Mosene

Pass

ZAR says this is a 1 spade opener. so... 1 ♠ - 2♥ 2♠ - 3♦ 5♦? - 6♦? Is the leap to 5 diamonds warranted? Not sure. I would think East has 4 or more diamonds a very large % of the time. You have more than an opening (ZAR) hand after finding the diamond fit. So I think 5 diamonds is quite reasonable and will make a good % of the time. Once West bids 5, I think East is wimpy to not bid 6.

I think 3NT is more than reasonable - my guess is that is what he bid (maybe 4 spades?). You are very likely to have 5 or 6 tricks for partner. Partner can likely scrape together 3 or 4 tricks. with an unkown partner transfer and then 3 spades. With an understanding partner - 3NT (state of match matterse of course).

If I understand ZAR points, responder needs to bid more. It is close to an opening hand. Especially because there is very likely to be a fit with one of the majors b/c of partners 1 NT bid. NMF or checkback of some kind makes sense.

I do not have the time to play much - so I would prefer a system that ranks based on where you place when you play (and who you play against). And my guess is that the masterpoint system blocks any attempts to develop such a system.

I pass. The auction is not over yet (and unlikely to die in 1 diamond, but if it does probably good for us).

win the club queen and play back the q of hearts.

If declarer is (see below) and is playing for 3-3 clubs and 3-2 spades, why not pitch a heart on the 3rd diamond? Then play along dummy reversal lines? (ruff diamond return in dummy, take 2 spades, AK club ruff, spade back to hand, ruff heart at the end. As usual, I am sure I am missing something. (alternatively with heart switch, win Heart Ace, 2 spades, AK and club ruff, Spade back to hand ruffing heart at end) ♠AKQ ♥XXX ♦XX ♣AKXXX

I want partner to get in and lead a heart.

"Unless this hand came up twice in the last couple days, it's regional pairs, red against white. I bid 6C when I held it. " Seattle, WA (Lynnwood) regional. I bid 6 Clubs also - LHO thought but did not double or bid again. I thought against strong opponents a bid like that might induce a good sacrifice on their part (both 6 diamonds and 6 spades are a good sacrifice). Partner had something like: ♠XX ♥QXXXX ♦XXXXX ♣XX Of course, 6 hearts or 6 clubs rolls (LHO switched to a heart at trick to, so I had to hold my breath for a second, but no ruff.).

Your are dealt: ♠-X ♥- AKJXX ♦- ♣AKQJ109X The bidding has gone P - 1SP - ?? What do you bid and why? Does it matter how good the opponents are? If so, how would your bidding change based on the skill of the opponents?

I am mostly interested in the merits of 4♠ instead of 4♦. Is 4 spades fairly automatic, or is it close b/n 4 spades and 4 diamonds? My thought was that 4 diamonds is forcing and gives partner more room (plus it was a pick-up partner on BBO so I thought 4 spades had a risk side to it as well). Not sure if it shows 3 diamonds or not - although I think it should. Any input appreciated. Thanks.

I bid 4 diamonds. And partner bid 5 diamonds - do you then pass? I did. We only made 7. I felt partner could (should) have bid 4 hearts after 5 diamonds. I then bid 4 spades and we are off to the races. Is 4 spades clear cut? Does 4 diamonds show 3? Partners hand. ♠qx ♥AKJX ♦KQ9XXXX ♣--

Your are the dealer with the hand below and the bidding goes as follows: 1♣ - P - 1♦ - p 3♣ - P - 3♥ - p ?? What do you bid next and why? ♠--- ♥1073 ♦A73 ♣AKQ10987

Are they all playing the same boards in the semi-finals? You could compare the final contracts in some sort of Butler ranking type system. Granted, the amount of interference in the bidding can alter the final contract, but it would provide an interesting analysis and starting point to see if the differences are due to bidding.

Re Tiger's match play record. If they were to play 72 holes it would be much better. So, the question is, are they going to play enough boards to all but eliminate what I will call the "randomness" factor.

So long as West does not have 5 clubs, it is guaranteed, by a West throw in (play last trump, A and K of clubs, club off dummy, then either finesse or go up with club depending on if East plays a club or not and play last club, pitching spade from dummy). - not sure how to test for 5-1 clubs without risking the contract.

How about - play King and Ace of clubs - once the q of clubs shows up ruff a heart, cash the diamond K and then get back with a club and continue clubs - pitching a diamond if/when RHO ruffs. RHO is then end played to play a heart or a second diamond (or a spade). If it is a heart - pitch a diamond from hand, ruff on the board and play the last club - if RHO ruffs low overruff and play a diamond (RHO has only AK of spades left so it is ok to have that trick ruffed). if RHO ruffs high pitch another diamond. I think that works.

Can we re-examine the restricted choice question for a moment - particularly the part about a priori and posteriori. We now know that RHO started with either AK or KJ (at least the hands we care about). In the first case, 1/2 the time RHO plays the A and 1/2 the time RHO plays the King (or at the very least - does not play the King every time). In the second case RHO always plays the King. This is what tells me the 10 is right. Why should we throw out the information we have and only look at a priori odds? BTW, I am only looking to understand the issue, not asserting that what I say is correct.

I thought the assumption was we do not have the 8 of clubs. if so, there is 0 chance to pull clubs with no losers.

The 4 diamond cue bid was a waste of time. All North needs is good hearts (as the splinter rarely shows a singleton A grand is out of the question). 5 hearts seems like the right bid or something that might ask about the heart honor situation. May not be any easier to bid 6 but probably OK with AJXX. Also, I do not think the 4 heart bid showed the heart A - it may have simply been "i have nothing else to say."

I led the K diamonds. Dummy had Q10, and declarer had AJX. Wanted to see if it was a reasonable shot (even at MP's).

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=sq75hq42dk6ca10874]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] The bidding went, 1S, P, 2clubs, p, 2H, p, 2s, p 3h p, 4s, all pass What do you lead?