jmcw

Doubling artificial bids for a lead is often abused IMO. Your example is a classic (perhaps even extreme) example. The risks are numerous, eg. You might get RDBL with little or no chance to make. If left to lead naturally partner may have a better lead. You may help the opponents develop a better line of play or even a better strain. Partner may play you for a holding you don't actually have. etc. In your example you do not know the final strain, partner leads a ♦ vs 3NT. They make 5, on a ♣ lead you were beating it. partner had KJTxx ♣. At any form of scoring X with this hand is insane. 5 points!, a ratty 4 card suit! with no outside entry!, just astonishing. I see no way no recover you may have committed suicide at teams

3♣ make them guess

3♣ is passable, and an underbid. I would rebid 3♥GF, showing my 6/5. As responder I would just rebid 5♣ over 3♥ as a sign off.

After the F1 2♠ rebid. Partner can be passed on any of the following rebids. 2NT 3 original minor 3♠ All others are GF

I would not bid 1♠ I would not bid 5♥ 4♥ looks normal to me 4♠ probably right at IMPs, closer at MP's I mostly blame East's 5♥ bid.

Double then bid NT shows a strong hand too good for an immediate NT overcall so 18+ - 20 is about right Double then call a new suit usually about 17+ Double then Cue is F1 is 18+ implying a fit, or a very strong hand with a good trick source. Here Double is clear. Your 2nd call very much depends on what happens over the X.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Borderline raise to game IMO

Pass. No X of 2♠. Might the ops be cashing some reds vs 5♣

Agree with 3♦. If partner rebids a Major I will reluctantly raise to game.

With good Majors suits I'm bidding 2♠. However, I often wonder if this is the best use for this bid! Why reverse into a suit partner has denied. I suppose the rebid structure is what's important. Anyone care to share their rebids after 2♠?, or is that for another thread?

Same here. Nearest is 1♣>>1M>>1NT>>3♦ = Weakish 6/4

Only a few games played with this partner, his tendancy is to overbid. Answers: Over 3NT, 4♣ would be Ace asking Agree 4NT is better. Partner held Ax Qx AKQxxx JTx I dont know why he did not bid 3♦.

Pass and pass again if you get the chance.

FP are difficult for many partnerships, much will depend on the agreements they have established. Without discussion you are guessing whether partner will assume FP or not. I expect just about all advanced partners would assume this be be a FP situation. Both opponents have previously passed and your side has freely bid to game, if thats not a FP then I dont know what is. 2♠ is horrible!, 4♠ should be unanimous in this forum.

OK 1♠ it is. I'll bite let's see the gadget.

X and bid 4♥ over whatever partner does if possible. If he surprises with 4♠ or 5♦! go to 6 at least. If he passes were beating it.

3♥

I'm bidding 4♥ and passing the expected 4♠. I would need a ♣ control to consider any other action.

[hv=pc=n&s=sk2hakjtdj32caq32&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1c2s3sp3np6np]133|200|Matchpoints[/hv] Pass or bid?

Yes quite correct Justin tx. Was kinda late when I posted :rolleyes:

6NT looks like a normal contract, played from the normal but wrong side! When ♣ are 3/2 or stiff Jack, everyone not getting a ♠ lead will make 13 tricks, and how likely is it that the lead is from the ♠K., so ducking will likely lose to the King, you wind up with 12 tricks and a poor score. Playing the ♠Ace and running ♣ gets 13 tricks about 70% of the time, I'll take that. Playing the ♠A unblocking ♣ back to dummy in ♥ risks going down when the ♣J is with the ♠K.

I don't know anyone who plays this as NF in a standard american based system. 2♦ is a natural bid promising a real suit, a common treatment is to apply 2♦ as a forcing call in the contecxt of NMF. Playing with a "Grandmaster" I would be shocked if he passed...maybe he meant chess.

Count me in on the GF 3♥ and I'm passing 3NT. It seems the least of evils...2♥ doesn't quite cut it, and raising NT with a void would not occur to me.

[hv=pc=n&w=s73h3daq9732cajt5&e=sakt542hakjt5dt4c&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=1sp1np4hp6sppp]266|200[/hv] Playing A/X against good opponents you get the lead the annoying lead of the ♠J. Obviously, I needed to avoid a trump loser and a ♥ loser. I considered the following lines. 1. Play to the ♦ Ace, take a pitch and hook trumps. Hoping to play trumps for 0 losers and play ♥ from thr top for 1 loser. 2. Play ♥A, ruff a ♥, ruff a ♣ and play trumps. This works if ♥Qx(x) and trumps play for no more than 1 loser. 3. Play ♥Ace and bang down the ♥Jack. 4. Play to the ♦ Ace, take a pitch and hook ♥ and ruff a ♥. 5. Hook the ♦Q planning to set up ♦. Line 5 seems like a bad idea, entry problems and such, so I tossed it away without thinking it through completely. Result down 1, how should I have played it?

[hv=pc=n&n=sk2hakq9753d73ca6&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1d2s3d]133|200|ALL RED IMPS[/hv] Playing with a casual KISS partner, I considered 4 bids. 1. 3♥ 2. 4♦ 3. 4♥ 4. 4♠ I wasn't sure if 3♥ was forcing so I rejected that call. 4♦ might be right if P held good ♠ and a stiff or ♦ control! 4♥ seems ok, though it might be to our advantage if the lead was up to partner's hand. Eventually I settled on 4♠. Did I make the best bid?