Apollo81

from a home game xx Qxx Qxxxx xxx favorable, IMPs p-(1♣)-4♥-(4♠) 5♥-(5♠)-7♥-(7♠) p-(p)-X-(all pass) your lead

King, i dont see teh point in overcalling on crap spades with length in their suit if I dont have an opener.

One place I used to work had a policy that when writing comparison statements involving a variable and a constant, the constant had to go on the left.

I like most of Ron Paul's political positions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Ron_Paul

Right - I don't see how it could possibly mean "I don't want to play transfers"

5♠, asking for a heart control

3♣. I think this is slightly closer to pass than it is to 4♣.

I'd bid 6♥. Passing when 6♣ is cold (which it could easily be,so could 7♣) is a way bigger disaster than phantom sacrificing for 300-500.

If you are not vul vs vulnerable and they open 1♣, it is your turn to bid. Especially bid spades if you can. Remember to cut partner some slack when he/she bids at favorable over a strong club.

I like 5♥. We wont go for too huge a number if doubled, and the opps might miss a slam that we're virtually sure they're making. (3) Yes, since it is favorable MPs. We might push em to a making grand though...

Are you planning on bidding 3♣ if it goes 2dpp? What about if it goes pp2d? (I'd assume the answer is no)

Diamond.

Declarer can't have a four card major. Oops, forgot the auction. In that case discourage. Pard will definitely switch with Kxx and will probably continue anyway in all of the other cases since he knows youve got four to an honor in spades.

For all you know they could be making 4h -- even if 5s goes down 1 or 2 doubled it still might be OK

If pard had ♠Kx or ♠Kxx we need a switch, and if pard had ♠KQx or ♠KQxx we need a continuation. If pard had ♠KJx we need a continuation unless he has the ♣Q also. If pard has ♠KJ tight we need to play the ♠2 regardless of what the signal means. Given the above I would play low, encouraging.

I would cut partner some slack on the first one since we're fav and just pass. Second hand isn't good enough to do anything other than pass.

2♣, planning on balancing with a double over 2♦

2NT

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Double. If partner can bid a red suit, then I want to be in game.

I'll gratuitously suggest that you clearly shouldn't be playing 10-12 in most situations (vul or 3rd/4th). I'm sure you've heard that before. One simple thing you could do that would probably improve your results a little if you don't already do it is to upgrade pretty much all hands with 16 HCP and a 6 card suit into the 1♣ opening. These hands are usually stronger than balanced 17 counts and are not very difficult to bid in competition. I'd do the same thing with 12 HCP and 6 cards...upgrade it into an opening other than 2D/H/S.

Agree with Josh that it's a matter of personal preference. I play strong club and am more comfortable with 5 card majors since I spent the first 4 years or so of my bridge existence playing normal 2/1.

3♠ shows tolerance. I cannot imagine any hand without tolerance that would not act over 1♠ and would bid, but not bid 3NT over 3♦. 4♣/♥ are natural and NF.

This occurred some time ago and I don't remember real well the whole deal. Pard has Qxx KQ1098 AKJ Kx I believe. 2♠ was cold, 3♣ is two down, 3♥ is one down on the opps' layout. At the table there was no balance over 1♥ but there should have been.

one round force