Apollo81

In order of least difficult decision to most difficult decision, for me: 3/4. 4♠/1♦. 5. 2♣. I don't want to get raped in 1NT, thank you. 2. Pass. Too dangerous. 1. 3♥, since I have the ♥10. I'd rather play a 6-1 heart fit than a 4-3 diamond fit here, so 2♦ is out.

I am usually pleased. No doubt you've seen "worse minor" done deliberately.

You really hurt them when you can raise the auction to the three level or higher before opener gets a chance to bid again. To me, this means overcalling and advancing normally, but relaxing your suit quality requirements for jump overcalling. The style a lot of people seem to like of frequent 4-card suit overcalls and 2-level 5 card suit overcalls is exactly the opposite of the right thing IMO since it doesn't allow advancer much liberty in jacking it up.

1. 2♣. My ♥Q probably won't be valuable unless hearts is led, and I don't have enough to rebid 2NT. 2. 3NT. Let RHO figure out what to do.

I'd play 2/1 when opps NV and strong club when opps Vul to improve my game on both fronts, and I think there's a reasonable amount of theoretical advantage for that anyway.

X then NT

He upgraded a 13 count with 6♣

Minimum but normal.

Assuming the opponents are reasonably competent, aren't they usually already in a game forcing auction? Who cares what we are preempting, The opponents may rest in 3NT or 4m. In either of these cases I'm not sure I want to unilaterally bid 4♠ by myself.

South shouldn't have balanced Red/White with that, but I don't think that you can blame that for the result since that came out of nowhere.

1. NFConst 2. Forcing 3. Probably 4♥ like Justin said.

I'll also go with 3♠. I'm not yet sure what I'm preempting, so there's no need to give them an easy double.

I think Adam had this one right. The hand wants to bid RKC but can't (unambiguously at least), so make a bid that will allow you to bid RKC next.

I think it's funny that none of the people that said they play good bad 2NT here stated what they would bid if playing that. Clearly there is more than one option. If I was playing that here then I would bid 3♦, not 3♣.

4♠

Most of you are forgetting that we could easily be cold for game this hand, and even if we are not, the opening lead will give it to us a lot of the time. I think that if it were red IMPs then this is a fairly automatic 2NT bid since that is our only way to guarantee a good hand. I don't relish playing in 2NT if partner passes, but you gotta do what you gotta to to get the 600. Since this is MPs, it's less clear what to do.

I also think that it should be a preempt. I actually think that this is very damaging to Precision 2♣ openers since most people play negative doubles catering to opener possibly having a 4 card major.

This is a tough one, mostly because the bids in question are not well defined. One reasonable set of meanings is: 5NT: we have all the keycards/I am trying for grand 6♣: pick-a-slam 6♦: I have x KQx AKQJ10xxx x As such, I would pass 6♦ and probably bid 6♠ over the other two. If I was sure that pard meant 5NT as above then I can live with a 6♣ bid also. I can also see someone claiming the above meanings, but with 5NT and 6♣ reversed.

I would not force game immediately. As Mike mentioned, this is a good hand for Bart. Without it, I would respond 1NT and then bid 2NT over the assumed 2♣ rebid. If partner surprises me with any other rebid, I'll probably force game at that point.

A new suit by responder is forcing one round unless opener's last bid was 1NT. That means opener must bid in these auctions: 1♦-(2♣)-2♠ 1♣-(2♦)-2♥ 1♥-(1♠)-2♣ but not in these auctions: 1NT-(2♦)-2♥ 1NT-(2♥)-2♠ A 3-level new suit bid is forcing even if opener's last bid was 1NT. 1NT-(2♠)-3♣ There are of course conventional defenses to interference of 1NT (lebensohl etc) but that is a separate issue. So.....you're sort of forced to bid 2NT here. Do you see any other option?

Anyone who thinks that NS did something wrong here has at least temporarily lost their marbles.

I play better when I am hungry, so I usually lose weight at tourneys since I try not to eat much. I know this is the exact opposite for some people.

On hand 1, you have to lead a major to beat 3NT. Partner has KQJx Axxx Qxxx x. If you lead a club they probably take 9 tricks. If you lead a diamond, partner will have to duck. Declarer has x QJx AJ1087 K10xx. On hand 2, partner has AKQxxxxx x xx xx, a minimum, but he certainly has his bid. Slam is not very good. As long as you invite and don't bid RKC you will stay out of it. (unfortunately, 5s isn't making either on the actual deal, but thats a bit unlucky)

I assure all respondents that partner has his 4♠ bid on #2.

1. ♠654 ♥82 ♦K92 ♣J9872 all red, MPs 1♦-(p)-p-(1♠) p-(1N)-p-(2♥) p-(2N)-p-(3N) Your lead. 2. ♠J7 ♥872 ♦AQ853 ♣A42 favorable, MPs (2♥)-p-(3♥)-4♠ (p)-? Your call.