andy_h

South has an opening for sure. By passing bal 12 counts in the 2nd seat is just giving the 3rd seat a free shot (if we pass and let LHO open at w/r, and RHO responds, we will never be in the auction again) and if you open with the South's hand you take away tremendous pressure off partner if he has a borderline opening. Or maybe he just has a 9 or 10 count and this hand gets passed out netting -3 or -4imps. Besides, South has two tens and 3-4 in the majors...what's not to like? Edit: Also, I would have opened with West's hand too. Then good luck to N/S getting to game after p-p-1C-p-1D-p-p and North now has a problem with 3-3majors, suspect ♦K and partner passing 2nd seat and again over East's 1♦ response.

I almost never pass partner's response with a hand that I'd have opened in first seat. I don't see why I should make it easy for them to compete, and I don't see why I should unilaterally decide what strain we're playing in. The risk of partner moving isn't that great, and if he does it doesn't have to be bad. I used to think that as well that I didn't want to make it easy for the opponents to compete, until I was that opponent and balanced into where the responder, my LHO, had a decent hand. I don't think it's explicitly "unilaterally deciding which strain we're playing in" but more towards the fact that by passing it could be our best contract and that we don't want to excite partner too much. Partner's limited so if the opps DO balance our pass would have told him some information. If they don't, I'm happy for us to be playing at the 1level than if partner had invited over 1NT. But otherwise I tend to agree that I don't generally pass a hand that I'd have opened in 1st/2nd seat, with the exception that if my 3rd/4th seat openings are a bit below average than normal openings (like this one, 12 bal count with stray honours) then I'd pass if I have 3 card support.

4♠. This has got to be the percentage action given that we don't give room for the opponents to exchange information and could be a great sac. 4♣ and X I do not like.

I reckon I've done my deed with 4♥ so I pass. We are unfav and we could be going for -2 doubled for a complete bottom. Partner could have doubled to show a bit of life in which we could leave it in had we held more values.

Yes, 1♣

Pass and pass.

Can't fathom anything but pass.

Double. This is MPs and I definitely do not want to give up a possible major suit fit. Being in a 4-3 fit is possibly ok but the opponents may not always double us or even yet partner could pass our double!

Love 2NT. It almost always implies a fitting honour(s) for partner.

The auction should probably go along the lines of 4♣-4♦ 4♥-4♠/5♣ and thereafter West has an obvious bid of 5♦ lacking so many keycards. Hmm having thought about it more, I think East should just bid 4NT (regressive) over 4♣. I'm having trouble making up hands where West is 5-2-4-2 (due to no splinter) with ♣K (and still requires a heart control) that make slam good excluding the hands that would still move on after a regressive 4NT. I'm assuming 2♦ is a style where it's almost always a 5card suit (with prototypes of 3442 would start with 2♣) since if it can be 4, then there are some 6-4 hands where West would bid 3♦ rather than a splinter.

Hate 1♠ because it will cause frequent misjudgement from partner, and also that I would hate it if the auction would proceed as 1♥-1♠-2♦.

Yes I raise 3♥. Passing is criminal and 2NT is just weird.

[hv=d=s&s=sh10dkj9875ca98543]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] You're in either 1st or 2nd seat, NV or V. What's your style with 6-5 or 6-6's? Does it change if the 2 suits were M/m? (I'm assuming having both majors is a bit more lenient)

♥K. Anything else seems swingy, or just bizarre,

1. 2♦, can't give up to 1NT with 6-5. 2. 4♠, the void is ok. 4♥ would be a suggestion to play. 3. 3NT. We can still find out about the solidity of the clubs if partner is able to cooperate with 4♣.

Pass and not much quarrel about it. Doing something else may frequently get us too high.

I don't like double because our main suit is the lowest suit, clubs. I wouldn't particularly like it if partner jumps in spades or diamonds. I also don't consider this hand that great because of the stiff queen and the required entries from partner to hook some clubs. Not saying 2♣ is perfect but I'd probably need the stiff queen to be somewhere to x.

Short clubs is a dangerous sign. Take your money because it'll be worth it. Double.

Heh to be honest I'm not particularly good at calculating percentages and rarely able to do so at the table. I guess the reason why I didn't like hooking West for the queen was because it's committing to it right away whereas crossruffing I might be able to pick up some tells (barring wild breaks). But yeah, hooking does seem pretty reasonable. (Yeah Nicoleta, I'll certainly be in Canberra!)

Always 2♥. It's still possible that game is on and the most likely game will reside in hearts (as opposed to 5m). Further developments may allow me to bid 3m to pattern out and if I had started with 2m over 1NT, then I will never be able to get my 4card heart suit across and plus, 1S-1NT-2m-2S/2NT-3H will take up more space than 3m had we started with 2♥.

Pass. Defending isn't so bad too once in a while.

Pass and pass. The first one I've learnt enough times from the forums. The second one is a bit tempting with the void..

Opening and overcalling 1NT are two totally different things. For this thread, double can achieve way more things than overcalling 1NT can. RHO has opened, it's now a partscore battle! If we overcall 1NT and proceed to game, then surely we can do that if we double as well! Conversely, if we don't have game then doubling will get you to the right partscore.

2♣, yes, it is a wtp. I'm not excited about stiff A plus a ratty diamond suit. If partner passes 2♣ who is to say this isn't the right contract? If we have any hope of game partner would almost definitely give a (false) preference to 2♦ in which we can then invite. Seems perfect.

I anticipate that I will be putting my hand away before bidding.