MarkDean

Win in dummy ; unblock ♠ K;Play ♥ to 9 ensuring 5 tricks in Majors and forcing LHO to rectify the count for Squeezing RHO in minors? This exact plan does not work since you had to pitch a heart from dummy, so if you lead a heart to the 9 they can return a heart and break up your entry to hand. You need to squeeze west first with 2 rounds of diamonds. I am a bit confused by your suggested line. Are you suggesting playing two diamonds from dummy in the diagram you posted? That ruins entry to dummy, so how is this squeeze going to work?

I'll defend, and play the ten of clubs as East.

Even if he has KJT94, he could have tossed the 9, and played the four the second time around. I would definitely take the ace and play one up.

I would pass. I figured it would be a minority view, but did not think this big of a minority! I think the odds of a game are relatively slim. Partner would need the perfect hand to have not acted, and to not act in balance, to make game opposite this. I would guess that the odds of -500 are at least as good as the odds of a game. I have played weak nt for years, and have gotten many juicy penalties on auctions like this. My real fear in passing is that partner has spades, and that we are losing a partscore battle, to me, it is just not worth the risk.

4♥ for me, not close. A very good player once told me that the point system is dumb, but if you have to use it, count aces as 8. That makes this a 26 point hand. Seems worth at least a try. I would have bid 3♣ as well. Ax is not a good holding for declaring nt.

Playing MPs, in balance, I would do it somewhat often with the majors. Even more so all white. Heard stories about Helgemo doing it with 43 in the majors somewhat often, no idea if it is true or not. I often play natural plus x = majors, not too common, so I apologize if I was not supposed to respond.

Whew. And I thought I was crazy for thinking I'd bid 3♣. Score one up for partnership harmony. So you thought you were crazy, then you found out I agreed with the call, and thought that somehow made you less crazy? :wacko:

I would bid 3♣. This hand is not quite as good as it first appears for 3NT. The clubs may not run, and even if they do, and partner has a diamond stopper, that can still be only 7 tricks. I am obviously well placed if partner makes any call, and admit I will sometimes miss a white game when partner has something like QJTx of diamonds and out. 5C could also make opposite not that much, but a heart ruff seems somewhat likely as well. <preparing to be laughed at>

I agree that it is stronger than an immediate 2♠ over 2♣, so I vote F1. With many partners I play that xx by an unpassed hand forces to 2NT because it really simplifies things, and I always mean it when I xx.

A friend gave me this hand: [hv=d=s&v=b&s=sakqj75h8da852ca6]133|100|Scoring: MP[/hv] Auctions starts: 1♠ (P) 2♥ (P) (2♥ = GF) 3♠ (P) 4♥ (P) A bunch of questions: in your opinion does 3S show a solid suit? Do you agree with 3S? Is 4H an offer to play, a mandatory cue, or a cue liking slam prospects? What is your call?

I would bid 3H.

I would double. Maybe thiat is why all of my partners like to play negative doubles here... Maybe I am influenced by the crap I overcall 2S on as well.

I would lead a heart - do not see where the spades are going, and with partner marked with little, there is a pretty high chance I am simplifying the hand for declarer by leading a big spade. I have lost innumerable IMPs and MPs on opening lead though, so perhaps my votes in these polls should be negative?

In general, I tend to make what I believe to be the best call/bid on average, with complete disregard to the field. In nerd-talk, I aim for the highest expected value possible and do not concern myself with variance (I am a risk-neutral player I suppose). Also, I have enough trouble figuring out what is right without worrying about what I think the field will be doing (and sometimes my views are skewed enough that I am completely wrong about what the field will be doing). The best strategy depends upon your goal. For example, unless you are a very top notch player, variance is probably your friend in an event like the Blue Ribbon Pairs if your goal is a top 10 finish.

[hv=d=n&v=n&s=sq52hakq63da6ck63]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] 1♠ (5♣) ? What is your guess?

I guess I am out of touch. To me, this is a clear pass.

I bid 4D with the hand, thinking along the same lines as you, but then I realized that with that hand type, partner would bid 3H - invite with heart shortness. That made me think perhaps I had overbid. Turns out not to matter as we are off two key cards, but have everything else in the deck, so all roads lead to 650. Parnter's hand: ♠KQxx ♥KJ ♦KQxxxx ♣Q

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=sa9843hq852da42c9]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] Auction: 1♦ P 1♠ P 3♠ P ? What is your call?

I think it is West's fault. On the first trick, with clearly so many hearts to choose from, East played his very lowest one, suggesting a club feature. From West's perspective, if it is a void or the ace, a club play cannot hurt: we are going to take take 2 clubs and two hearts or two hearts, a club, and a club ruff. But, if West had diamond cards (say KTxx) but no club help, the defense needs to setup the diamonds before the club ace is knocked out. For example, if south has KQxxxx xx Qx KJx The defense needs to play two rounds of hearts then a diamond.

How do you decline the invite of 3♥? Seems 4 of a minor is pretty high.