OleBerg

8♠ Best Regards Ole Berg

1) Double, as you suggested. When it comes back, pass is easy. It is not always so, but in this sequence, partners pass is penalty, regardless of the RD. 2) Pass. Seems easy, as I have a hard time imagining 10 tricks being availabble. Edit: Hadnt read problem probably. In 2) I double, only because they are red in matchpoints. If they win 4♦, its likely to be a bad score anyway, while it is crucial to double, if they're one down. Best Regards Ole Berg

Call the director! Someone has removed, not only partners spade-cards from his bidding -box, but all his double-cards as well. Best Regards Ole Berg

High diamond, the 8 making the difference to me. 2♥ is crazy. I would have bid it myself. Best Regards Ole Berg

Hi all, I've seen some of the godd Italians (And others) employ these two sequences: 1nt-3♥ 1nt-3♠ simply as showing a four-card suit, in the suit bid, and asking partner to bid 3nt or 4 of the suit. This obviously has the advantages of not disclosing much about delarers hand, like Puppet-Stayman, but without giving the opponent artificial bids to double. Facing a 12-14 nt, right-siding is considered to be of lesser importance. Has anybody seen any articles, or the like, where these bids are incooperated into a nt-system? Best Regards Ole Berg

Roughly spot on. In my previous post, I expected partner to have a decent club-suit and a heart stopper, but of course he would have bid 1nt the first time, had he had that hand. So now Im down to a decent clubsuit, a hand like: ♠xxx ♥xxxx ♦x ♣AJ10xx Some may argue, that partner cannot double, as he cannot be sure, that a club lead will defeat the contract. The double doesnt have to be "safe" to be made, it only has to be odds-on. As it is obvious, that the opponents have stretched, the right lead might very well make the difference. With the actual hand, partner created his own trouble, by not showing his spades on the first round. (Double or 1♠, depending on methods.) Best Regards Ole Berg

4♥ Very tempting to bid 4♣, which is not a cuebid, but simply informs partner about the double-fit, enabling him to make an informed decision, if the opponents bid on, after our 4♥. I do, however, want to give my opponents as little bidding space as possible. If they bid over 4♥ I take the push myself, unless partner has doubled. Best Regards Ole Berg

I was to fast with my first reply. I agree that 7♣ is the best bid. Best Regards Ole Berg

It all depends on agreements. If the double is simply penalty (Old-fashioned, it only has any merit vs really bad opponents) you lead a high diamond. If lead-directing, which is clearly superior, then a high club stands out. Partner didnt bid or double over 1♥, so he hasnt got anything strong in spades. I expect to find partner with a decent club-suit and a heart-stopper. Best Regards Ole Berg

What's the difference between partner's 4NT bid and if partner had raised 3C to 4C? Partner has a club stopper, and has already shown his ditribution, when he bids 4nt. 4♣ had indicated doubt about the denomination of the contract, or a hand to strong for a non-forcing 4nt. What's partner's hand? Most likely: 1-5-4-3 What do you bid? If I can check aces I and trumph-Q I will, otherwise I bid 7♥ Best Regards Ole Berg

I play: 2♣ = Sound overcall in the other Major. 2OM = Weaker overcall. 2 Their M = 5-5 in the highest. Havent had much experience, so cant really recommend or decommend (thats not a real word, is it?) it. Best Regards Ole Berg

Having 4-card support and two aces vs a strong 2 in clubs, north should definately support his partner, especially if partner is compulsive 4nt-bidder. Go to advanced forum. Best Regards Ole Berg

FYP :( When we open in a minor, and opps. bid the other at the 2+level, preempt or not, we are in a difficult position. A negative double doesnt nesscesarily promis 4-4 in the majors. Thus 4♣ shows at least one 4-card major (choice of games), and gameforcin values. 4♠ denies a four-card heart-suit. Best Regards Ole Berg

3♦ to play. If you choose to play it in 3♦, there is no reason to give them the chance to double an artificial bid. Best Regards Ole Berg

5♣ Partner may have a hand, where it is wrong, but pass really isnt an option. And 4nt to get to a better diamond contract is to far-fetched. Best Regards Ole Berg

Close betweem double and 3nt. If decent means honest, I choose double. Without the tank, I would bid 3nt. Best Regards Ole Berg

Andrew Robson and Oliver Segal may have invented the term. I don't have it to hand, but, as far as I remember, in their 1993 book on "Competitive Bidding", they recommend several different kinds of raise ... Pre-empt: weak. Pudding/Mixed e.g. 2N = 4 card sound flat limit raise. Fit (non) jump. 4 card raise with named side-suit of quality. Splinter: 4 card raise with named void or singleton. Unassuming cue-bid: usually a 3-card raise. Support _X/XX: 3 card raise. ... On reflection, I may have got that wrong :( Is the modern meaning of a "mixed raise" somewhere between a "weak pre-empt" and a "limit raise"? :( The book is called "Partnership bidding in bridge". I dont have it handy, but in my recollection its from 1994. It maeks quite a strong case for having many ways of supporting partner, and Bergen is not one of them. Insted fit-jumps is used, along with putting the invitational raise into Jacoby-2nt. As to incooperating limit-raises into Jacoby-2nt, I play that myself. It's quite easy, but as always, when you put an extra burden on a bid, it has a price. This time it is when opponents preempt, that you are on less firm ground. Especially if you open light, as it might be the opponents board. Best Regards Ole Berg

Double. Not a game try, but shows ekstra values. (Partner is allowed to bid game, but not callously.) It doesnt promise anything in spades, but does nontheless keep the option of defending open. It is a game-try at imps. Best Regards Ole Berg

Easy 4♥ As you have showed values, you are in a game-force, so double by pertner would be penalty. (Rather warning you, not to bid on.) Partners pass is encouraging you to bid on. If he bids again, he haf planned to pull a double, and thus shows a very strong hand. Best Regards Ole Berg

I would have bid 4♠ on first round. Since I didnt, I bid it now. I expect to go minus more often, than when I pass, but a game is still a game. (For both sides.) Double is clearcut at matchpoint. Best Regards Ole Berg

If I am not allowed to preempt, I bid 5♦ to play. No reson to transfer, let the strong hand be on lead. Best Regards Ole Berg

No. For reasons alredy brought forth by others. Best Regards Ole Berg