andy_h

I guess this type of method is more geared towards handling preemptions so opener will know if there is a fit or not, but that's probably way less frequent (for 4th seat to come in over a 2/1 GF auction) than for us exploring the right contract. Gnasher, what I meant about that sentence was usually over Jacoby or whatever it is, don't you normally have opener to show any minimum/shortages/5-5 etc and thereafter exchange cuebids? That's all I meant for the part about asking/showing since responder will often be balanced and will hear information from opener.

2C and pass, and it seems wtp

Would you agree that after: 1♦ - 1♥ 1♠ opener has 4+♦ exactly 4♠ and less than 4♥? This means that: 4342 => 25,5% 4243 => 25,3% 4242 => 12,3% 4351 => 7,7% 4153 => 7,6% So in 78,4% of the cases our side has no fit and should be in 3NT. 4144 =>10,7% 4261 => 2,7% 4162 => 2,7% In another 16.1% 3 NT is not necessarily bad. In this about 95% slam is unlikely unless partner has much more than a minimum opening. I'm sure if partner has extra strength or shape he will bid again over 3NT. So if I know that 3NT is our contract in something between 78 and ~90% of the cases, why should I exchange more information that won't help me much, but could make opps find the best lead? On the given board the chance not to find a 3-2 break in ♦ was 32%. This was bad luck, I would not change my strategy based on bad luck. Exactly 4♠? Partner can't be 56? I don't really know percentages so I'll trust with your figures. My question is, our opponents have already heard us bid 3 suits so most of the time they will already know which suit they're going to lead. Gathering more information from partner will benefit us a whole lot more as we need to determine which game we belong in. Sure I agree with you that more often than not we belong in 3NT but the added chances that we can get to a slam or find out 5♦ is better than 3NT is just too great to pass up on. Slam can even make without extra strength! Axxx x KJ10xxx Ax or Axxx Kx AJ10xxx x or 10xxx x AKxxxxx A or xxxx x AKxxxx AQ etc. I would feel much safer to be able to show these hands and *then* get to 3NT (if responder has no slam interest) rather than partner bashing 3NT and having us to guess if we should go past 3NT or not. Take gnasher's example as well where 5♦ is much superior than 3NT. Would you also find yourself unlucky?

Upon discussing some system stuff with a fellow european, it now made me wonder. Using 1M-2NT or whichever bid is your strong major raise (let's assume it's GF rather than inv+) why do you play it as 4card raise and not 3card raise since responder is usually the one doing the asking and opener showing his shape/strength? The 4 card does help when you've established a 6-4 fit (opener can show the Q in response to keycard) but if you can do it with 3 cards, it can help your 2/1 GF auctions in case 4th seat preempts and you have not promised support yet. What do you think?

Would you agree that after: 1♦ - 1♥ 1♠ the only reasonable fit can be in ♣ or less likely in ♦. If partner has a 6-card ♦ suit, this will be a great source of tricks in 3NT. And it's far from sure that there is a ♣ fit, because that would require opener to hold a 4144 (4054) shape. We are strong enough for 3NT and our side can't benefit much from further bidding. If we bid 3NT now, LHO might lead a ♥ or ♠, which in this case seems not to dangerous as partner has 3♥'s. Now that partner bid 2♥, we can expect a ♣ lead and I don't think it's to our advantage. Our fit can still lie within clubs or diamonds and I certainly wouldn't say they occur rarely. Like you said, if partner has a 6 diamonds this will be a great source of tricks in 3NT, so that means he has 4x6x. Aren't you liking your slam chances? Like jdonn said, our heart and club stoppers aren't even great so 3NT could well be going off. And also, if I find out about a club fit I will be in a much better position than you'll be because I know partner is short in hearts.

club

Does anyone have a system that shows 5M-6m other than just 5+M 5+m?

Opening 1♥ is ill advised. The worst doesn't always happen so open your longest suit, 1♦. Sometimes the opponents will also interfere and it would also help you out, so don't try to plan too deeply. That goes for pass as well, which is definitely taking a rebid plan too far.

