effervesce

Pass. Too easy to get overboard, and also to go for a number with that crap suit.

1C - p - p - X 3C - 3NT - p 4C p - 4D - p - 5D p - p (maybe raise??) - p is a possible auction.

Eh? What about forcing pass at the zero level? Or Weak 1NT - X (pen) - pass (forcing) at the one level?

Huh? They both pick up KJxx on the same side and lose to KJxx on the same side. And the time Q picks up singleton jack on the right is offset by the time low toward the ten picks up singleton king on the left. Meanwhile leading the queen is, as Cascade said, heartbreaking if the next player shows out, which seems to be the deciding factor that proves low to the ten first is better. Sorry you are correct.

I think low to 10 and running the Q are similar plays. The latter picks up KJxx on one side, low to the 10 on the other side. Running the Q picks up J singleton for no loser, however, and is thus (in a vacuum) slightly superior to finessing the 10.

Pass first. It looks like the opps may have a good sac in 5♠. If they do bid 5♠, then bid 6♥, as it is more likely partner has a singleton spade. Funnily enough, I think you should bid this way if you think 6♥ is cold (to stop them making a sac over it]. If, on the other hand, you think 6♥ may not be cold, it might be good strategy to bid a confident 6♥ hoping they sac over it ;)

Depends; bad breath is even worse than chewing IMO.

1) 1♥. The hand has 28 ZAR. 2) What gwnn said.

1♠ for me.

Not much outside? The way I learned things, a 2♣ opener needs 4 quick tricks. Thus Ax AKQJxxx Ax xx is a minimumish hand for a 2♣ opener.

X, t/o. Why settle for a less descriptive bid?

1♥. Stretch to respond to an opening bid of 1m.

t/o

Agree with 655321

4NT, two places to play.

2♥ looks normal.

It's fav vul. Why not? 1NT opener for me! :P

Pass both.

1h...lets really put the pressure on them to bid game.....if they bid 5d.....double.....the pressure. Its matchpoints. Perhaps they chose the wrong game and belong in spades. Partner didnt preempt with spades; the opps are more likely to have the spades.

4♥. Put the pressure on! After 5♦, pass. You've already made your decision to bid 4♥ - be it for good or bad.

2H. Only bid. Anything else deserves a big fat zero.

Without negative free bids, X. Wtp?

Partner should have decent values for a X of a 3 lvl bid. Good chances of slam, however the problem with 4S is that if partner bids 5C, you may have wrong-sided the contract. Also, you cant blackwood after a 4S bid. Start with 4NT, asking aces, partner showing 1 most likely, then bid 6C. If two, then ask kings, etc....

Points schmoints, losers schumoozers. How many losers does Axx Axx Axx Axxx have? 8 losers? I'm sure you agree that this hand is worth an opening bid. What about AKQJxx xx xxx xx? Worth an opening bid in 4th seat? Yes, because you expect to go plus whenever you open the hand. If you don't have any bidding judgement and want a 'rule' because you dont know how to evaluate your hand otherwise, how about the rule of 15? Add HCP plus the number of spades. 15 or more = open.

Double is fine-shows ability to penalise at least one of the options. As for action over 3D double, you cant take into account partner's hesitation as that would be unauthorized information. If you did, the max score you can get is minus 4IMP. His X is penalty, and you do not have a hand to remove that X. **edit noticed now that the hand was weak-double should have extra high card strength