nekthen

At pairs do I really want to be in 7? The q♣ is a worry, there is also some risk of a ♥ ruff. Plus scores win in the long run. In 7 I'll get 10 or 90. In 6 it will be 45 to 60

Interesting hand that shows the power of the spade suit and the short comings of the hcp hand evaluation IMO Double is clearly best. The second bid is interesting though: 1♦ x 1♠ p 2♠ ? IMO you should now pass! You know what will happen if you bid 4♥, opps will bid 4♠ and you can see that it is working, partner will have no tricks and you have 2/3. If you pass opps will not know about the heart stack and are unlikely to bid. Conceding 170 is better than 420 or 200 from 5♥. On losing trick count West is worth 4♠, but may well decide that a plus is good and there may be a bad trump break and maybe some of partner's values are in hearts. Bidding 4♥ after the double just paints the picture for opps to make the right call.

This hand is a super example of how bad the HCP hand evaluation can be and how powerful the spade suit is. Consider the position for South after 1♦ x 1♠ p 2♠ 4♥ looks completely normal, but you are practically telling opps to bid 4♠ and you know you cannot beat it! If you pass, opps will not place you with a heart stack and are likely to take their plus score and pass. You will at least beat those in 5♥.

Interesting hand that shows the power of the spade suit and being white v red. If the bidding does go 1♦ x 1♠ p 2♠ Perhaps South should consider his chances of getting 4♠ down and pass! I doubt whether West would seriously consider 4♠ when South could well have a more typical hand for his double

What muddies the waters here is the statement "double is defined as values" 1). Which double? If we ignore the values statement then both doubles are fair bids. The first is takeout and the second is responsive and clearly the final pass is the error If the first double is values, then it is wrong. If the second double is values then it is wrong. You cannot arbitrarily ignore the agreed meaning of double. It is like the randoms on BBO who produce a low level double of opps with 5 cards in their suit and then say "but I can't pass p"

I don't get the criticism of North. IMHO any hand with 4 hearts should follow the Law and bid 4 even without the double. I think the double of 2 hearts is wrong it is a good takeout double, but if you have agreed values then you cannot really blame East especially if "values" does not guarantee 4 spades I think all those Europeans who seem to use values doubles should reflect on this hand and revert to pure takeout immediately LOL

Actually 4 N is tricky. P is going to assume minors at first, So 5♣ means better ♣ than ♦ so you must pass when 5♠ may well be best I am a passer. If I was in North seat I would be bidding 4♠ on a wide variety of hands, What has West got? He failed to double or bid 2N or bid a suit. He could easily have 5♥ and up to 10 HCP and North has found an aggressive raise with 2 cards and 16 hcp and walked into a 5-0 break that puts it down.

4N For me. The 4S bid is unlimited with 3 plus ♠ if weak. I expect p to have some points and a 5 card suit somewhere. Law of total tricks implies that their are 19 tricks available (could be on either way but who knows?) We rate for 5 to be a good sac or to make. If both are going off, then p should probably have kept quiet.

6♣ -3 is 300 read, understand, and then you can comment

Thanks to the scoring 6♣ -3 is better than 5♣ dbl -2. So if we have game in ♠ maybe this is a clever move especially if 5♠ is also making. However, we opened 1N not 1♠ so this scenario becomes even less likely.. I am with the passers. I look forward to seeing it make and hearing all the mutterings of "but I had 15 points p" or "but I had 2 aces p" Opp might be expecting to lose a club so can't afford to pass. If his clubs are solid, he would do better to pass unless he can see 12 tricks. Note double of 1N would be a mistake as we shall surely run to somewhere and it may not be penalty anyway. In summary,opp either has his bid or has made a very clever advance sacrifice that scores well because we won't double.. However, partner did not double. Would your p double with a certain club trick? Either way I pass

I am quoting GIB. I looked around and no one is unanimous about the values for a jump rebid. Clearly though it is a hand not good enough to open 2♣ and too good to rebid 2♣. GIBs notes do say 17-20 HCP, but it seems reasonable to assume that they mean total points. It is not a forcing bid but highly invitational. It would not be hard to construct a hand that can respond 1♥ and find that 3♣ is the last making contract. Losing the the first 4 tricks and 3N is just a punt, although many may choose the match point opening of 3N, which has not been mentioned as a possibility I doubt whether it is possible to find 6 then, but you will beat all those in 5 clubs. Whatever, I think that 3♣ is superior to 2!♦, even if you play 2♦ as forcing. I can picture partner passing with a rubbish 4441 hand or even 4531 that would be embarrassing with 3♣ certain

1♣ 1♥ 3♣ 4♦ 4♥ 4N 5♥ 6N 1♣ 2♠ double 4♠ 5♣ and probably all pass though p may punt 6♣ because we have been pushed out of a making 3N BTW. BBO system notes States 1♣ 1 any 3♣ Shows 17-20 hcp and 6+ clubs. Surely far closer to what we have than some fake reverse. I might reverse if the club suit is poor, but that is not the case here. I have noticed a tendency to rebid at the three level with any old opening hand that has a six card suit. This should be handled by a 2♣ rebid.

We have shot ourselves in the foot by not opening 2♣. This renders the question irrelevant as the hand is too good. We are thinking about a heart fit when partner failed to make a double of 1♠. We are thinking about this because our hand is too good! From a defensive pov I can easily construct hands for opps where 4♠ makes. The 4♠ bidder could well have a ♣ stack and only two red suit losers. My vote goes for 5♦. Double is scary as p may well pass with a Yarborough when we need him to bid. I also doubt whether double guarantees 4♥. I think the alternative question is more interesting 2♣-2♠-p-4♠ ? What is the best hand p can have for his pass? If I pass now what are partner's options? Maybe dbl is penalty and 4NT is general please bid your suit. If I do not pass, then 5♦ is surely the only alternative as 4N would imply a more two-suited hand and double is surely to play

Playing pick up bridge it denies 4 spades. I think it's better to show balance hand but only if I have check back agreed with a regular partner

So club lead gave the contract! So much for aggression

A ♥ seems safe. I think a ♣ is moRe likely to give a trick away than to be the winning option

How about using Lebensohl over 2♠? I doubt the phone does it but then 2N 3♣ 3♦ pass gets you where you want to be. All other bids are then forcing seems like you are only losing a natural 2N, which is hard to define a range for anyway

In old school Acol where 2♦ is only negative I concur, but modern style is to use 2♦ as a waiting bid if no other bid is accurate. So 3 of any suit is a good suit. A minimum of AQxxxx otherwise let p show his hand first.

1. In Acol imo AQxxxx is the absolute minimum for a jump to 3♦. So no it is not a joke. Please do not try insulting other contributors! 2. I explained that by bidding 6♦ the K♣ has been denied. Yet partner can see 12 tricks in NT opposite AQxxxx ♦ plus an A. We also know that all the key cards are owned so the K♥ must be 13th trick

Surprised there has been no discussion about the opening bid. 3 loser hand. I would be opening 2♣. I know it is awkward when holding ♣ as main suit but huge risk that p passes one club. So 2♣ 3♦ 4N 5S two A + Q♦ 5N 6♦ (no ♣ King) 6N 7N Once opener goes on to 6N responder must bid 7 with the ♥ King as an extra trick

I think that South should double initially. The bidding demonstrates how hard it is to find the 5 -4 ♠when you have the 5-3 ♥fit. After a double by South 2♠ by North should surely propel you to game. With 5♠ and 4♥ the bidding is much easier for South bidding 1♠ followed by 2♥

I appreciate the need to raise revenue, but I cannot stand having adverts that make a noise, they should be banned immediately :unsure: :blink: