mikl_plkcc

Assume that no 5-card majors in NT, I would play crawling Stayman. 1NT - 2♣ pass any major response bid 2♥ over 2♦ In my system, 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♠ would be invitational. I like to play 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 3♥ as 5-5 invitational (pass or correct to 3♠) and 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♥ as 5-5 game-forcing (pass or correct to 4♠) since the NT opener cannot have 2 doubletons, an 8-card fit is guaranteed in this case. I would transfer to ♥ than bid ♠ to show 5-4 in ♥-♠

I would open 1♣, planning to rebid 1NT over 1♠. That would perfectly describe my hand (short in spades and all other three balanced).

I would always do a penalty pass with 5 trumps over a negative double.

With 26 HCPs and not-so-great shape (opener is shapeless), slam is unlikely. So in my system, I would bid 5♣ directly to stop the auction (in my system there is no transfer mechanism to minors over 2NT).

If West opens: 2♣ (strong) - 2♠! (3 controls, slam inviting) * I prefer to use step responses because it leaves the strong hand hidden most of the time. 2NT (balanced) - 3♣ (stayman) 3♥ - 4NT (RKCB) 5♦ (1 or 4 keycards) - 5NT (King ask) 6♥ (2 Kings) - 7♥ If East opens: 1♣ 1♥ (4+ Hs, F1) - 2♥ (simple raise on minimum hand, set trumps) * Now, West should notice that they have at least 36 HCPs in total so a grand slam is very likely. 2♠ (1st round control) - 3♣ (1st round control) 3♦ (1st round control) - 4♣ (2nd round control) 7♥ (all controls are here and I have the trumps A and K so go for it)

1♦ (opening) 1♠ (4+ F1) 3♣ (GF) 3NT (stop, since 13+19=32 not enough for a slam)

I would not double the 4♥ with 4 ♥s, but always double with 5 ♥s since in most cases 4♥ cannot make with such distribution.

In my system: 2♥ - set trumps 4♥ - sign off 4NT - RKCB 5NT - even number of keycards with a useful void At this point, North doesn't know that South has 0 or 2 keycards so he bid 6♥. In fact, north should immediately start cue-bidding after the opening since he has slam interest.

8 count 1 A and 3 Qs and Js - downgrade unsupported J - downgrade So this is like a 8- to me so I clearly pass. (I invite with 8-9 HCPs and bid game with 10 HCPs.)

Perhaps not including any 5-card majors in NT may pose rebid problems like: [hv=pc=n&s=sat52hj7dkt65cq82&n=skjhaq952dqj4ck63&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1hp1sp]266|200[/hv] With 15-17 1NT, bidding 1NT here means 12-14 balanced, 2NT means 18-19 balanced, 2♥ would means 6+ ♥s, and all other suits would mean 4+ of that suit. Can you suggest a bid here?

