Little Kid

Quant for me, would go via 4♦ to rkc. I would assume anything but pass is GF.

1♠ and 3NT for me too, which shows a semi-balanced hand with 6 very good ♠s.

I absolutely agree with your reasoning but unless I am completely misinterpreting something, the Law of Total Tricks still suggests bidding 4♥ after the transfer sequence. I'm probably interpreting things too literally from the Wikipedia entry: "The total number of tricks available on a deal is equal to the total number of trump cards both sides hold in their respective best suits." Total tricks is defined as the sum of the number of tricks available to each side if they could choose trumps. As an example, if N-S between them hold 9 spades and E-W hold 8 clubs, the LoTT says that the total number of tricks available is 17 (9+8). Note the LoTT says nothing about how many tricks each side will make; this depends on the split of HCP as well as the number of trumps held - if, in the example, the side with 8 clubs held all the HCPs, they would make all 13 tricks with clubs as trumps - but if the other side could choose spades as trumps, they could well make 4 tricks (draw trumps and cross ruff) - note 13 + 4 still = 17. When the HCP are fairly evenly split between the two sides, the number of trumps held by each side is a close indicator of the tricks available to each side. This method works on the assumption that for shapely hands, the combined length of the trump suit is more significant than points or HCP in deciding on the level of the final contract. It is of most value in competitive bidding situations where the HCP are divided roughly equally between the partnerships. The "law" is said to be most accurate when the high card points are fairly evenly divided between the two sides and the bidding is competitive. Experts also apply adjustment factors to improve accuracy.

My understanding was that a corrollary of the Law of Total Tricks is: "Bid to a number of tricks equal to the number of trumps you and your partner hold (and no higher) in a competitive auction."

Yes, I meant throwing in with a ♥! Thanks very much!

I'm pretty sure both the other lines are over 50% with the ♥s 4-1 with RHO. For one thing if LHO has 4♥s its cold anyway.

[hv=d=s&n=sat9752hdk873cj95&s=shakq98742dacakt2]133|200|6♥, lead K♠.[/hv] This is one of the "easy" declarer play problems in Marten's Declarer Play Book: Virtual European Championship Part 1. The reason I'm posting it is not because of the declarer play problem itself but because I'm curious what people feel is the best line intuitively. I've asked some players and they pretty much all give the same line, not the one I had in mind. :( When I did this problem I thought about it for a bit then decided I would going to ruff a ♠, draw some trumps, unblock A♦, AK♣ and throw RHO in with a club (EDIT: a ♥ throw in!). This was not the same as the proposed line, which is cashing one top ♣, throwing RHO in and finessing if necessary. My judgement is probably a little off but would anyone be able to find how big the difference between the lines is? It would be very much appreciated!

I didn't edit anything, the hidden part has been there the whole time.

Saw Robin Hood recently and thought it was pretty good, though I may be biased because I like everything medieval such as knights, castles, spears, swords, longbows... Overall I think it is a decent movie with a new take on the Robin Hood legend.

I was referring to the Law of Total Tricks once partner accepts the transfer but I'll refrain from using such titles in the future if it upsets people :)

[hv=d=n&v=b&s=sj7hkt87653d62cj7]133|100|Scoring: XIMP 1NT-(Pass)-?[/hv] What is your bid now? Texas or Transfer? If you transfer then it goes: 1NT-(Pass)-2♦-(X) 2♥*- (3♦) - ? *2♥: 3♥ and ♦ stopper Changed your mind yet?

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=skt98hkj7d3cq9643&w=sj742h865dqt9ct75&e=s6hqt9432daj65caj&s=saq53hadk8742ck82]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] So I am guessing everyone who passes over 2♠ now would have bid 2♠ initially instead of 2♣? What about the ones that still raise, do you bid 2♠ over this first double?

[hv=d=w&v=e&s=saq53hadk8742ck82]133|100|Scoring: IMP (Pass)-Pass- (1♥) - X (Pass) - 2♣ - (2♦) - X (2♥) - 2♠ - (Pass) - ?[/hv] LHO deals and passes, as does partner. RHO opens 1♥ and the auction proceeds. Do you move now?

Most of the time if I have 13 cards and little to no tolerance for the opened suit, I'll bid :rolleyes: With a 5card major, especially if it is as good as QJT9x I think its important to get your suits accross. If you are weak and have a long suit, chances are you're not going to be getting many tricks in any other strains so I endeavour to get my suits in. I wouldn't hesitate about bidding 1♥ over 1♣ with something like ♠xxx ♥J9xxx ♦xxx ♣x. Partner may end up raising with a strong hand but it will usually not be much worse than if you had passed initially, especially if partner is aware of your style. I would bid as long as you are trying to improve the contract, but not on something like ♠xxx ♥xxx ♦xxxx ♣xxx because then you probably aren't improving the 1♣ contract much. Maybe its just a matter of style but I wouldn't mind if I had a partner who basically responded on any hand that isn't happy to play in the opened suit.

I would have passed the double with the East hand and bid 4♠ on the West hand.

I would hook on the basis that I judge RHO to have at least 5 ♦s to the KJ for his double, making finesse the % line. He surely doesn't have less than 4♦s, in which case hook and drop are same.

The bidding is correct.

[hv=d=s&v=b&w=st853h85d92cj9542&s=s762ht9432dqt753c]266|200|Scoring: XIMP Pass-(Pass)-1♣ - (X) 1♥ - (Pass)-Pass-(3NT)[/hv] You deal and pass, the auction ends with RHO bidding 3NT. Playing 3/5 leads and udca + o/e discards, you lead a small ♦ and the defence proceeds as follows: T1: ♦3-♦2-♦J-♦A T2: ♣A-♠2-♣2-♣7 T3: ♣Q-♥4-♣4-♣K T4: ♦8-♦K-♦5-♦9 T5: ♣8-♠6-♣J-♣T T6: ♣9-♠9-♣3-? You have to discard and this is the position: [hv=d=s&v=b&w=st853h85d92cj9542&s=s762ht9432dqt753c]266|200|Scoring: XIMP Pass-(Pass)-1♣ - (X) 1♥ - (Pass)-Pass-(3NT)[/hv]

[hv=d=w&v=b&n=shkt9654dj542ca98&s=sj97haq7dackqj765]133|200|Scoring: XIMP (Pass)- 2♥ - (4♦*) - 4♥ (4♠) - Pass- (Pass)- 5♥ All Pass *4♦: Leaping Michaels[/hv]

Hugging your wife, big difference!

3♣

I wonder if that is legal.

[hv=d=n&v=e&s=sajt987hkdqcak972]133|100|Scoring: IMP Pass-(Pass)-1♠-(Pass) 1NT- (Pass)-3♣-(Pass) 3NT- (Pass)- ?[/hv] Do you agree with 3♣? What do you think is the best bid if the auction has proceeded thus far?

Vul vs NV partner deals and opens: 1♦- (X)- XX -(1♥) 2♦-(2♥)- 2♠-(Pass) 4♦-(Pass)-?

♠ to the A and then another ♠ to dummy seems like the best line intuitively.