Tramticket

If you take the regular finesse, what next? Are you planning to try for 7 trump tricks, through a cross-ruff? Or ruff the clubs (diamonds) good? The ruffing finesse seems right to me. There are many 10 counts where West won't overcall after both opponents have bid.

For me, Stayman followed by 2♠ over a 2♦ response is weak and this shape (admittedly, this is in a weak NT context). So I bid Stayman.

:) - Pity, it's a great convention

2♠ is not natural it is showing a hand that is prepared to play at the three-level opposite a weak two in hearts. With no disrespect jogs, I'm guessing that you don't play a multi? Assuming partner has a weak-two in hearts the hand is a mis-fit. It's best to keep the auction low and bid the obvious 2♥. I quite like shyams's 2♦ but, as he observes, this only works with a weak-only multi. Our version of the multi includes strong options.

We are in a game forcing auction after 3♣. A 3♥ bid shows values in hearts and leaves open 3NT, 4♠ or 5/6♣ as possible contracts. 3NT or 3♠ are too unilateral. I agree with MrAce - 3♥ can be just showing heart values - it doesn't guarantee the weak hand with long hearts once a game forcing auction is established.

Effective pre-empts are based on hands that offer the potential of lots of tricks when playing the hand but offer little possibility of taking defensive tricks. These are the hands where you can make life awkward for the opponents by taking away their bidding space. You are right that you should pass with xxxxxxx Ax Ax xx. Let's examine the potential strength playing or defending: - If you play you might win 4 spade tricks (assuming the suit breaks normally - e.g. one of the other players has three cards, one has two cards and one has a singleton). You will also win a heart and a diamond. Total tricks = SIX. - If you defend you expect to win two trick (the aces). Now compare a hand such as KQJ10xxx xxx xx x. Although this hand has fewer points, it is a great hand for pre-empting. Again, examine the potential strength playing or defending: - If you play you expect to win 6 spade tricks (losing one spade to the ace). Total tricks = SIX. - If you defend you do not expect to win any tricks (If we assume the 3-2-1 break of the spade suit, then someone is likely to ruffthe second round). Both hands offer similar prospects playing the hand - but the first offers some defensive strength, so you have much less reason to fear the opponents bidding. Things can change dramatically if your partner is a passed hand. Now you know that your pre-empt will not be disrupting partner's constructive sequence with a strong hand. Sitting in third seat, after two passes, opening 3♠ on xxxxxxx Ax Ax xx might be ugly, but also might be effective.

It's close for me. if you bid 3♦, you risk not finding a possible heart game. If you rebid 2♥, you might even miss a diamond slam. If forced to choose, I think i bid 2♥.

What is the forms of scoring? IMPs or MPs? This is not my system (I play a weak NT), but it feels to me that 3C should be forcing to game - in which case I can bid 3H and find out more about partner's hand. If 3H is only a one-round force I think 3H is still right - I am very minimum. (partner can then bid 3S with extras, if looking for a spade stop).

I think that this is closer to Halmic rather than Helvic (similar names makes it confusing!). For Halmic: - Pass is to play - Redouble is a relay to 3C based on a single suited hand. - Bidding a suit shows a two-suited hand (bid the lower suit). I play that Helvic shows: - Pass is forcing to redouble (either strong or two-suited, then:) - After the redouble, pass is to play. - After the redouble, 2C shows clubs & hearts - After the redouble, 2d shows diamonds and spades - Rdble is a relay to 3C based on a single suited hand. - 2C shows clubs and diamonds - 2D shows diamonds and hearts - 2H shows hearts and spades - 2s shows spades and clubs With Helvic, you can show specific two-suiters, but you cannot play in 1NT doubled - only 1NT redoubled! So with a weak balanced hand (e.g. 4333) you have to rescue and will play at the two level (probably doubled), instead of the one-level. There are other similar defences (e.g. SWINE!)

I return a diamond. On a good day partner has led 4th highest. But if not, it is a safe, passive defence and it removes an entry to dummy if declarer's plan is to set up a long club.

But the OP plays Acol in the UK. In Acol, the usual approach is to respond up the line (not major before minor). Also with 4-4 in a major & minor, we would open the major. So it is normal for a 1C opening and 1H rebid to show this shape.

Why not rebid 1H rather than 1NT. This rebid shows an unbalanced hand with a 5-card club suit and a 4-card heart suit - which is what you seem to have. Yes, I know you have values in both short suits, but it still seems obvious to me to bid out your shape when you can do this at a convenient level, without distorting your hand.

Needing three tricks from the trump suit, you lead the two towards dummy. West plays the six and you finesse the nine - losing to the jack. [hv=pc=n&s=sa842hdc&n=skt93hdc]133|200[/hv] What is your strategy on the second round?

Also, if you super-accept by bidding the the next bid up (e.g. 1NT, 2♠; 2NT, 3♣) both opponents know that responder is weak and you have a fit. This is a green light for either of them to compete - e.g. by a take-out double. If you bid the suit to super-accept, then one opponent has already passed when the weakness is revealed. This was from a previous thread (here) and is acknowledged with thanks.

Your partner has no bridge understanding. It happens on BBO. Don't worry about it.

Partner might want to bid 3NT over our 3C opening, so this depends on what partner expects from a 3C opening. If partner expects you to hold two top honours in first seat then you can't really open 3C. My partners know that I pre-empt often and will have no such expectation. I bid 3C. [in third seat I would be considering 4C!]

I'm a simple player. I run the diamonds and watch the discards. Maybe I can throw West in if he pitches a heart?

yes, of course. They pre-empt to make life difficult for us. My "best guess" is that passing the vdouble will be the long-term winner.

Even then, 4 hearts is not so secure. Increase the value of North's heart pips and I think the heart contract will fail on a forcing defence?

If you open 4S, partner will not look for a slam without considerable values and controls. With 7+ playing tricks, 2 first round controls and a second round control, you can envisage slam on many possible hands for partner. It is much better to open 1S and jump rebid spades to show your playing strength. I would open 1S rather than 4S, even opposite a passed hand. You are a long way short of 2C.

I would have bid 4S last time.

For us, 3♣ is the Western Cue bid - mainly because on this side of the pond, the opening 1♣ is likely to be a real suit. It is tempting, but I'm not sure that it is right with the void. Partner's stopper in a suit such as ♣Qxxx may be less effective if I have literally nothing to help.

Delete - mis-read question

Responding 2H on a five card suit allows you to identify 5-3 fits. Partner can rebid 2H after the 2-of-a-minor response and you can identify 4-4 heart fits. If you respond 2H on a 4-card suit you take up a lot of bidding space - you find your 4-4 fits, but will sometimes miss the 5-3 fits.

Declarer won the first trick in dummy (so not stiff ace of spades). I was also wondering why he chose to win in dummy. Isn't the play more consistent with declarer having a five card suit and a certain trump loser? (ducking a trick to retain trump control if trumps are 4-1).