nick_s

I've wondered about using 1NT to show the other 2-suiter. Does anyone else think this is reasonable?

Thanks all. That was very helpful. I think I'm starting to get it now :lol:

Hi, I often use the Losing Trick Count (LTC) to double check a proposed bid when in doubt. I make adjustments for Aces, Queens, and extra trumps - and try not to get too religious about it. I've seen people mention cover cards in relation to the LTC, and I've no idea what this is nor how to use it :) I'd be grateful if someone would explain this for me - or point me to a reference. Thanks, Nick

Something's not right here. ... Edit: Fixed now, thanks.

I prefer not to have these agreements and play each hand on its merits, opening the major only if it is "rebidable" and opening 1NT if half the strength is in the short suits. Rebidding a 3 card minor is a fairly good option if one suit is exposed, or rebidding 1NT/2NT whenever prudent Tony These are good recommendations if playing a 4-card major system (like Acol) IMO. Playing a 5-card major system (note the forum), a 5-card major is hardly ever going to be rebiddable.

Great explanations. Thanks!

I sense a learning opportunity here :lol: I thought this was a forcing pass auction because partner made a forcing response at the 2-level. I don't have a penalty double but I have extra values and don't know what to do so I pass the decision around to partner. Evidently, that's not the current thinking. It seems like expert opinion (here anyway) now plays double as takeout. Is this accurate? If so, would someone please explain why the thinking about the meaning of a double changed? (And is this still a forcing pass auction?) Thanks

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=sqthkqtxdt98xxcxx]133|100|Scoring: MP 1♠ (p) 1NT (p) 2♦ (p) ?[/hv] 1NT was not forcing

K&R hand evaluator gives 10.3 for the N hand. (http://www.jeffgoldsmith.org/cgi-bin/knr.cgi?hand=QJx+Jxx+Kx+KQxxx) Personally, I'm still on the fence about whether it's a good idea to open the hand, and have enjoyed reading the comments. The S hand is a clear 1NT (12-14) opener for me though.

Thanks for the link. This is awesome stuff. I'd happily pay money for bridge writing this good.

How about leading the K♦? I'm trying to look like I'm trying to create an entry to the closed hand.

We had the following auction come up at a regional over the weekend. (1♣) 1♥ (pass) 1♠ (pass) 2♣ ..and had a difference of opinion about the meaning of 2♣. I thought it was a general purpose force and pard thought it was natural and non-forcing. He asked what I would do with 5-5 in hearts and clubs, and I asked what other bid I could use to ask for more information. Since we could both see the other's point of view, he suggested I ask the forum since you guys tend to give such thoughtful responses ;). Thanks in advance.

6♦. I think the best shot is find partner with Q♦ and declarer to guess wrong.

I know this is old-fashioned, but the first think I do when considering a game try is consult the Losing Trick Count. This hand has 6 losers, so right away I'm thinking game try. Next I look at plus factors and minus factors: I have more aces than queens so that's a plus. I have a singleton, so that's another plus. Finally, the honor structure is great because the honors are working in combination rather than being alone. I think making a game try is pretty clear here.

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=sat85h765dkj943c7&s=sq7hakt2d2ckqjt85]133|200|Scoring: MP (2♠) 3♣ (P) 3♦ (p) 3♥ all pass[/hv] Result: 3H - 1 B) I chose 3♣ also. Thanks for the sanity check.

Matchpoints at the local club. 2nd in hand. Love all. ♠ Q7 ♥ AKT2 ♦ 2 ♣ KQJT85 (2♠) - ? If you choose to X, your partner has a lebensohl 2N available. You're not playing leaping Michaels (just in case you're feeling tempted to distort your shape a little). Needless to say, my choice didn't work out too well or I wouldn't be posting the hand.

Thanks for the help with this. I'm coming around to the idea that I (south) should have used RKCB over 3♠ instead of starting a cue-bidding sequence. That way I can at least stop in 5♠. In the back of my mind I was thinking that I wanted to be in slam opposite KQxx Kxxx xx xxx, which persuaded me to keep going over 4♠. I think Justin is absolutely right though - the hand is much easier if I get it off my chest immediately with a jump rebid of 2♠. Aside: I confess I'm more of an intermediate/advanced than a beginner/intermediate, but I prefer to post in the B/I forum because you kind folks tend to give better explanations for things posted here. -- That and 2/1 is still a very new system for me. My apologies if this hand didn't really belong here.

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sq653hkt874d3ckj5&s=sat72haqdakjt74ct]133|200|Scoring: MP P 1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 3♠ 4♦ 4♠ 5♣ 6♠[/hv] Clearly we went off the rails here, but we can't decide where. For my part (I was S), after hearing 4♠ I decided that RKCB wouldn't tell me what I wanted to know (strong trumps). In the olden days I would have bid 5♠ to ask for good trumps, but my understanding is that it asks for a club control now. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.) So I decided that a club cue would show a heart control and 2nd round control of clubs and focus attention on the quality of his spades. Partner didn't see it that way :(. He decided that I must be asking for the K♥ and bid 6♠.

Whether to open the south hand is a matter of partnership style IMO. I would, but only because I play a 12-14 NT. North has a clear raise to 3NT. Even dedicated point counters should be adding on additional points for length and intermediates in that fine diamond suit. I'd guess it's worth around 14-15 points which should be enough for the walruses to accept an invite.

This is 3rd hand pre-empt at adverse vul. It can even be a hand worth an opening bid that wants to shut out one or both majors. I have very little defense if pard wants to convert the double. I don't think the risk is worth the possible reward. Clear pass IMO.

If you follow the 2N, followed by clubs plan, are you expecting partner to know that your clubs are significantly better? As partner, I'm not sure that I'd get the message - though perhaps I should. Presumably, 2N followed by more NT would be two suits of equal length. So what do you do with longer hearts? Hearts followed by NT presumably. Just wondering...

Thanks for the responses. FWIW I think we both suffered from brain-farts at the table, so I'm not going to burden you with details about what actually happened. So far, the best explanation I can come up with for the delayed overcall is a long suit that isn't good enough for a WJO. Maybe something like Jxxxxx(x). (Or am I crazy?) I suppose the 4 hearts and longer diamonds explanation is playable, but I wouldn't want to spring it on anyone without prior discussion.

In a sectional swiss teams at love all, you pick up in 4th seat: AQTx Axxx xxx Jx (1♣) P (1♠) P (2♣) 2♦ (P) P (3♣) P (P) ? What now? What's going on? Partner's overcalling style is generally sound.

Nope. A new suit at 3 level is forcing in Acol.

So what was the 2♥ bid made on? ...and was it "pretty light" as opposed to very light?