andy_h

I take it your partner either bids 4♥ or passes? He never makes a gametry or over-competes and finds himself too high in 3♥? You are a lucky player. BTW, I suspect that many 2/1 players would bid 1N here, in an uncontested auction, intending to bid 2♥ over 2 minor. This is especially true for those who play constructive or semi-constructive raises, so for those players to argue that we had an obvious 1H 2H raise without the interference is nonsense. That, imo, makes pass here certainly a call to be considered, and, imo, the best call. snip Finally, partner knows that we are more likely to stretch to compete after an overcall, and will give some degree of leeway in a situation where we no longer have constructive raise agreements. snip This I 100% agree with. In contested auctions I think it is very important that you are allowed to bid with lighter values just a tiny deviation from the norm otherwise you just lose out on the tempo of the auction. For example, after 1♥-(1♠) we should strive to bid 2♣ with AKJxxx and out which doesn't have the traditional "10+ points".

If our opponents aren't great, what makes you think RHO will bid 3♥ ♠Kxx ♥Kxxx? It is "only" 6 points after all. What does this mean? If we play the Q and RHO wins the K/A and we follow low, why would East consider anything but returning a spade? We have 10 top tricks after all. If LHO has a 4 card spade suit, doesn't that increase the chance of our RHO bidding over 3♦? RHO has now 4-4 in the majors. But anyway, this is irrelevant because if the spades are breaking 4-3 it doesn't matter what we play as the defence can only cash 4 tricks. The important factor we have to consider is when spades are breaking 5-2 and we need prevent them cashing 5 tricks. I like your numbering. My previous point stands, that we should worry about 5-2 spades and not 4-3. If West is not a strong player and has 4-5 like you said, then I'm sure they would have led from their longest suit hearts unless they have been reading Paul Marston's articles. And besides, I still think the hesitation is still more likely based on LHO guessing which 5-5 suit to lead rather than a 4-5. Since ♠HJxxx is twice as more likely than ♠AKxxx, it seems clear to play LHO for the Jack. Who knows, maybe LHO with AKxxx Jxxxx would have overcalled 1♠ or RHO might've bid 3♥ with ♥Kxxx.

With AKxxx Kxxxx West might have opened the bidding so his agonisation was probably based on which major suit to lead as he holds HJxxx KJxxx (where H=A/K) or something alike. Thus, I play low.

I would have doubled 4♥. Seems like we have 4 tricks in our own hand + whatever partner can contribute. My ♥7 could even be promoted too!

Interesting to read how that would work. Not sure I like it when I have not been able to Cue spades a couple times and show the club bullet(then answer GSF) in case responder has XXX -- AXXXX KQXXX. Or is he supposed to just bid 7 on your sequence with that one? 5 clubs is non-forcing (which I think right on the responder's actual hand), so responder only has a mild slam try, as opposed to a 4N last-train type bid, or 5N pick-a-slam, or 5H/5S trying for grand. As such, I think that the 2N bidder has an accept of that mild slam try. On your sequence, if 4♠ shows interest (after we had showed short hearts) then isn't 5♣ NF a huge underbid? We have a void and a 65 with a solid club suit.

If you play some sort of system that inquires about minors, then follow up with a cue/shortness then it's pretty easy to get to slam. North's hand is pure gold when South shows a bit of interest with a heart shortage.

Tough problem. I wonder what 5♣ by partner would be, maybe 4234 suggesting he prefers spades if I had spades and diamonds (assuming 3♣ over 2♣ shows both majors)? If that's the case then logically partner doesn't have spade length so maybe he's 3244 or 4144 or 2254? Think I'm just gonna bid 6♦.

That's a bit deep, and certainly I would not spring this on partner if we had not discussed it previously since we are in the slam zone. What would 4♣ be? Or 5NT? Personally I'd just bid 3NT as it seems pretty hard to have an accurate auction if I decide to bid 4♣ like how good our club fit is (if we have one), how do we get to diamonds, or if opener's 4♦ bid is natural or a cue for spades(clubs?). It's why strong club works, right? :)

I also play double by opener is penalties and double by responder is takeout/values but then again I play a strong NT. My 2♣ need not promise values so opener, who can see what trump tricks he's getting, can double for penalty. When opener cannot be sure if the contract will go down opposite minimum values opposite he can pass and if responder balances with a double thereby promising values, opener can now pass if he so wishes. Playing a weak NT this would seem a bit different. It should also depend on what hands you are allowed to bid 2♣ with, like can it be garbage stayman or does it promise values.

I was good enough to raise to 2♥ had RHO passed so nothing has changed that. An Ace is better than a KJ or QQ, and I don't even have a 4333 so I have nothing to be ashamed about.

for you to have a problem you would have 3 or less ♠, 2 or less ♥ and 3 or less ♣ .....hmmm that leaves 5 or more ♦ now why were you bidding ♣? 3244, 33(43), 4333, 4243, 4144, 4342 are typical hands. If you don't like it with 4♦'s, assume they are ♦Jxxx or worse.

I wouldn't want to splinter with East's hand because my 2♣ can be as short as 2, or 3 if you prefer it.

Bergen is fine for just something to play. If I am were to play it, I wouldn't like the whole lot. I love 1M-3M as mixed raises but I know some people love to have that raise as 0-6 raises. Playing some form of Jacoby 2NT as GF rather than invitational plus has its advantages of setting ownership of the hand for forcing passes in case 4th seat interferes.

Duck a heart.

Wrong choice of words =) As you explained, I just wanted to point out that over 4♣ if partner bypasses 4♦ to bid 4♥ then the only relevant cards are the major suit cards which is great for us.

Mixed raise. If I didn't have that available I'd go for 3♠ as I can't be that crazy at r/w.

Assuming we do play last train, I'm in favour of 4♣. If partner bypasses 4♦ in order to last train over it that's pretty much pot gold. If partner cues 4♦ I submit that it could be either the Ace or King but I will then sign off with 4♠ over that. If partner has the ♦A I am sure he will still kick with Kxxxx xx Axx xxx or Kxxx Kx Kxxx xxx and the five level has some relative safety. If I splinter 4♦ and partner last trains with 4♥, I am completely in the dark as to what club values partner may have and I'm hesitant about partner going to the 5 level with them.

I always find the sound effects funny.

I agree with this. Then you can find out about minor suit fits and possibly opener's shortness if he was forced to bid 1NT with off-shape hands. Just bid 2♠ to pattern out - I don't necessarily see why this needs to promise heart shortness. For all I know, opener could be 4=4=3=2 and responder can have a club shortness?

Double and clubs.

We are South. Partner, the dealer opens 1♦ (4+♦) and we hold this collection: [hv=d=n&s=skjxxhaqj109xxdxcx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You decide to respond 1♥ and partner rebids 1♠ promising an unbalanced hand so 5♦4♠ or better (or 4144). What's your plan?

Disagree with 3♠ and the pass over 4♥.

When god gives you KQJ..

1♠. My spades are decent and who says partner is always going to bid 2♣?

Double first time round.