jmcw

Thanks for the answers, but I must confess I'm still confused. In my opening post, I showed a hand that is clearly worth a 3♣ raise (under normal circumstances). But now uncertainty clouds my decision, why?, because it appears the opponents. want to penalize 2♣. If I wake them up by asking (as some have suggested) what the double is, am I not doing a miss justice to all the other east/west in the field?. Am I not allowed to assume certain things from their failure to alert and nothing on their convention card? According to my local director, "I stopped playing bridge" when I passed the double, he did not even look at their c.c.

And if the answer is, "I don't know" and there is nothing on RHO c.c., what now?

This is the heart of the matter as far as I am concerned. Without an alert the double would be penalty (Canada), but I have a clear 3♣ bid. I passed, LHO bid 2♠ and it came back to me. Should I bid 3 ♣ now?

[hv=pc=n&s=sq52hqt32da32ckq3&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=p1dp1s2cd]133|200[/hv] There was no alert of the double and RHO did not have the support double box ticked on her c.c.. Should I just bid 3♣, or pass and wait and see what happens. Does anything change if RHO does have the support double box ticked off. Edited N/S were VUL.

We play 18/19 bal.

Playing 2/1. What follow up structure would you recommend after 1♠>>1NT>>2NT. Looking for advanced/expert treatment. Thanks

It's expensive to vist an out of town NABC. Counting travel, accomodation, food, and entry fees expect at least a couple of hundred/day. To make it “worthwhile” I would in all likelyhood stay for at least a week and play every day. Needless to say I don't go to many. Now suppose a few of the key events were played simultaneosly at various cities across the nation. For example, imagine the L.M. Pairs being contested in Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Toronto all the the same time. Possible?, a good idea?.

Despite the flat shape as north I would chance a X. Values are sufficient, vul. is fav.,. It figures to be right more often than not, but -800 is possible. :)

[hv=pc=n&n=sakqh2dat32caqt32&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1d3h]133|200[/hv] Polled 5 of my buddies on this one got 5 different bids! IMO best among them was 4NT RKC for ♦, seems quite reasonable, but what about the dreaded 4-4-3-2. Is there a way to probe at this level?

Responder can hold 3-card support for spades. If he takes (false) preference it will likely mislead opener. However, all other alternatives discussed here seemed flawed IMHO, and I really do not like 5♦ when a major suit game is not out of the question. Sometimes I just do want to bid again so with reluctance I'll settle for 3♠.

[hv=pc=n&s=saqt864haqj52d98c&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=p1sdp2h]133|200[/hv] North/south agreements pretty standard, matchpoint scoring. Do you just pass and wait to collect 200 or 300 or do you rebid spades.

The opps. bid to 3NT, making. The match was lost by 3 IMPS less than what was given up on this deal.

Pass was the call made at the table. Partner's hand [hv=pc=n&n=sqj2ht2dak4ckt764]133|100[/hv]

3♣

[hv=pc=n&s=skt9hak7d962ca742&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=2spp]133|200[/hv] Playing Imps would you bid or pass?. Is it close? At the table the choice made cost the match.

Thank you all for the help.

Your right the same problem could so easily occur over J2NT.

We are playing mini/maxi, game force usually limited to a maximum of 6 controls. Thanks, for your interest.

[hv=pc=n&s=sk62hak8642d53caq&n=sa43hqj753dk764c2&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1hp2s3dpp4hppp]266|200|2 spades was an unspecified splinter[/hv] Making 5 after a club lead. The problem is that neither partner nor I had taken time to discuss how to handle the interference. We were just guessing Subsequent discussion has not rendered a satisfactory solution. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Good question! I'm interested too. My guess is that with less points in your partner's hand it's likely to be a part score battle, 1♠ gets you better placed from the get go. Your safer in 1 or 2 ♠ when your partner is bust, its a lot easier to get nailed when they open the bidding.

I've been reading up on the subject, and yes the previous posts and yours are quite helpful, thanks. But, this example...For 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♠* - 4♠ (*Limit Raise +) would be quite contraversial I think. Since game values are NOT promised, then why would FP apply, further, what if the last bid was just 3♠ now what?

Yes you were quite lucky. Why not a simple cue of 3♦ in the pass out seat with the N cards?, makes getting to 6♥ a likely outcome. On the bright side, I love penalizing dumb bids...East is out to lunch.

In Steve Weinstein write up. He promotes the idea of Not bidding 1♠ unless you are prepared to pull 1NT to 2♥, which he claims should show extras. With 4324(42)12/14 rebid 2♥ or 1NT, with 4351(15) rebid 2♥ with minimum, 1♠ with extras and pull 1NT if partner bids it. Now you may understand it better now, but perhaps not agree :). I'm still mulling it over!

Partner is in the pass out seat and is unwilling to allow 2♦ to sit. The Double says do something intelligent Partner. I do not have a trap pass of 2♦ so I'm not sitting, and I cannot support ♠. What's left 2♥,3♣, or NT. Partner's X initially suggests ♣ as a place to play, so that's my bid. 3♣, no real 2nd choice at IMPs, but I would consider passing at MP's

Partner said he wanted to discuss forcing pass. I replied that I would check my notes, well I have none. So, it seems I've never really discussed the topic to any great length. Is there "clear" rules that can be applied throughout?. I am somewhat familiar with the so called pass and pull strategy at higher levels, but I'm quite unprepared for DBL's and RDB's to show controls etc. At lower levels we bid to the promised level to show weakness. FOR EXAMPLE: [hv=pc=n&s=sak432hk32d32cjt2&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1sd2n3d3s]133|200[/hv] 2NT shows Limit or better. Here a Pass by South would be Forcing and show better values, the immediate 3♠ is weaker! Anyway, I'm not sure where to begin writing an agreement, some advice would be appreciated.