Hanoi5

3♠ was a cue-bid, either length or strength.

After reading that I thought: But then I read: Anyway my hopes are on your team taking the title. Maybe you then can become the spokesman for bridge like Cultberson or Goren taking the game to the popularity it once had.

All white, MP's: ♠Txxx ♥JTx ♦J8xx ♣KT Pa-1♥-2♦-2♥ Pa-3♠-4♦-X Pa-5♦-Pa-??? Do you think 2♥ is too much? Do you play doubles in this situation show the worst possible hand? Can 5♦ be exclusion KC or does it ask for the club control in order to play 6?

Being an imp tourney the decision is a difficult one. On the one hand you have the logical thing that partner has the spades for he wouldn't let the contract redoubled unless he thinks it's going down. On the other hand it is also logical for some people that the pass asks partner to bid his best suit. I'd ask RHO what redouble means, but in general I'd bid 4♥. Unless redouble is 'business'.

West. Even though East didn't quite describe his hand, West asked for KC (which I supposed was only what he cared for) and when he found the pair was only missing one KC he just stopped at the 5 level!

I think any system has at some point or another what is called a 'catch-all' bid which is a bid used for hard to describe hands. In 2/1 rebidding one's Major can work as a catch-all. 2NT can also serve this purpose.

I have a Pass card in my bidding box, how could it not be an option? I think the 5-level is kinda scary being Red I'd pass with the given hand but partner's double is not for penalty.

3♦. No universal or easy solution.

I was amazed when I read the story but I guess it's all part of the liberties parents have...

Is it true that the Youth tournaments of next year (under-25, under-21 and mind sports games) will be held in China again?

Pass. Our hand is pretty lame, partner has some spades (apparently), let 'em play.

I told Fluffy he was gonna play like that. The guy in the other room also did. Not sure if I would have done it.

Up to 4th.

What the hog, han and y66 said. Why would I try to show support right away if I can show my suit and later support letting partner in on the decision making?

Yeah, he led the only suit not bid. I'd play 5 spades throwing clubs from dummy, then hearts, then diamonds. At the end clubs from the top and hopefully the count/discards would have revealed something or the same person would have held both minor suit queens.

1♠-2♥ 3♦ is a worse situation. I bid 3NT. I made 3NT. This is not the issue. I was just wondering after the hand whether 3♠ was better or not and I thought it would for the reason posted above. What are the smart artificial calls? Gazilli?

I sincerely think 3♠ leaves more room for getting to a better contract. 3♥ doesn't neccesarily show 6 cards, does it?

Imp pairs, Red vs White: ♠6xx ♥QJT ♦KT9x ♣Axx Pa-(1♦)-1♠-(X) ??? How do you play redouble here? What would you bid with said hand?

Imp pairs, they're red, you're white and playing precision: ♠AJTxxx ♥Q ♦J6 ♣Q874 (Pa)-???

Imp pairs, all white: ♠--- ♥AQ ♦98732 ♣Q98743 Pa-(Pa)-Pa-(1♥) ??? Would you bid here or not? 2NT? 4♣(3♣ would show spades and clubs)? 4NT? Between 4♣ and 4NT what's better and worse and why?

Imp pairs, red vs white: ♠AQ9x ♥QT ♦A ♣KQJ9xx (1♠)-2♥-(Pa)-3♣ (3♦)-4♥-(5♦)-??? Was there anything better to do the previous round? Is 2♥ and then 4♥ better than 4♥ right away?

Imp pairs, Both red: ♠A9xxxx ♥xx ♦K85 ♣AQ 1♥-1♠ 2♦-3♣ 3♥-??? 1♥ is 11-15.

I wonder if splintering might influence them to sacrifice, even though they haven't entered. Partner's support implicates he doesn't have much on the side (AKQJ3 are missing and partner has 4 of them, what else can s/he have?). I think 5♦ is enough, I'll just punt to that.

Small diamond. Is X penalty here? What about bidding 3♦, then? I really don't like it when opps stop at the 2 level...

How smart! So if we play the 4NT opening as a balanced 4-6 hand that's correct as long as partner plays the same? Wow! I meant to ask whether it is a good and sensible approach that'll lead to good results. After 1♦-4♣, for example, opener can only sign-off in 4♦ or 4NT. The idea of splinters over a minor suit opening was to get to a slam, not to play a game (usually). So what is standard? What's better? By the way, I've never had a splinter hand over a minor suit opening...