655321

Director!

Wow. My opinion is that Pass is so clearcut I would not have doubled, but I agree with your opponents that you acted ethically. Sometimes at the table we are not certain which alternatives are logical, and have to make our best guess at the time. But your partner's actions... :P

1) Pass 2) No alternatives

I start by playing a diamond to the 8. I don't want to play spade, spade, losing to East's Q when I still have entry troubles setting up and cashing the spades. Very good news would be H9x of diamonds onside, but even if the ♦ loses to the 9, I duck the ♥ 8, and still have chances in spades, diamonds and clubs. Looking at your hidden text, perhaps starting spades at trick 2 would work, but I still prefer starting on the diamonds.

5♣

1) 2♠ 2) 2♠ I think 2♠ is clear in both cases. Yes, it would be nice to have more shape, but this is all they gave you. If you bid, sometimes (not often) RHO has a weak 2 in Spades, partner is broke and you get carted out. If you pass, RHO (more often) has a weak 2 in Hearts, LHO will raise to game, and you will wish you had bid.

Oh, that way madness lies; let me shun that.

Probably I am missing something, since this is a Frances problem, but: Opener has AJ98(x) clubs. The ♣7 in dummy prevents anything nasty from the defence such as letting East win the 3rd round of clubs. AJ98 does not seem an attractive lead, so perhaps West is 2515 (would he rebid 2♣?), but he could be 3514, or even 4414 (wouldn't a ♠ lead be more attractive?). Anyway, I just play a ♣ to the King, and ♠A and another. If West has all the high cards, we have 8 top tricks, and West will have to give us a 9th. Can West gain by unblocking the ♠K under the Ace? I think we will still be OK if we correctly pick him for 2 spades (he can be endplayed) or 3 spades (we play 3 rounds, setting up the 13th spade). But that does seem to be what I missed. More thought needed. :rolleyes:

Here is a thought. We could Pass, because with ♦ length pass is completely normal and correct, then partner can look at his hand, count his 10 1/4 HCP, look at his ♦ length, and make a decision about reopening. Novel idea, I know. :rolleyes:

As you say, the frequency of the strong NT vs the weak hand makes a difference. When I have played against the comic NT, they usually have the weak hand. Double = penalties (then subsequent doubles as per your normal agreements) New suit = F1, just as though they overcalled 1 suit instead of 1NT. Major suit raises still on as though RHO passed. This has worked well for me. You don't want to be forced to double on all good hands, and have to start bidding suits at the 3 level.

5♣ looks like the normal bid, so I make it.

1♦ I have an opening hand with some Diamonds 1NT I don't have a 4 card major, I don't have enough points to respond at the 2 level, and my hand is not suitable for raising your diamonds 2♥ I have extra values, 4 card ♥, and longer ♦ 3NT Great, we should be able to make 3NT If I have been playing golf for a few years, and decide that I am now too good a player to keep my head still, and to keep my eyes open when I hit the ball*, that does not make me a great player... * Forgive me if this is not correct golf behavior, if necessary substitute some suitable golfing advice. :lol:

Q2. We have a minimum opening, partner did not have enough to force to game, and we have a misfit as well. Hmmm... Pass. This is so obvious that clearly it was unsuccessful, else Ken would not have posted it. :lol: Q1. Don't know, but see Q2 :)

1) Pass WTP. Even if partner was not a passed hand this is an easy pass IMO with 3 card ♦. 2) Pass. Not as confident about this one. We have a high card in their suit, which is a factor against bidding one more. I think they will sometimes make, sometimes go down. Sometimes they will go several down, but on some of these occasions partner will be able to double - eg when he has a good (in context) 4441, etc. Perhaps I should double because the passed hand bid 5♥.

5♣ showed a big hand, good ♣ suit and interest in slam, yes? Then I hate the 4♥ bid last round. Was this an appeal hand? Having bid only 4♥ the first time, I don't think South is allowed to change his mind after a slow double.

♣2. OK, this is basically a guess, but: Spades: Partner had a chance to bid 3♠ and didn't. Hearts: You could argue that the double has given away the Heart position and so a singleton trump lead won't hurt, but I would still rather lead something else. Diamonds: If you lead a diamond and it is wrong, you probably lose your K forever. Clubs: If you lead a club and declarer wins the Q, with only 3 cards in the suit you might still win the K later.

Most likely I will end up in 6 of a minor. Not going to bid 7 unless we can count 13 or 14 tricks. Certainly won't go for our own throat by passing or bidding 3NT. Well, if we don't have any agreements about 4♠ or 4NT, I will just bid 4NT and raise 5m to 6.

1NT WTP Pass WTP

Double in 4th seat - East did not raise, and perhaps partner wants to defend 2♠X. If RHO opened 2♠, I would overcall 3♥. Now a penalty is less likely, I want to show the 5th ♥, and the hand - while very good - is not really good enough to X then bid ♥.

Standard American. So yes, opening 1NT is an option but with 2 suits wide open it's not my cup of tea. Indeed, on this particular hand we would likely reach 3NT and be helpless when opps run the first 5 tricks in ♠s. Playing NFB, the only strong options here now are ♠ cues or double. NFB is a convention I rank with F******y and G****r, and advise you to expunge it from your profile ASAP. :) In any case, NFB doesn't apply to opener. If you were to rebid 2♦ (I don't say I recommend 2♦), it is a natural reverse, not a NFB. Negative free bid refers to responder's bid in an action such as: 1♦-(1♠)-2♣

There have been a number of posts in this thread suggesting different things, but to me this post perfectly describes the normal treatments after a double of a transfer.

Prefer 4♠ instead of 4♣ by South. Not sure that helps, though - still not easy for anyone to bid the 6th club. So, blame the 3♦ bidder. :)

1) Don't know what system you play, but if you had a strong NT available it would have simplified the auction. Also don't know what an Action Double is, but if your 1NT opening is weak and you don't play support doubles, perhaps double shows a strong NT. Anyway, I pass now. 3♣ is not forcing, 2 small is the worst holding in Spades, and to make 5♣ after losing the first 2 spade tricks partner needs exactly the right cards. Double is very dangerous - sounds like penalty. Bidding 4♣ is possible - on a good day we have 10 tricks in clubs while they have 9 tricks in spades - but I would rather not bid to the 4 level on a partscore hand. 2) 3♦. Just bidding out my shape, showing a good hand.

OK, first, no-one is happy to hold this hand and hear a 3♥ opening. You pretty much have to double due to lack of alternatives - this is not the same as saying you are happy to double. On the actual hand, partner will bid 3♠, you will pass, and we will miss a good 3NT contract. Preempts work, yada yada, etc. If your LHO had opened 3♥, this is a fine 3NT bid. However, in direct seat a 3NT is not a sensible bid - the opening lead will be a ♥ through partner's holding. Your minor suit lengths - 5-4 or 4-5 - are not relevant - this is a balanced hand, and so 4NT for the minors is a poor call.

Double. I play this as 13-15 bal or a strong hand. If 3♠ comes back to you: Pass 2♦ X 3♠ Pass Pass ? all you can do is double again to show a strong hand (19+ if balanced) and hope for the best.