Hanoi5

I choose 5♠. I understand the logic behind passing being forcing (after reading Justin's post) but I don't want to double (or leave it double) so I just bid what i think we make.

I'm not lading a trump here, and a heart looks best, I just hope I don't find declarer with the ace and dummy with 5 hearts to the JT (unless my partner can ruff...).

Happy birthday!

You hold: ♠Qxx ♥8 ♦A98xx ♣AT63 It goes: 1♣ 1♥ ? 1♣ 2♥ ? 1♣ 3♥ ? I bet 2♦ is a possibility in the first one, but what about the third? Would you use a negative double there?

Red vs White, you hold: ♠Qxx ♥AQTxx ♦73 ♣Jxx 3NT* Pa 4♣ Pa 4♦ Pa Pa 4♠ Pa Pa 5♣ Pa 5♦ ??? What does partner action over 4♦ (after having passed 4♣) mean? What would you bid now?

Although for the sake of competition bidding spades is better than NT (especdially after they opened the bidding and partner already passed) I believe we can safely bid 2♠ now. The only problem I see is that partner holds the hearts and is waitong for the bid to come to him and double, but other than that 2♠ seems automatic here.

This is a good topic for information about the terrible situation of the nuclear facility in Fukushima and I'm actually worried about Gerben not having posted lately. I just read some passengers from Japan got abnormal radiation levels arriving in Taiwan and apparently Murphy is having his way with the situation.

Red vs White Goulash MP's ♠--- ♥AK5 ♦765432 ♣AQJ7 4♠ 5♥ 5♠ 6♥ Pa Pa 6♠ Pa Pa X Pa ??? What's your bid? What's the expected behaviour in this situation?

♣10 was what I thought of first. Against 2NT (or a NT contract where one of the hands is VERY strong and the other not so much or one of them invited and the other didn`t accept, and sometimes when they did) it might be better to lead passively so that declarer has to lead from his hand/holdings and not us towards his. But it's not an obvious lead.

North all the way.

What's the purpose of the 3rd question? Your answer should be the same as in the first.

I agree with Helen. On the other hand, can I get an invitation to quora?

You and your partner could announce that you like to take your time on the first trick. You can also hold your card and say you're inspecting the first trick before declarer turns the card (an you turn yours). Of course if you're playing online and you don't like to/can't tell the opponents that you like to take your time as defense on the first trick (which I guess should be your right) then you can write after seeing/making the opening lead: 'BRB', and take your time then.

85% to West, 15% to East. I don't think west should double with that hand in the direct position. I bet east could bid 2NT if it is natural. N/S should just enjoy their plus after E/W get to this horrible contract. E/W should probably let them play in 2♦.

I thought of Vesuvius way first. But then Frances raised a good point of defenders having an easy time keeping their clubs. Maybe 6NT is the best opening, maybe 2♣ and a slow auction to determine if partner has a suitable hand (diamond support) or a suitable hand for clubs (club Queen). I'll take the club road though, for it might lead to new roads in the end, for example after asking about the club Q and not finding it in partner bidding 6♦, it'll get us at least to 6NT and maybe to 7 if we're lucky.

So the fact that North might hold ♥AQ and ♠K plus a twice guarded ♦K is not enough to keep us from bidding to game?

Erm, sorry to interrupt but, why do we want to play game?

Exactly, without much thought. Partner can have ♦A and ♣AQ and a minor suit slam might still be off. I pass and hope for 500 when we have at least game and 300 when we don't have anything.

Red vs white, you deal and hold: ♠KJx ♥KQxx ♦ ♣QJ8xxx It goes: 1♣ Pa 1♦ 1NT Pa Pa X Pa ??? What now?

Very nice insights, I think Adam's ♣J suggestion is good as well as the ♦Q suggestion. All fails miserably for LHO held: ♠T8xxx ♥AKTxx ♦xx ♣x

After 2NT-3♣-3♦-3NT, you see: ♠A9 ♥652 ♦QT632 ♣J87 ♠KQJ6 ♥Q7 ♦AJ ♣AQ932 You play 20-21 2NT opening, but I bet any other bidding would get you there (unless they intervene, but I won't spoil the fun). The ♥4 is led and you start sweating, but after calling for a small heart from dummy RHO plays the J. After winning the Q, how do you continue?

I'd also Pass on the first one (pard might be able to get club ruffs in my hand and AKQ of diamonds might be fine for throwing losers and not being overruffed by LHO). 3NT on the second one, too. I might try Stayman if I think I'm in need of a special score.

I'd never succeded when leading from a J. I'd lead a heart, the 10, unless playing journalist.

I should have doubled 1♠, 3♥ now I guess.

[hv=pc=n&w=s2hakqt742dt8ckj2&e=sak5h6daj3cq98543&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1d2cp2hp2np3hp3np4hppp]266|200[/hv] MP's. The result was an average, but is there a way to get to 6?