Double is takeout not necessarily needing spade tolerance. Ie I'd do it with 1255. 2NT is depended upon agreement. Usually my choice for 2NT is usually natural unless partner's overcall was a major and RHO had bid something other than pass, then it's a good raise. (Ie 1H-2C-2H-2NT is natural, 1S-2H-P-2NT is natural but 1S-2H-2S-2NT is a good heart raise)

I'm not sure I quite understand people suggesting 3NT the round before? Isn't that usually whatever your designated range is, but normally a hand that doesn't have much interest in opener's suit? Here we have ♠KQJ ♥A ♦Q so I definitely prefer to see if I can find out if opener can be 4162 at a comfortable level rather than bidding 3NT and have opener to guess what to do over that.

The problem with double is whenever partner holds 4 hearts. You would agree that if partner has 2-3 spades we'd have to be the one bidding 3NT in case his spades are of Qx or Jxx (although partner having 3 spades is unlikely). Yes it is true that we can get to an ok 3NT when we double as then partner with Kx will sometimes bid it. But think about partner's problem when he removes our double to 4C. He will do this with say 2(43)4 with no spade stopper, 1345, and 1435 (1444 will probably bid 4D to suggest diamonds and hearts). When we choose the X-then-4D-over-4C sequence, we are telling partner that we have 2 places to play and that is diamonds and hearts. Isn't this what we would do with x44x as it's so important to find the right strain in competitive auctions? So how does partner ever work out when to pass 4D (when we only have 3 hearts) and when to correct to 4H when 5D may be one trick too high? I also think it's down to 3NT or 4D, and have a slight inclination towards 4♦ as it can still get us towards 4H if partner has 15(34) and bidding 3NT here seems like we need some fast tricks. Basically I agree with gnasher.

4♠. Hate passing as it gives them a free round of bidding. I think this pressure bid outweighs the gain of attempting a constructive auction of slowly describing my shape.

5♠. I'd like to defend if rho has clubs but I don't know so I think I've got to bid. And of course partner is bidding with spade length, otherwise if he is bidding based on hcp why isn't he doubling.

I was wondering if anyone has played/come across a (semi)forcing pass system and have defence vs. it? The pair in question are playing: 1st/2nd seat: Pass = 0-6 HCP or 15-20 HCP Bal or 15-20 No Major 1♣ = 10-21 HCP 4+♥, unbal often canape 1♦ = 10-21 HCP 4+♠, unbal often canape 1♥ = 7-10 Any 1♠ = 10-14 HCP Unbal, No major 1NT = 11-14 2♣ = Any GF 2M = 8-10 5+M 3rd/4th seat: Pass = 0-3 1♣ = 10-18 HCP Bal, or 15-18 Unbal No Major 1♦ = 9-18 4+♥, unbal can be canape 1♥ = 3-8 Any or 4-9 Bal 1♠ = 9-18 HCP 4+♠, unbal can be canape 1NT = 19+ Any 2m = 9-14, 5+m No Major Thanks!

2♠. Even if we are in a 4-3 LHO will most likely be tempted to lead his short diamonds and we can get a cross ruff going.

AQ95 A9 QJ K8532 1st seat nil (playing walsh style if that matters) 1♣ or 1NT?

A previous thread about 2NT: http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=23632&hl=

Happy birthday crosswordman!

3d

I'd bid 3H by South.

Agree with gnasher.

1) Pass, even though I don't really believe in obar. 2) Double. RHO could have opened light or LHO might have 8/9 with a shortage or whatever.

1) I double. Over partner's 3♦ I will correct it to 3♥. Partner should strain to bid 3red with 5♠332 and alike. I'm happy enough if partner bids spades as I have the queen for him. 2) I now cue with 5♦. Given that I passed it seems a bit impossible for partner to know we have this hand. If partner signs off I'm tempted to just bid 6 over that anyway as it's very likely for partner to be 65.

I'm happy with pass.

Heart, don't want to give anything away.