I never open NT with 5 card major, so this is irrelevant to me. I open all 5-3-3-2 majors and most 5-3-3-2 minors a suit. The only case that I open NT with 5-3-3-2 shape is 1NT with garbage 5-card minors, with the 5 ♣s, I will even be more cautious in opening 1NT because there is the possibility that responder bids 2♣ and run into a 4-2 ♦s (4=4=4=1 over 3=3=2=5) (This may be solved by crawling Stayman, but the usage of 1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥ as invitational to find a 5-3 fit in ♥s with 5 ♥s and 4 ♠s will be lost). I think that the following responses to 1NT may be used to find all major suit fits with at least invitational values when 1NT does not include 5-card majors: 4 ♥s only: bid 2♣, raise ♥ but correct back to 2NT with other responses. 4 ♠s only: bid 2♣, raise ♠. Correct back to 2NT over 2♦, bid 2♠ over 2♥. Opener will raise it holding 4-4 in the majors but correct to 2NT if no 4 ♠s. 5 cards in one major only: transfer to it directly then bid 2NT as a choice bid. 4 cards in both majors: bid 2♣, raise any majors, correct back to 2NT over 2♦. 5 cards in both majors: transfer to 2♠ and bid 3♥. A fit is guaranteed in this case so the loss of 2NT is not a problem. 4 ♥s and 5 ♠s: bid 2♣, raise any majors, bid 2♠ over 2♦. 5 ♥s and 4 ♠s: transfer to 2♥ and bid 2♠. Then there are still takeouts possible with busts in both majors: bid 2♣, pass any majors and bid 2♥ over 2♦. Opener corrects to his 3-card major. I play 4-suit transfers so the contract can be escaped to 3 of a minor with a minor bust. To summarise, the whole set of major suit responses is as follows: 1NT (15-17 balanced, no 5-card major) - 2♣ - Stayman - promises a 4-card major, any rebid except 2♥ promises invitational values and force to either 2NT or 3 of a major. -- 2♦ - no 4-card major --- 2♥ - weak takeout, opener correct to his 3-card major --- 2♠ - exactly 5 ♠s and 4 ♥s, F1, raise or correct --- 2/3NT - no major fit -- 2♥ - 4 ♥s, may have 4 ♠s --- 2♠ - no 4 ♥s, exactly 4 ♠s, F1, raise or correct --- 2/3NT - no major fit -- 2♠ - 4 ♠s, no 4 ♥s --- 2/3NT - no major fit - 2♦ - transfer to 2♥, 5+ ♥s -- 2♥ --- 2♠ - exactly 5 ♥s and 4 ♠s, F1 --- 2/3NT - pass or raise with exactly 2 ♥s, otherwise, correct it --- 3/4♥ - 6+ ♥s - 2♥ - transfer to 2♠, 5+ ♠s -- 2♠ --- 2/3NT - pass or raise with exactly 2 ♠s, otherwise, correct it --- 3♥ - exactly 5 ♥s and 5 ♠s: pass, raise or correct. --- 3/4♠ - 6+ ♠s The above system works over 2NT also, but the responder is now game-forcing rather than invitational of course. Weak takeouts are still possible. With puppet Stayman, all weak takeouts are gone. The above is all messed up once you include 5-card majors in your 1NT opening. When opening 5-3-3-2 majors with 1 of a suit, any 5-3 fit is guaranteed to be found since it is a simple raise only. 6-2 fit can also be found by bidding the major twice. At IMPs, you shouldn't be thinking when both 3NT and 4M is making. Just choose one at your convenience. The case when 3NT makes but 4M not is rare when a fit exists, but 4M makes when 3NT not due to a lack of stoppers is common. Therefore, always play in a major when a fit can be found, 3NT should be used only as a last resort. Having the opportunity of weak takeouts is essential. You don't want the opponents running your 2-card suit in a 1NT contract and get -3 when actually a 2-level suit contract can be made (with a 8-card fit) or -1 only (with a 7-card fit). P.S. 1. OK 2. OK 3. Just exchange meaning of the above 2NT-3♣-3♦-3♠ and 2NT-3♣-3♦-4♥ (since 3♥ is taken as crawling Stayman) to use Smolen transfer and its OK. With a 6-card suit, always Jacoby transfer to it directly since a fit is guaranteed. 4. 2NT-3♠ can be used as MSS 5. Just copy the above Stayman system 6. Just copy the above Stayman system 7. bid it directly 8. use 4♥ and 4♠ as transfers to the minors respectively The complete 2NT system above: 2NT (20-21 balanced, no 5-card major) - 3♣ - Stayman - promises a 4-card major, any rebid except 3♥ forces to major/NT game. (There is no need to use Smolen on 6/4 holdings since a fit is guaranteed.) -- 3♦ - no 4-card major --- 3♥ - weak takeout, opener correct to his 3-card major --- 3♠ - exactly 4 ♠s and 5 ♥s, Smolen transfer, accept or reject. --- 3NT - no major fit --- 4♥ - exactly 5 ♠s and 4 ♥s, Smolen transfer (however, 3NT is lost in this case. This is a caveat brought by crawling Stayman) -- 3♥ - 4 ♥s, may have 4 ♠s --- 3♠ - no 4 ♥s, exactly 4 ♠s, GF --- 3NT - no major fit -- 3♠ - 4 ♠s, no 4 ♥s --- 3NT - no major fit - 3♦ - transfer to 3♥, 5+ ♥s -- 3♥ --- 3♠ - exactly 5 ♥s and 4 ♠s, GF --- 3NT - pass with exactly 2 ♥s, otherwise, correct it --- 4♥ - 6+ ♥s - 3♥ - transfer to 3♠, 5+ ♠s -- 3♠ --- 3NT - pass with exactly 2 ♠s, otherwise, correct it --- 4♥ - exactly 5 ♥s and 5 ♠s: pass or correct. --- 4♠ - 6+ ♠s - 3♠ - GF minor suit Stayman, at least 4-4 in the minors (with a 6-card minor, transfer to it directly) -- 3NT - no 4-card minor --- 4♣ - exactly 4 ♦s and 5 ♣s. slam interest (otherwise stop at 3NT) --- 4♦ - exactly 5 ♦s and 4 ♣s. slam interest (otherwise stop at 3NT) --- 4♥/♠ - 5-5 minor slam interest with shortness in the named major --- 4NT - quantitative slam interest - no minor fit --- 5♣ - 5-5 in the minors, pick one, no slam interest -- 4♣/4♦ - confirms a fit, bid game or use 4♥/♠ as some sort of slam try (e.g. Kickback) - 3NT - STOP - 4♣/♦ - minor bust sign-off - 4♥/♠ - 6+ card transfers into ♣ or ♦ respectively. Opener must bid game. Responder may then bid slam. - 4NT - quantitative Enough?!

