skjaeran

What? Are we not allowed to use cell phones in the Water Cooler either? Of course not. Helene!....

I think a pass over 1NT is clear. East passed 1♠, strongly suggesting less than opening strength or an ugly minimum. With a balance full opener east would rebid 1NT or 2♠ (with four of them). Take away the ♣Q and this is still a 3rd seat 1♦ opening to me.

I intend to bid twice on this hand if I can rebid at the 2-level. To enable us to find our 4-4 fit I bid 1♠ 1st and follow up with 2♥ (if possible). Standard is that double by 4th hand here is t/o, although I see a lot of inexperienced players play it as "negative". To me a X is penalty with a 4-card suit and values for a natural 1-level bid of the suit. (Like a 1-level response to partners opening.)

Most good players around here are used to playing against these transfers and are prepared. But I'm still confident that our side benefit 80+% of the time where this extra room has any effect on the bidding (I'm counting out the effect of often playing the contracts from the other side than the rest of the fiels, since that's more or less random).

Almost agree. A double is not a bid though... :)

4♦. 5♦ more attractive at IMPs.

No bid. Close call.

Hey, what other kinds of pictures of you are there, Han?

For me that's been a t/o for maybe 25 years. I see no reason to switch, btw. :)

Do you want to give the opponent's extra room? I know I do, but that's not the general idea. My experience after playing transfers over 1♣ for 4 years is that our side is much more able to utilize the extra room available than opps. This hand isn't a comercial for the idea though. :)

I once saw Zia make this bid and Rosenberg alerted and explained as "he needs 2 aces plus something more for slam." Sounds like almost exactly the same as you play it. I like pass on both. Of course. I got that idea over to Zia in Reykjavik ages ago. :)

3♣ is a GF for me. I know it's only a roundforce for some, but I've never seen it being passable.

I'm also a 3♠ bidder here. If we survive this round we're well placed... Could even be in the right spot if it goes all pass.

The hand isn't strong enough to open 2♣. In a natural, non-2/1 system the only appealing bid here is a GF 3♠.

2♥. There definitely aren't any other sane alternatives.

This is a 4NT and remove 5♣ to 5♦ showing the reds, WTP?

This should be the easiest pass ever.... I mean, we pushed them to the 5-level. There's just a chance to beat them, but a make seems more likely.

Yes. 1♥ (or preferrably 1♦ transfer).

I'm with Mike on this one. After playing for 30+ years I haven't made a fake jump reverse 2♠, and I believe I never will. So I've promised 4c♠ here. Btw, 4♥ should annonce that we're heading for slam. Thus partner can KC for hearts or return to spades and let me KC.

Agree with this. Playing with myself I'd be conserned about 3NT being on. But I'd not try 3♠, since that would give LHO the opportunity to X. So I'd raise to 4♦.

I prefer to lead 3rd/5th vs suit contracts. Then I lead lowest from xxx. In NT I prefer 3rd/5th from strength else 2nd (or highest). From xxx I lead the highest of 2nd depending on which spots I've got. 7 from 97x, 5 from 543. With my most regular partner we lead 3rd/5th in partners suit only (vs NT and suit), 2nd/4th else. vs NT in an unbid (by partner) suit what I wrote about leads from xxx above apply.

Clear pass on both. The 1st one I've got agreement with all my regular partners. Partner's got a long solid suit. 9-9.5 tricks. How much he's got outside the suit depends on the lenght of his suit.

If you were planning to take another bid here 4♥ was the wrong bid last round. You've put pressure on opps to make them guess - don't start guessing yourself. Agree with Justin and Mike to lead ♥A.

Agree with slower approach. Never 4NT on 7-5, at least not when the 7-bagger is the far superior suit (regarding suit quality).

We're absolutely on the same page here.