petergreat

Are you even allowed to make such a bid?

I would have doubled. 4♥ direct just doesn't show your defensive values. I would think double is too risky...after all the opponents are more likely to have the points than your side, and they most probably have heart shortness.

I lead the ♠10. Is there any other logical action?

I'd still lead a heart. You obviously aren't going to lead away from the diamond K. Your spades look bad...and more likely than not their burst to 5♣ suggests shortness. You can't lead clubs unless you steal one from someone else... also they have bid and raised hearts so I would think partner is singleton at least. If he doesn't get in you can't defeat the contract anyway and if he does you hope he leads a diamond. The fact that you led a heart not a spade suggests shortage and well, I'd lead a low heart to encourage diamonds. Not surefire, but best chance. Or, he may be void anyway...

You have a spade singleton and your super heart suit means partner's 10-12 points (assuming regular Bergen) has to be outside stoppers - just what you need.

WTF. I'd pass and if they double I run.

I still don't trust our enemies. The fact that partner could bid a second time implies his points are real, and therefore at least one of our enemies are psyching. But double or 5♣? If we defend 4♥x we will take 2 spade tricks, 1 heart trick and 1 club trick, most probably. Even with Ace and another heart lead you would probably let them score 2 club ruffs...♦AK most probably and his hearts likely 9 tricks. It may be only 8 tricks, but I wouldn't gamble on this one. 5♣? Probably lose a heart, 2 diamonds, instant down. Forget it. So, although 4♥x will probably only net you 200 it is better than a certain-down 5♣. Besides, if partner really has a singleton diamond and can limit losers to 2 the opponents would probably only take 8 tricks anyway.

Of course not! If you had a club void then I would double...

Pass without thinking. Garbage stayman, I think, is for something like the hand without the Ace. As it is you have a good chance of making 1NT and why jeopardize it?

Bad 3♥.

3♠ definitely. According to the Law of Total Tricks you bid at three-level with 9 trumps. You do, so 3♠. Obviously weak and competitive, the fact that partner doesn't know how much you hold does not matter. The opponents don't know too. If you had points you'd bid 3♣ or some other cuebid.

Impossible. Has to be control-showing. Gerber is only used after Jacoby transfers, natural NT openings and NT raises, and of course 2♣ - 2♦ - NT.

I disagree about using direct 2♠ as spade suit. How often do opponents bid 1♠ with three spades and 4 points? Suppose they bid correctly nearly all the time, it is very unlikely that you will hold 6 spades...a heart-minor two suiter is far more common.

=.= This is absurd. West shouldn't bid X, unlike how some players said, because of the 3-3-3-4 and no spade values. 14 pts isn't everything. North has no reason at all for bidding 1♠. I would bid 1NT! Assume that North is bidding 1♠ anyway, I would look 'huh?', then pass. When it goes 2♣ West can't bid unfortunately, I agree wit his pass. When it gets passed to East I think I would double, I think it is competitive. Partner must have some points (declarer is minimum, responder is minimum...) and can either pass for penalty or bid 2♥. You are unlikely to get to 2♠ unless you knew North had only three spades, which presumes some cheating on your part :)

1♦ - 1♠ 2♦ - 2♥ 3♠ - 4♠ I would bid spades before hearts because 1♥ then 2♠ is reverse, and responder's hand with only 13 points and quite likely no fit isn't worth a reverse. Give me ♠Q instead of ♠x and I will reverse. Comments?

I find that, when in partnership bidding, when we finish bidding I can't see partner's hand. ?

I would tend to expect a six-card suit more often than not. But since it's a balancing bid I'd pass.

2♣. That is, if we're playing inverted minors. If we are, then after this I will splinter 4♥ to try for slam (not joking)!

I assume 2NT is 5 clubs and 5 hearts? Of course clubs!

Give me another K and I will double. As it is I'll pass for sure.

The problem with me should be competitive bidding and defense.

For the last question: I would finesse. (let's say the cards outside are K, x, and y.) Dropping the K has only one winning case, W holds K and E xy. Finessing wins in two cases, W holds x and E Ky and W holds y and E Kx. I would finesse, but since you asked this question I must assume that you got lucky. Singleton K in the West hand?

1♣ - 1♦ 2♠ (well, have to find a forcing bid) - 3♦ 4♣ - 5♣ 5♦ - 5♦ 5♥ - 5♠ 6♣ - P

Let us say, I'm not 'just learning bridge', I've played bridge for a few years but still beginner... I do know the various conventions for 2/1, as I found out.

I'm a beginner, and I want to learn 2/1. I know SAYC, and I'd like to know: 1. What are the differences between 2/1 and SAYC? 2. How is 2/1 better?