MarkDean

Almost everybody would open 1♠ in all positions. I would open 1♣, and then be mocked by both my partner, and my teammates.

so he can't possibly hold [hv=s=skqjhkqjdk32cqj32]133|100|[/hv] and of course your target isn't 50% odds to make it is 80%. This tends to imply that you don't trust your partner's judgement since you really aren't invited to the party! No, he can't hold that hand...why would he have bid stayman? But more importantly, I meant that it is likely that on average it will work, not that it is 100% to work every time.

1. Definitely a diamond for me. 2. Pass, but I would not be shocked to find that 2NT works out better on average.

I would not have opened this hand 1NT, it is too good in my opinion. One thing to consider, is that partner did not bid gerber. If he had 17, and zero aces, would he have checked to make sure we are not off two aces? If you believe so, he has 18-19, and I would guess that 7NT is a percentage contract.

I think West should bid 3♥ at his second call. It is a rare hand when diamonds is going to play better than hearts. Plus it sets a GF right away. Then again, I would play 2♥ as NF, so I am guessing the pair in question play a different system than I am used to.

Double. But the last time I made a similar double, they made with an overtrick. I am a slow learner.

I am surprised at the strong reactions to 4♠ - I think it is a reasonable bid. If you do not think the hand is worth a slam drive over 4♦ (which I don't), then you will get to cue bid one major suit king - I would prefer to show the king in partner's suit. However, 4♥ has the advantage that it allows partner to bid 4♠. Basically, I think that if you are going to slam after 4♥ - 4♠, then 4♥ is the better bid, but that if you will sign off over 4♥ - 4♠, then it is better to bid 4♠. (For what it is worth, I am in the first camp).

I still would pass first round, but I agree 3♦ was too timid - I was overly influenced by the lack of a third diamond. Anyways, I was just doing a sanity check. I bid 6♦, thinking perhaps I should be trying for a grand. Down 1. Partner had -- AJ8xx AJT9xxx x

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=s9854hq9dq6caqt96]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] 1♦ - (1♠) - Pass - (2♦) 2♥ - (Pass) - 3♦ - (3♠) 5♦ - (Pass) - ? Do you agree with the first two rounds? What now?

Mark me down as a beginner.

I would pass. While it is possible that we have a game, it does not seem that likely. We do not have much help for partner's suits in 3NT, and 5 clubs seems a long way off. Much more likely that partner bids a bad one if I bid.

I would bid 2♥, but I basically always play 2/1, so I could be convinced the nuances of standard could make other calls more attractive. I would expect partner to basically never pass with five hearts, and if he passes with 4, we might have missed a good game, but he might have a bad hand with diamond wastage, so we might survive. If partner bids 2♠, I will bid 3♣ next.

I would pass. Second choice double.

1. Pass. Not close IMO. 2. 4NT - correcting 5C to 5D.

I really dislike 4♠. Even if partner has the queen of clubs, 4♠ may not be making, and it seems to me that the chance he has it is less than 1/3 (if he has a few minor cards, he might have responded with the CQ as well).

When I saw the title, and knowing my style, I was pretty sure I was going to say not. Sure enough, seeing the hand did not change my guess.

I would pass. Not enough defense. Either LHO is about to bid more spades, or partner is likely to want to defend. All white MPs does make it tempting though.

2♥ for me.

Ken, is this really an fair interpretation of what has been going on in this thread? You posted 2♣ without comment, jdonn said he would bid it 10000% of the time, and mikeh said he thought it was "truly a wtp 2♣." That does not smell like one person deciding this one time it would be a good tactical bid. That sounds like people who have done this before and will do it again. You three were arguing it is clear, and now you are claiming it is just a once in a while, special circumstances thing: that is not the impression I had earlier.

Well, it is the last quarter for the quarterfinal, and still in the first half for the final: might be part of the reason.

I am surprised to see people calling 2♣ here is standard in North American bridge. I have played against many NA experts in the last few years, and have watched my share of Vugraph of NA experts as well - and I would expect a 2♦ bid to be favored by a large majority. Ken, of course it is a gray line. I think we would all agree that if you played 2♦ as 5+ and 2♣ as a catch-all that it should be alerted, and that if you bid 2♣ with 2443 once per three years it should not. We can disagree as to where the line is, but it is going to be arbitrary and hard to define whereever we put it. I agree it is not a psychic call, but if you reguarly (sorry, no exact frequency here) do bid 2♣ with this hand type or other shapes not standard, and do not alert it, I think that is illegal, regardless of your intent when you bid it that way.

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=sqj963hakqdq4cak6]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] LHO starts with a pass, but RHO is dealer. So we summon a director, and partner declines to accept the call. LHO now must pass at his first opportunity, but can bid afterward. The opps are good players playing 4 card majors. RHO now opens 1♠. What is your call?

Seeing as partner will never be able to evaluate, I would just bid 6♦, at least at IMPs. MPs, I think it is tougher.

I would lead the diamond ace, perhaps it will win and I will have only a partial guess next trick. I am notoriously bad at leads though.

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=sahqj86dkjt7ct975]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] (1♦) P (1♠) P (2♠) dbl (P) ? What do you think is going on? What is your call? If it affects your view, partner is good and dependable, LHO is a top expert, and RHO is unknown (probably a client).