rogerclee

Yeah, I'd go with this. Wins against J9 too (but then again, so does pretty much every possible line).

Nothing is really great. I'd probably double and rebid the lowest number of NT. With the likely bad break in diamonds, though, this hand is not as good as it seems. Edit: Oh, balancing seat. Jump in NT then.

2♦ seems clear for a number of reasons. Primarily: 1) If you jump, partner will play you for having better defense/overall values. If he has a strong hand with hearts, he is not going to be thrilled. 2) Long clubs is not nearly as good as long hearts. 3) Partner will double on a lot of 4423 hands. 4) Your hand just isn't good. (I don't know if this is clear--3♦ is a strong bid, not preemptive, if you have no special agreements.)

I'd 3N. I'd guess he has a max with long diamonds.

They went up to you and said, "foo, there's really something you should do to take your bridge to the next level--be able to play without sorting your cards."? No, I asked them and a few others about sorting their cards as in the topic of this thread... Thank you for sharing the secret to playing like Hamman and Sontag. As usual, your post was enlightening, and I am a better player now than before I read your post.

They went up to you and said, "foo, there's really something you should do to take your bridge to the next level--be able to play without sorting your cards."?

It has extras in the sense that it isn't some 3433 hand with 12 HCP. With a 1444 12-count, for example, I would almost always bid 3♥. This is a great example of why I love, love, love to raise/preempt in partner's overcall after they make a negative double.

All Red, IMPs 1) ♠Txx ♥AKxx ♦AKxxx ♣Q 2) ♠T9xx ♥AKx ♦AKxxx ♣Q (2♠)-? No ELC.

I adopted this (as jdonn points out, Zia's) strategy briefly. It doesn't work for me very well :lol:. I agree with the auction. Game is only a little better than 50%. I wouldn't sweat this one. If you really wanted to blame someone, I would blame South, but his "extras" are pretty minimal.

I'd open 1♦ and pull 3NT to 5♥, exclusion (in diamonds, not that it matters on this deal).

In the context of a non-relay sequence, I do not understand the desire, in general, to change the general point counting scheme. Is anyone so much of a Walrus to actually care about points so much? Does anyone think so little of his own personal judgment? Why can't I just look at my hand and say, "I want to open this" or "I think this hand is good enough to bid game" without worrying about how many "points" I have? Furthermore, I do not understand what player base an alternative point sequence is trying to reach. An expert does not need a funny point counting scheme to tell him what to do. An advanced player's judgment is better-suited to decide what to bid as opposed to a mechanical point counting scheme, and if he is wrong, he should be working on his hand evaluation so that he can become as good as the expert at making these decisions. The beginner has way more to learn than a modified point-counting scheme, and I can only imagine how much it will hurt his game to think that silly science is the way to improve.

I think that it is great that a district would write up something like this with such detail for such an admittedly "insignificant" event. I know that I definitely want to read about my GNT finals (Super/A/B/C), especially if a friend of mine (or me) is playing.

Dbl = Exactly 4♥, 4+♣, reasonable hand. 2♠ = NATURAL! I just wanted to emphasize this since it seems many B/I players do not know this is standard. 2NT = 5+♥, 5+♣, good suits. FWIW, I'd pass all day on this hand. Doesn't that depend entirely on your methods Roger? I know of at least one top pair that use both cues to show 6-4 hands for example. FWIW with current partner we play 1NT = sandwich, 5-4(5) in other 2 suits 2♦ = stop ask (not fond of this but partner is) 2♠ = natural 2NT = 5-5(6) in other 2 suits but in the past have also played 1NT = natural 2♦ = 6-4 ♥s-♣s 2♠ = 4-6 ♥s-♣s 2NT = 5-5 ♥s-♣s It's just a matter of style and preference, no? On the given hand I'd bid 2NT against weaker opponents or in fun/pub bridge, and pass when being more serious, unless w/r with a suitable partner. Obviously you can agree to play whatever you'd like in this position. I was trying to be careful by saying that this is "standard", but I guess I should've said this is "standard in the ACBL area." I'd never heard of the cueing idea before. It sounds playable, but I think you are giving up a lot of information on a deal which is probably not yours.

Hmm. Well, perhaps it is just me, but if I have just passed partner's reopening double, and am expecting to beat them by several tricks, scared is not the word I would use to describe my feelings at the prospect of defending the same contract redoubled, instead of just doubled. ;) This agreement is an awesome way to bring back -1600 to your teammates.

Dbl = Exactly 4♥, 4+♣, reasonable hand. 2♠ = NATURAL! I just wanted to emphasize this since it seems many B/I players do not know this is standard. 2NT = 5+♥, 5+♣, good suits. FWIW, I'd pass all day on this hand.

I think it is funny that most people would auto-open this 1N but would probably open xx AKTx AKxx xxx 1♦. This is about as good as a below-average balanced 14-count. Clear downgrade, would open this a 14-16NT. I think I would consider opening this a 15-17 1N only if white at MPs.

3♠/4♦ = cuebids My regular p i meant (and we obviously know our bidding) But whether we can make 6♦ is a different story. You sat down with your partner and decided that it was better for 3♠ to be natural and 6-5 rather than a cuebid after a jump-rebid in a GF auction, leaving yourself with only 4♥ as agreeing hearts as trumps? Cool!

3♠/4♦ = cuebids

Okay, I thought it was close, but I am sort of nuts about bidding stayman. The responses to this poll have greatly convinced me not to pull this kind of stuff anymore. It didn't matter a whole lot on the actual hand. Par should've been either 2D= or 1N=.

Phew. Congrats!

MPs, White vs Red ♠J74 ♥9765 ♦QJ84 ♣J3 (P) - 1NT - (P) - ?

I disagree with an initial pass but don't dislike it as much as everyone else seems to. Anyway, the hand is surely worth 3♦ on the second round.

I think 5♦ will go for 800 a little too often to just hammer it out. I'll bid 4♦; partner will probably save if he has shortness in their major and won't if he doesn't. Either seems okay to me.

What do you play 4♠ as?