Halo

I count 17 in total.

Once you see trick one four low has become impossible. Unless you think partner led middle of three, he has four or five to the King.

Well, I can see that if I place East with: 107 AJ9x Jxx AKxx I can ruff clubs while cashing diamonds and then the ten of diamonds from dummy threatens to discard the last club, or cover if East ruffs. Giving East both spade intermediates like this is a bit of a last resort, so I'll have to think if there is anything with fewer assumptions. [EDIT: Failed to think of anything else - so it'sjust 107 or K7 with East and three diamonds.]

A lot of people have very specific agreements about double in this position. I think pclayton's analysis shows why you want some flexibility attached to the double. If it usually shows hearts, say, you allow for the possibility of some other strong hands as well.

This is obviously a bad hand for having to bid 3H - and it's not uncommon for RHO to tempt oppos with a good spade holding, of course. But I'll still stick to my double by preference and 3H by necessity. There are many situations like this that define the outcome of competition - you pay your money and take your place in the rankings.

Double. I hope to find out more before committing.

How do we handle routine low level preemption if we can't show a raise with values. If double is not showing this hand I would rather bid 3H than 2S.

I think it is up to North to bid - 2S for me. I would bid at IMPs and MP.

I chose double (alone! so far). Obviously wrong, but why can't I suggest +200 at MP? Intelligent partner is still there.

5♥ This is completely instinctive and automatic for me. If I pause to think I am even more convinced.

Reluctant pass. I think I am more likely to go for 800 than the double game swing.

But is it Mr Majestyk or her Majesty.

Jdonn has interpreted my comment correctly - so I am grateful to him/her.

Kind of silly comment. Just to be really clear, I responded to Mike777 'gals and guys' what's your partenr got. I don't know the specific hand (as if that matters). If my hand causes you some emotion then it was worth describing.

My partner has something like: KQxxxx Qx Ax xxx give or take a Jack or some texture with tens or nines - this hand is my impression of his minimum. It's bidding, it's a language and there are many dialects. I don't want to play spades opposite partner on the hand I hold. OK he could be 7204 say. I don't 'simulate' for my next bid based on freaks. For me my 1H...3D sounds fairly encouraging. But I'm not accepting partner's suggestion to play 4S with my Hx because I'm void. So I bid rightly or wrongly.

I voted for 4♦. I have eleven red cards with more diamonds than hearts, and a spade void. I don't want us to play in spades.

I still prefer 2♥ to 2♠, but bidding spades planning a heart rebid is OK. I would never pass 2♦.

If this was a poll I would already have chosen 2♥. Bridge is a game. I would rather scramble a heart contract and/or pose some problems for opponents.

Come on. At this vulnerability this is an 'instinct' choice. I voted for 5♦. I would still bid that way after this thread. But I don't care if the next post is a composite of all the world champions still alive or contactable - the alternative view to pass is valid and may well be the winning action.

Club without the double and heart after the double.

I bid 2♣. Completely happy with the 1♦ opening. Starting a good hand with the bid of a good suit seems OK.

I would have bid 2♣, because I prefer not to push on the rebid. Wouldn't object to any partner bidding 2♥. If I have bid 2♥, I would definitely bid 3♣ now. My whole auction is forward going, and this shows my shape (as far as possible) and limitations.

I'm for three hearts, shape and non minimum.

I like the NS bidding. At the end South has an informed choice. Bidding on will be a shot since partner can surely not have two aces. I would not criticise Soutn whatever decision he made, but personally in Pairs I would bid on.

2NT With my methods (naturalish) this seems automatic.