Hanoi5

1♠ Not much need to think about it.

[hv=pc=n&w=sq82hq87632d42ck6&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1d2c?]133|200[/hv] Playing transfers or negative free bids it would be easy enough. But what if you're playing plainly natural, 2♥ showing 10+. Double (negative) and then hearts? Pass and wait for partner to double?

So, nobody had noticed that ranking systems in bridge usually award participation instead of performance?

I ruff on the table, and play AK of spades, no Queen? I ruff a spade. I win if the Spade Queen is doubleton AND the King is onside (or with the doubleton holder) or spades are 3-3 and clubs 3-2. Finessing clubs seems to win only when the Spade Queen is doubleton and whenever the Club King is doubleton (onside).

You haven`t played enough. Isn´t this combo explained in ROdwell's book?

I usually bid 3NT with these hands. Especially playing MP's, I cannot pass the opportunity for the usually better scoring game.

[hv=pc=n&w=s73hkqj52d87ckt96&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1s?2s3d3s?]133|200[/hv] Do you enter the first or the second time? Do you remain quiet? ANy difference between MP's and Imp's?

We're missing 20 HCP's, heart honours are KJ - AQ, and RHO holds the ♠A?

I open 1♦ and I'm not afraid of reversing in hearts. If that's an issue open 1♥.

a) I might try 3NT. 4♦ is another possibility. b) 3♦

Not for me. Especially since a card is missing. But even with 3=3=4=3 and 6 I prefer 2♦.

Why would opener need to reopen with 3NT? He can jolly well double!!!

I stand with the 1H crowd. 1N should be more constructive and partner should know that my lowest level bid in any suit could be 3 cards.

Ruff and run the Spade 10.

It's true. People should ask about the meaning of the bid and never using the name of the convention or treatment they're asking about. But I usually get asked, better minor? 4-card Diamond? And I had never encountered the convenient name the last 2 posters mentioned (though I just looked it up and it is conveniently used in some places). I always thought the name 'better minor' came from the fact it was the longest (when 3-2). You live you learn, thanks for pointing out the name (though I just checked BWS doesn't use that name, though it uses the treatment).

http://www.larryco.com/BridgeArticles/ArticleDetails.aspx?articleID=18 http://www.coolumbridgeclub.com/docs/lesson15.pdf http://www.acbl.org/assets/documents/teachers/Teacher-Manuals/Commonly-Used-Conventions-Lesson-5.pdf page 219 http://www.betterbridge.com/misc/StandardArticles/Standard200503.pdf (Though he doesn't call it 'Better minor') http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/45333-sayc-better-minor/ http://www.ecbc.net.au/A%20Standard%20American%20System.pdf (page 4, number 3) http://www.jazclass.aust.com/bridge/br05/br05_com.htm So, short club means you can open 1♣ even with 2 cards (4=4=3=2). If 'Better minor' means the minor with the best quality in high cards, how do you call the system where you open 1♦ with 3 cards in the exceptional case (4=4=3=2) but 1♣ on all 3-3's?

[hv=pc=n&s=sqj3hkj74da43caq6&n=shat632dkqt9762ct&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1n3s?]266|200[/hv] How do you propose the N/S hands be bid?

♠Axx ♥KTxx ♦AQx ♣T9x My partner opened a similar hand to this with 1♣. We play better minor, which I understand means that when your minor suits are 3-2 you open with the longest one. With 3-3 in the minors I almost always open 1♣. I understand opening 1♦ might be a better tactical bid, though. How do you play it? Is there a 'right' way? What do 4-card-Diamond or Short-clubbers open with this hand? The lady whose turn to bid was after my partner's asked what we played and was very angry when dummy hit the table with these minor suits holdings. Is she entitled to some kind of reddress? Is there a better way to alert the minor suits openings?

I think double then spades is better. I doubt partner will pass our double after this start. I believe 5♦ and then Spades would show a better hand and probably seem like a Majors two-suiter. 6♠ right away seems like the macho-man choice. If I don't trust my partner or don't want anything resembling scientific bidding, I'd choose that. Finally, I'd be afraid of playing just 4♠ if I bid that. It's true, being red vs white it should be a good hand but how often will partner continue (with a hand that would pass the double, for example)?

2♠. And ♣'s afterward.

Excellent play problem. And also a good bidding problem to try your NT system.

North's last card was a club and the Spade 6 made the last trick. Although I agree the play is bad, North's comment that she thought her partner held the missing spade made me leave the concession standing.

[hv=pc=http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=w&v=-&e=sa42hj98532dt6ca9&n=skqj9853hdk2cj654&s=s7hq6dj983ckq8732&a=1h4s5hppp&p=sksas7sth2h6has3hks5h3hqh4s8h8c8d6d3dqdkc4cac2ct]399|300[/hv] At this point South said '6 made', North slammed her cards on the table and they started to discuss. At some point they asked West if he held a spade to which he answered truthfully, yes I did. North acknowledged she didn't think her partner had the missing spade when declarer dropped the 10 on the first trick (that's why she didn't cash it) and it was North at the other table who discarded all the spades.

On the 6th trick one of the players of the defense says: 'I concede the rest'. Declarer accepts, they enter the result and start discussing the hand and the realize they could make a trick more, 'normally'. Declarer objects as he had some ways to make 'the rest'. At the other table, declarer played till the end and made 'the rest' when one of the defenders misdefended. How would you rule?

You had a great result. I was thinking I might have played 6NT. 3♦ should be forcing and over 4♦ you'd have to ask for KC in order to ask about kings.