Tramticket

Good points - playing in the UK, a defence to a weak NT must be a very high priority (I didn't spot that omission). UCBs are also a must.

Deleted - Duplicate post

Thank you. Yes, that's where I was coming out - you can't cope with a 4-2 diamond break without relying on the club finesse (which works on this occasion). My back of an envelope maths makes this about a 60% line - not quite good enough odds for bidding the big one at pairs. Our auction was similar (different responses to the 2NT enquiry, but same in all of the essentials). I probably should have stopped at 6♥.

Before adding conventions, make sure you really know your system fundamentals. Which bids are forcing? game forcing? non-forcing? When are you showing attitude / count / suit preference in your carding? Are you confident that you know your partner's answers to the same questions. When you get to add conventions I would pick: Lebensohl Check-back (whichever version) Multi 2D instead of Benji :rolleyes: Natural carding is great - no need to change.

[hv=pc=n&w=saq2ha5dakj973caj&e=s974hkqj876d2cq92]266|100[/hv] What is the best line in a contract of 7♥ by East on the 8♠ lead (no opposition bidding). Match-point Pairs, Non-vul. Vs. Vul. Bonus question: how would you bid this after East opens a Multi?

I wouldn't do it. But if partner were a passed hand, all bets are off. I have lots of licence then. (Actually 3C would be Ghestem for me - so no I wouldn't do it!)

(Assuming 5-card majors), you have a heart fit. So I suppose that a splinter is possible ... Or Jacoby 2NT ... but I think that it is best to show where your values are. One Spade for me.

Yes, I am aware of the theory that you give partner 7-8 HCP. That gives the partnership 24-25. As others have observed, it is close.

For what its worth, we get to 3NT in Acol: 1H 2D 2S 2NT 3NT

Thank you, I've learned something! I knew about the possibility of 2NT with 5-5, but this is a stronger reason.

12 HCP, 5-5 distribution, plenty of intermediates. The singleton king is a negative, but an easy opening for me. I can envision many hands opposite where we might make game.

I concur with Cyberyeti, Vampyr, 1EyedJack, Zelandakh above. Even at beginner level, Michaels is taught in the UK.

The EBU's "Standard Modern Acol System File" shows a cue bid as Michaels: See Page 25: http://www.ebu.co.uk/documents/laws-and-ethics/convention-cards/modern-acolv2-system-file.pdf

No - Originally published in 1969!!

The 2NT rebid doesn't just overstate the number of clubs, it also overstates the strength of the hand (promising 15+ and forcing to game opposite a possible 10 HCP). There is no way round this, you have to tell a lie. Either you open a major showing a five-card suit in the major; or you open 1D and rebid 2D over 2C promising a 5-card diamond suit; or you open 1NT which is in the correct no trump range but you have a singleton trump; or you open 1D and rebid 2NT as above. Even worse is to open 1S/1H and rebid 2NT - deceiving partner about the number of cards in the major and the honour strength! Nothing is attractive and I believe the least lie is to lie about suit length in the minors - at least you are only playing the possible 4-2 "fit" at the two-level!

Partner is very likely to be minimum. With values, partner is likely to re-open with a double. My expectation is that partner has shape, but not high-card strength.

Not entirely true - make the Jack of Diamonds into the Queen, or even the King, and you have a problem in a strong NT system. But I a agree that the problem of 4441 hands with a singleton club can be worse in a weak NT system.

Even playing Acol with 4-card majors, I open 1D and will rebid 2D if necessary. I have never yet been left to play in 2D. This is becoming increasingly popular in Acol. It is very unattractive to open a major, rebid a second suit and imply a five-card suit in the major. I would much rather show a "five-card" diamond suit. Second choice is to open 1NT.

What do you bid with 4-card heart support and a 10-count. Are you really passing? Partner's bid is wide-range. So for me a raise to 3 hearts is invitational and it follows that 4H is NOT Fast Arrival.

I'm not bidding 4S with a seven-card suit in second seat - it's not helpful to pre-empt partner (particularly when we own the spade suit). 3S is more reasonable, but I feel that I have the values to bid 1S and this is the most constructive option.

How about opening 2NT (Actually a Benji 2C-2d-2NT sequence) on 18-19?! http://www.mrbridge.co.uk/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/340/benji-2-club-opening#latest

This is an easy 2♦ at IMPS. If we belong in a part-score, then bidding 2♦ gives us the best chance of finding a fitting part-score. If we belong in game, then partner will bid again and we will be able to show the three-card spade support if appropriate. More of a problem at match points I think. 2♠ might be our best match point score.

How many tricks are you playing for Helene? If you are playing for four tricks, then I think you need to hope for a 2-2 split with the ace with West (about 26% -EDIT 20%) and lead towards the king on the first round. As you note there is an additional chance if West holds AQ3 or AJ3 and rises with the ace dropping East's honour. You can then finesse against West on the second round. But if West holds A3 opposite QJ in East you will lose two tricks by taking the second round finesse. The principle of restricted choice might suggest taking the second round finesse on the basis that West holding AQ3/AJ3 is more likely than West holding A3. BUT West has no reason to rise with the Ace with AQ3/AJ3, whereas it might be a clever bluff to rise with the Ace with A3. It might depend on (a) your opinion of the abilities of the opponents and (b) the rest of the hand (is there a reason for West to rise with the Ace, because he wants to switch?).

Mike, surely this hand is worth much more in a suit contract than no trumps?? (Aces and kings rather than queens and jacks; the doubleton ...). I'm either passing on the first round or using Stayman (and then bidding on, once a fit is found) - at pairs. I'm always bidding Stayman at IMPs - and closer to bidding 4S direct over 2S than passing.

Much depends on your standards for a Michaels bid. If your minimum for this bid is 5HCP ... But opps rate to have at least a 10-card club fit, so you are worth competing to at least 3H (not an option in your poll ☺).