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[X] Check boxes are LOL

I agree with mikeh.

I don't understand keycarding and then signing off with all five because of the queen of trumps. Sorry, it shouldn't exist.

I would just bid 4♠. Need more for 4♦ or that bid would make it too hard for partner.

I disagree with that, I think we need to bid spades with that shape. Partner will often have to live with a 4♥-bid on his three-card suit. With what shape? As long as partner understands you would bid 4♥ with that shape I can't picture a shape where he doubles and passes 4♥ with a 3 card suit. 3325, 4333 etc. can all pull to 4♠. I probably misunderstood your post. Pull to 4♠ with 3-3 in the majors? :) I think the initial doubler is expected to pass 4♦X often with normal shapes. We can't indulge ourselves and make a responsive double with 5-5 or some 5-4 in the majors. A responsive double shows less than that. So pulling would often be into a five-card suit.

Ok, thx.

I disagree with that, I think we need to bid spades with that shape. Partner will often have to live with a 4♥-bid on his three-card suit.

Pass. A lot of players reopen too lightly in this situation. Excluding the often too conservative Americans of course.

1♦ - 1♥ 1♠ - 3♦ 3♥ - 4♥ pass Being late to support partner is a usual downfall.

Passing is out of course. I don't want to play bridge like that. It's 3♦ or 2NT is that's scrambling. I'm used to scrambling unless one has shown a strong hand already. Then I play 2NT as natural. For instance after doubling opps 1NT and then responding 2NT to partner's takeout double of 2X.

Hi Andy, nice meeting you in Gold Coast. Unfortunately we didn't have much time to talk (I was busy butchering contracts unfortunately :)).

What is OS? Hate random abbrevations.

lol, something is rotten.

Yes.

Yes, double. This is a nonforcing situation so double shows values without a bid.

Just a standard responsive double.

What is platinum pairs?

In Denmark we have a selection committee, which is probably the only practical way to do it here. There is not one single full time bridge professional in Denmark (unless we count bridge teachers who earn all their money not from playing bridge but from teaching weekly classes in bridge centers), and even though our bridge federation pays all immediate expenses for the chosen teams, there are other sacrifices for the players, and it's only natural that some of our strong pairs can't or don't want to play in the international events from time to time. So, often the strong teams in Denmark have perhaps only one or two pairs competing for a spot on the national team. Actually of the team that won the Danish Teams Championships this weekend none of the pairs were available for the national team that was picked yesterday. One pair has retired from the national team, two players have kids to look after etc. So just wanting to have the winners of that tournament to represent Denmark would be pointless. To get as strong a team as possible under these circumstances I think the only solution is to have a selection committee picking three pairs, even though in principle I favour team trials. Denmark is a small country and all strong players know eachother well, so there will rarely be social problems with forming a 'dream team' (:unsure:) for each separate event.

Close enough, declarer had KJ10xx xx QJxxx Q. So there was no defense after the lead?! Ok declarer might go wrong but a little unlikely. After ♦ lead and two rounds of ♥ south plays a ♣. It goes ♣ Q, ♦Q (covered and ruffed), ♥ ruff, ♦ J, ♦ ruff, ♠Q, ♣A. Now declarer is stuck in dummy and North will score one trick with his ♠9xxx by trump promotion. So one down? Not really since declarer can ruff the second ♣ low and ruff the winning diamond (as north underruffs) and claim with his ♠KJ10. You are not getting right track on declarer's low trumps. If he ruffs a heart in hand (low) and draws one round of trumps with a big one in dummy, he has only KJT left for three sure tricks.

Close enough, declarer had KJ10xx xx QJxxx Q. So there was no defense after the lead?! Ok declarer might go wrong but a little unlikely.

I think we need a tad more (♠T). Declarer can take two club tricks, ruff a heart, trump finesse diamonds, ruff a club high, cash a diamond. 1♦+2♣+7♠.

I would also raise both of them one level. Except that I play 4♦ keycards over 4♣, so if partner has 2 I try slam and hope for an 8-bagger or 7 with some body.

If declarer is 6241 with ♠K, and I play ♥♥♦, he has ten tricks - seven trumps and three clubs. He has a heart ruff as entry back to hand after cashing ♠AQ. If I play a diamond without cashing the second heart, he throws a heart on a club, ruffs a heart, ruffs a diamond, cashes ♠A, and plays ♣J throwing his last diamond. To beat it, I have to play ♥♥♣. Declarer can't get all three clubs as well as a diamond ruff. If he tries for two clubs and two diamond ruffs, ♠9 in partner's hand will be sufficient. If we force him in diamonds it won't be obvious to draw trumps and rely on three club tricks. It will be tempting to try for a second diamond ruff, and then he is in trouble. Playing a club doesn't work, as it is being said, declarer will establish the suit. He won't get that wrong.

It would be relevant to inquire if they play weak jump shifts to 2♠, and if so what range they use.

Declarer is most likely the one with short club, since AK + a useful singleton should be enough for a good raise instead of 2♥. Obviously different defences can work. If I play ♥♥♦ and declarer is 5-5, he might claim right there if his trumps are good enough, where I could have returned a trump to cut down his tricks. If declarer is 6-4 then ♥♥♦ will get him into trouble if partner has the ♦J and as little as ♠Txx or better. And then forcing with a diamond will be the only defence. I try that.