peachy

1D. I don't mind a singleton K or A, even Q sometimes in a pinch to be sure I have a reasonable rebid, for a 2NT opening, but this hand is very wrong for 2NT.

It seems that in your systems you lose transfers as well as ability to apply Garbage Stayman. And cannot find 5-3 heart fit. Some system discussion probably needed, you didn't have necessary tools.

Doubling 3C with the 4 aces is automatic (after partner showed "values" by hitting 2S). Close enough. The problem was the Dbl of 2S.

I voted Pass originally and still voting pass with the given hand. Take the plus that is coming (if it is coming) and don't drive them to a better fit (if they have one). After 2S was foolishly doubled for penalty, it is not a crime - just a misdemeanor - by E to Double 3C. Afterall, it is normal to expect a penalty double to contain some trump tricks as well as other stuff. However, spade tricks in a club contract are not going to do much for us. The 2S bidder gambled and won.

Agree, unless played properly and with solid agreements. But the question is what defenses to use, not whether to use the convention yourself. Whether you like it or hate it, you need defenses. That *is* a defense: Do not enter the auction in direct seat unless we hold an extremely exceptional hand. Balance with a Dbl if we are balancing.

Wait in the bushes. Then pounce, lead trump, and collect. I think Mini Roman is wonderful, more opponents should be playing it ;)

I almost posted something real nasty, then deleted it. Let the votes speak for themselves.

Without specific agreements, I would expect opener to Dbl 2H when he DOESN'T have 4-card hearts but has enough extras to profitably compete. With a minimum and no 4-card hearts, Pass. With 4-card hearts just bid hearts and don't worry what the opponent might or might not have intended with the 2H call. All this mind reading is tiresome but there is a good rule of thumb for pickups as well as regular partners: If an undiscussed bid can be natural, it is natural.

If a many time world champion asked me not to claim, I would assume he is mentally or physically ill, maybe a stroke...

I don't deserve the credit, I was just posting a link and a quote from the actual ACBL regulation that covers canape.

I still don't have the hand record but overcaller has a better hand, something in spades also IIRC. Dummy had 109xx diamonds if this helps anybody find the record or recall the hands.

If opener had 4-3 majors, he would have bid either NT or 3S, not 3H. Similarly, if in the given auction responder bids 3S, it does not have to be four cards and it could be a strong spade fragment for NT purposes.

UDCA players (I have been one since 1978) do not play standard count. UDCA stands for Upside Down Count and Attitude. Whether one also plays O/E for first discard, is irrelevant to how UDCA is played, just as it is irrelevant to how Standard Attitude and Count are played. Now, before anyone really starts the confusion, UDCA has nothing to do with leads just like Standard Carding has nothing to do with leads!

With no information available, I would assume Dbl shows 4-card hearts, 2[H] is a good spade raise ("invisible" cue of the suit the opponent is guaranteed to have), and 4[H] is a good hand to play 4[H] opposite a minimum negative double. If the 2[H] bidder issues a Dbl over my 4[H], at least I know how to play the hearts.

In ACBL, canape is prealertable before every round, but not alerted during the auction. http://www.acbl.org/play/alert.html Edit: I misinformed! Jan is right. Alert a canape rebid during the auction. http://www.acbl.org/play/alertprocedures.html says: A rebid in a suit that tends to be longer than the opening bid suit (canapé) requires an Alert.

Partner doesn't have 4 hearts or he would have stretched to bid 3H last round. He doesn't have 4 spades or he would have bid them over the balancing Dbl. He does not have a hand that can/wants to bid 3NT and he didn't Dbl 3C or leave 3CX in. 3-3-5-2 or 2-3-5-3 and minimum looks about what he might have. We will play in diamonds, 5 or 6. Bid 4D now. I am a bit concerned about bidding 3S but it might work.

He might mean that the spades are really really strong. No matter what happened at this hand, or what the opponent turned out to have, I would make this my last hand against that opponent. I bid 3H and prepare to pack for the move...

Thanks all for your comments. Dummy had Kxx-xx-K10xxx-Jxx. Spades were 3-3 so I made 4S and 5D would have also made because one club goes on the fourth spade. Had spades not split, neither 4S nor 5D makes when I did not have the club ten, nor did dummy, but all in all 5D is safer no matter what happens. MP... I took the chance and apparently so did partner.

Huh? No he didn't. In what way does that mean "I was also going to double if I knew N had shown both majors"? You are right. It was "West" who would "might have doubled anyway". Maybe I should re-read before commenting on anything! Thanks. West's "Doubled anyway" to me means that he "might have doubled anyway" whether N showed hearts or both majors. That is the only meaning I got.

Playing in NT is out! We could have slam and in rare cases only 5D. I bid 3S, probably unanimous here.

By happenings at the table, it seems pretty obvious that N used the UI from the non-alert to bid spades. Questions, perhaps out of curiosity: When did the MI about the NS agreement come to light? Did someone lead face up? Did NS not inform opponents of failure to alert? West doubled 2H for takeout with a only three worthless in hearts, and according to OP writeup, he would also have doubled for takeout if he knew N promised both majors, with his three worthless in both majors. Whether East takes out the takeout double or passes for penalty, EW are heading for a minus in 2H making, doubled, or in 3D failing doubled or undoubled. The key fact is that West said he was going to double for takeout also when he knew N showed both majors. Therefore, the double was not caused by the MI. In fact, I would describe the double "gambling". Dunno what the ruling in this mess should be. Probably for EW 2HN doubled, making, and for NS 3DE doubled down two. Or 2HX making vor both sides. Then give PP and lecture to NS for illegal use of UI, if their experience level is high enough that they should have known.

2S. Slight overbid but I still bid 2S. The diamond honors might not be working in a spade contract and shortness in both hearts and clubs might be a problem in a NT contract. Pass is out of the question.

So the OP should have said 5+ clubs and _exactly_ 3 hearts. I misread it as 5+, 3+. I suppose this also comes to definition of unbalanced, I would think *unbalanced* means there is a singleton somewhere.

Opponents (and partner?) being BBO randoms, it is in in serious doubt whether they have what they promise. Or that I can divine which one of them doesn't have what they promise. Impossible problem. However, trusting partner, I think we have slam and that FP applies here because partner showed he had better than limit raise when he bid 4S over 4D. So I'm passing then pulling to six.

LHO has 2 or fewer spades [no raise], 3 or fewer hearts [no neg double] and the rest minors, with 10-12HCP. RHO left 2NT in so he isn't distributional (except maybe short in diamonds) and of course has an opening hand. That leaves partner lots of majors with a near yarboro. I'll pass, no other alternative comes to mind. I might also be grateful for the foresight of not bidding 2NT myself! Large minus was probably coming from that.