Halo

Bid. No choice for me.

Pass. In my notional simulation, suitable hands opposite are 50% or less. NV I go down the middle on this and I don't look for a better part score.

I'd like to take action if available that shows a club void and interest in slam/Grand Slam. If I can't do that I would bid 6S. Unless it's the Christmas Party I am not interested in a variant of Bridge where I guess the hand setups and double guess partner. If partner's psych is an 'agreement' (can't remember if I alert that?) then I do exactly what I would do if it was not. 4C is a perfectly good idea in real life and sidesteps the question on the forum.

2D and bid on over 4S. I believe this works out most often. We might make and opponents might be making. I don't expect them to bid to the five level which makes this a close decision. On the whole I prefer to bid faced with such unknowns.

Now Frances has forced me to play from the correct hand, I will play diamonds myself as she indicates.

Well I'll put my earlier, successful but disparaged line behind me. Now I think East opens if he has the Ace of clubs, so he has the Queen. I'll play a spade towards the ten. West wins and returns a diamond and I duck, and win the second diamond. I'll play another spade towards the ten and now I seem to be OK if my assumption about clubs is correct

He's not saying you can't beat the opponents, he's saying with a hand like that you pass and beat them. You cannot double. Kindly meant thank you, but did your partner double 1S with QJ10x, if we wind our way back through the auction? For me this is like so many key situations. You need a strategy and you and Jdonn clearly have one. But why - the fact that you or someone else wins (say if they have a different strategy) does not by itself show that it is this aspect of your agreements and game that contributes to success. It is quite possible you win despite this particular tendency. So arguments are interesting as well as instincts. Of course humorous stories are even better.

Why? You lose a trick when LHO has the HK (not unlikely), you lose an entry, and you don't gain anything. This seems like a horrible line to begin with. I like to play on the forum almost as if at the table. The auction is alarming - I don't feel a favourite, but I do think I want to put RHO on lead.

Seems I must let it go to the queen (EDIT of diamonds - written before previous post), another to the Ace and a trump towards the ten. If not someone else can take up the challenge.

Yes, OK. I refrained from giggling at your QJ10x trumps. Would you like a fifth small heart?

Early days on this. Seems obvious to win Ace of hearts and play another heart.

No... Partner of course has: Axx Axxx Kxx xx Come on keep it real.

What it seems to boil down to is that we cannot penalize the oppos in this auction - on the Forum at least. I would go for penalties just because you need to confront the opponents if for no other reason.

If you bid any other way, how do you get to bid your game on the 5 level only when partner has extra values but not when he is minimum? Obviously you can't do everything. But there is nothing inconsistent about saying "I want to play on the 5 level only if partner has extra values, otherwise I want to defend 4♠". The argument about inconsistency would only be valid if partner's double was defined as penalty, rather than what it actually is. Jdonn Does your position mean partner cannot double second time with a non-offensive balanced hand? Must he pass?

Double. It's our hand...maybe...maybe they go wrong.

Thanks AWM So with a pass I showed a balanced 12 count (a necessary lie perhaps) and partner's second double showed a good 10. I can now see why I am bidding on. Personally I don't see my second round double showing 18 pts as being at all realistic, unless I am obsessed with psychs. I would rather double second time round on minimum balanced and accept the odd couple of IMPs when they make.

You can't win them all (outside a forum).

You wouldn't pass with a 3334 12 count? Your pass didn't show anything, it denied a hand good enough to bid at the 5 level opposite a partner who's shown nothing more than 6+ points and 4+ hearts. OK My thinking is progressing. On what hand would I have doubled rather than pass second time?

Because your 1C opening does not promise 6-4 with a singleton spade. Yes of course, but my question was what my pass showed. If I showed a weak shapely hand without heart support - what do I have after partner's second double that I have not already shown? Do I not have more defence and equal attack as already shown?

I don't mind being wrong. Why is at all up to the minors hand? Partner makes a second double - why doesn't he bid if defending is wrong? What did I show when I passed the previous round? There's too much unexplained dogmatism sometimes (vote yes or nope).

If you are favourites in the match ... double.

When I made my choice to pass I was considering two of the relevant hand shapes for partner: 3433 2452 Would it be sensible for partner to bid 4NT on the second type rather than double? Arguably if he can't support clubs 4NT describes his hand.

Pass For me partner has shown some values and hearts, so my chances at this point are better in defence. If partner doubles again is that takeout or good defensive values? At the vulnerability I think I'll pass and take the chance I'm missing a slam.

3NT I think it is unlikely 3C is our best score, so it's NT or try for hearts. My feeling is NT - just nine tricks!

1. I'd like just a bit better heart suit. 2. No bid 3. 1H, keeping a low slow pace. 4. Happy with a two suited overcall. 5 No doubles.