Jlall

I think it makes it much harder for them to bid slam, and maybe we get a good lead sometimes, and maybe partner bids 4S sometimes and pushes them to 5H or it's a good save (though sometimes this will be 800, I'll take my chances). Admittedly if we pass partner will overcall 1S on those hands then we can preempt, but it seems more effective if we bid first since RHO won't have had a chance to bid yet. Usually I would pass with this hand btw, 1S doesn't have huge gains but I don't view it as very risky either. I would be more likely to do it vs weak opps because I think the biggest downside of 1S is that the subsequent bidding should help them play the hand (because partners bidding will be honest), but usually against bad players it will make them misplay the hand anyways (HE OPENED! HE MUST HAVE THE HONORS!).

Ok fair enough, I expect them to freely bid game on every auction though lol. I have 5 points and pard passed. I mean assuming they're gonna bid game and I'm going to pass, what competitive auctions are we going to have where it's not clear that they are bidding to make. I guess if you pass lots of 11 counts maybe they won't always bid game.

Board 3

Partner is likely to double something because you opened in 3rd seat white/red? Guess this is a style thing, but I would not expect partner to double ever. Even if he has 10 points and they get to 3N, why would he double? Surely they have some reason for bidding 3N despite their lack of HCP. If they get to 4H and he has a couple of tricks, why should he double? Surely they have a reason for bidding 4H. I think it is a losing style for partner to double red/white opps because you opened in 3rd seat fav and he has some HCP. The opps know they lack HCP when they bid whatever.

There's also a fair chance of +200 when passing nets us -650. TBH surprised anyone good would pass. (not surprised most bad players pass though, ZOMG 5 HCP!)

I'd be perfectly happy bidding 4S on this auction

lol 1H

double

pass or 1S depending on opps.

2C overcall is horrifying.

Bidding with the east hand is atrocious. Passing with the west hand is really bad.

lol I thought it was 0535 when I posted this FWIW. I saw 053 so assumed it was 5!

Very difficult hand, I see merit in X, 4S, 4N and 5H. My inclination would be to just bid 5H, with a very close second choice of X.

Meckwell play 1M 3N as choice of games, and 1 way splinters (but can show a hand too strong for a normal splinter after a 2N raise). I played that with 1 pard, and with another I am playing direct splinters as void showing and the unspecified splinter as singleton. If I had to put a range on these I would say a good 12 to a bad 15. In reality I would just think is slam good opposite some well fitting hands with a max of 15 and splinter accordingly.

Down the middle of what, exactly? ? Really MP w/r you wouldn't consider 3H down the middle?

1N

4H

Looking for half stop since partner has denied a full stop.

green

LOL @ pass.

I like 2 way splinters in a non strong club system. Agree with 10-12 and 13-15 as the general range.

Mixed is way better imo.

1H, it's just too tough if you open 1C and get the nearly inevitable spade preemption.

Self alerting is BETTER not worse than the "normal" way. The only reason the "normal" way exists is because self alerting cannot exist in a live environment without giving away UI at times.

Heh yeah I'm colorblind too :ph34r: