goobers

I think any possible agreements you would have would be to kick each other under the table, tug your ears, or otherwise looking for reflective surfaces!

I'm bidding 2♥ here.... I almost always downgrade 4-3-3-3 10 counts, even if they do contain 2 aces :) Here, the Q is sitting with an A, so depending on my mood, I may decide to give a limit raise. (1♠ or 1N(F1), whatever your choice.)

I wouldn't know what to rebid after opening 1♥... assuming a minimum response from partner, 3♥ is NF and 4♥ doesn't show this great of a hand.

The goal is to TRY to find a fit. Sometimes they don't exist. Partner has denied spades and shown hearts and diamonds. At the very least, you must tell him you like hearts better, and that your hand is not worth too much. This does NOT promise a fit; you are simply "fixing" his bid. Do NOT bid 2NT. 2NT is never a rescue. It would show something like 11 HCP, which you do not have.

Yeah, I assume double would be penalty, as partner has shown length in spades. My worry was that if 3♦ or 3♥ should show more than 4 cards.

(1♣) - x - (2♠) - ? Holding Kx xxxx AKxx xxx What would you bid?

So for board 38, assuming you bid suit, then double, how many people are bidding 1♠ then double, as opposed to 1♠ then 2♥? Edit: Oops, assuming ♦ have not been bid by E

Are the hands flipped? 1♥ currently looks very odd. Although a 2♥ raise doesn't really make much sense to me in that case either.

This is the top of a balancing 1N for me.

2♥

If I bid 4NT, can I still get out in 4S? :D Edit: Okay, I've decided to pass. We basically need both black Ks for this slam to be solid, and although the club suit is very appealing since there's even a triple finesse available, 6 will go down badly if partner is missing spots and the suits don't break well. I've got like an extra 1.5 queens than I promised, and it's making me feel uncomfortable B) But partner heard my splinter and said his hand was no good for it, so I think I'll just let it go... I always have a chance of winning the post mortem.

I think the goal is to get responder to describe his hand, and not for opener to describe it while still attempting to conceal it from the defense. Splinter is a prime example.

lol @ mikeh's post

So yeah, when it's forcing, I guess it just brings up kenrexford's point, as to what to rebid. I was thinking that 4m passes 3NT, but then it seems like partner wouldn't want to play 3NT anyway, given that he knows our hand is useless except in our minor. Unless he has an expectation to run the suit, 3NT sounds like him trying to take 9 tricks out of his own hand. And if he does have an expectation to run the suit, then he should probably bid it himself? So if it's forcing, and without a useful dummy, you just retreat to 4m? (Unless there's room to introduce a fragment like kenrexford said. Or maybe 3N if your suit is solid?) I had this sequence for the very first time after like 1.5 years of seriously playing this game.

What does 3♣ - 3♥/♠ show for you? Is it forcing? Or just highly constructive? Or possibly even NF (I imagine not.)? Edit: If it's just highly constructive and you don't have anything resembling a fit for the major, do you pass? Or correct back to 4m?

Are there any guides on Precision that are relatively standard and up to date? For example, would C.C. Wei's system still be sort of the "standard" precision if you were to sit down with somebody and agree to play precision without too much further discussion? I'm interested in reading a guide on more or less standard-ish precision, and might decide to try it out with a friend, just for kicks.

Takeout to where? 3 suits bid

Ah, that clarifies it. I guess in SAYC, you only need 3 trumps to make a limit raise, in standard, it's however you and your partner have agreed to make limit raises :) I've always made it on 4, that's where my confusion stemmed from. Stupid systems being basically the same but not.

Man, what the hell have I been playing all this time? Playing with a pickup pard, I would assume 3S to be non forcing. I know the whole 2/1 responder promises a rebid routine, but I've always played it forcing UNLESS opener has rebid 2NT. I don't know if this is good or even standard bridge, but I do see a lot of players bidding this way.

:) I'll stick to my beginner bids :)

Ah, thanks for the explanation. Would be the same in balancing seat? For some reason, in the balancing seat, if you had hearts, it just strikes me that a double would be a general takeout, and 2N would deny hearts. Kind of a gut instinct, haven't really thought about it.

2N is ostensibly for minors right? So when partner picks diamonds, you will correct to hearts? Or does 2N just show 2 places to play?

Playing at open pairs in sectionals, I did really poorly with my mentor type guy (we've played 4 times before and always placed... oh well) Bad bad defense by me pretty much blew the whole thing, but anyway... Here's one hand that came up: You're second seat, all white, MPs. ♠KQJxx ♥A98xx ♦Kx ♣x (1C) - 2C* - (2D) - 4S (5C) *Would you? What do you do now?

Does ACBL land really forbid opening 1NT with a stiff that's not K or A? That seems extremely stringent.

My understanding is that a lot of players like to lead 3/5 from length at a suit contract... 3rd from even, 5th from odd. (If I am incorrect about this, please let me know) What are the merits of this, and why is it preferred from leading 4th best?