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[hv=pc=n&w=st953h97d963cak83&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=pp1hd]133|200[/hv] I'm interested in understanding the bidding approach after opponents make a take-out double. Do you vary responses? Does a change of suit require a fifth card / additional strength? Do you pass marginal hands? This hand started the discussion. But I am interested in your views more generally. Thanks

[hv=pc=n&w=st953h97d963cak83&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=pp1hd]133|200[/hv] I'm interested in understanding the bidding approach after opponents make a take-out double. Do you vary responses? Does a change of suit require a fifth card / additional strength? Do you pass marginal hands? This hand started the discussion. But I am interested in your views more generally. Thanks

What is your NT range? The sequence 1NT, 3X as natural, slam invite probably makes more sense in a weak NT context I play it this way and we find it effective. Playing a strong NT, you are more likely to want transfer to "right side" the contract.

Great quiz - thanks. Yes, I can see now that my 3♣ on 3 was silly. In my defence, I am used to playing a weak NT 4-card major system and partners bid will be real (and often a 5-card suit).

Some of these are tough. 1 2♣ 2 3♥ 3 3♣ 4 6♠

I didn't make it clear. I won the second round of spades It was later in the hand and had placed East with long spades. I finessed in another suit to keep East off lead, only to find that west was running his winners.

[hv=pc=n&e=sq4hq85dq973ca964&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=pp1h(System%3A%20Four-card%20Majors)p1nppp]133|200[/hv] Playing in a good standard Teams of Eight competition you are on lead against 1NT. What would you lead? What do you think of the lead of the 4♠ as a deceptive lead?

Yes, I think that the logic is correct - partner would have bid with a five-card suit, so the second suit will be spades. And declarer must have heart honour (Q or J) - otherwise, why cross to dummy to lead hearts? In my experience, the second distribution is less likely. With 5 spades/4 clubs players tend to bid 2♠ (or use whatever mechanism they have to escape to 2♠). It is worth asking the opponents in more detail what shapes a two-suiter can include.

We know that declarer has a maximum of six points and has already played the ace of spades - so can have a possible two further points. So partner has the ace of diamonds, king of spades and the king of hearts. Partner also knows that you have the ace of hearts and has chosen to let you win trick three. It looks safe to continue spades, declarer can't have a singleton - surely partner is bidding further with a six-card spade suit. [why isn't partner bidding anyway? Have we not made a forcing pass?]. The queen of spades is a potential trick for declarer (e.g. if declarer has the nine), so it looks normal to play a second spade and have partner return a third spade to neutralise this. What is declarer's second suit? We can't be sure and partner's carding may have given us clues on this. I don't think declarer's second suit is diamonds - partner might have risen with the king of hearts played the diamond ace and put us in for a diamond ruff. Returning a spade will certainly work if declarer's second suit is spades. If declarer's second suit is hearts, then I think that partner must have the queen of clubs.

How do you determine whether opener has a four-card, five-card or six-card suit? Is there enough space to find out?

Interesting idea. Presumably you use 3C over 2NT as some kind of enquiry?

Timo has already mentioned that these hand type are problematic for 2/1. They are very problematic for Acol. A 2S rebid is definitely non-forcing in Acol. A jump rebid of opener's suit traditionally showed 7 playing tricks (in the same way that an Acol 2 showed 8 playing tricks). There is large group of hands that fit in between these! Whilst I would not stick rigidly to the 7 playing trick requirement after a two-level response, this hand is still a bit short of playing strength for 3S. I would rebid 2S and only expect partner to pass with a mis-fitting 10 count.

I agree that a heart lead will not always an automatic choice. But I find that good defenders do often find the right lead. Even on your example hand, west might reason that East did not make a lead directing double of 4♦.

I used to make these sort of jumps, but I play that this jump sets the trump suit and would prefer to have a better quality spade suit to do this. Do you really want to play this spade suit opposite a small singleton? In a slam?

"If West is sitting there with KQH and KS, well bridge can be cruel" Surely you are off any time that west has the K♠ and a sensible heart lead. Plus other chances of failure as highlighted by Cyberyeti.

A few comments: "2S is a 6 card suit" - if you are happy to open 1NT with a five-card major i agree (Not universal). I don't understand the need to jump to 4♦. What do you think this is promising? Surely 3♦ is forcing? If you are going to jump to the four level, I think 4♣ is more descriptive.

I like this idea. I was playing with an "improving" player on this occasion, so such complications were not on the radar. I guess that with the standard running suit type hand, we are not moving over 3NT, 4♣ or 4♦ - so these bids are available. What if partner jumps to 5♣/ 5♦?

We had agreed to play this structure. But partner is less experienced and after the previous hand, I didn't fancy playing in 4NT 2 hands running. I tried 3♦ and was left to play a lay-down grand slam in a part score. Oops.

The full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=s43h63dakqt72cq84&w=sqt97hk4dj986ck92&n=sakj8652haj8d53c5&e=shqt9752d4cajt763&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=p1dp1s2n3dp4s4nppp]399|300[/hv] I was sitting east and my partner on this occasion was less experienced. She knew that my 2NT was showing the other two suits, but lost confidence when I tried again! The good news was that our team-mates managed 11 tricks in 4♠ doubled!

You haven't stated it Kaitlyn, but I presume that we are playing IMPs? ☺

[hv=pc=n&e=s93hadakj85cakq62&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=2h(Weak)pp]133|200[/hv] The next board in your 24 Board knock-out teams match. 1. What is your call at this turn? 2. What is your plan?

[hv=pc=n&e=shqt9752d4cajt763]133|100[/hv] 24 Board knock-out teams match. You to call first. None vulnerable. 1. What is your call at this turn? 2. What is your plan? (opponents will bid strongly in diamonds and spades and will bid to at least 4♠)

Also, can I export my enemies. I was thinking of Syria as the ideal destination.

There is discussion on another site of the worst convention ever. I can't believe that Gerber is not the run-away leader.

I agree with all of this. I would also probably bid 4♠, which at least tells partner that we are considering slams. But I have no idea what partner's continuations will mean - and in particular how to find out about the king of hearts. I'm guessing - 4NT - natural to play - 5♣ - natural 5/6 card club suit? - 5♦ - cue bid (in support of hearts? - 5♥ - agreeing hearts? Maybe we should bid 5♥ over 3NT?