Hanoi5

I hate it. I mean, I hate it. I really, really hate opening 1♦.

Probably the organizer shouldn't have said anything.

[hv=pc=n&n=skj843h96d7cjt965&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1hd4h]133|200[/hv] Imp's.

I could answer that but then I'd be banned from the forums. Anyway, we defeated it. And checking the results our 200 would have been better than the average we got. West's 1st double is OK, I think. It shows the possibility of doubling one of the Majors (or both). He can double spades. East's double doesn't look so good. Maybe a 4♣ call is in order? West's final double is doubtful I guess, can he pass? 4♠?

[hv=pc=n&w=sakj62h92dj95cjt3&e=st3hkj43dcak86542&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=p1c2d(*Alerted%20as%20Majors)d3hd4d(*It%20was%20natural...)dppp]266|200[/hv] Director ruled average, but can anything be done by E/W to get to game/slam in clubs?

[hv=pc=n&w=sakq873hqj9djt2c6&e=sjt965hk76dca7542&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=2h(5%21h%20+%204%20or%20more%20of%20a%20minor)4s4n(Tell%20me%20your%20minor)5spp6cd6ddppp]266|200[/hv] Should E/W reach the slam in spades? How can they 'settle' the heart situation?

Your processor is clearly overheating. Try some ventilation. Or maybe the lights at the Eurobuilding are a bit lower, check that.

Letting the ten run? If it is covered winning and another towards the 8.

[hv=pc=n&w=sq43hjdaqjt972cat&e=saj9652ht432dkc32&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=p1dp1sp2d(too%20little%3F)p2sp3s(too%20little%20again%3F)pp(Isn%27t%20the%20%21dK%20a%20mountain%3F)p]266|200[/hv] How would you have bid?

I vote for the spades.

Winning the first trick with the ♠Q and playing on hearts is the trick of the hand.

[hv=pc=n&w=sjt942h7d8753caq2&e=skq8hdak96cj87653&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1cp1hd2h2s4hppp]266|200[/hv] At some tables South opened 1D. Clubs were 2-2 with King onside. Slam is too much to ask but is there a way for E-W to get to game?

Imp pairs, Red vs White: ♠Qx ♥AKQJx ♦Txx ♣KQJ Your partner deals and after two passes the following unfolds: Pa-(Pa)-1♥-(1♠) 2♥-(2♠)-??? Automatic 4♥?

LHO deals. MP's. White vs Red: ♠J9876xx ♥x ♦KQJxx ♣--- (Pa)-1♥-(2♣)-??? Would you double here? What would you plan to bid over partner's rebid in hearts or NT? Say you bid 2♠, what would you bid over partner's 3NT?

Maybe it's just that I didn't explain myself. Would you prefer a beginner to play a tournament and find out about this hand AFTER getting a zero or the same beginner playing a tournament finding this hand AFTER having read about it in the forums? I'm in favor of having beginners start playing as soon as possible. There's no comparison between practice and theory in bridge teaching/learning. But reading about things before you face them could be very helpful for beginners.

Welcome to the forums! [hv=pc=n&s=shq8765dc&w=sha932dc&n=shkj4dc&e=shtdc]399|300[/hv] In general when playing a suit you try to use the honours in the short hand first. So you should play a heart towards KJ in dummy. The first time you do this you'll get to see the Ten from East and you might lead hearts from South again intending to finesse against West's 9. But I'm not that sure that's such a great idea. Although maybe it's a restricted choice situation? What I'm sure of is that you should generally play high cards from the short side first as it gives you many advantages in many situations. (For example if East and West holdings were reversed you would have lost two tricks in hearts while if you had played towards KJ you would have trapped the nine).

Exactly! And so far I have gotten exactly what I wanted (and probably a little extra that I didn't). This hand should not be open with a weak 2. It is not a hand worth opening at the two level to show a 6-card suit and 6-10 HCP's. This should be taught to beginners when the hand appears to them. It can also be framed within the 'rule of 20' for opening a hand. I advocate opening 1♥ with it but I'm also okay with passing and then entering. Even 3♥ makes more sense than 2. Of course the reasons for not opening two should be explained (too much playing strength, strong in its two suits). The flaws of passing should be shown (the hand holds no spades, what if they open 1 or 2 spades, partner passes and LHO raises to 4 spades? And I guess others). The pitfalls of opening 1 should also be mentioned (what if the hand is a misfit, we shouldn't be scared after opening and pass a forcing bid by partner, we should avoid NT, etc). In the end I think we're all interested in the same thing: that beginners and novices learn hand evaluation before they have to face the challenges at the table.

Both red, imp pairs, you deal and hold: ♠--- ♥KQ9xxx ♦A87xx ♣xx

Imp pairs. They're red, you're white. Righty opens 1♣ and you hold: ♠AKJ53 ♥A9 ♦Q85 ♣843 (1♣)-1♠-(Pass)-2♥ (Pass)-??? What now?

I would rebid 4♠, not 3. Partner should expect an unbalanced hand when I rebid 3♠, otherwise, why didn't I open 1NT? So I think if I wanted to downgrade the hand based on the Jxx and Qx I sh/would've opened 1NT.

South mainly. I suppose this will be critized for being posted here.

♠Qxx ♥KQJxx ♦KQxxx ♣--- 1♥-2♦ 3♦-3NT ??? MP's, both red. SAYC.

What about KQJxx x Qxx QJxx?

[hv=pc=n&s=sat953hj873dqct42&n=sqj6hadak8642caq8&d=n&v=b&b=13&a=1dp1sp2np3hp4cp4hp4np5cp6sppp]266|200[/hv] MP's, an individual. ♦J was led. I took it with my Queen, entered dummy with the ♥A, played the ♠Q, K, A, small. Heart ruff and spade Jack, small, small, heart. Hmpf. Small diamond, ruffed, overruffed. High trump, small club from West, diamond from the table. Now what? Would you have done anything differently so far?

1NT-2♣ 2♥-3♠ (cue-bid agreeing hearts) 3NT(I also control spades)-4NT 5♦-5♠(trump queen?) 6♥(Yes, but no kings)-P ( :( ) I think it's pretty hard to get to 7.