rogerclee

Good problem. Hint:

Why do we have a 9-card spade fit? What would partner bid on opening hands with 4144, 4243, or 4234 shape? I think bidding 3♠ the previous round is pretty horrible. I have a hand which is almost entirely defensive with every expectation of beating 3♥ and no expectation of making 3♠ opposite a random 8-count with 4 spades.

Pass?

1) Yes 2) ♠A

Well, I did pull at the table. I think 4N vs 5♣ also isn't that clear.

All Red, MPs [hv=d=w&v=b&s=sxh9xxdq8xxckj9xx]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] Sitting south, the auction goes: (1♠)-DBL-(4♠)-P (P)-DBL-(P)-?

I think there is very little chance that LHO has 6 spades. With KQxxxx of spades and beefy diamonds (our highest is the 6), I imagine that LHO is more than capable of bidding 4S. So I'll play the ♠J smoothly at T1 and hope for a continuation so I can take the heart finesse. If I get a diamond switch, I can still discard dummy's losing spade on my club, since I think clubs are 3-3. If I get a low diamond switch and a spade return, these guys got me, but if RHO is as weak as you say she is (mediocre club player B) ) she will automatically fire back a diamond.

I generally feel that most basic conventions "everybody plays" are good, and I generally feel that most basic conventions "not everybody plays" are bad. If you forced me to add one thing that not everybody plays, and we could actually discuss all the followups, I would suggest Gazilli. Or mini-roman 2♦ B) .

Without discussion, I think 2D an xfer is better, since xx forces 2C for a minor runout (is this "expert standard"?) With discussion, I think either DONT runouts or some other runout structure I play are both okay. This mostly refers to weak NT openings but could be adapted to this situation. DONT runouts (and most structures(?) where you can play 1NTx): Advantage: Can play 1NTx (but can't play 1NTxx, dubious that this is a disadvantage, since I have never declared 1NTxx in my entire life). Disadvantage: Two-suited runouts are ambiguous, potentially getting doubled and not knowing if we should run to the second suit. Other runout structures that have P force xx: Advantage: Both suits are known immediately when partner bids. Also, it is potentially better to defend 2Y doubled than declare 1NTx, depending on colors. Disadvantage: Can't play 1NTx. This is a bigger disadvantage than one might believe without being in these situations a lot. I don't strongly believe that one is better than the other, and I'm not sure there is a vast expert consensus on this.

Would you really rebid 4♥? I imagine 3♥ is enough (which S would obviously raise to game).

Assess blame for missing game (if you think anyone is at fault). [hv=d=n&v=n&n=sxxxhak8xxxxdxxca&s=saqtxht9dkjct9xxx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Auction: 1♥-(2♦)-x-(P) 2♥-AP Makes 5 when it's ♦A+♠K on and 2-2♥, with ♠J off.

You're vulnerable. :)

1S. Why would I bid 2S on such a junky suit and 8 HCP outside my suit? Any scoring, any colors, any 1-level opener.

:)

Well, I do have some spades... :) I think pass has a lot of merit, but I'll stick to my guns and say I prefer double. Even if partner has a 12-count, it is far from clear that they are making this. I also admit that part of my double is that I hate it when opponents try stuff like this. Edit: Reconsidering, if partner is 12-14, he is unbalanced. If he has a stiff spade, the opponents have an 8-card spade fit, which seems unlikely (but possible); LHO has a limit raise available, and RHO would rebid 2S on any 6-card suit rather than pass. A stiff heart would give the opps a 9-card heart fit, which would have to be 7-2, since RHO would raise with 3 cards, also unlikely. If partner has a stiff diamond, the defense is starting with AK ruff for a likely set. So all in all, double seems at least reasonably safe even if partner is not pulling with 12-14 unbalanced.

In my experience with weak NT, x'ing on any 15-17 balanced here is insane. In fact, passing here is generally a system gain when you're red, since you avoid going down in 1NT like the rest of the field. Anyway, it sounds like RHO overcalled on cheese, doesn't have hearts, and is afraid of this getting too high. I think partner is 15-17 balanced, so I will saw this off. I like to play that my double here is cooperative; that is, my double is penalty contingent on whether partner has a strong NT. If he's weak with 6 clubs, he should run.

Regardless of what is best, I would think without discussion, a general principle of "if it is weird and reasonable that this could be natural, then it is natural" applies. So I imagine it's a real diamond suit. Having only 4 diamonds would be pretty crazy IMO, so I would say 5+.

IMPs, All Red ♠KJ87xx ♥J7xx ♦x ♣xx 1NT - 3♣ - ? 1NT is 15-17. Your methods here would be 4♥ xfer, all 3-level bids forcing, x is takeout-oriented.

4S seems okay to me. I once opposed Ron Smith at some national event and my partner, in fourth seat, opened 1D out of turn, barring me from the auction. Ron tanked for awhile before opening a strong 1NT; he was thinking about baiting my partner into opening 3NT :P.

I don't think this is true for me. In fact, I think I am a much better live player than online player. I find it hard to stare at a screen for a long time while keeping up my concentration.

I'll pop at T2 and ruff a club, cross to the spade T and ruff another club, playing for the club K to drop in three. If it doesn't, I'll run my spades to reach this position [hv=n=shaxdjcj&s=s2hjdaxc]133|200|[/hv] On the last spade, W must keep his club, so he reduces himself to two red cards. I'll play for him to have kept 1-1, which will subject E to a red-suit squeeze. I can equivalently cash the diamond A first to play for a typical double squeeze.

1♦-P-P-2NT P-3♦-P-3♥ P-3NT-AP If the defenders choose to attack spades and clear the suit, they will rectify the count for a (marked) squeeze to allow declarer to make 3NT.

1) 1♣-P-1♠-P 1NT-P-P-DBL P-2♥-? How do you play double here (by the 1♠ bidder)? 2) 1♣-P-1♠-P 1NT-P-P-DBL P-2♥-P-P ? How do you play double here (by the 1NT bidder)? Edit: Sorry, fixed the formatting craziness.

You are a passed hand.

Yes, but I think this is close.