Viren169

It is between Pass or double. There is a good chance this hand belongs to us and we have fit in one of the other suits. Double seems to address this.

A bit too good to pass. 2♠ and hope pd doesnt bid 3♥ BR Viren

This is a grey area and depends on partnership agreement. I play it as follows: In the above example, we have forced the auction to at least 3H, there is no need to assume we will be better off in the opponents playing in a contract below 3H (undoubled). Hence pass should be forcing with either a weak or strong hand allowing responder to clarify thier hand. This also gives responder some further room for investigating whether this contract should be played in p/s, game, slam etc or if this contract belongs to the opponents doubled or undoubled (above 3S). So now a 3H bid by the opener in the above example should show a better than opening hand (ie an extra trump etc). BR Viren

Good analysis Ben! Best I give you some answers first... on the actual hand the layout is as follows: The clubs are 3-1 with LHO holding 3 The heart lead was the 2 of hearts (4th best in principle) RHO played the K and returned the 3 of hearts (if ducked) Q of spades coming down in 2 is 12.4% (I think) On the run of the clubs - RHO is known to hold 4 hearts and 1 club and at least 3 spades and 4 diamonds - LHO is known to hold 4 hearts and 3 clubs and at least 3 spades and 1 diamond Hope that helps. BR Viren

Hi, I think there is a case for a heart lead if partner dbles 4S for t/out. W/out any bidding I would would have led a small diamond. ps I would not have dbled 4S with partner's hand. BR Viren

Good effort... Assuming best defence, how do you play the diamonds finesse or drop? Just a slight improvement on your line is to keep the heart in hand, coming down to the following 3 card ending... 8 - x x - x KJ - On playing the last club RHO pitches a spade and you + RHO pitch a heart. And on playing the diamond RHO follows small… Now do you play for the drop or finesse? 1. Could you apply the vacant spaces rule here with club suit distribution known (3-1 with LHO)? (and hearts (4-4)) 2. Or are the odds still in favour of RHO holding the Q of diamonds knowing he started off with at least 5 diamonds (watching the discards). BR Viren

Here is an interesting play problem that came up the other day… How would you play the following hand (Gameall) in 6C by South with no opposition bidding on a heart lead? [hv=pc=n&s=sj92ha32dakj2caq2&n=sak8hj4d43ckt9543]133|200[/hv] What are the possible lines together with the odds of success? BR Viren

How would you rule on this hand? It happened playing high-stake Goulash game. [hv=d=s&v=n&s=sakqjtxxxxxxhdxxc]133|100|Scoring: Rubber[/hv] 6S – (7H) – P – (P) (Agreed hesitation by Parther) 7S – (P) – P – (Dbl) PPP This made 13 tricks and a ruling is asked for… BR Viren

Pass... too rich for me at the 5 level ps Although I accept, if pd has hearts and clubs we may be looking at a double swing! Well done to East for bidding 4S. BR Viren

Hi, This is a simple auction that most partnerships will have discussed, as it comes up frequently enough to warrant discussion and have some agreement(s). Pd will usually have one of three (ignoring option 0) different types of hands. 0. Hand that should have acted over 2C (nothing we can do here!) 1. Hand too poor to act over 2C 2. Hand that has no sensible bid over 2C 3. Penalty dble of 2C So there is a danger that re-opening with a dble could land you with a large minus score (option 1), however that is outweighed by the fact that this could be your hand (option 2) either in one of your suits or opponents playing in 2C dbled (option 3). It is highly unlikly that the opponents will catch you with option 1, the risk is out weighed by the pluses, and allows pd to pass on good hands (with clubs) intending to pass the re-opening dble. So I would reopen here, as I have shortage in the opponent's suit (even if I had a sub minimum hand). BR Viren

If we can show that we have a good raise with 4 card support, that's what I'll show. I play the following: All raises 2/3/4S are preemptive (tatical). Cue= good raise to 2S with 3 card support 2N= good raise to 3S with 4 card support New suit= Nat and F1 Jump new bid= Fit jump So 2N for me. BR Viren

♠- ♥A9xxx ♦AK9x ♣10xxx (3♠) Dbl (4♠) 4NT (5♠) ??? With no agreements. I have a nice hand... which appears to have got better with the bidding. Forcing pass seems in order for now. Interestingly, something I have toyed with... 4NT here as lebensohl-style (with a hand not interested in slam) and 5x as mildy interested. Also playable over (4x) dble (P) 4NT. Any comments? BR Viren

We have all been in silly 3N contracts when game/slam elsewhere is on. However, how about something like this... 1C 1D 2N 3D (F2G) 3H 4C (Cue bids) 4N 5D (1 key card) 6D How bad can slam be?!?! BR Viren

Most partnerships will have discussed similar sequences like this... and the same general principles should apply. I play it as follows: 2♣* (3♦) p p ? Pass = Weak option(s) Dble = Strong option(s) So the question to ask is what would you have done w/out interference over the probable 2/3N. Some sort of route to 4S I guess. Hence 4S is automatic here. BR Viren

Thanks Theo, Good posting! BR Viren

2N is usually redundant in competitive sequences, and I have played 2N as as showing a good raise to 3 with 4 card support. It has worked like a treat for me for many years.

- Goulash Game - There are only but a few Goulash tournaments around the world and very little written about this form of bridge. A description of the game can be found at the link below. http://bridgehands.com/G/goulash.htm What are the tactics you should employ especially in building a system for this type game. Thanks, Viren

3D for me... - shut out the spades - sorts out the men from the boys!

Pass - only good things can happen from now on! - if pd dbls I will be interested in a slam General principle (especially at money bridge) with the majority cards (however small) in the opps suit best to pass seems to have served me well over the years.

No... - could be a good 3 card suit without club stop - 4-3 fits improves declarer play!

♠T ♥AJ9x ♦AQJx ♣AQxx 1♣ - 1♥ 3♥ - 3♠ 3NT - ? 4C 4D - 4N 5H - 6H I am a simple soul... 4C, 4N and 6H for me.

4S for me... I know it's an over bid but hopefully pd will go mad in the bidding! - 4S will have play opposite as little as Kxxxx spades and out - only worry is that Pd will go on BR Viren

I agree...

2H seems about right to bid the shape out and keep all options open... - 2D is non-forcing from a passed hand - 2H is not a reverse, and does not promise any extras - 2N is an alternative (as pd did not dble 1S) but would suggest xx in diamonds - 2N is non-forcing too (in my book) BR Viren

2H followed by 4S... It is unlikley but sometimes pd has the right cards.