Apollo81

Blackwood over 3♦ would have been nice if that's available in your methods. Here I think you've basically been railroaded into 6♣.

Oh no, it was me. This was one of my favorable matchpoint specials that I can only defend by saying that it would have been a great score if I had gotten doubled or found the right lead (which I would also have to do against 4♥ not to get a crap score obviously). You can get a way with a LOT at favorable at MPs, especially if you know your opps' tendencies. For instance as long as partner is prepared for this sort of bidding I would routinely open a weak two on xx KJ97x xxxx xx 1st seat favorable.

MPs, favorable ♠9853 ♥--- ♦AQ4 ♣KQ6543 1♣-(2♣)-p-(4♥) 5♣-(5♥)-all pass

I would lead a diamond both because partner didn't double 4♥ and because partner's ace is more likely to be the ♦A than the ♥A

Happy gnome day!

If you were asked to name the 5 biggest mistakes that beginner level players make, what would you say? By beginner level I mean "would get killed if playing against an intermediate level player" By mistakes I mean something fairly specific, like "bidding 2NT when you meant to make a forcing bid" or "underevaluating when a 9+ card major fit is present" or "not giving/listening to attitude signals" rather than general stuff like "not counting" or "bad defense" or "not understanding what bids are forcing"

I think a heart is an extremely obvious lead on this deal

The omission of the opps' spade spots on this hand (and RHO's play at trick 1) is very disappointing.

might had = would have in the real world it will go ♥TJKA

5♦, I don't think inviting makes much sense. Partner is going to downgrade cause his diamonds suck, and it;s right to be in game opposite some non doubles, like A10x Axxx xxx Axx

the likely bad breaks on this hand make 3NT a lot more appealing to me than playing in a suit (diamonds at least) lets have the actual deal

Obvious pass.

why would you double HEARTS with this hand?

1. pass 2. 2NT re #2: I think you can GF with the right 8 counts in this auction, but this hand isn't one of them

I would bid 3NT, a contract I expect to make.

My advice is to play as many hands as you can with a regular partner against people that are about as good as you and eventually you will learn what works and what doesn't.

like bridge players? =) jk

Thanks everyone. I didn't notice this till now as I took off around 4ish EST that day I believe I saw that it was mike777's bday too. Happy bday to him also. Next year he will be exactly double my age. -Noble

I'd recommend the B/M book.

West gets 100% blame for not making an auto 3NT bid.

Out of the three "local pros" I know of in my area (DC) 2 are very good partners and 1 is very poor. I don't see the latter much around anymore.

The opponents are slightly less likely to cover the ♠8 than the ♠10 in my experience; that's what I'd run.

Drop her now! If she nags you this much at this stage, can you really survive being married the rest of your life. Best reason I ever heard to never buy a cell/email/text phone. Do you really want to be pestered by your girlfriend, boss, family the rest of your life on every little thing. :) It's an analogy dude

edit

OK, if I were East here's what I'd be thinking: I'm not playing ♠Q now as partner may have led from ♠10xxxx. For now I'll encourage, and I'll discard my highest affordable club spot at my first chance. If forced to make additional discards I'll play high-low from clubs. I may be forced to unblock spade later but I'll give both of them a chance to change my mind. On the actual hand if West wins ♦K at once and returns spade, East then is forced to make a decision. However West *could* duck diamond to help the defense too..following with highest spot then winning ♦K at next chance makes East's spade unblock on the next round clear. Without signals there is often at least some element of guesswork.