skjaeran

Depending on where you live. In Norway you could be more or less certain of LHO not holding 5-card spades here. And it's the same in most of Europe, as far as I know. In the US, it's a different matter. At least at non-expert level I think it's fairly standard to start with a double with 45/54 in the majors.

In 'most of the world' it's a standard 1♣ opener.

I also know this game under different names, Farmer Bridge is the most usual (I learned is as Selbu Whist in my youth - Selbu is a small place close to Trondheim). With one card I'm used to putting this face up on your forehead, so anyone else might see your card. All make their bids simultaneously in our version.

I've never played exactly this kind of tranfer. I'm used to a 2♠ as a kind of minor suit stayman, which can be bid with a weak or strong hand with one or both minors. Playing that, I'm used to playing 3M either as a fragment or a stiff (prefer the latter) with both minors (5-4/4-5), GF+ (slam invite in theory).

The normal way of playig fit jumps is that they set up a forcing pass below trumps at the level the jump forces to. That is, a pass should be forcing below 4♥ here, but not above. Obviously, this is something each partnership has to agree upon.

If playing 2-suited openings at the 2-level (I don't), this is a maximum 2♠. Else I'm opening this 1♠.

I'm surprised to see 100% votes for 6♦ here, to put it mildly. (Yes, only two votes, but still.) Parnter might easily have something like Qxxx AJx x ATxxx. I'm not sure if I'd double or bid here, but I'm certain that IF I bid, 6♦ wouldn't be my choise. I'd rather try 5NT - pick a slam.

Not meaning to pick an argument, but what about 5♦ if partner actually bids 3NT? No, I'd like partner to be able to suggest 4♥ with a threebagger as well! Oh, because 3♥ does not promise five of each, then? Ken, don't you think it's more than just merely possible that 1♠....3♥ might lead to us playing 4♠ (or maybe even 4♥) on a not_so_good 5-2 fit?

Not meaning to pick an argument, but what about 5♦ if partner actually bids 3NT? No, I'd like partner to be able to suggest 4♥ with a threebagger as well!

1. Obvious 1♠, can't really see a problem here. 2. 1♥, this is just too good even for my ultrasound weak twos.

I am somewhat surprised that you take this option of going slowly and then GF. This suggests to me that a direct 3♥ by you would also be 5-5 and GF. I cannot imagine that you have two ways to show the exact same hand -- that would be rather redundant and unlike you. So, I'll assume that a route showing GF with hearts and spades through 2♥ is different than a simple 5-5 and GF. What is that difference for you, when you do have specifically 5-5? The difference cannot be pattern, because of the obvious -- you do have 5-5. Is the difference the void? Is 3♥, when specifically 5-5, limited to 5521/5512 hands? Or, is the difference some range issue? That would seem odd, as I would imagine that the precise one-timer bid would normally be expected to show bare GF to moderate GF, the F-ing around approach reserved for the very stronger hands. I could not possibly use that approach, because aything but 3♥ with 5-5 would be either not GF or not 5-5, or perhaps some mega-huge take over hand, but I sure ain't got that. The difference is that I've got a nice fit for partners suit here. And I can't bid 1♠....3♥ and then rebid 4♦ over partners 3NT, that would show a stronger hand than this.

2♥, natural F1. Planning to GF this, even vs a light opener. But prefer to go slowly.

Take a look at the posts by Ulven/Impact/Skaeran... the first two expressly include both Axx and xxx as acceptable heart holdings for 3♥ and Harald appears to endorse this idea. I'm used to going even further - in many partnerships I play 3♥ here as xx/xxx.

I don't know why you make this statement. Coming from a 4-card majorite environment, where 'everyone' play 15-17 NT, my experience is quite the opposite. It's very easy to play 4cM, 15-17NT and 2/1 = 10+ hcp. Dropping the NT range seems to give a lot of problems to me. Sure' you solve a few things (never being minimum when you open one of a suit), but I've seen too much trouble with standard acol sequences to believe that 12-14NT makes things easier. A 14-16 range is OK IMO.

In our reigning world and european champions teams we had six pairs. Two of them (Grøtheim-Tundal and Brogeland-Lindqvist) played 5-card majors (G-T playing Viking Club). The rest played natural systems with 5c♠ 4c♥.

What sort of hand would 4♣ show? I'm not playing straight 2/1, so a 3♣ rebid would be invitational only for me. 4♣ now would be natural and slammish, but denying a self-sufficient suit. Of course, this isn't really applicable for others, who play 2♣ as GF. In straight 2/1 4♣ now most probably should be a cuebid agreeing spades, and 4♦ too - according to cuebidding style.

You would probably do that regardless of what the facts were. B) Nope, I just really think if you are ever going to play something artificial you should explain it in a clear and concise way. I think you failed to do that, and because of that your LHO did not lead a heart. I agree a clearer explanation would have been better. Having explained his 3NT rebid as 26-27 balanced, i fail to see how the explanation could have been better - in fact it was spot on! I agree that the alert/explanation of 2♥ was clumsy.

You would probably do that regardless of what the facts were. B) Nope, I just really think if you are ever going to play something artificial you should explain it in a clear and concise way. I think you failed to do that, and because of that your LHO did not lead a heart. Well, he DID explain his 3NT rebid as 26-27 balanced. How on earth could anyone adjust against him??? Either the TD didn't get what explanations were given, or the TD just wasn't up to the task of ruling. Luckily, there was no score adjustment. As to the adjustment on the last board, this is hopeless. The TD should know that it was he, not the players who was at fault for spending playing time. Secondly, he should have checked, and found out that it was the other pair who had used too much time on the previous board (assuming this is correct, of course).

That is not true when opener can have 4 of the suit. This is not the same auction as 1D p 1H p 2C p 2S. Eh, how could you know what's true over here, being over there? I understand why you don't like the approach, but that's something different! B)

I disagree with Ken (above) I'd need something more in the diamond department to suggest 3NT here. 4♦ would be my only spade slam try (no cuebid). With this hand I have an easy 4♥. Partner will know when to pass and when to correct to 4♠; look at Fred's excellent post on this issue.

Fits nicely into my weak twos; 8-11 hcp and 6-card suit.

I'm a passer, and don't think it's close; minimum, no shortness, so-so support. I'm rebidding 3♠ over a balancing double by partner.

No, this auction doesn't exist for me in a rational sense. I won't venture to guess partners hand. He's obviously got a fit for me - other than that, I haven't got a clue.

A spade is pretty obvious at IMPs. At MP, a ♥ lead might be more interesting. I'd still lead a spade though.

5♠ for me. I think that's the bid that puts the right amount of pressure on opps. Might turn out to be bad though.