jmcw

Looking at the 10 in hand, South is well aware that the lead is not from an internal sequence...that much is obvious. South's motives are unknown, but certainly appear quite suspicious to me. He could easily have avoided this dilemma by phrasing his question " from which holdings can a Jack be led according to your agreements". By specifically asking if it could be from an internal sequence could easily be construed as an attempt to mislead East. However, had the question not been asked should/would East play the King at trick 2?. I know I would not, although as we can see it is the winning defense. I would let the result stand! mainly because I think the correct play at trick 2 is a low ♠.

Pass I've shown my hand.

By automatically do you mean 6322 15/17?, does it matter if the doubletons are weak? where do you draw the line? One thing for sure if you choose to open 1♣ then a convenient rebid of 2 or 3♣ will lkely be a fairly decent description. Not so easy when holding a 5-card Major. With 3532 16 points what do you rebid after 1♥>>1♠ or 1♥>>1NT?

West is showing at least solid opening bid values with good majors, by that measure he is an Ace short for his bid, I think the shape is fine. East is good enough to make a slam try, but not a lot of room to do so. 4♠ will surely produce a plus score, but seems tame. My choice, 5♠, far from ideal perhaps but given the pre-emptive effect of the previous bids its the best I can do.

Given the auction I would bid 4♠ with the North cards expecting to make. I don't care for the 3♠ by South, it should show a 6th ♠ IMO, I play the pass here as forcing so there is no danger of the auction dying in 3♥. Looks like 4♠ may make! takes a ♣ lead and return then a ♥ underlead for the 2nd ruff to beat.

I voted no. I have no problem with the shape or the strength, but I don't like both doubletons to be soft. I would open 1♣ and rebid a straight forward 3♣

Depends on your agreements. I consider 4♦ a huge overbid. Having said that, I see little merit in blasting to 6♠, whats the rush? Assuming, "normal" agreements. East and West are both culpable, 30/70 respectively.

100% you. the post makes no sense

Variation in tempo and mannerism occur on just about every bid and trick played. The degree and circumstance of variation is what may influence an opponent to conclude certain inferences from the break in tempo. Ignore mannerisms and breaks in tempo (opponents and partners), play or defend the hand as if in a vaccuum and don't go crying to the director when you mistakenly read breaks incorrectly. If, on the other hand, you "study" the opponents timing and demeanor then do so at your own peril.

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1NT nothing else appeals

North's 3rd seat opening could be quite light, given partners X and my maximum I think game is a definite possibilty. I can show decent ♥ tolerance(Hxx) with a responsive X, If he rebids the expected 3♦ I will cue ♠ and go from there.

Typically a jump raise by opener shows a good 15 to 18 points, 3♠ is a clear overbid. With 16 points South should make a slam try, perhaps a ♣ cue would get it going. Bidding 6♠ directly is quite reckless, since you could be off 2 cashing aces even if North held full value for his bid.

[hv=pc=n&e=sat5h975dakj7cq82&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=pp1d2cdp]133|200[/hv] Scoring is Matchpoints. The X shows at least 1 4-card or longer Major and about 8+ points. Would your bid change if you were a touch weaker? [hv=pc=n&e=sqt5h975dakj7cq82&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=pp1d2cdp]133|200[/hv]

If, as you say GIB plays support DBL, then it should show 3 card ♥ support. One possibility is, perhaps support X do not apply thru 2♠ or perhaps not versus pre-empts, doesn't make much sense to me, but it's the best I can come up with.

Rounded to 100%

I am not passing. IMO, passing is a losing strategy at the 1 level, especially when you have both Majors, opening values, and favorable vulnerability. Pass is the worse call available in this scenerio. As others have said, DBL may get a ♣ bid from partner, on the other hand he may bid either Major or a NT, and, even if he does bid ♣ the opponents may rescue us. I would DBL, and consider 1♥ or 1NT reasonable alternatives, I just cannot live with a pass.

A 1♠ response to 1♥ is F1 and shows 4 or more ♠ with unlimited strength. Subsequent bidding will more accurately describe strength and distribution in similar ways to SAYC depending on your methods. Depending on opener's response your second bid should be either a 4 suit force or a checkback type bid setting a GF. From there you can then rebid your ♠, which many play as a slam try with very good ♠.

I'm not passing the North hand. The only question is whether to bid 3♣,3♥ or DBL. In spite on the void and the ask and pass I would DBL. Now, as to the ask and pass by South. I really don't know how a director would rule or should rule on this...it certainly complicates matters. It would not surprise me if some South's immediately raised to 3♥ or even 4♥,foregoing the possibility of converting a re-opening X. If I were North on this deal I would be quite upset with my partner and would definitely explain the difficult position partner's query had placed me.

A take out DBL shows opening bid values and support for the unbid suits, especially any unbid Major suit(s). Here your partner should have 4 ♠ not a stiff. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would score DBL as a 1....it's about as bad as it gets. Your 2♠ is a bit of and underbid IMO but not terrible. Typically, a jump responses to a T.O DBL show a good 9/11 points pretty close to what you have, but, with a 5 card side suit, a stiff ♥ and a guaranteed fit in ♠, I would have cuebid 2♥ and raised partner to game.

Is this IMP's or MP's I would have thought 3♦ to be forcing. Both East and West have passed reasonably up until the pass out seat. In the balancing position I'm doubling for T/O.

I'm bidding 2♣, stay low and await developments. Partner's response is expected but does not improve my hand.

1♦

I would like to bid 2♦, but I need a better hand. That leaves 1 and 3♦, and pass. Pass is safest for sure, but I don't think you win by playing safe if a reasonable alternative is available. I'm going for 3♦

Isn't a retransfer when partner first offers a transfer and opener super accepts?, then he rebids in the same suit demanding opener completes the transfer. 1nt---2♦ 2♠---3♦ Perhaps, this is just terminology, I play 4♥ as a demand to bid 4♠.