CSGibson

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=saxxxhtxdtxckj9xx]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] You have the hand above, and the bidding goes Pass - Pass - Pass - 2♠ by partner, pass to you. 2♠ should be a full opener with 6+ good spades and no second suit. How do you rate: 3♣ 3♠ 4♠ as options? Any other reasonable choices I'm missing? And yes, I know that MP is not bridge, but that's the scoring in use for this hand.

Pass is always an option. I was exploring the reasonableness of the other possibilities.

I agree with your decision to open 1 diamond; If partner cannot respond, then you are probably in a fine spot, and it sets you up for the rest of the auction I think 4♥ is your next bid. Partner now knows your strength and shape, and is in a position to make an intelligent decision as to whether to move forward or not. (knowing that you have to be heavy on points to JS in the minors).

[hv=d=s&v=e&s=sxhajxxxdxxcajtxx]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] Sitting first seat at favorable vulnerability, I chose not to open this hand. LHO bids one spade, partner passes, and RHO bids 2 spades. 1) Is it reasonable for me to bid 2NT at this point, planning to correct diamonds to hearts? 2) Would that be a standard bid (ie, should partner think that would be a possibility beforehand, such that they would bid 3 clubs with a 4-2-4-3 hand)

2♠, as a constructive raise or not. I define a constructive raise as showing two cover cards. An ace is one, and the combination of four trump and the QJT sequence is the other. 2nd point: Bergan raises are based on the law of total tricks, but your shape is a negative adjustment factor in the law, so even if you play Bergan, you should still be wary about going to the three level with this hand.

NS Vul S Dealer[hv=d=s&v=n&s=sht98xxdkq9xca98x]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] What would you bid with the south hand on the following auction: South West North East Pass 1♠ 2♦ 3♥* ? *3♥ is alerted as a mixed spade raise You and your partner are not playing equal level conversion.

I hope we're playing suit preference here. If RHO is bidding 3NT with a singleton or doubleton jack of hearts, then he probably has a long running minor. That minor has a better chance of being clubs than diamonds because there are more of them out there. I'm switching to a diamond, because I believe partner has asked me to. If I didn't think the 2 of hearts was suit preference, then I switch to the 9 of spades.

I would like to ask if it is relevant to anyone else except me as to whether partner has had a chance to bid or not. I'm much more likely to overcall on a bad hand with a 4 card suit if partner is limited. It seems to me that the three purposes of bidding are to advance your own auction, preempt their auction, and help set the defense. When partner is a passed hand and you are weak, you might as well concentrate your bidding on preempting auctions and setting the defense. The spade suit looks much more lead directional than anything else and has small preemptive value, so I wouldn't object if you overcalled it. Playing this style it is much more likely that partner will also pinpoint their values when bidding on rather than simply raising 1 spade to 2 spades, also helping set the defense.