jjbrr

I'd argue strong no trumps are slightly different from weak NTs. I'm more inclined to upgrade a random 11 count because 1NT is such a powerful opening for our side, especially when we're a tad weaker. But opposite a strong NT, I expect partner to jump to 3NT with most 9 counts, so I need a good reason to upgrade. Perhaps I'm biased by my personal style, where I open most 11 counts. I also agree that 4333s need a very good reason to upgrade, so in practice I rarely do it.

Also disappointed this isn't about Ghostbusters. Please post examples of the memos. Fond of ridiculing semantics mistakes I am. http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2623/yodaswsb.jpg

partner made a slam try and i have 4 aces, including AT in partner's 6- or 7-card suit?

In general I think it's better for beginner and intermediate players to just bid what they have and become better at understanding auctions and their implications. When you get good at bidding, you get good at judging when to bend or break the rules. It comes, imo, naturally and organically. With that said, I play a style with most partners where we frequently upgrade, so I would open both of the examples 1NT.

Probably slightly better to switch your 4♣ and 4♦ responses. It's better to have more room to explore after the quantitative raise, and you have plenty of room for keycards with 4D. So you lose nothing by switching but gain an extra cuebid for the bal slam try.

I usually play 3 of the other major after a stayman response is an unbalanced slam try with support for partner's major. So in this case you would bid 3S, partner bids 3NT to ask the shortness, you bid 4C to show short clubs, and partner bids keycard. This frees up 1NT 2C 2M 4C/4D for keycard and slam tries without shortness.

han peters

happy bday jlall!

A sensible defense is easy to come up with. If asked the range of the NT, replying instantly shows 15, clearing your throat and replying shows 16, saying "um" before replying shows 17, clearing your throat then "um" shows 15 with 4 spades, etc. If not asked, responder can hesitate for a few seconds to show 0-5 HCP, can think for a while before passing to show 6-7, can examine the opponents convention card before passing to show a GF, etc. Bridge is easy. Edit, assuming the opener is asked his range. Switch stuff around if asking partner. You know what I mean.

JB don't worry too much about strategy. Play the best bridge you can play, and you'll do great.

No, it's not quite this easy. As MickyB points out, sometimes we need to avoid a double when spades are bad for us (maybe we weren't even making 2NT!), sometimes bidding confidently to game causes the opponents to lead or defend poorly, sometimes regularly putting pressure on the opponents in close spots will gain for us a lot in the future, or perhaps partner is just declaring really well that day (in which case we might get a good board regardless of what we do, but why not get a top instead of an average plus?). I would guess it's close enough to "right about 50% making" that bidding 3NT is not so bad. I would prefer having a 5-card minor so that we don't have to play 4♠ when we should probably be in 3NT with a 5-3 fit, but that's life.

Because I make game often enough that I think it's +EV 9HCP with a 5-card suit is kind of like 10HCP anyway

With 9 points and a 5-card suit I always force to game opposite a 1NT opener

I'd assume it's artificial and asking about the majors, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't intend it that way.

I would bid 4D with E's hand rather than Pass

and for emphasis i'll post again. it's really, really bad.

opening this 1NT is terrible imo

Not this

This

Before your message, type [spoiler*] without the *; after your message, type

Hold on a second... can we discuss the auction please?

I think either pass saying "I wouldn't hate playing 2S" or pass saying "not great support and/or you should declare" is fine, as long as you have an agreement that allows you to avoid playing doubled 3-2 fits. In general for transfer auctions, I play pass says I don't have a good fit, and partner is expected to do something smart. (I assume the N hand is actually the S hand and vice versa)

Alternatively, could the mods just tell her to stop trolling the entire forum in all her posts? Seems like that would solve the problem rather than just a symptom of the problem.

I'd stayman and 4NT or 6NT depending on how often partner upgrades 14s.