Apollo81

favorable definitely michaels, finding sacrifices is really important at favorable

I'd start with a double. I really don't see how this can go badly since we have Ax spades, and double and pull is clearly not an overbid with this monster.

2M+1 = asks partner to bid the lowest suit in which he would accept a game try, can make counter game tries over response 2M+[2,3,4] = short suit game tries

A limit raise is a limit raise. A "good raise" is one that is less than a limit raise, but is based on values rather than being mainly a preemptive move. I would want to raise that 2♥ overcall with a 5-count with 4 trumps just to make my LHO's life difficult, but I wouldn't want partner bidding game over that even with some extras. But for the same 3♥ raise normally I might also have a hand that was just shy of a limit raise where I wouldn't mind if pard bid game. This is to distinguish these hands.

Unlucky for the doublers, pard has 4531 and you get hacked off in 3♦, going off two. I play the same convention and i have seen how easy it is to go for numbers over IJOs with negative doubles. I considered this a close decision, but it was early in a long match and didn't want to wuss out with 35 boards left to play.

Then he will catch me with KJxx xx AKJx Axx or some other hand where they rate to make which would be 100% consistent with this auction. If anyone has to double it's me since I have three aces and a guaranteed trump trick. This was early in Q2 of a 48 board match, and it was tied at the time. Had it been later in the match (we were down a little heading into Q4) I probably would have doubled.

I guarantee he would have bid 3NT over 2NT.

Partner has A9x K10x A98xx QJ I invited, but it was the 2nd to last board and I was sure we were down at least 16 so I was trying to generate a swing. Despite catching a good hand for this action, game didn't make. We actually won 3 on the board, other table was in it too and was -2 instead of -1.

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=sxhkxdqj10xckqj10xx&w=saqjxxxxxxhdxxcax&e=shj10xxxxdaxxxcxxx&s=skxxhaq9xxdkxxcxx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

Was from bidding practice. I don't remember partner's hand.

ok everyone agrees with 1N and pass, which is what I did this was the auction at the other table (1c)-X-(1h)-p (1n)-X-(2c)-4s wtf! pard has xxxx KJx 1098xx x, I think, and 4s was cold, 4c going off three

Partner's hand is Jx J9xxxx Ax AKx He will clearly accept a limit raise, but should he bid game after the 3♦ bid?

all red imps AKQxxx xxx Q QJx 1♠-(x)-2♥*-(p) ? *8-10, 3-card raise

all white, imps Kxx AQ9xx Kxx xx (2♦)*-p-(2♠)**-3♣ (3♥)-Dbl-(4♠)-p (p)-? * Multi ** pass or correct 1. Do you agree with the first double? 2. What now?

K1098 KQxxx --- AKxx QJ65 --- AKQ9xxx Jx south will declare in any case

In case it wasn't clear, you play 15-17 NT. So ♣A109 is .... an invite? a pass?

yes, a hand that would normally raise to 3h but is really close to a LR

Pard could sign off on N "itty bitty" diamonds.

all white imps Qxx AQ10 Jxxx Qxx (1s)-p-(1n)-2h (p)-? You're playing that 2♠ is a limit raise, 2NT is natural/invitational, and 3♦ shows a good raise to 3♥. I think those are the only options here.

all red, imps xx x AJxx QJ10xxx 1♥-(2♠)*-? *12-15

red vs white imps AJxx Ax AQxx Kxx (1♣)*-1NT-(p)-2♣** (Dbl)-2♦-(3♣)-p*** (p)-3♦-(4♣)-p (p)-? * could be short as 2 ** relay to 2d, to sign off or to start various inv/GF auctions *** shows the diamond signoff Opps are expert+ level. Bonus question: Do you agree with the 1NT overcall?

All red, imps QJx Q8xx Qxx Axx partner in 4th seat opens 1♦, you bid 1♥, pard rebids 1NT. bonus question: if this is not an invite, what is the minimum change to your club holding you'd have to make to invite with it?

All red, IMPs AJxx Qx Axxxx xx You're playing 14-16 NTs and partner opens a minor and rebids 1NT over our spade response, so he has less than a 14 count if balanced. Partner could have 14-15 if unbalanced with a singleton spade. Assume 1453 or 1444 is more likely than 1354 or 1345 if partner is unbalanced. Is this worth an invite if: 1. Partner opened 1♣ 2. Partner opened 1♦ 3. Partner opened a Precision 1♦

If both pairs know their system equally well and play the cards equally well then their MP results will probably be equal. The complex pair's IMP results will probably be slightly higher because of better slam investigatory methods ASSUMING they dont have more forgets than the simple pair.

I said I wouldn't accept a slam try if I had ♦AQxxx ♣Kx and no other useful cards