skjaeran

Indeed. Just keep the club overcalls and advances natural.

so how about you hold Jxxx/AKQJxx/void/xxx - this is what I think a 5♠ bid shows - I can't use blackwood for trump quality as A♦ isn't relevant or perhaps you use exlcusion for that (which i dont play) I don't think the auction would have gone the same way. Probably more like 1S-2H, 2S-4D. Agreed. I do play Exclusion, though, but the hand would be different.

Come on, Helene. North has seen RHO taking a preference to 2♠ only, LHO competing to 3♠ over 2NT and LHO then being pushed to 4♠ over 4♣. Would you really expect opps to have any reliable chance of making 4♠ after this bidding with the north hand? The only rationale for passing here is if you expect the double to show a good hand for the bidding this far (having the UI that south expects 5-5 in the minors), and being afraid south will take it out. If so, you're in fact obliged by law to double.

Without lebensohl in the arsenal, I agree 100% with Helene's reasoning. With correct information, south has the option to pass with a purely competitive hand and come back with 3♣. While with MI 3♣ becomes more wide ranging. I'm still a little doubtful about the 3NT bid by north. But any doubtful points are ruled in favour of the non-offending side. So 3♣ it is.

It would be very easy in one of my old partnerships. 1NT - 3♠ (balanced slam try) 4♦ - 4♥ (cuebids) 4NT - 5♦ (Culbertson - cue) 5♥ - 5NT (cue - ♠Q) 7NT 4♦/♥ normal quebids, both showing at least 1KC. 4NT showed 3KC. 5♦ normal que, showed a 2nd KC. 5♥ showed the ♥Q 5NT shows the possesion of 5KC + trump queen.

Even if responders 2♠ was only a one-round force, a raise to 3♠ is GF (natural slam try). We don't change trumps in an inv+ sequence without forcing to game. So the 3♣ bid, combined with 4♦, got the aution off track. Responder never understood that opener had spade support, instead believing he had 3-card heart support and long diamonds.

Joking, I suppose.... You don't know that at the table, so it's something you take into consideration when you decide what to do over 2♠.

No, it is not. You have to adjust to a bridge result (or a weighting of more than one result). Why? He's got lots of defence and a partner who's competed to the 4-level. I don't even consider pass a LA.

If I just need a diamond control, I cuebid 4♥. If I just need trumps I keycard. 5♠ for me would be a general slam try, partner accepts if he likes his hand.

I assume the double just showed cards here. But do you know if NS play some kind of lebensohl here, where south can distinguish between a purely competitive hand and an invite with clubs?

I've got a good 16, 6 controls, 3 honours in partners suits, surely I'm moving. Alternative bids are 5NT, 6♥ and 6NT. Prefer 6♥, to emphasize my good holding there.

3NT in 1st and 2nd seat, 5 diamonds in 3rd seat except unfavourable, where 4♦ is adequat.

Looks like a 4th seat 3♥ to me. A minimum, I'd prefer slightly weaker trumps and a an outside card instead.

Ia a recent partnership we'd start: 1♣ - 1♥ 2♣ - 2♥ 2NT Both heart bids are transfers, 2NT shows this shape (or similar) and strength. If responder now makes a slam try in clubs (I think he should), we'd reach 6♣.

3♠. Not 4♠ and never, ever 2♠. 1♠ is in fact my 2nd choice.

I double. Make it Kx AKJx QTxx J9x and I overcall 1♥.

LOL, it's difficult to post a reply before you've seen the post at all!

Non-friendly may be your euphemism for anti-social and plainly rude. You telling me to grow up is not a whole lot better than Justin's insults. I made what I thought was quite a normal post disagreeing that 2♣ was natural. I don't expect to have to be publically subject to a barrage of insults from Justin, cherdanno and now you. I don't believe that is the purpose of these forums. In fact I am pretty sure that it is outside the terms of use. I try to make constructive posts that are on topic but I will not agree to just ignore posts from Justin, cherdanno, JDonn, yourself or others if you wish to insult me. I will respond as I see fit and I will report posts that are primarily insulting. Wayne, you should be able to catch the irony in Fred's post, don't be that over-sensitive. Obviously you and Justin (and Josh, before he left) use any possibility to quarrel. Intentional or not. There's no point in trying to blame one or the other, it takes two to tango. It's time the two of you stop this. Either by not commenting each other posts, or doing your best to try to understand each others posts instead of doing your best (worst?) to misunderstand whenever possible. Or, if the other one posts something seemingly incredible or stupid, try a polite question to clear up a possible unclear point.

Double and 4♥ (another double if they bid 4♠ before I get a second chance).

Pass or 1♠, depending on how agressive I want to be.

Wow, that's cheap, I'd say! :) At my club we've paid NOK 70 pr player for a couple of years, which is something like € 8.5. Other clubs playing at the same site charge a little more (some) and a little less (one). We haven't discussed what to do in the next season starting in a months time, but I guess we'll increase the fee to NOK 80. Edit: We play team series, duplicated boards, Bridgemates, results including complete hand records and butler scoring on the internet. Playing directors.

Huh, never ever heard that concept mentioned the 30+ years I've been playing. Thus, you're right when you call it old fashioned! I really don't get why it should be non-forcing though.

Would have bid 1♠ last round, but 2♥ is ok too. 2♠ now.

4NT. To make or save, I don't know (or care).

Natural for me.