andy_h

4♣. My new favourite preempt.

Yeap 2♥. You may want to blast 4♥ shutting out LHO for a spade raise to induce them into a sacrifice but I don't think that's very likely nor wise. We have 8 of these hearts so I would definitely want to search for a slam. The ideal minimum hand we want partner to have is xx xxx AKxx Axxx. So 2♥ now and await for developments.

West has a clear X of 2♠, especially given the light openings and raises these days.

Close between 4♠ and pass, as it boils down to the number of spades partner has. If he has 4531 or 4540 or 4620 I want to be in 4♠ but if he has 3541 or 3631 or 3550 I want to defend. My re-opening doubles need not have extras but just shape so I guess now's the time where I wish they'd contain extras. But then I lose on the countless 3♣X penalties so I don't! I think I will pass and take the money. If partner has extras then great it might go for 800 but 500 vs 620 isn't a big loss.

I would definitely open with West's hand.

4H, given partner bid at r/w it should be a decent hand.

Throw in an onion of 2NT or 4H maybe. I guess at the table I'd just do a normal 4S

Lol at RHO. Agree with Justin.

East is too conservative. 15 count with a self suiter and rich in controls opposite a 1NT opener.

Yes, opener can have running clubs. Ace it before it runs away.

I don't quite understand X. Like cherdanno said, I don't see any alternative to 2 diamonds.

I would prefer opening 1m (which minor depends on partner) much much more than 2NT with 4441's. If partner doesn't respond (I'm in the camp of responding light) then I don't think we are missing anything.

There are other purposes that 3♠ serves. Using the same logic, I would feel pretty sick with responder's hand if opener can bid 3♠ on min 4333. How is responder supposed to know he should raise 3♠ to 4♠ holding [Axxxx xxx QJxx x] or [Txxxx Qxx x AJxx]? You're bidding under the assumption that LHO of the opener definitely has heart length, so when it is partner that has the heart length he is in the dark whereas when you bid 2♠ you can still invite. Your sample hands of [Txxxx Qx xx Axxx] and [Txxxx K Kxx Jxxx], why cannot responder bid 3♠ or X over 3♥ to compete/invite? and if opener jumps 3♠ and his LHO bids 4♥ is it so obvious that 4♥ is making with those hands (where my auction opener bids 2♠ and LHO may give more information by bidding 3/4♥ over 2♠). I think by bidding 2♠ with min 4333 it allows opener and responder to judge whether game is makeable and opener's LHO may make it even easier for responder to judge what the heart position is if they raise to 3♥. That is true Mike, but surely if opener has the former hand and hears 2♠-3♥-3♠4♥ that this would be a clear 4♠ bid? It is true that it would be more awkward for responder if the auction went 2♠-4♥ but usually the opponents will have 9+fit to be bidding 4♥and responder may know what to do looking at the vul. I honestly have never come across the auction when LHO has raised to game immediately over 2♠. (People have agreed on the X of 2♥ shows...opening hand?) Gnasher: It's also possible to use other sequences too where partner has the heart length. Which sequence is more likely to lead to 4S down 1? 1NT pass 2♥ dbl 3♠ pass 4♠ or 1NT pass 2♥ dbl 2♠ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ Although it may not be the best analogy, but in the former auction responder may need to guess if he has 3 hearts and invitational-ish values. The point of 2♠ is not only for the possibility to play in 2♠, but it allows us to convey more information if needed to be in game or not without forcing us to the 3level unnecessarily with a min 4333. LHO is not always bidding 3♥ (maybe he doesn't have enough values or maybe he has 33 in the majors as he doesn't know we have 9card spade fit) nor is LHO always going to have heart length.

I'm also with Pass, 2♣ and 1♠. And I hate hate raptor.

North passes and then North bids 2♥ :)

Happy Birthday =)

If your agreement were that 3♠ showed a minimum 4333, why would that be less descriptive than using it show a minimum 4432-type? Ok, I didn't mean it as "descriptive" but I meant (without any concise agreements) it should show more than a minimum 4333. By all means if you have an agreement to bid 3M on mins 4333 then go ahead, it's as accurate as it can ever be! But I wouldn't exactly recommend it.

I also wouldn't bid 3♠ on KQJx xxx Axx KQx. I just don't see the need to bid to the 3lvl with 4333. If LHO competes partner is still in the auction too knowing we have a fit and he can also see for himself that he is short in hearts. Having said that, it is more attractive to bid 3♠ with the same hand but a better shape say 42(43). I just don't see why I have to unnecessarily bid to the 3lvl to cater for what when LHO may not even bid. I like 3♠ to be descriptive not min 4333.

I pass. There may be hands that are unsuitable for a preempt at first seat red. 1-6 may be more unlikely than 2-5 but there are also 0/1-5 too. Even if partner is 2-5 it may be better for hearts to be trumps since I have a very helping queen.

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=sqxxhqt8xxdqxckqx&w=sxxxxhxdjcaj98xxx&e=sxxhkj9xxxdat8xcx&s=sakjxhadk9765xctx]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] I passed too, for a quiet +200.

Flat 15 count with 4 card support? With or without a double, it's not even close for a 3M "superacceptance". I put that in inverted commas because I suspect it's meant to be more preemptive in nature than a superaccepting bid? Because superaccepting with flat 15 is lol. I would just accept the transfer (assuming that promises a fit) and with responder's hand that has the singleton heart I would tend to invite to 3 or bid game depending on vul and location of honours.

Hellll no. Partner couldn't make a noise when he's likely to be short in hearts and I'm happy to take the 100 unders. Lefty's shown 8-11 so it's possible that noone can make anything. For me to bid I would probably prefer more intermediates or maybe just the ♥A elsewhere.

Pass. Partner unnecessarily forced us to the 3lvl so he should have a decent hand. Although if he's making a light shapely double at fav with 0544 then passing could be scary. Well, I like my chances at defence with my QJ's and most likely with no fit with partner. If dummy shows up with a doubleton heart then I will be a very happy man. Wish I had the ♠9.

I'm a passer although not liking it. An ace and a king along with 4card support I can see game making but I can also picture 3♣ going down or maybe that may excite partner more. If my K was in clubs then it's an easy 3♣ bid but because it's not and I have a singleton heart, it persuades me to a pass.

I'd splinter over 3♦ too. North's silence doesn't always mean partner's the one that has to have 4 spades. Wasn't that one of Josh's pets? By not raising partner's preempt so the opponent's don't know about the degree of our fit in the preempted suit to get them to judge better. Anyway I agree that hearts are an illusion.