Little Kid

LOL

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=st743hk83dk85cq54&s=sak6haqjt75dj2c86]133|200|Scoring: IMP (Pass)-1♥-(2♣)-2♥ (Pass)-4♥[/hv] Defence: ♣A-♣4-♣7-♣6 ♣K-♣5-♣2-♣8 ♣T-♣Q-♣J-♠6 What is your plan?

There isn't really a set of reasons that will cause me to 'play my worst bridge'. When I'm really trying to focus I'm pretty confident I can play my best game. Usually it isn't too much of a problem to block out everything except for the cards in front of me and devote all my attention to that. The only exception is when it feels like partner is not making a genuine effort to do well and the game starts feeling like 2v1v1. Skill level is irrelevant for me in this, as long as I feel like the person opposite me is making a genuine effort to play as good as they can. If they start playing with an air of apathy it really gets to me and is distracts me from the game even when I try to ignore it. It probably has to do something with the fact that I am way too competitive in everything :P

The abomination was 3NT! They were not very happy because this was a teaching hand and the play problem was in 4♥ :P (3NT was cold on this layout but I am definitely not trying to justify the bid, I do realise it was a little bit crazy)

Oops! The overcall was 2♦, even I would have gotten it right if it was a 2♥ overcall B)

I want to play in ♥s. In ♠s they could play ♣s and my ♠s get shortened so I can't play my ♥ suit.

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=shakqjt83dq8754c3]133|100|Scoring: IMP 1♥-(2♦)-X-(Pass) ?[/hv] The next bid by me was called an "abomination" and "mad", so what do you think would be the right bid now? B)

Not a great fan of Watson's Play of the Hand either. I would strongly recommend some of Mike Lawrence's bridge software too, it really teaches you how and what to think about when you see dummy.

1♦ and 1NT. Opening 1♥ is a big no-no for me on a 4card suit unless I am in 3rd/4th seat, no matter how good the quality. If partner is not expecting it, its just asking for trouble. I'm also not a fan of bidding my shorter suits first because it misleads partner if I then rebid my longer suit next. If the opponents do interfere then I don't have a rebid problem anymore so I'll be glad i opened 1♦. If they don't, then yes 1♥ would have been a lead-directing bid for them. Opening 1♥ here really feels like masterminding when partner may not even respond 1♠ or opps could interfere! 1♦ is the only opening bid I'd ever consider. Over 1♠, 2♦/2♣ rebids seem like they could get me into dodgy contracts. Partner shouldn't pass with any hand willing to play in game opposite a 15-17 count, so I will be sitting in 2♦ on a misfit (or even worse 3♣) way too much for my liking. 1NT rates to be a decent contract and seems like much less of a lie than the other options. You could even be missing a 4-4 ♥ fit by rebidding 2m. With ♦ support partner could still correct to 2♦. I'd probably need a very good ♦ suit in order to convince me to rebid 2♦ here instead of 1NT.

Thanks for all the replies! They have been very helpful :)

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=shakq432dak83cq98]133|100|Scoring: IMP (Pass)-1♥-(1♠)-Pass (Pass)- X- (XX)- 2♦ (2♠) - ?[/hv] For once you don't get dealt you usual flat 8-count and get to open the bidding with 1♥! Your double added some action to the auction, what is next?

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=s763haq743d5cj743]133|100|Scoring: IMP (Pass)-Pass-(Pass)-1♣ (1♦)- 1♥- (2♦)- Pass (Pass)- ?[/hv] Your partner plays support doubles but not mandatory on any hand with 3♥s. Now, do you? a ) Pass b ) Bid 3♣ c ) Bid 2♥ d ) Double If you double then: Partner bids 2♠, do you pass this or or bid 3♣?

Even the poll is unanimous, that has got to count for something!

2 for me too. I think it is more important to leave room for cuebids over a limit raise than a minimum.

Your partner is unlimited here though, so it may have other implications such as for slam bidding. If you are simply overbidding your hand then your partner may get too high in search of slam? Maybe he will place you with 5♠s and an unbalanced hand or so? If my partner can have 16 hcps and 4♠s (and long ♦s?) here I wouldn't be game-forcing on this particular hand. Then again I don't declare as well as the strong players that do bash a lot :)

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=skt4h9dt7caqt9632]133|100|Scoring: IMP (1♥)-3♣-(3♥)-Pass 4♥-All Pass[/hv] RHO opens and you overcall 3♣, the opponents end up in 4♥. What do you lead? This is a hand that came up yesterday and continuations will depend on the lead.

[hv=d=e&v=b&n=sqj43h6dj874ckq84&w=st865hk9743dqcj75&e=sa9hqjt82dakt962c&s=sk72ha5d53cat9632]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] This was the full hand and as some had already guessed, the ♠ lead is the only lead that beats this hand.

This will be epic :)

[hv=d=e&v=n&s=sqj74hq8dk4cak764]133|100|Scoring: IMP (1♦)*-? *1♦: 1+, precision[/hv] What do you bid and is it obvious to you?

Ruff and ♠ to Q? Probably missing something here :unsure:

I was intending to lead the ♣A when I doubled, the redouble made me think I should re-assess my lead =)

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=sk72ha5d53cat9632]133|100|Scoring: IMP (1♦)-2♣- (X) - 2♦* (6♥)-X-(Pass)-Pass (XX)-All Pass *2♦: inv+ in ♣[/hv] RHO opens 1♦ and you overcall 2♣. Although you are playing against two other juniors, the XX is a bit of a surprise. What would you lead?

1) 1NT and 3NT both suggest a pretty balanced shape and desire to play in NT, probably 3=3=3=4 (or possibly 3=3=2=5 with a bad club suit?). That doesn't looks like an ideal shape to be playing in a 4-3 fit with, especially if you wrong-side the the contract for black suit stoppers and they could end up forcing declarer. Unless you have extra shape in ♦s or serious slam interests it might be better to pass 3NT at MPs than head for a dubious 4♥ contract or inferior 5♦? 1NT and 3NT seems to imply ♦ tolerance if not fit, so I would take 4♥ over 4♦ as a cuebid here and not a suggestion to play. Partner could possibly have 1 or 2 extra ♦s and be REALLY interested if you have anything to help in ♥s in order to play ♦ slam. 2) Would take this one as "To Play". By going via 2N you mention you show a slightly better hand than direct 3N? 4♦ could be like a mild slam try to see if you're at the top of your range. In that case 4♥ could very well be a nice place to stop if you don't have too much extra. Responder has shown 6+♥s and you have bid NT, so 4♥ definitely still looks like a plausable contract to play in (rather than the 4-3♥ fit).

Sorry, I may not have phrased it very well. The question is, would you assume 3NT denies a ♠ cue with no prior agreements?

1♦-1♥ 1NT-2♦* 2♥-3♥ ? *2♦ art, GF Does 3♥ force a ♠ cue if you have one? In other words, does the 3♠ bid imply anything about your own interest in slam other than owning a ♠ control? Say you hold something that would be a min for your 1NT bid like: ♠ KJT ♥ JTx ♦ QJ9x ♣ QJT 3♠ or 3NT? EDIT: Yes 3♣s, I have trouble counting to 13 =)