Apollo81

(1) all red mps 5 J3 109853 AKJ104 1.a: (1NT)-? 1.b: hidden-> (2) unfav, mps 852 83 A72 109432 1♠*-(2♥)-p-(p) 2♠-(3♣)-p-(3♥) p-(p)- * 11-15 2.a: agree with the first two passes? 2.b: finally time to bid something? (3) all red, mps KQJ85 KJ5 Q43 J7 1♠*-(p)-1NT-(2♥) p-(p)-Dbl-(p)- * 11-15 edit: 1NT = semiforcing, 2/1 context Dbl = takeout edit: a direct double of 2♥ would be takeout also 3.a: your call? 3.b: what if the vulnerability was unfav?

In my experience opps will not bid an unfavorable 5♣ over a strong club unless they're reasonably sure 5♣x will be good for them, and I'm certainly inclined to believe them on this hand. Actually a 4♣ bid over a strong club can be just as/more annoying than a 5♣ bid.

I like 3♥. LHO knows RHO's hand much better than I know partner's or vice versa, so I don't think preempting has that much value. Nothing here suggests a great fit to me. I think most people would take 3♥ as forcing or at least quasi forcing.

The OP was taken from: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/darwin05.asp

I definitely don't play forcing passes in this situation, and I think it's a clear 5♦ bid.

I'm not that familar with natural style Precision, but what about rebidding 2♣? Obviously you want to play in spades, but this should improve partner's evaluation of his high cards and leaves plenty of room for both players to show their distribution.

I see someone misclicked on 4♠

This is close between Dbl and 4♠, I know I wouldn't pass. I think I would bid 4♠ actually. A round earlier I would have bid 3♠.

The actual hand is pretty meaningless since it was in a B/I game. MikeH actually guessed opener's hand almost exactly right.

Pass. While I have some extras, my hand still fits the description of "minimum takeout double". I think since they're red at MPs you could try a double if the 3♣ showed values as part of a Lebensohl scheme.

I think the normal bid is 5♣. Was the raise limit or was it weaker? If it was a limit raise and partner is prone to making lead directing overcalls then I would probably pass. If he is the solid type then I would bid 5♣ anyway assuming LHO forgot they were playing limit raises or something.

nm

I know youre unfav, but it seems like you could open 2♦ at least. Maybe you're playing this as something else? Anyway I would open 3♦ and now I would xfer and pass.

still double

normal 2♣

they'd rebid 2NT as normal, right?

If you had posted this as an assign the blame I would have said 100% South. Yes you shouldn't bet the house on a doubleton spade from partner, but bridge is a game of percentages and odds are really really high that either partner has ♠Ax or he has a useful queen. Bidding 7NT removes the doubleton spade chance and reduces the odds of success from "near 100%" to "reasonable"

Nice textbook initial double. edit: somehow I failed to notice that partner passed 1♠ for penalty! So double of 2♦ is automatic with KJxx behind the suit and you should definitely sit for 2♥X once partner hits it, although I wouldn't hit it on my own.

South can predict a doubleton spade -- wouldn't North bid 3♥ p/c with 3+ in both majors? Anyway if the partnership can ask for queens then South should try that, else he should just bid 7♣ figuring on a good score anyway since the field won't bid grand.

I just remembered this one. All red, IMPs ♠ Jxxxx ♥ Kxxx ♦ AKQx ♣ --- 1♣-1♠ 3NT-?? (1) whats your bid opposite an adv/exp partner? (2) does it make a difference if partner is b/i level (meaning he will have 6+♣ and a better hand than a 3♣ bid, but wouldn't consider any adv+ level rebidding like fake reverses, offshape natural NT bids, etc)

wow that is really conservative

I concur, lead the ♦A since you don't know the diamond position and you have entries. In general with AQ109 the right lead tends to be the card under dummy's card - so if dummy has the K then lead the Q, if dummy has the J then lead the 10. This creates a tenace over declarer's card if dummy wins the trick. If the honors aren't "1 each" in declarer's and dummy's hand then it doesnt matter as much.

Spade

Whatever the earlier cards mean, you won't be able to tell partner's spade holding for sure until you cash the ♠A or ♠K, and possibly not even then. I certainly wouldnt trust a random person to give count on this trick.

Maybe, they will probably either X or overcall 2C, and you will probably get to 3N, but you will probably make it given that they have bid. See Adam, sometimes you get to game opposite a 12 count and make when you just have 11!!! we were +180 which was 17/21, +150 would be 13.5, 400 & 430 are 18 & 20 respectively