OleBerg

A guess can never be correct, as it would then not be a guess. :-) My best guess would be a take-out double, planning to correct 4♦ to 4♠. That is an overbid off course, but I will rather overbid than misbid.

I am quite in agreement with MFA, but we are also from the same environment, where 12-14NT is the normal range. (Being an overbidder, I will sometimes double a 12-14NT with 13 and a reasonable lead.) One more thing that has to be considered, is whether the double establishes a force. If it does establish a force, or establish it until a certain level, you have to uppen your requirements a bit. A little consideration will also have to be given to some other factors. The most obvious being Red against white with a passed partner. In this case, I would not double on 14 scattered, and maybe even pass 15, if they looked real bad.

And there is no risk of partner bidding 4♦? He is quite likely void in spades.

Just to show what the hand should be like, for me not to raise: ♠ KQxxx ♥ xxx ♦ Q10x ♣ Jx

Pass. I'll double 3♦ shortly, showing this type of hand.

Can't you also beat the field with superior judgement and superior bidding skills? That largely depends on the field. (In this case.) If you are in a homogeneous strong field, you can count on field protection, and bid what you believe to be the best contract. If you are in a mixed field, you have to be in 3NT, as many pairs will bid and make that contract. Even against very strong opponents you have to bid it, you just have to hope for some luck. The actual hand is so flat, and devoid of intermediates, that I would invite in the aforementioned strong field.

X Finally an easy one.

This belief is widely held, but, I believe, incorrect. If you pass holding spades when the opponents have a heart fit, the auction may continue 2♦ pass 2♠ pass 4♥ If you pass holding hearts when the opponents have a spade fit, the worst that can happen is 2♦ pass 2♥ pass 2♠ Quite right. But if responder preempts to the 3- or 4-level (experienced multi-players will often do that), you are better of with spades than hearts, as you can get in a level lower.

Interesting idée, but certainly not free. After: 2♦ pass 2♥ pass 2♠ I like to be able to bid 3♣ on something like: ♠ K32 ♥ K4 ♦ 32 ♣ QJ10432 Is it worth giving up those bids, to play a more accurate defence with the stronger hands? Opinions, preferbly backed by arguments, are welcome!

1) I play it as F1, meaning that partner cannot pass if next hand passes. Does not establish a force. A good 5-5 hand will back in with a double. 2) Whenever there is an intervening bid possible, it shows a good raise in the major suit, while 4NT shows a good raise in the minor. In the sequence: (2♠) - 4♦. 4♠ is with Diamonds and 4NT is with Hearts. 3) Like Shevek, after 2♦ it shows hearts and the minor. 4) In some cases, but often we bid immidiately.

Choice of games, all three. Can of course be a slam-try, if you overrule partners choice, and move to highest game.

Indeed, at least if the hand is equally bad facing any shortage. An example 15-17NT: ♠ AQ ♥ QJxx ♦ QJxx ♣ QJx

4♠ should be very well defined, as it takes up a lot of bidding space. My preference would be something like: Lower range of the NT-bid and (scatterred) values unsuitable for play in spades, often with a doubleton spade.

2♦. No reason to get fancy. This will almost only turn out bad, if it is passed out. There is no way near enough reasons to distort our hand with a 1♠ bid.

I've had some experince with this, and you need to make an addition. If you play: 1M - 2NT 3♦ = Extra values, no shortness. you need to be carefull with the continuations. The sequence 1M - 2NT 3♦ - 4M is a nightmare if opener holds a hand just below a 2♣ opening. Thus 4M should be much more well-defined than simply: No slam interest.

Out of curiosity, and for future reference: Is this standard? What do you do with an even stronger hand? 4NT? And what if we are to strong for 4NT? If the above is the correct, so would I.

4♥ I am unaccustomed to 2 over 1, but 2nt followed by 3nt sounds like partner is inviting slam. At the very least he is looking for something else than 3NT, and it isn't spades or clubs.

4♠ with almost any 8-1-3-1. Maybe with any.

2NT. I've looked silly before.

A weak spade suit, and slow values in the minors. Something like: ♠ 22222 ♥ - ♦ QJ109 ♣ QJ109 Give or take a few pips.

It depends on what minimum is. Facing some of my minimum hands, there will be no play for 3NT

Pass. Once in a while, they rob me blind, but often I will get hurt.

The more I think of it, the more I like 2♠ at the first turn. It could be a winner with just the ♣Q in partners hand. Anyway, on the actual deal, it seems that a diamond-lead defeats 4♠, so maybe -3 is okay. Edit: Oops, it doesn't.

6♣ and 4♦

Double. (Unless it is something fancy.) -710?