marcD

I play 3C forcing so not sure what 3C NF is supposed to show. However, partner's hand seems like a good candidate (concentration D/C, Club fit facing an unbalanced hand hoping it is not 4414). I would therefore pass. As a side point it might have been wiser to bid 1S instead of 1H planning to bid 2H over 2C (especially if wide range)

There are many versions of Gazzilli. However, it seems there is a way to show both strong 5-5 hands (GF) and 5431 over 1S-1NT-2C-2D : use 2H to show a GF hand with 5+ and direct 3x to show 5-5. I play Gazzilli with semi forcing NT (and if 5H then 5-9) so may be the issue is slighly different.

Know i am late to the party but for me the dbl is clear cut. What is less clear is the 4H bid. The offensive efensive ratio is not good so the overcall is at best marginal

I do not like this hand but no reason not to open 3♦ (would consider 2♦ if available). 1♦ is not an option. PAss if we are ahead and are trying to avoid swings

Nice problem. I think pass is best although a bit swingy . I'd gamble that opener is 18-19 balanced and/or opponents have a spade fit. If not pass rather double than 1H (wrong on values and lead indication).

I think the main issue with that opening is that it may be sometimes too effective to be honest (see Hamman's book on this very topic). I have not met too many people who play this but each time it was very clear they were very far from FD especially on competitive auctions (or may be it's just they did not know what they were doing)

I am probably missing something : S4 seems the normal card to play. I do not want partner to switch to a heart. If declarer has SJ, i will tell partner to hold his cards closer to his chest :) . PArtner is likely to have AQJ and probably did not want to play SJ first lets it should show a club honour. on the SJ i will play S8 discouraging again a H switch btw , i prefer S2 lead to S8 which may create some confusion . I am not sure when i lead that I want parrtner to switch to a clead. I might consider S8 with AKJx or AK10x in club

Pass for now . I'll pull partner's dbl to show a good hand (with 5S although 4S may be enough). If partner does not dbl (presumably because he has a void and a very offensive hand) i will cue bid my K of heart to try to reach 7S

Now Pass before it gets ugly. 2S now is not ELC in my system, it shows a strong hand . I might have reopened with DBL but think pass is probably wiser at this vulnerability at pairs .

Clear Pass . Why is 3H better than 3NT ? easy, i am not doubled. If they psyched so be it .

Abstain :) over WNT i play dbl flat hand 13+ , 2C Landy other transfer. Here I would bid 2H (constructive) and would raise 2S to 3S . 4S looks like too much; let's partner decide

easy pass on first one since partner would bid 2NT with 10 good points. guess it's a matter of agreement but we play 1NT 6-9, 2NT 10-11 bid game / cue bid if more on second one 3C forcing

For whatever it's worth i would pass since there is a fair chance than the opponents are cold for 4H. If i were to balance I think 3C better desribes my hand (provided it is natural :))

Since I play 2S forcing double is my only option. Pass is interesting but we could easily be cold for 4S and have partner pass with a moderate 4153. The only concern with double is what to do over 3D by partner either free bid or in competition : I guess i would bid 3S then

Do not think 4S comes close to describing the east hand when it seems we can have 7S at worst on a red finesse. Strong clubber tend to open 2C on any excuse and I think it is not appropriate to exclude slam just because south opened. I think the practical bid is 6S (i could pass forcing if notrh bids 7C) but have no problem with 5C. I one thing i would not do is suggesting H as trumps ! 2H by west is an ugly bid but probably the best of a bad lot; do not think than passing is a long term winning strategy with that kind of hand (even if available 4C to show H+D is a bit too rich for me)

Would assume responder gives choice between 4H and 5D (he shows 5H and 4+D). Not sure about acol but would assume 4S by opener shows an unbalanced hand, so that bid would not be a problem (if not i understand why i do not play acol :))

Don't assume you'll get another chance to bid...one of the nice things about using 2NT is that partner can pass it, either when he thinks it's the right contract or he thinks anything undoubled is better than anything doubled. I see your point but people in Europe who use it (mostly poles of course) tend to use it with decent hands and double seems more useful as shwing values than pure penalty. Also if 2NT gets passed partner will do its outmost to balance with double

Play the same except dbl shows values (13+ balanced). No need to warn them we have a penalty double in a minor : just pass and then double. Value showing double enables partner to better judge the situation

Well not sure too many people play unlimited one level opening and weak no trump in france (aside from a few italian guest stars) . If i were to play such a system i would know what the double mean :) i guess values

The main reason to use some form of flannery response is to avoid the nightmare sequence : 1D 1S 2D where 2H would be forcing and you might have a heart fit or even game (especially in european systems where the 2H reverse is fairly strong). The idea was extended to the 1C opening ; not sure this is as useful but it does fit nicely if you choose to bypass sapdes over 1C 1H with balanced hands (and avoids some problems when 4th hand overcalls). You loose weak twos in response to 1m but this may actually be an asset rather than a liability

Having played polish club for a couple of years i can only agree with Chip Martel's comments. I think it is best to pass strong balanced hands (when they are vulnerable). I tend to play 1H,1S natural somewhat constructive, 2C,2D,2H,2S natural freewheeling 1NT 4H+minor 1D 4S+minor reasonnably constructive

Agree with this comment . That's why 4C relay (asking for hand type) over 3NT is a good convention . x then 3NT shows a flexible hand not a stronger hand. partner is expected to pass over a direct 3NT unless he has a suit he wants to play opposite xx ou x

2S would have been ok holding the boss suit the partner did not bid 4C unless he was fearing competition at the 5 level . His pass on 5H is forcing so now 5S seems clear cut at MP

The hand was promising but now i think Pass is best. Even if pard has 5-6 HCP i am not going to enjoy playing 3NT : either the clubs are going to be wide open or he has useless points in club for offense

yes but i would rather have 5♦'s to reopen with double....i have 18hcp opp overcalled that should be 10+hcp and other opp raised that should be 6-10 hcp. To me on this hand it just doesnt seem worth the risk on a partscore for doubling....so far none of the doublers have voiced in on why they doubled :) Why do i double ? because opponents rate to be cold for 3C and we could have 3D or 3 of a major. A partscore swing is nothing to sneeze at. Even if partner has very poor cards and we go minus 2 (unlikely) it will be extremely difficult fot the opponents to nail us. Good things can happen if I double : opponents go to the 4 level and end up going down, partner can bid a cold major game