Hanoi5

I read about a mistake in Deep Finesse not so long ago. In fact, it was prior to Dealmaster pro change to another DD solver.

It goes on: 1♣-Pa-1♦-Pa 1♠-Pa-2♥-Pa 2♠-Pa-3♦-Pa 3♥-Pa-?

6♦

1♥-1♠ 3♣-3♦ 3♠-4NT 5♦-5NT 6♣-7♠ When partner shows the ♣K you get excited and bid 7. You know partner holds a great hand (in HCP's) and an excellent distribution (3514 or 3505) so 13 tricks are not that hard to count. Mind you, if you want to play it safe you'd stay in six since partner didn't show the ♥K.

I'd start with 1♠.

This is a very old book which dealt with teaching bridge to beginners from recognizing the cards to a 60's bidding system (featuring strong twos) and playing/defense lessons from the finesse to a squeeze. The bidding part I never really checked, but the play part was great. I learned several plays from it and consider it an excellent book. I'm not the only person of this opinion. I've seen comments praising this book and thought it could be great help for newbies and even intermidiates. This book has been out of print for a long time. I have some copies. I could scan it and send it to people interested. Is this anti-copyright?

I'm sure 2♠ is the correct bid. I'd go for 2NT, especially playing in days with a full moon.

I'll try 5♠. Can partner double 1♠ on KQxx and nothing more? Hopefully not. I usually go too far though.

Actually, several people agreed with me in this topic, so my view wasn't so wrong.

Although West has 11 his/her hand is aceless and a 4333, so it's real value could be a little less than 11. 2NT describes west's hand HCP-wise better, but 2NT is also passable, and East might pass that, too. 2♣ with only 4 cards and such a balanced hand (and such a better description of the hand in NT) is out of the question. 3NT is way too much. You need several things to work in order to make game here, anyway. 2 finesses have to be right and you have to either guess the clubs perfectly or find one of the black suits breaking 3-3 which all in all is about less than 40%, which makes it a bad game.

Well, you can actually play it as natural: LHO asked me whether my 1♦ opening bid could be made on 3 cards. I said, 'yes, it might', then she proceeded to bid 2♦ which was passed around (probably the only contract they can make) and made. Screens were in use, do I have to call the Director or should it be my partner the one calling? What if my partner didn't hear it but the opponent did? When are the cones of silence going to be used at the bridge table!!!

So, with: ♠AKJ9x ♥KJ ♦Qx ♣Q9xx What are you supposed to bid over 1♠ (1NT would have been sandwich) or over 1NT? What is a flawed takeout? Spades and only one red suit? Wouldn't it be better to bid that red suit over 1NT? I always seem to get these wrong for I accept TO doubles in most situations but I think many call/indicate a penalty double, and this is one of them.

Parmiggiano

1♣, wtp?

All white, teams, you hold: ♠AJ987xx ♥--- ♦A873 ♣AQ Pa-Pa-1♠-X XX-3♥-??? XX shows 10+ no fit 3♥ is pre-emptive

They're red, you're white, partner deals and you hold: ♠T9 ♥AKQJ ♦QT987xx ♣--- It's temas and the bidding starts: 1♣-Pa-? Say you bid 1♦, your longer suit by three cards: 1♣-Pa-1♦-Pa 1♠-Pa What now?

All white, teams: ♠QJ7xxx ♥Q8752 ♦--- ♣Tx Pa-1♣-2NT*-??? How can you enter? Do you? *(showing the reds)

♠JT3 ♥A9753 ♦QJ ♣T84 Partner opens 1♣ (16+), do you transfer to hearts showing 8+? Partner opens 1NT (15-17), you transfer and partner bids a dull 2♥, do you invite or pass? Edited to add that you're playing teams and are white vs red. And your 1NT (in case you're playing precision) is 13-15. And the transfer is 2♦.

Was it the font? Or the suit symbols?

4♥, hopefully partner will choose a minor. If he bids 4♠ I don't know what I'll do... Pass? 4NT? 4♣ doesn't show the diamonds, that's why I don't like it.

Agree with Gwnn.

Yes, definitely South has to do something else. KC sounds good.

I was toying with the idea of bidding 2♦ as partner might have the reds reversed, but then I guess partner can pattern out just the same with 3♥ over 2NT, so that's better. And of course there's also the fact that 2♦ is FG and we don't exactly hold that.

5♣, sorry partner.

Yeah, exactly what happened at the table. The reason I posted the problem was to see if playing the ♣J is normal and whether trying to set up hearts is correct. Diamonds provided 5 tricks but I wasn't sure they were the way to go.