oldman5757

I'm not an expert, but my .02 is 3NT. Hamman's Rule. B)

Pass, and take the plus. I play neg x's thru 3♠, as do a lot of folks. Here a double should be "cooperative," showing cards, not strictly penalty. That said, if we dbl, P is too likely to bid 5 ♣, so I don't really see an LA. :)

You don't really think you were making 3 ♣, do you? You not only shouldn't double, if you do and they make it, which they probably will, it would be justifiable homicide in any bridge court to shoot you dead. Partner has taken his vulnerable life in his hands and pushed them to the three level, so you are very likely ahead of the field anyway. If they make it, you are average, if they don't, guess what, you are tied for top. BTW, I would not have doubled 2♠, as someone suggested. I'd really want 4 ♥ to push the auction to the 3 level. :D

of course, shifting to a ♠ can cost a trick, whenever declarer has the ♠ K, and 5 ♦ tricks to go along with his 4 ♠ tricks, which is not at all unlikely, eg, Kxx-Qxx-AQxxx-Qx. A ♣ switch will deliver the 9th trick if declarer holds something like Kxx-Qxx-AJxxx-Kxx, but then contract is unbeatable. The ♣ switch works if P holds the ♣ K or the ♠ K, or even if declarer is holding something less likely, such as Kxx-Qxx-Axxx-KQx. If declarer holds something like Kxx-Qxxx-AQxx-Kx, then the ♠ switch doesn't deliver the 9th trick immediately, but a good declarer will likely endplay you for a 9th trick. :rolleyes:

They key is what does declarer have for his 3NT bid? I'm thinking he just about has to have 14 hcp. including 5 ♦, so continuing ♥ is too likely to give him 9 or even 10 tricks. (5♦, 4 ♠, 1 ♥). So, I'm switching to the ♣ jack. Maybe partner has the ♣ K and a ♥ to return. If so, wonderful. If not, we're still alive if P has either the ♠ K, or, less likely, a slow ♦ winner. We' make 2 ♥ tricks, 2 ♣ tricks, plus P's winner, before declarer can come to 9. If declarer has faked me out with something like Kxx-Qx- AQxxx-Kxx, it wouldn't be the first time. And probably not the last, sad to say. :)

If playing ELC, I double with hand one, and then bid ♥ over any ♣ bid by P. If not playing ELC, I bid 2♥ with hand one. With hand two I start with DBL. If P bids 2 ♣, I'll bid 2♥. If P bids 3 ♣, I'll bid 3♦, asking for a stopper for NT. Partner can still show a 4-card major. :(

Exactly right. This is the most efficient way to get both suits in the auction. By bidding ♦ first, (and I also like 2 ♦), you can then bid ♠ over any number of ♥ that opponents may subsequently bid. Not likely that 5♦ is going down too many, or is a phantom save, but if so, that's just bridge.

Assuming standard bidding, what kind of hand should be held in the passout seat for the following sequence: 1♦, P, P, 2♠? I think about 11-15 hcp and 6 good ♠. Do you agree, or do you have another view? If as I suggest, then what kind of hand is held in the passout seat in this sequence: 1♦, P,P, 1♠, 1NT, DBL, P, 2♠? Comments? <_< Thanks, Oldman5757

<_< Is there some particular place a BBO newbie can go for general info, other than the FAQ? I've checked that. I've also been looking at the forums, but my questions are so basic that they don't seem to be covered anywhere that I've looked so far. Thanks, Oldman5757