Flameous

In 7NT you are not doomed if clubs are 5-1/6-0 cause spades can still break. But yeah, I guess it's quite close.

I have some trouble here understanding these 4m as fragment bids. What do you bid with 64 majors? I would take the 4m as shortness (doesn't matter which way they are) but I would take it as slam invite in the longer major. But maybe it could work to assume that the shortness can be bid with a hand like this and other minor can still be a playable strain, ie. 3NT - 4♦ - 4♠ - 5♣ - 6♣ - 6♥ - 7♣ might be a possible sequence. I don't know, do you handle your 64s other way?

Gnasher, in your ending it has just turned into simple squeeze in the black suits. (Due to opponent's discarding) West should have kept Hxx/xx minors for this to turn into a real compound. (First triple squeeze to enable a double squeeze) Your line of play is of course right for either of those situations. If opps had xx xxx Hxx xxxxx opposite Jxxx xx Hxxx xxx, ie. they are now down to - - Hxx xx opposite J - Hxx x, I have to play heart now throwing a club if west pitches diamond. Then finish with simple squeeze in pointed suits against east. I think I'll go with Gnasher's line of play because it seems to cater to some "misdefenses". (Hard to misdefend a cold contract but meaning that their bad discards enabled easier squeezes) Also apparently east didn't discard club honor? So he didn't hold QJx originally as the lead suggests if from five card suit. I'm more likely to believe that the lead is from 4 card suit than deceptive lead from QJTxx. (Not because I trust their carding against slam, but that holding is just much more rare)

Why would you want to end up at 7♣? Isn't it strictly worse than 7NT? I counted some odds and it seems that with the info I had in my auction, I should bid 7NT (assuming other table is at least in 6 a good part of the time) Half the time partner has AK AQ in reds, when I'm in a 70% slam. Opposite just AQ AK I'm in about 40% slam with the extra chance of squeeze in spades and a red suit. Could also have ♠J to make it 52%. Add ♦T and I'm again in 70% slam. If clubs were declared from the same side as NT, it might be the winner cause I'd have the extra chance of having ♥AQJ for ruffing finesse.

I'd start with 1♠ - 2♥ 3♣ - 3♥ But now I'm a bit stuck. I don't think this is good enough support for hearts to bid 4♦ although it works out nicely. I have too much extra for 3NT, so I would probably bid 4NT. But this leads to a problem of not being able to check for keys. 4NT - 5♦ 5♥ Should get to there though.

Seems like a hand for me to advertise my garbage w/ minor suit stayman twist: 1NT - 2♣ - 2red - 2♠ = Nonforcing minor suit stayman, ie: shows 4 spades and both/long minor. Not having this toy, it's quite marginal invite. I'd probably still go for it.

1♥ - 1♠ 2♣ - 2♦ (Gazzilli, 8+) 3♦ - 3♥ (GF w/ 4♦, 2♥, some doubt about 3NT) 4♦ a reasonable alternative. 3♠ - 5♦ (Throws the ball back, to play) 3NT a reasonable alternative by either player. 1♣ - 1♠ (16+, 7-11, bal) 1NT - 2♦ (Relay, 4+♠) 2♥ - 2NT (Relay, 4♦) 3♣ - 3♦ (Relay, 4243) 3♥ - 3♠ (Relay, 4 AKQ pts) 3NT, this one could be argued but I think it's the game that makes most often with the given parameters.

I think that if KQxx xx x KQxxxx isn't already an opening for you, this sequence shows it.

2♦, inverted psycho suction ;) 3♠ coming close second.

In natural set up, I play weak jumps, but quite wide ranging comparing to most. Something like 3-8. This means that my rebid of a suit is good 8-11 and I still have bids for 12-13 point invites that might want to play there if partner holds stiff or something. Over 1♣ I've also played 2♦ multi and 2♥/♠ as reverse flannery. Over our unbal 1♦ opening we have 2♣ as multibid that may include wjs in either major, constructive diamond support or hand that can play 3♣ but is weak. 2♥ is 8-11 with both majors either way at least 54. Sort of less defined reverse flannery bid. 2♠ for us shows 5♥+4+♣. But these are very specifically designed for our system so I doubt you do much with them. 3lvl bids I have always conventional, so no any jumpshifts there.

Playing natural, I'd bid 3♣ fitjump and follow it with 6♣ bid. I'd hope partner gets the idea. With some strong club action: 1♣ - 1♦ (16+ without primary ♦ unless GF, 0-6 or 12+) 2♠ - 2NT (16-18, singlesuited with spades or 544, relay) 3NT - 4♣ (5440, relay) 4NT - 5♣ (12 AKQ pts, relay) 5♦ - 5♥ (Odd nbr of kings, relay) 5NT - ? (1/3 in spades, 0/2 in hearts) So now you know of Axxxx AKxx AQxx or red suits other way around. No idea about Js or tens though. I guess I'd pick 6NT as I got it rightsided :P And of course if I needed the swing, I'd go for 7NT, not any suit contract. With all the possible squeeze chances, it might be the overall winner to bid anyways.