[hv=pc=n&e=saha5dak9cakq7652]133|100[/hv] MPs, NS vulnerable, North deals East opened 6NT this hand, redoubled, +1. Luckily, we are playing MPs, so this is only just a board. Most the the field bid constructively, and reached either 6 clubs or 7NT.

By using rule of 20, a 11 HCP hand with 4-4-4-1 shape only counts 19, so normally I won't open this kind of hands. At the 3rd or 4th seat, though, I may relax the rule a bit. But as this 11 HCPs are composed of all As and Ks, so I automatically upgrade it slightly and I also upgrade it due to its 4-4-4-1 shape (rather than 4-4-3-2) so I will open it even at the 1st or 2nd seat, by treating it as a 12 HCPs hand. However, I normally play all Xes above 3-level as penalty, so I won't double it.

Given a 18 4333 hand, I would open 1 of a suit, then jump in NT, specifying an 18-19 balanced hand.

2♦ 1♦ showed only 4 ♦s, 2♦ shows more.

2♠ (NF) absolutely. We want a major fit rather than a minor fit.

I want to play 3♣. NT is too dangerous.

4 losers only --- bid 2♣. You don't want partner to pass after a 1♣ opening. If 2♦ is responded, bid 2♥. If partner raise it, then it's fine. Otherwise, jump to 5♣ immediately. If a suit is responded, if it matches your suit, raise it and explore a slam. If it doesn't match, bid ♣ forever. If step responses are used and a positive response is get, bid ♥ first, then ♣ forever.

I dislikes kickback very much. I think the suit above trump is better used as a cue-bid.

I'd like the play only the following auctions as minorwood: After agreement of the suit, an uninterrupted raise to 4 of the minor is minorwood. (An agreement is defined as both partner bid the same suit in a natural way, or after 1NT-transfer to minor) For example: 1♦-2/3♦ 4♦ (minorwood) 1♦-1♥ 3♦(GF)-3♠ 4♦(about 6♦, strongly want p to play ♦, unless p is void) 1♣-1♦ 4♦(preempt) 2NT-3♠(MSS) 4♦(response to MSS) 1NT-2♠(transfer to ♣) 3♣-4♣(minorwood) 1♣-(/)-2♣-(3♠) 4♣(natural) I don't like kickback because a cue-bid is more useful than any form of blackwood. I try to use cue-bids if I can, only when not enough space I uses blackwood.

(2 tricks) cash the ♠K (3 tricks) if the ♠Q goes down, bang down the ♠10 by playing the ♠J (4 tricks) then cash the ♣ (10 tricks) play the ♦A and eat the remaining (13 tricks taken) if the ♠Q does not go down, start cashing the ♣ and discard the ♥. After they use the ♠Q to ruff, if they lead a ♦, eat the ♦A immediately. However, if they lead a ♥, ruff it by south. The contract is set only when the ♠Q can be used before all ♥ of south are used up.

I would bid 1♥ playing weak or strong 2NT. This is an in-between hand.

Isn't a 4333 hand completely suitable for NT? Why deduct one point from it? A balanced hand is exactly for NT!

I would go to 4H in my system: /-(/)-1H-(/) 1S-(/)-2H-(/) 4H-(/)-/-(/) Actually, the reason of failing game is bad trump fit, which cannot be avoided in any system.

At the second hand, slam depends the position of the trump Q and club K/Q, so it cannot be said as a "missed slam". At the table, I would stop at 4H.