miguelm

1. 3H/E. I hate to be passive (that excludes Pass) and I try to avoid opening weak 2 bids with 7 cards. 2. 3NT, for no particular reason rather than trying to score more than in 5D. 3. I am letting the Diam. ride. If it turns out he actually held the singleton I still survive if he started with both the trump King and the Spade Ace (which is favorite to hold)...

When I first started to learn this game, I found (later) very important that initially I had to learn about how to handle thecards, both declaring and defending. There is a nice and easy exercise to practice this and it has also the benefit of "touching" the auction process. It only takes you and (against) your daughter. Just deal the cards as if you were 4 at the table. Now display the cards in front of you and your daughter as dummies and go like - I can make X tricks with Hearts as trumps... and then she goes I can make Y with Spades as trumps... The one that offers more tricks plays the hand, the other defends it. Quite simple and (as I recall it) very enjoyable for a 10 years old to start.

Minors 2NT or Natural 2NT allows you to bid only one hand type each (okay, we all know how flexible the Natural 2NT can be lol). In a position such as the presented, we want to have options, and the more the better. I like both Leb and Rubinsol (hope I spelled that right) here.

Regarding the questions, I would #1 bid 2C (what else?) #2 bid 2S In what the orientation of what a direct Double over a 15-17 1NT should be I have to say I don't like the odds of the Penalty proposition, and for a number of reasons: - how frequently will I have that hand (the one that really fits the action)? Rarely. - how frequently partner will sit for it? Rarely. - 1NT is the most tough contract to defend against IMHO.

Nice Slam, although not THAT good. You know you are missing one key card and the trump queen. So, you might be missing the cards you actually do, for a ~65% slam. Or you might be missing an ace and and the trump queen, for ~53%. ... and there is also no way for you to know which one is it. I prefer my odds to be a bit better in a Major slam :P Regarding the bid you have chosen, the only problem with it IMHO is the possible lack of spade complement in partner's hand, without which I wouldn't want to be at the 5th level.

What do we know.....? Partner didn't overcall 2C (although it isn't clear what a 2D o/c could be, I would had take it as a take out double). Partner didn't Double 2C. We also know (, at least after 3D we are 100% positive) partner didn't have any shape problems whatsoever that could prevent him from Double (or o/c 2D for that matter). So, I gather partner is just trying to compete with second round double. With this assumption, I Pass. Double doesn't strike me clearly as penalty and even if it would, I am far from counting 5 tricks on defense. 3H is also possible, but I fear this can be too high and I absolutely dislike the fact of 50% of my hand being in Diams. (which also recomends we defend, right?).

I don't know the structure after 2NT, but unless I can anticipate problems by going in that direction that is what I am bidding.... 4D (splinter) is my second choice.