mtvesuvius

[hv=d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1dp1hp2cp2sp?]133|100[/hv] What is your catchall bid here? What do you do on 2254? 2245?

General quantitative IMO, there are a lot of ways to set hearts, and I think that this is the companion bid to 4N here, the quantitative way of setting hearts as trump. In any case, I don't think 3♥ can be 2254 (or 2245) here... I prefer 3♣ as the catchall, which is another interesting question... Going to make a thread on it in fact, lol

I have played a session of bridge with someone after asking 10 questions: 1. What is our carding/Smith? 2. What do we do when the opponents open 1N? 3. 1430 or 3014? 4. What do we do for our minor suit keycard? 5. What is our major suit raise structure? 6. What is your pre-emptive style? 7. 1 way or 2 way NMF? 8. Sandwich NT always or just by a passed hand? 9. What is 1M - (P) - 1N - (2D) - X? 10. What do we play after 1M - (X)? These are essential questions, the rest is all just details, and generally unnecessary IMO, especially in a one time partnership. For a more serious partnership, there are tons of situations, but one I find myself asking a lot nowadays is "What is 1m-2m-2N, and 1m-2m-3N?". Many competitive auctions become a lot easier if you share your partner's style of bidding and theory... For me this is a very big problem, since I consider myself fairly modern in my bidding theory/style, and many of my partners are much more old fashioned. This style difference may not seem to matter, but it really does affect competitive decisions, and don't get me started on forcing passes... Anyway, I think playing a few "test" sessions to get a feel for each other's style is a good way to get a feel for whether a serious partnership will work or not.

Yep, partner is never expected to raise just because they have a spade void. Just like you shouldn't bid their hand, they shouldn't bid yours, meaning that they should assume you can draw logical conclusions from an auction, in this case, that they have short or very short spades. Obviously if the opponents have done this on KQxxx facing Axx or something, they have earned a good board. Either way, I think not bidding 6 is masterminding the hand, and expecting a lot more out of partner than you should... After all, would you not bid this way with xx xxx KQJxxxx x?

Nice hand...

I'll bid 6♦. This feels like it will be on a hook, but we don't rate to beat 5♠ very many, and if the ♣K is offside, they may even be making. Partner is probably 0265 or 0355.

Pass... Yuck, not much chance of a game, and 2♣ looks to maybe be our top spot.

3♣, and 655321 said it very well. Besides, it's always good to bid your longest suit first, right?

Well, on constructions where partner has 2 or 3♥, game won't be too good. Partner rates to have a good suit, and I think is odds-on to have at least 2♥. I think that 4♠ could certainly make, but I will pass this hand.

11-14 vs 1m, with regular Stayman + Systems on (11)12-16 vs 1M, with Range Stayman + Systems on

[hv=pc=n&s=saha96432d76cakt9&n=sqjt4hjt85da82cq6]133|200[/hv] East deals and opens 1♠. What is your auction, and do you want to be in slam?

IMPs - W/R [hv=pc=n&s=s72hj85dkt95ca865&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=1sdp2h2s4h]133|200[/hv] What do you do over 4♥? Does 2♠ show extras?

IMPs - W/R [hv=pc=n&s=sat83hakt3dcakq74&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1cp1s2d4dp4sp]133|200[/hv] Do you agree with 4♦? What now?

IMPs - W/W [hv=pc=n&s=s6hj9874dj432ck87&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=2sppdp2n(Lebensohl%20-%20Relay%20to%203%21c)p3dp]133|200[/hv] Say you bid 3♥... Partner will now bid 6♦(!). What now?

I know I ordered my NT structure medium rare, but this is going a bit too far!

1♣ - 1♦ [15+ Any; Any GF] 1♥ - 1N [GF relay - 12+ AKQ points or any hand that wants to take charge; BAL or any 4441] 2♣ - 2♦ [Relay; 4♥, may have 4♠ or 44(41)] 2♥ - 3♦ [Relay; 3433] 3♥ - 3♠ [Relay; Minimum (5-7 AKQ points)] 4♣ - 4♠ [Relay; 7 AKQ points, 0/2 top ♥ honours] 4N - 5♣ [Relay; 0/2 top ♣ honours] 5♦ - 5♥ [Relay; 0/2 top ♦ honours (N now knows Axx AQxx xxx xxx)] 5♠ - 6♦ [Relay; 1/3 top ♠ honours, ♥J, no ♣J, last relay is at 5N, so relays end] 7N - P [1♠, 4♥, 5♦, 3♣, admittedly not room to know about ♦J, but still a very reasonable grand...; OK] Only 19 bids :(

1) I'd have probably bid 2♥. 2) Now I'll try 3♥. Being a passed hand (and having 2N available here as a 4 card limit raise) make cuebidding much more attractive. Without 2N available I'd content myself with 3♠.

Don't tempt us... Me & Owen would have found it by relaying [We'd be able to find the HJ, and possibly the DJ, too early for me to figure that out] In a 2/1 type system, there really isn't much way to find it, a BAL 12 facing 22-23 or 22-24 isn't ever going to make a grand try... I'd have bid 6N over 2N.

I believe that there should be a limit to the number of smileys that nige1 can use in a day.

I like 3♠, although 4♠ could certainly work well, I think it's a bit much of a punt.

Kayin801 posted this thread a month or so ago: http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/42896-outthinking-myself/

Clear A, and clear pass with Axx KJTx xxx xxx

Really? Go to the Laws & Regulations if you want to discuss this, or find your own chat room, whatever. This is seriously getting ridiculous. How about SOMEONE actually focuses on the actual question:

3♠, not inviting or even trying...

I'd pass -- This is too much for even me.