MarkDean

You prepare for a competitive auction by showing the suit you have at most an 8 card fit in instead of the one you have at least an 8 card fit in?

I think the original double was bad, I would have made a forcing diamond raise. The opps are white/red and have 9+ spades, do you think they are going to let you play 4H? If not, it does not really matter what suit we are competing in. This will also tell partner we have a good hand immediately, and will let him have a penalty double available in some auctions: he might have a stack, and with two aces, I am happy to defend. Having doubled, I would now bid 5D.

I would pass. I think I am closer to bidding 3♠ than to doubling, so maybe I am way out in left field on this one. If partner is something like 51(52) with the kings in his long suits, we could be making while they make 8-9 tricks in two hearts. Doubling may gain some MPs if they are down 1, but the big swings in MPs will be if they make or are down 2+, and it is not clear to me which of those is more likely. I have been bitten in the past doubling with unshown support, but I agree that this is the hand for it if one is going to make an exception.

Well at least 3NT got some more votes after the hand was posted.

Very well. Partner bids 3♥, and you bid a "well-placed" 4♦. This was the sequence actually followed at the table, but I was not feeling quite as smug about it as I might have done. For example, might I not bid the same way with: ♠AKxxx ♥xx ♦Qx ♣AKxx? I would tend to bid 3♠ with that hand, but it is true, you will not always have as pure of a hand for 4♦. However, I do not see that as a reason not to bid it when I do have the hand in the OP.

I agree with the masses, defintiely 2♦. I would bid 2♠ before 1NT. I will go with: 2♦ 10 2♠ 4 1NT 1

I would bid 3♣. If partner bids anything but 3NT, I will bid 4♦ and think I am well placed. If partner bids 3NT...well, let's hope partner does not do that to me.

I seem to be the only person who likes 3NT. I had a talk with Alex about the hand, and I think perhaps the passers have some more to consider. First off, let me ask, what do you think the odds are that partner has the king of diamonds? Regardless of your answer to that question, I think of the possibilities in two categories: 1) LHO is going to bid 4♥ if we pass 2) He is going to pass. In case 1), LHO is likely to bid 4♥ anyways, and we are not really any worse off. Partner already showed a likely heart trick with 1NT, so if he doubles, I think we are odds on to beat it. In case 2), there is a decent chance that we are slated for -140. That makes the odds of bidding a vul game quite different (although there is certainly the possibility of -200, 300, or even 400 in 3NT, or -200 in 4Dx, which pushes it in the other direction). It also has the chance of them taking a phantom (+50/100 is a lot better than -140).

There is one big problem with that hand opposite. Partner will double their 4H "SAC". Why do you think I gave him the jack of spades?

I am going to be really greedy and bid 3NT. A good pd will produce Jxx Axx Kxx Jxxx.

I would bid. Think the biggest reason is for a possible partscore swing, but it is also possible we have game or should be saving.

Ok, kfay, I will be more explicit. I would plan ahead. Well maybe not that well actually. At the table, I would have bid 2NT, but I think jdonn makes a compelling case that agreeing a suit is more likely to get you the info you need (although I might choose hearts).

I don't get the title to this thread. If one were to blast, what contract would s/he pick?

I will try the old standby: bidding my long suit at the cheapest level.

jjbr for the win

2S I thought that showed the minors?

I play in the ACBL. I do my best to always use it when I jump. I always put it out, place my bid down, then immediately put the stop card back. Is this how I am supposed to use it?

Agree with 655321

I would with x KQT9xx Kx Axxx Would not with x KQ8xxx Kx Kxxx Probably depends on my mood imbetween.

I can see why some people are bidding 4♦, but I would go for 5. (I admit I am a bit like the people jlall is mocking...zomg 9 diamonds, I must bid 5).

OK, yeah, it does agree with the original post. As the article says Meckwell dispute certain claims, they must have discussed it at some point.

Dispute over detail remains, but Fred's link lends further credence to the substance of the original post. In any case, the IPBA editorial about alleged unsporting behavioir raises important questions that we must face for the the future of Bridge. (For example see the Young players thread). The laws of Bridge state that it is ethical to take legal advantage. But is this kind of behaviour sporting? If not is it socially acceptable? Does the answer depend on local mores and national temperament? This topic is emotive enough without descent to ad hominem attacks on those who don't share your view (as stupid, insane, disingenuous, idiots, morons, liars, cheats, and so on, ad nauseam) I disagree with the first sentence of your post. The article says that Meckwell deny having said "We'll see how it goes," and deny asking for a procedural penalty. Obviously I do not know which side is telling the truth, but I think there is a pretty big difference in the two versions of the episode.

That is basically it, but:

I started reading Adventures in Card Play by Geza Ottlik and Hugh Kelsey, enjoying it so far. Early in the book, they give a double dummy 7NT problem. I thought 7NT has got to be the easiest contract to make double dummy...but it definitely took some work. Thought y'all might enjoy it: [hv=n=sj74hakqjdaqcaqj6&w=st9862htdkj6ck973&e=sk3h97642d9842c85&s=saq5h853dt753ct42]399|300|[/hv] Spade ten lead.

I am reasonably certain that people play the Q from QJ against me over 91% of the time. I started paying attention over a year ago, and only once has somebody played the jack. It was definitely a bigger sample than 11.