andy_h

Partner has 5 spades most of the time? When will he have 4? Are we playing acol? Given the available gadgets I am in favour of a fit jump and a raise.

Strongly prefer NF. The auction has gotten competitive, it is utmost important to get your suit across before you need to make a final guess later. It also helps on partner's lead.

2C. It's all vul, RHO has passed, so now the chances of partner passing is a bit higher when game could be cold (could be a 4S or 3NT or 4H or 5D game) and also the opponents are unlikely to be preempting like mad. Actually if they do preempt like mad I'm more than happy to defend!

I like double as extra values (denying three spades).

How many clubs does 1C promise?

2H

Thanks guys, appreciate it ^^ Not much celebration as there's a tourney in progress (not a pokémon one ;)) but celebrated with a dinner feast =) It could technically be 5 days Helene if you factor in the time zone difference!

Agree with gnasher, 3H. I would never treat JT as a stopper at this high bidding level.

Some past threads here and here

My longest and strongest suit.

I don't mind either 2♣ or 2♥ (but certainly not 2♠ as it's GF). If partner has 31(54) a 2♣ rebid will encourage him to a 3♣ invite more favourably than a 2♥ rebid will for a 2NT invite. With 3244 then either rebid should be fine. In terms of partscore however I feel hearts would play better than clubs will given our suit quality. Over our 2♣ I don't think it's likely at all that partner will be bidding 2♦ or a preference to 2♥ given that he thinks that we have located a fit, and in addition to that there's a small fear that if LHO competes to 2♠ over our 2♣ we may be stuck for a pass if partner competes with 3♣ and we might find ourselves in a 4-3 fit. Given our system, if it is expected that 2♣ may include these types of problem hands then I obviously bid 2♣. As for the 2nd auction, I would have doubled 2♠ to show extra values. Having failed to do so I now make the strange looking bid of 3♠.

This is a preemptive auction, partner should know that we are under some pressure. There are lots of average 13-14 counts where partner has a singleton spade and 4♥ would be a good game.

Not sure if I want to live forever, but I'm sure I would have raised diamonds on the previous round :unsure:

5 level belongs to us

1) 3♣ 2) Also would have bid 2♠ the previous round. Now I bid 3♣ art GF

R/W no.

Anyone up for 1♠ if you don't like 2NT?

What does NF mean? Does it promise constructive values or can it be as weak as QJ10-6th and out? I hope the former so I will bid 2NT.

I do.

Don't like my heart suit so 1NT it is.

Pass I guess. It's true that RHO is likely to be unbalanced with quite a few clubs (adding ours, which gives the possibility of partner being short) but maybe partner is short in spades like 1732 and didn't want the opponents back in to find the spade fit making the 5 level unsafe we three top black suit losers. I guess it's not likely partner has a 6card suit since we are holding AJ92 but I guess it's possible he might be 1741 like x KQ10xxxx AKJx x. It's possible that if partner has an extra card he might've chosen another action besides 4♥ so I stick with pass.

A matter of style and system - I don't mind either on this hand. 1NT will get you to those 15 opp 9 games in which 1♠ will not, but 1♠ may get you to those 4card support with a shortage games in which 1NT will not (or maybe 4♠ will be better if system doesn't permit the location of the 5-3 spade fit). 1♠ will also get you to (most likely) better partials such as a spade contract or possibly even clubs or diamonds when it goes 1♠-1NT-2♣-P/2♦ (hearts will break even). Of course you will have more advantage if you play a gadget over 1♠-1NT like bart or gazzilli.

I use the windows client and it has happened to me as well.

I play 2M-1 as weak or GF raise, with 2M=8-11

I remember (I think) Josh saying that there are two things he doesn't like doing when undiscussed and this auction was one of them.