JLOL

LOL

LOL Partner has the AK of clubs unless he has J QJ K AJ so what is all this paranoid talk about 41 spades? Even if partner has AK tight of clubs he will either have the HQ or the SJ in which case we still have no spade losers. 7N is the bid that caters to a bad spade split since they cant get a ruff on opening lead. Not just that but sometimes you won't even have to guess diamonds since you will often have thirteen tricks outside of diamonds. In 7N you get to cash side winners and get a count before guessing diamonds. This is a big edge In 7N we often just have 13 tricks without guessing diamonds. The point that partner might "correct" 7D to 7N seems to defeat the point of the problem, Frances specifically told us we have to place the contract. The only legitimate point in favor of bidding 7D is that they might lead a diamond from xx so that increases our chances of guessing diamonds, but given that we have 13 tricks so often in 7N without the diamond suit, and that they might lead a diamond against 7N trying to be passive anyways, I don't see how we can not bid 7N.

Helene, I bet you knew at least intuitively that if you are in a game the other table won't be in at least some reasonable %age of the time you should be less apt to risk that game for an overtrick.

I don't really read watercooler so I didn't read any of this thread so sorry if this is a dumb question but... My friend Joe went to a bridge tournament yesterday in Iceland. Is it likely or possible that any of this will effect him or his safety, or the tournament?

LOL

Also this auction is fine, just pass 3D now you have a minimum reverse.

I would win the heart in dummy and play a club to the queen (you want to play clubs towards your hand in case RHO has Ax or stiff A). If LHO won this club and played back whatever then I would cash the HQ, cash the HK and cash 4 rounds of spades. We will now have a count on LHO. If they have 4+ diamonds play for the squeeze, otherwise finesse. If LHO ducked the first club the entries are more awkward and after you play spades to dummy (all of them unless someone had 5+), club to the jack and they win and return a club you will have to guess what to do with a less complete count on the hand but the idea is the same.

I would lead a club, our best chance to beat the hand seems to be setting up our clubs (and it seems like a very good shot). Which club to lead is interesting, the ace would be right if we were certain to have our side's entry but it has a few ways to lose (including the embarassing case where partner has the king and we block the suit). Overall I would just lead the ten. Whatever you do don't lead the genius queen!

Opening 1N is LOL

Just wanted to say that this is my favorite series ever and it's not that close.

takeout, extra values.

J9xx with RHO is not relevant since when we lead another spade LHO is going to show out if that is the holding. Anyways the CA is a normal lead on this auction so there's no reason to place LHO with a trump trick. I would go with it if it was some abnormal lead without a trump trick, but here I think they will just always lead the CA so I would make the normal percentage play.

Easy to say now I guess, but I would have signed off contently.

I like passing and leading the DJ also at this vul

LOL

Yeah too imaginary, it would be good if everything was about spade stops, but the problem is you might belong in hearts. So if you bid 3H that would show hearts, partner would bid 4H with a fit and usually 3N with a spade stop and 3S with no spade stop (so that you can get to the right spot when you have a spade stopper and 4H and a 2D overcall).

5D

4D doesn't confirm that you had 3 hearts to begin with and is suggesting diamonds as a possible strain.

Agree with X.

3N, we could have 9 opposite the DA and out. I considered 3S but it seems like there's too much chance partner has no spade stopper and we still have 9 tricks.

2H

I'd transfer and pass 3H

Your bidding was fine (closer to a 2N opener), now crack em off.

4S, I've already denied 3 spades and have a very suit oriented hand (Ax Kx, DA...), this describes my hand well. 4N would be a terrible bid imo.

I would've opened 2S but don't fault a pass much. Definitely more of a style thing. Agree wtih 4C now.