Halo

Maybe its me.. Ruff and discard, still nine tricks?

LHO wins and plays back a club and now... you have 5 trumps, 3 clubs and a diamond and are one off? Brilliant. Do you really think I would hook the club if RHO has SHOWN OUT? You are really becoming annoying, if you would like to attack something I say on every thread at least do it with something that is not nonsensical, thank you. I guess for some people I should clarify: If RHO shows out I will not take a finesse! And if RHO shows out on the second round...you do what? It's a discussion. Play of cards is quite different from bidding. There is no attack. I suggested testing clubs before drawing trumps to deal with 51 distribution. May or may not work... but nobody has had the courtesy so far to even wonder why I suggested it. All happy to go off after the first obvious attempt (high percentage I agree).

LHO wins and plays back a club and now... you have 5 trumps, 3 clubs and a diamond and are one off?

I still don't think so. Don't draw last trump. PLay club to king and back to Ace. What is the bad thing that can happen?

Play too throw West in with clubs. Best I think to test clubs before drawing the last trump.

Therefore I gave up some better ruffing out chances to play two rounds of trumps. Thanks, though I have to admit to not really being convinced. Whole thing seems awfully clever. I am strongly influenced, but yet I will go for trumps and the squeeze. Maybe I just hate being one off so early in the play.

I'm interested. Your play may well be best, but what is all this competence stuff? Could you expand a bit.

4S Some people obviously (despite occasional protestations) must have fabulously efficient systems. I would have bid 4S immediately.

I bid 4H. I remember a very long time ago bidding 3H on a similar hand, and the very smooth auction to 4S by oppos depressed me so much I have never done it again. I agree completely with Jdonn about M v m.

If I assume the eight is most likely a short suit, I'll play trumps (A and Q seems reasonable) then play for a squeeze after trying to drop queen of clubs in three rounds.

1♠ I don't think I need to preempt with AKx of hearts. I've got my share of points (well above my average as a matter of fact) and much more than my share of spades.

You may be right, but what is 4♠ then - are you really splintering like this after 2♣ and inviting the weak hand to take control of the auction. I can't see that. For me with 3♠ available, 4 is natural.

I'm with the mainstream. Partner has two club losers and I am signing off in five hearts. If I was forced to invent a meaning for 4NT, first thought is trump cue but actually I would assume protecting club King. If partner followed with five diamonds, I would think he had concern about a trump loser - hand like the one given: AKQx KQxxxx A xx worth 4♠ hoping for something like ...Axxxx...Kx or equally useful.

I am sure that some specific agreements can be efficient here. But if you look at it from a natural(ish) bidding angle, then it may be best to bid 2NT on most balanced hands. You can bid 4M with 4-card support if the hand strongly points you that way (xx clubs v AK clubs for example). I wouldn't worry much whether 2NT could be passed - why this constant obsession about once in a blue moon passes. I said natural(ish) because I assume a 3♣ checkback as 'natural' if you play a 5 card opening system.

Let's see. At the extreme it isn't a psyche and LHO has four tricks against a spade contract... It looks like a spade opener leads quickly to four spades, so that is what I will bid - and hope to get out with a flat board.

Always bidding spades.

Just another vote. Opposite a constructive raise I invite and prefer 3C long suit as the invitation.

Why 3NT? I showed game interest or more with 2H (if I read the auction correctly). Now partner's possible hands (for me) include minimums where he is turning down my possible spade game invite. I now feel 3NT is a reasonable way to clarify my overall values. Maybe I should assume 5...6, or that I have created a game force auction, but I don't see a need to test that out.

3NT Partner seems minimum. I will bid simply.

2S I will take out and this is my best suit.

Had already decide 5S, thinking double may be better, never six spades - just Bridge magazine. I would bid 3S every time with your partner's hand.

Can we not bid or try for a game that requires a defensive error sometimes at imps? I just know JLall or Jdonn have bid to some game at imps sometime that does not make on double dummy defense or bid game in a major when there were less than 10 tricks on proper defense. :) Very close decision. I would have no serious objection to a partner who bid 3H and went off in four...So long as he bids all the sub-prime games. I don't see ignoring the auction as a good thing. I just failed to consider the merits of 2NT until I read the arguments.

What does this mean? You make assumptions and calculate.

Before I read the posts I would have passed not 3H, there are no ten tricks on this auction. After the posts, I am with the 2NT.

I vote 3S. Completely clear cut for me. Good hand, too soon to cut out partner.