rogerclee

Yes, a very good post by Frances. I thought pass and 5♠ was the best call, then Justin convinced me it was wrong, then Frances convinced me that everyone else was wrong.

The actual hand was sort of a weird layout. 5♠ is down 2 on a crossruff, but 6♦ will make. Partner has: ♠QTxxx ♥Qxx ♦Qx ♣AKx

♠AQ ♥AKQTxxxxx ♦A ♣A, r/w IMPs. We played 7♥-1, Han at the other table just played 6NT.

I guess I could just LOL, but you should really think about the consequences of bidding 2♣ here, and in general, think about the consequences of making a strange bid before you do it. In this case, partner will often take you back to a preference with 2 diamonds, thinking you are 5-4 in the minors, and many other bad things can happen by describing your hand as 5-4 (partner will often compete to the 3-level!). The upside is very low; this bid is likely to end well (or just okay) for you only if partner holds 5 clubs, and it will be a wash when partner has long diamonds and was always going to bid 2♦ over 1N. You can also very easily be playing 2♣ or 3♣ when 1N is your last making spot. Occasionally partner will have 6 hearts as well, but as a passed hand this is unlikely. Overall I hope it's clear to you why this bid is wrong.

http://usbf.org/docs/vugraphs/USJBC2008/Br...tage=SemiFinals Pretty close, and the margin was a lot more. I've done better than 65 in 6 (don't remember it exactly, but every board was a 10+ IMP swing), but 130 in 12 is really crazy.

655321, you are my sunshine.

Pass, but it's not clear.

I wish some B/I players had given this a chance before the solution was posted, this kind of problem is important to get right.

Does that mean that you think 1NT in competition promises more than it does in an uncontested auction? Yes, absolutely! To me, this shows about 8-10. I don't know how it is in England (or other places), but this is very standard in America.

LOL

LOL Really? Looks like a near-max to me too. Wow, you know you have a guaranteed eight card fit and probably a nine card fit in one of the minors, and for this reason, we would always bid 3♣ here on a 5-5 minimum. It is silly to make the same bid that you would short the ace of clubs, you will just miss game routinely if you do this. You can debate whether or not 3♥ or 4♣ is the better bid, but 3♣ is not a serious option at all, especially since 1N promises values. I would bid 3♥, even though my reaction was to bid 4♣.

LOL

Me too as we are often endplayed into 1NT at this level. If PD is interested in 3NT (unlikely after passing) he can ask for a stop later. Don't particularly agree with this, this is just a risk we take on when we bid 1N with this kind of hand.

I guess I am in the minority when I say that I think this hand is just barely good enough for 4♦. I am happy to pass partner's 4♥ bid over this.

Yes, this is an obvious 1♦ opener in third, no matter your opening style in any other seat.

MTVESUVIUS? Also I just wanted to add that I think passing on board 1 is really/extremely wrong, trying to beat 1♠ by 3 tricks when we have a very good chance for making game is illogical. Passing is saying that you think it is so likely for you to defend and take 9 tricks in spades, or so unlikely that you can make 3N, that you are just going to pass. I would not even pass at IMPs but it would be close, but at matchpoints I think it is totally wrong.

1N.

I would bid 4NT.

Either endplay will work.

Aces still take tricks in the middle of the hand, you know!

slam

LOL? Penalty Pass with *what*? The absolute strongest heart holding parting can have is T87, and that's if declarer opened with 65432. LOL

zero

Would double and jump in NT.

Boring 3♦ for me. Edit: Changed my mind, partner is just so likely to be 5134, and we know our hand is just fantastic opposite this shape. 3♥, planning on bidding diamonds next.