I'd have same auction as Free but 2♦ showing any balanced hand. This gets somewhat more interesting sequence if 1♣ opening can be 2 cards, since now it's not as good idea to blast it, though I guess I still would due to lack of alternatives.

I'd say the range given is quite atypical. I would usually assume something like 8-12, maybe AK or KQJ 6th would also cut it. (NF but constructive) Also I think this one is a clear negative double, better get the spades in. I would hate much more that it went ... 2♦ (3♣) 3♥/P, and now we don't know about spades. I don't quite feel like bidding them on the three level.

There is some sense to it, but not exactly like that. Point is for 2♠ to be Range ask, but it can include weak minor or slammish minor and bal slam invites. 2NT then is both minors, any strength. Split like this, it makes a lot of sense to have your invites go through 2♠.

9-Ball Strong pass system with two-way openings: P = 15+ 1♣ = 9+ cards in minors or majors or any 3-suited 1♦ = 9+ cards in reds or blacks 1♥ = 0-9(10 bal) 1♠ = 9+ cards in pointed or rounded suits 1NT = 11-14 Bal 2♣ = 5-9 4M, 5+m 2♦ = 5-9, 5M, 4+m 2♥ = Weak in either major (nat vul) 2♠ = Both majors with better ♠ (Nat vul) 2NT = ♣ pre or bad ♦ pre 3♣ = Minors 3♦ = Good pre Note that first bid that promises the suit is 2♠ :D 1♣ opening could be AKxxxx AQxxxx x - or as well - x AQxxxx AKxxxx and even xx AQxxxxxx AQx -, usually opps will bid their suits and tell what the opener really had :lol: Everything is followed by relays and I can tell you that they are pretty damn effective. I often get full shape at 2NT or even below. Another one is Two-way transfers, which follows somewhat in the footsteps of magic ♦. 1♣ = 12-16 without 4+♠ or strong bal 1♦ = 4+♥ unbal, 8-11 or 4+♦ or ♠, 17+ unbal 1♥ = 4+♠ unbal, 8-11 or 4+♥ or ♣, 17+ unbal 1♠ = 12-16, 4+♠, unbal 1NT = 11-14 2♣/♦ = 5+, unbal, 8-11

Imps, vul vs. not you hold KT4 Q9743 A4 Q95 (4♠) P (P) X (P) ? How strongly do you feel of your choice?

I go with Justin, obv. 4♠, because I think it shows a minor here too as a passed hand. I don't state "super obvious" though because the spades are so bad.

No reason for anything else but natural. If you had 5♠ you'd have already transfered (or bid them if no sys on). Thus you could bid 2♠ here with some 45+ in blacks you couldn't bid before.

Am I missing something? This looks like no play slam. And that double over 1♠ looks questionable at the least. More like atrocious. I might find myself from 6♣ after that double. It would be quite a good contract if partner actually held the cards he promised.

I'd take the first one as penalty without discussion. The other (maybe better) agreement is T/O of spades, ie a good opening hand with both red suits that couldn't X 1♣ or overcall a red suit. Because I would have overcalled almost all of these, a penalty hand is more likely. I don't think it's good idea to X with hand like Antrax showed. It's a very dangerous spot as opps might easily have both red suits locked up. (2♣ bidder is 45 in minors, 1♠ bidder 54 in majors) I rather trust that partner can find a balancing bid in actual balancing position.

For us the 2♣ opener promises the world :rolleyes: I also like 5♦.

When I don't play transfer advances to overcalls, I play that 1-lvl bids are forcing and 2-lvl bids are only semiforcing, with a real rock you start with cuebid. When playing that transfers start with cuebid, I could quite well play it as NF. I just haven't actually agreed upon that and standard is forcing.

Haven't actually happened to me but once in friendly games opponent opened weak two in hearts. His partner smirked and bid 3♥ with 7 card support cause he was sure partner had psyched and was going to bid 3♠ or something over 3♥ and he could play it in four. So there they played 3♥ in 13 card fit, making exactly. Good stop :o

My structure is following: 3♣ always checkback 3♦ natural, if opener has diamonds it shows 4 cards and slammish. If opener has clubs, it's 46+ sort of hand, less than invite. 3M 6+, usually slammish 3oM, clubs similar to 3♦

What Mike said. If partner suggests 3NT by bidding it next, I will not push further.