nekthen

imho The ideal bidding is 1♠ 2N 4♠ 5♣ all pass

Consider Norths position from the view point of total tricks. Lets be generous and assume he feels there are 20 tricks available. This is the actual case and is a result of the hidden but probable heart fit. There are three scenarios 1. Neither side makes 11 2. We make 11 they make 9 3. They make 11 and we make 9 I do not think it is possible to judge which out come is more likely (consider swapping the K♥ and A♣ while maintaining shape) However South did not take charge and bid 5♠ so maybe he has a defensive trick. I think I'd x at pairs but the risk/reward ratio is not great at imps so I pass. Or as my dear old mother used to say "The 5 level belongs to opps", which saves an awful lot of thinking :rolleyes:

nekthen

nekthen

These problems are even more common without a strong 2 option. I would always bid 1♥, to compensate my partnership will strain to bid 2♥ with little more than 3 card support and a ruffing value.

Where is the benefit of being in 4♠ compared to 3N? Both are going down. S is the villain. His partner has ♠ and nothing else given the bidding to date. Seems clear to me to PASS 2♠, even though it is not an option given in the vote! Norths mistake was bidding at all as the best possible result is 1N-3. I expect W has a good club suit and not enough points to bid 2♣ so he will run to a making 2♣ if anyone doubles.

OK I will make a fool of myself 1. a) tempted by 2♦ but OK b) 3♦ 2. a) think I prefer 2♠ b) pass 3. a) I would bid 3♦ instead of 2♦ b) 3♦ 4. a) agree. We are not strong enough to bid 2♦ or even 2N b) 2N

Does a neg dbl show 4♠ now? I think neg dbl is reasonable showing 4 cards in a major and ♦ tolerance but 2♠ from North then 3♠ from South at match points or 4♠ imps

Close but no cigar! East must throw K♥ to avoid the end play

As a side note, I think it is amusing that the addition of a practically worthless J would completely change the bidding around as you will now open 1N and I will open 1♦ B-)

If p bids 1N instead of 2♥ you will rebid 3♦, hopefully forcing and p will take a rosy view of 4 controls and 4♦ As an acolite I am bidding 1N 2♦ 2♥ 3♦ 3♠ 4♣ 4N etc and at MPs it is a toss up between the red suits and the fact you are at least 44 in ♦ and surely 53 in ♥ probably swings you to pick ♦

Also the silence of opps is deafening! Do we really think that they have a ten card spade fit and are keeping quiet?

As far as English Acol is concerned, although the EBU teach opening 1♥ with 44 in the red suits, most advanced and expert players open 1♦. After 1♦ 1♥ there is no distribution that requires a 3 card raise. A balanced hand rebids 1N and partner will use some form of checkback to establish whether p has 4♠ or 3♥ if he is interested

On this sequence I think a 3 card raise, highly unlikely, what shape could p have? I assume vanilla 2/1 means 5 card major and strong NT. Unless p has 4 hearts he must rebid 1N with a weak NT holding 3 hearts. Could he have 1-3-5-4? I would have thought he bids 2♣ In fact I can imagine more cases where he opened a 3 card ♦ suit and raised with 4♥

Where I do agree with fourdad is that we should captain the hand. While the splinter will work as demonstrated by aawk. Why tell opps? We are driving the hand to slam if partner tells us he has ♦ control, and the most direct approach is 4♣. Partner now must just do as they are asked and my hand remains a mystery to opps. Yes they may well still lead a singleton ♦, but they are less likely to lead A♦ looking for a singleton with p especially if they have say KQ♠ alongside their A♦

So 4♣ would be Romex Gerber? Partner shows you both major suit aces with 4N. You now do not know about the K♦ partner could be ♠ AKxx ♥ AJxx ♦ xxx ♣ xx There is a reason Gerber should only be used for NT hands

That's life It could happen to me in 6♦ as well, and yes, I could go down in 5 occasionally, but I would expect to outscore the timid 2 to 1 My partner would have 4♥ :D

I would choose 4♣ I want to hear about ♦ controls, I would expect my partner to bid 4♦ with A or K and 4♥ otherwise. After 4♦ I can roll out rkcb with confidence, sure that 5 level will be safe. After 3♠ partner may bid 4♣ and I can't find out about ♦ control. After 3♦ I think it gets murky. What do we do if partner bids 3♠? Is he looking for 3N or does he have slam interest? It would be good to know whether you are playing weak or strong NT and would p bid 2♥ with only 3 card support?

My guess is North ♠Jx ♥AKxx ♦Kxx ♣KJxx West ♠A ♥Jx ♦QJTxxxx ♣Axx

So did partner play the Q or the 6? If it was the Q you would have attempted to cash the Ace presumably. If he played the 6, I think he is 100% to blame. When asked to give count you must do it as clearly as possible with no regrets about "throwing a winner". If it loses a trick, you can then win the post mortem. Playing the 6 shows a lack of trust in partner.

Play the Q. Clearly you need to discuss this. Upside down count does solve the issue. Clearly you can take 3 tricks if West hast Jxx. If West has Jx you only have 2 tricks. I am guessing you decided that p had the J and lead low at trick 2. How could that possibly gain? If S has QJ you have blown the ruff. If he has QJx, you can play A and another and have a word about always giving count. I assume you lead from AKxx. With more you should overcall 1H and with less you should lead the A for attitude. On the lead of the Ace S has a bigger problem as he must play the 6 denying the Q, because the Q really would show the J. Again reverse attitude solves most of the problem, because the Q would be stiff or showing the J.

Gazilli probably right answer but wrong forum :rolleyes: 2♣ p bids 2♦ with 8+ or something else with weak hand

Maybe I missed it, but no one else has mentioned that they would do it different at MP scoring. Am I alone or do the stayman bidders agree?

No one has mentioned the scoring. At IMPs I aim for the major game as generally safer, and yes use 5 card stayman (I use 3♣) At MP I will punt 3N. 1. You will be playing with the field 2. Opps cannot double your club bid 3. 10 extra points are really important

We could open 1♦ with xxxx, xx, xxxx, xxx and 13 hcp and we will bid 2♠, our hand is much stronger than that so my vote is 3♣ unless dbl promises 4♠ in which case 4♠ seems reasonable