another vote for 1♠ and 2NT.

I don't like the ♠JT holding, for either right-siding or upgrading. 1♣ for me.

Edit: never mind.

1♠ then 3♠. Not good enough for unilateral action, or delayed unilateral action. Let's invoke partner's judgement.

Bad 5-5s should generally be passed. But this ain't so bad and the colours suggest action. So I'd probably chance a 2-suiter overcall.

1Nx is clearly favourite to make overtricks. The question is whether we can escape for less in 1Nx or 2Sx. My first impression is to always pull because 2♠ could make, might not get doubled, opps might bid on and generally it forces the opponents to take their points rather than handing it to them on a plate. But the more I think about it, the less sure I am.

I can't see myself passing. I have a fairly offensive hand much more suited to declaring that defending. You were unlucky.

1♦ has appeal. Though I'd probably just bid 1NT at the table.

Pard can't have 3♠s. Pard needs exactly AJ for a true trump promotion and exactly J9 for a pseudo-trump promotion if declarer finesses (which he probably will) but on any other holding, this line seems futile. If this were at the table, we'd all have returned a heart within a few seconds. It's only because it's a book problem we're considering the trump promotion. I hate problems like these.

If you have agreed with your pard that 2♣ is either asking for a major or a slam try in a minor, then 4♣ in this position should show a slam try with ♣s and not a cue-bid in support of ♥s.