skjaeran

Law 7B2, 2nd sentence: "No player shall touch any cards other than his own (but declarer may play dummy’s cards in accordance with Law 45) during or after play except by permission of the Director." So, even if you ask the player, touching his/her cards is still not allowed - you need the TD's permission.

That's because the stop procedure in most parts of the world is made up so that it can't work in practice. In Norway the skip bidder puts the stop card on the table (or say "Stop!") before placing the bidding card on the table, waits ten seconds, then removes the stop card (or say "proceed" or something similar). Thus the timing of the pause is done not by the player in turn. Of course many players doesn't comply with the procedure - either the skip bidder removes the stop card after far less than 10 seconds, or the next player calls before the stop card is removed. But that's easy to handle for a TD anyway - in most cases. But anyway - ruling against the opening leader following procedure is just plain ridiculous. If that's how you rule, better scrap the stop procedure.

If west pitches two diamonds, declarer unblocks the ♣K and cashes three ♦'s ending in south. West will have to make another discard. If he discards a club, declarer will get a complete count of the hand, so he's got to discard a heart. Declarer then plays out his two ♣ winners, noting that west follows with the jack. Of cource that might be a false card. But the heart pitch will look curious. I'd guess declarer would get this right, and play west to be 2-4-4-3, and play the heart suit correctly on this layout, and thus make the contract.

Agree with this. Having passed originally with a hand I'd open 1♣ in my methods, I can't see any reason not to cooperate towards slam. ♣KJ9, ♠Q and♥A(J) are great. Good interiors in trumps are OK too. Clear 4♣ over 3♠ IMO.

I discussed this position with my regular partner today. We agreed that a high ♣ implies a high card (queen) in ♦'s and a low ♣ implies a doubleton. The logic is like Ulf said above: High ♣ = high card entry, low ♣ = low cards (ruff).

Late to this post. Obvious 2♠ overcall. Obvious balance over 2♥ - p - 3/4♥ - p - p - p - I'd bid 4♠ over 3 and 4♥. 6♠ by partner is a huge overbid - I'd never even think of bidding slam. Inviting slam is a possibility though.

Absloutely agree with Roland. If the agreement is reverse count, you play your highest from three small first. You follow with the 8 from 832 and the 3 from 83 - easy to distinguish. Then the card you lead back from 832 is suit preference. Edmunte's analysis is spot on if partner gives preference for hearts.

We use attitude in these situations - as most experts in Norway do. Thus, using UDCA, partner plays the ♦2 in A and B, the 9 in situation C. But there's still a problem. You need partner to be able to tell you how to reach him. In A you need to cash the king and give partner a ruff, while in B you need to underlead the king to put him on lead with the queen. Since in most circumstances, partner will know that the ♣A is a singleton lead, his signal in ♣'s should distinguish between doubleton and the Q in ♦. My solution would be that a low ♣ tells you that he's got the queen, while a high denotes a doubleton. A 4th variation is also possible - partner having Q92 and declarer J83 or equivalent. Of cource, then it doesn't matter how you play the suit.

Without discussion I'd expect 3♣ to be some form of check back and 3♠ to be exactly 4-4.

So you want to force to slam vs Txxx xx Txxxx Qx?

3♦ is a weak raise, 2♠ a strong raise. I'd have bid 2♠ with the west hand - this is definitely a minimum hand for a strong raise.

4♠ was a huge overbid. The correct overcall is 2♠ (or equivalent according to methods - double in my methods). 7♠ by Justin was a little optimistic. You'd expect a grand to have play after this sequence, but worse than normal breaks are expected. I'd therefore bid 6♠. I'd give north 80% of the blame and south 20%.

In my methods 2♠ shows 3c support. But nevertheless, 3♥ should clear things up. As Justin said, you can bid 3♦ with Ax KQx xxx KJxxx. I agree that the south hand is minimum with regard to hcp strenght. But with a partner cooperating for slam, you've got a monster hand. Good trumps, singleton ♦ and strong support for responders suit. 4♣ is thus mandatory.

If we suppose the TD was in fact able to come to the conclusion that west did revoke, it's still possible to adjust. It's true Law 64B4 say that there's no penalty for a revoke if attention was drawn to it after the non-offending side made a call on the next deal. And it's true that Law 11B1 say that the right to penalise an irregularity may be forfeited if attention is first drawn to the irregularity by a spectator for whose presence at the table the non-offending side is responsible. But we still have Law 64C: When, after any established revoke, including those not subject to penalty, the Director deems that the non-offending side is insufficiently compensated by this Law for the damage caused, he shall assign an adjusted score. This is no penalty, but an equity ruling, restoring the "correct" result on the board. If the Director is satisfied that he has ascertained the facts (here: the rovoke), he rules as in Law 84. That is, he rules under the Law that applies to the offence. In this case Law 64C. Thus, he can adjust to 3NT making, or even a split score (3NT making for NS, -1 for EW). On the actual board there's no sure way to 9 tricks. So a split score would IMO be the best equity ruling here. That is, NS makes 3NT and EW beats it.

Agree with all Mike say, except that I play ELC here. So easy double followed by 2♦ if parner bids 2♣. Harder decision over 2♥ by partner, since I've got a little in reserve. Vulnerable I'd definitely raise to 3♥, NV it's closer between passing and raising. Guess I'd still raise. Switching the minors, I'd balance with 2♣. The hand isn't good enough to double and bid 3♣ over 2♦.

Agree with Justin. This hand is too weak to bid 2♥, which shows 5-5 in the blacks in my methods. So 1♠ for me.

I'd bid like Mike up to and including 4♣. 3NT wld be serious in my methods. After 4♣ I'd continue: 4♦ - 4♠ 4NT - 5♦ 5♥ - 6♥ 7♦ Overlooked Ken's posting - identical bidding - 6♥ had same meaning as his 5NT.

4♠. I'm a bidder. Never double, since I can't stand 4NT or 5m from partner.

I agree with your bidding up to 3♠. From there I think it should continue: 4♣ - 4♦ 4♥ - 4♠ 4NT - 5♣ 6NT 2♥ is GF to me, so north has cooperated in a slam exploring sequence. For his bidding, I'd not expect anything less than he's got.

When you have a long suit as a source of tricks, slow tricks are of less worth in a notrump contract, as you'll not be able to set them up and cash them. Quick tricks in the side suits is preferable. So here I think 4♥ is far superior at IMP's, since the trump suit guarantees me the tempo to set up the necessary tricks in ♦'s and ♠'s. At NT, that might prove impossible. And opps might be in a position to cash 5+ ♣ tricks from the start. At MP, I might try for 3NT if I was in dire need for a good score. But generally I'd go for the "safe" and normal 4♥.

On a couple of other threads many agreed that partner should/could raise 5♦ to 6 on a void if he expected no outside losers. With that in mind, I'd expect some more to argue against a 5♦ opening here. Not that it matters much to me - I open 5♦ anyway.

I'd have led the ♠8, but that's got no bearing on the problem at hand. :unsure: 100% agree with Frances and Mike. Follow with the ♠4 in tempo.

Because, to apply BW directly, he's normally got a (huge) source of tricks. My lenght and strenght in the minors tips me off. Of course nothing is 100%. But I go with the odds - that pays in the long run.

1. I'd never agree to use count here, so I'd never encounter this exact problem. Attitude signal is a must. 2. Assuming I had to sub for someone, I'd most probably switch to a low ♣.

My hand and the bidding indicates that dummy will show up with good ♠ support, a ♥ side suit and controls in both minors. We need to cash two tricks form the start or set up a trick which can be cashed when partner gains the lead later. ♣Q is the best chance for accomplishing that.