rogerclee

At the table at MP I did bid 3N and went down 2 (could have been 3). It was a weird average minus; partner had AJTxx Jxx xxx Jx, and the opponents are cold for 5C (LHO is 1606). For what it's worth I gave this hand at MP to three friends of mine (including two national champions) and everyone thought 3N was reasonable, but two of them preferred 3S and one had no strong opinion.

1C P 1H P 1S X X = Short in hearts? Short in spades? Look at your hand and guess? How strong is it?

w/r KQxxxx AQx KJx x P 3D ? At IMPs? At MPs?

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sxxxhkt987xd62ck8&w=sqhajxdqjt9xxxcxx&e=sat87hqxxd8caj9xx&s=skjxxxhxdak7cqt7x]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Bidding: 2♥ - P - P - 3♦ P - 3♥ - P - 3NT P - P - X - 4♦ P - P - X - AP Lead: ♥T NS agreed that their preempts are pretty middle of the line. Comment on the bidding and the opening lead. What would you lead as north against 3NTx? (Result was 4♦x-1 at the table.)

4N specific ace ask one time

1) I would pass, don't like to double with 3 spades when we are offshape and have no game. 2) I would open 1N but feel like 2C is completely fine.

IMO passing initially with this hand is pretty lol. Of course if I passed initially I have to bid 3C even though it is way more dangerous than before and the upside is way smaller.

3H splinter if possible, otherwise 2N lim+ raise.

I'd probably x, 2S is fine, pass is not. If my opponents were known to be conservative about r/w preempts I would bid 2S.

Just play well and don't try retarded tactics (iirc you are already playing a slightly swingy system). You would be surprised how bad some (really good) people can play.

[hv=d=s&v=n&n=s9xxhaqdt9xcaqxxx&s=sak76h9xxxdaqxxxc]133|200|Scoring: MP[/hv] 1D-2C 2D-3D 3N-P ♠Q lead, note that it's matchpoints. Opponents are okay.

1) pass but it's close, 4H has some small extra things working for it (maybe LHO bids 4S now, maybe it makes) 2) 3H

1D

r/r MP Qxx xx T9xx K9xx 1S 2S P 4H 4S 5H ?

I play 3N directly shows a non-slammish 18-19 bal. I don't think this qualifies, but after 3D slam seems pretty remote.

4S

agree with all these words

w/w MPs J9xx x xxx AQxxx 1N P ? 1N = 14+-17

I would just bid 3N. Seems hard for slam to be on, and the 5 level is not safe.

Seems to me that redouble is better than 1N, if this is your goal.

Really normal actions by both hands, I would also duplicate this auction at IMPs with less confidence.

3H, after partner's 1S response this seems right on values.

I play double is takeout, so partner is expected to bid fairly often, but with that hand I would pass.

for me easy 2h 3c for me would be invitational. I have no way to show a weak hand with long clubs on this type of auction. I don't normally do this in the B/I forum, but if that is your agreement, I suggest you play instead 1H-1N 2D-? 2S forces 2N ...3C = 6+C, inv ...3D =D raise, strong invite ...3H = some kind of heart raise, either 3 card limit raise or Hx and a sharp hand, etc 3C = weak with clubs 3D = weaker invite in D 3H = H raise, whatever you decided doesnt go through 2S

I wasn't trying to prove that it was impossible for 4N to work out better than double. I was trying to explain why it was less likely to work out better.