lifemonster

No reason to make a panic pre-decision. This is a no brainer.

If partner has 5 hearts and some value he would have made a negative dbl already. If partner has 5 hearts and doesn't even have strength to make a 1st time negative dbl, with your marginal opener, you are not gonna buy the hand.

Double. This is why I play Raptor.

I would lead a trump, and will be more than happy to get any plus. I wish this is a flat board and a plus should be slightly above avg for us.

I support 3H. This is MP. If you pass,-110 would be horrible and +100 would most likely be an average minus. If I can make 140, that's for sure a top and -50 would be an average plus most of the time against their 110.

[hv=d=n&n=saxxhxdaqjxxxckxx&s=sqxxxhakqxxxxdxca]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] North the opener. Even double dummy, I have trouble finding a reasonably comfortable line to reach the top spot. Any thoughts?

Easy. Transfer to 2H first, then an auto-splinter of 4D.

I remember in the recent CTC from The Bridge World, there is a deal that overcalling 2H with weak 5-card suit immediately catching a 5-3 fit in hearts, thus makes it extremely easy to reach 4H, and perhaps it is the only legitimate way. It's true that we are all taught not to put all eggs into one basket, but it is another story that the most likely game basket is 4H.

The problem is, N probably has only THREE clubs for his 2C bid, and plans to show his real intention, eg.some strong 3 piece spade support, or 2 and half heart rebid,etc. As long as opener's 2nd choice is 2C rather than 2H, there is always room for S to show strong clubs. Possibly 1H 1S 2C 3C 4H(strong suit, descriptive 6-4) You can define 5C by S is to play and 4NT is some kind of last train(strong trump?) since logically it cannot be Blackwood.

N the dealer [hv=n=sxhakqxxxdaxcxxxx&s=sxxxxxhxdxxcakqxx]133|200|[/hv] No, I'm not interested in home-made exotic weapons. That's why I put it in the "sayc and 2/1" section.

Hi Brian, I think it's much better idea to play Reverse Flannery, ie, after 1 minor opening, 2H=at least 5S and 4H, signoff range; 2S=at least 5S and 4H, intermediate range; It would simplify the TSAR auction as well. That way, you don't have to worry about 1m-1S-2m-2H, it is GF.

What do you think the auction should be under STSAR, LH as the opener: [hv=w=sxhqjdaxxxcaqjxxx&e=sxxxhakt9xxdxxckx]266|100|[/hv]

Hi Luis: in this system, what specifically is 1D 1S 2D 2H 2S We play Reversal Flannery, therefore 2H is game forcing relay. Also, how often you raise to 2S with 3 spades and 6 diamonds after 1D-1S? (or instead rebidding 2D?) Thanks. Sam

Thanks Ben and others for the help. Yes it's doubleton diamond. :-)

This is the bidding problem I got today. x xxx QJ AK109xx Axxx xxx AQJxxx Kx 1C 1H 2C 2D(new minor forcing, sorta of) 2H 3C ...... The argument starts from here and 6H is duly reached. Responder bids 3C intended as "I have something useful here", and later the 2-suiter-6-keycard-blackwood is launched. After the bidding we had a little discussion but couldn't find the agreement here. After 1C-1H-2C, it seems that both 2D and 2S are forcing(some even play 2NT forcing as well), with 2D giving partner a chance for 2H preference, and 2S stalled as general game forcing. However, what if the responder wants to show "forcing raise in clubs"? Then the above sequence seems ambiguous, is 3C a supporting cuebid of opener's suit with hearts setup as trumps, or is it a forcing raise? If you also play 1C-1H-2C-2S/2NT forcing as well, then how do you show raises in clubs? Comments appreciated. Sam