jmcw

I much prefer an immediate 3♦...good suit decent values. Given your original pass I wouldn't touch 3♥ with a 10 foot pole....you've been warned, a strong hand is behind you.

Sorry got the ♠ wrong. Fixed now

Sorry got the ♠ suit wrong, It's ok now

[hv=pc=n&s=saq32hqj32dak54ck&n=s9854hak54dqj32ca]133|200[/hv] Play the ♠ suit (trumps) for 1 loser. East pre-empts in ♣...likely a 7 bagger.

This is a very strong hand in the context of the auction. I think it is a 3NT all day not close. You have an "undisclosed" source of tricks, a likely entry in the ♦K and a working 9 and T in the other suits. It just doesn't get much better. Didn't partner just invite!

I have done it before. I bid ♦, partner raised and we ended in NT. The ♦ were placed on the right and I proceeded to play as if I was in a ♦ contact....hey it happens or could.

Have you or your partners never played a NT in a suit before realizing your mistake :)

Partner is playing a NT contract, the lead is made and you face the dummy. Do you have any routine about which suits you place on your right, left?. This is not quite as trivial as it may seem!. Until last night it was random for me.

Perhaps, but what call would you make when holding 4 card ♠ and extras?. And lets not forget that if partner passes. you will almost certainly be getting a 3♥ or 4♥ bid from ops.

The hand really did come up. Your not a BOOP maybe just an OOP.

I'm thinking there should be a little more to this. No question in my mind it is still for takeout, but with the hand you suggest might P not have bid 3♦?. How might he call with extras and 4 card ♠?, X?, seems reasonable to me. I don't see how the second X should ever deny 4 card ♠.

Last week, I posted the topic Bid after X and raise here. The responses were quite helpful (thanks). So, with our newly tuned responsive double we headed off to the Labour Day Sectional...confusion was just around the corner. IMP SCORING [hv=pc=n&s=skj32h5432dkq2ct2&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=1hd2hd3cd3h]133|200[/hv] Uncharted territory, what was partner's 2nd X?, and what should I do now?. Is he denying 4 card ♠?. Showing ♣? I decided to bid, choosing a hopeful 3♠....things got even more mystifying. Pass 4♦ by P, Pass to you...., and partner's hand is?

Have you succeeded in defining the M.O. of the Republican party

What about 2NT, would it be good/bad here?, or some other?

The 3244 hand was a key focus of my partner's discussion last night. Assuming we X as you suggest how do you see it going from there.

I'll bid 3NT. I'm max could partner be big with primary ♦

[hv=pc=n&n=sk95432h432d32c32&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=1hd2h]133|200[/hv] [hv=pc=n&n=sk95432h432dk2c32&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=1hd2h]133|200[/hv] [hv=pc=n&n=sk932h432dkjt2ck2&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=1hd2h]133|200[/hv] Just checking how most would bid?. With no great conviction, here's what I would do. 1. 2♠ 2. 3♠ 3. 3♥

I think it best to act now, pass is mostly a losing strategy IMO. I don't have the values to bid 2♦, so I must choose btw X and 1NT. Both come with the obvious risk, but I think X offers better options for partner to compete effectively. If it goes 2♠ on my left back to me I will X again, and pull 3♣ to 3♦ Now I'll wait to see what the experts have to say :)

Okay I see your point, but I'm not convinced yet. As responder I may or may not have a 4 card M when I invite. So when I do have a 4cM, then, presumably the auction would be the same, regardless of which method we play 1NT>>2♣ etc. The only time when the auction will diverge should be when responder does not have a 4cM. But in these instances it is not be immediately known whether responder has a 4cM or not. 1NT>>2♣>>2D>>2N in this scenerio we reveal that opener has no 4cM, but responders hand remains unknown 1NT>>2NT in this scenerio we know that reponder has no 4cM and openers hand remain unknown. I don't see why case 1, neccessarily makes the defence much easier. I think I would lead "normally" against both auctions, but I do agree that after seeing dummy I would likely be better placed knowing opener has no 4cM. Similarly, 1NT>>2C>>2M>>2NT 1NT>>2NT The defence learns about openers 4cM but once again responers holding may still be unknown. Anytime responder has GF values the auction should be the same regardless, so 1NT:3NT would be repeated in both scenerios.

Yes indeed. As I alluded to also, partner may just have forgot to alert. It is even possible he did alert and I missed it. Strange stuff sometimes happens.

A very good point!. It's often the case that posters claim superiority of 1 method compared to another. Intellectually I often agree, but some doubt often remains.

Don't think I understand this part of your post, care to expand?

[hv=pc=n&n=sk4hqt952d95ck983&d=s&v=0&b=11&a=1c2d]133|200[/hv] Welcome to the forums. You seem to prefer a 2♥ bid over the 3♣ bid made by GIB. Actually, I much prefer pass!. 2♥ should show a better hand (change the ♥Q to the Ace), at least 10 points and is forcing 1 round. 3♣, does not overstate the strength of the hand, but runs the risk of not being your sides best fit.

You asked what expert standard would be. Didn't see any of them suggest this :)