WesleyC

Wayne: I think getting to play this hand in ANY number of hearts (making) is likely to win the BAM. When you simmed, what were the opponents making?

IMO: opening the north hand 4S (rather than 1S) will lose you an average of about 5 IMPs a board...

I think partner's actual hand was roughly: Qx QJT Txxx AJxx Are you doubling on that?

On the actual hand, dummy had 4 club tricks so an attacking lead was the key. However as it turns out, partner held the KQT of diamonds over dummy's AJx (along with the Ah) so it needed to be a diamond. We were the only table to beat 4S (2/3 of the field would have right-sided the contract with a transfer, and all the other Weak NT tables presumably led a heart). I thought a diamond was fairly clear. Another case for a diamond (that hasn't been mentioned yet) is that a heart switch is often possible from partner's side of the table, while the first diamond lead will usually need to come from our side (possibly twice).

I'd usually double 1H with the West hand but definitely not 2H. At MPs, I'd balance 2S as East (and end up playing 3S).

I used to double in auctions like this with just about any hand that has a void. But after chatting to a few top players I've become slightly more conservative. The first problem with doubling on a weak hand is that partner, looking at a pointy card or two and a few trumps, will pass too much. 3Dx will rarely be more than 1 off, and sometimes it will make. The second problem is that the weaker we are, the stronger partner rates to be. With 8-11 HCP partner will force to game every time - sometimes with 3NT! Often it will be theoretically right to double (ie 3D= & 3M=) but we can never realize that gain, ending up minus in 4M or 3NT instead. Doubling light can hit the jackpot. If partner has nothing wasted in diamonds and a 5c Major, 4M will usually have play. However on some of those hands, partner might stretch to make a negative double (or the opps might raise diamonds) so some diamond wastage seems likely. Interestingly, if the auction started P (P) 1C (3D) P (4D) X there is an even better chance that 4M is playable. Improving the spades slightly to Axxx makes a huge difference. The Ace is often worth a whole extra trick on defense so all of partner's marginal penalty passes are now (at least) beating the contract. If partner has a rock +500 is a possibility. But most importantly when partner has a 5c Major, game is just about always a reasonable shot and often its completely cold. My feeling is that while doubling on ♠QJxx is close, Passing with ♠Axxx is a significant mistake. ♠QJ = Not quite enough. ♠K = Probably good. ♠A = Clear Double. At the table partner passed with ♠A9xx. Double would've got us to 5C on a (probably losing) trump guess but 3D was making so 5C is certainly where you want to be.

IMPs - BOTH P (1C) P (1S) P (1NT*) P (4S) AP * (15-16 HCP) Holding: ♠A9 ♥J72 ♦9842 ♣T754, It's your lead! Comments/Reasoning will be awarded bonus points ;)

I like Phil's plan here also.

In a competitive auction, if opener voluntarily rebids their suit at the minimum level it suggests a minimum hand with extra length. A jump rebid in the suit suggests extra length & extra strength. If you're suggesting its 'standard' to reverse those 2 meanings, specifically when opener's rebid is 4m then what about: 1D (P) 1S (3H) 4D/5D? or 1D (2S) x (3S) 4D/5D? Simple agreements might not be best, but at least they make things easy!

Both Vul @ IMPs The auction starts: P (P) 1♣ (3♦) P (P) ??? You hold: ♠HH65 ♥A965 ♦--- ♣KT632 Assume that Double and Pass are your only options! <edit> I've ruined the poll layout and can't seem to change it :/ Any help appreciated :D

For a while I had the agreement that over a 'could be short' club including polish, our 2C was natural, 3C preemptive and 2D 5/5 majors. We've actually extended that agreement now to cover all 1C openings that are frequently 3 cards. As others have pointed out, the natural overcall is only available on the first round of the auction, any subsequent cue-bids of clubs are artificial, strength showing.

4D forcing might be a good agreement, but its not standard. Even if 4D were forcing, I'd expect 5D not to be weaker, but just a hand less flexible about strain. Something like a 5D opening with a couple of high cards outside. I'm still bidding 6D.

Apologies for posting a fairly boring set of problems. They came up playing with a new partner and we've got a few stylistic differences. 1. This was an eye-opener for me. I've always thought it was standard for jumps to the 3 level over a Weak NT to show a good hand. Even more so when unfavourable opposite a passed partner. Turns out partner was on the same wavelength as the rest of you. We got to 3NT a couple off. 2. One thing i didn't include in the context of this problem is that you're playing a Weak NT system. A lot of you didn't like the 3C bid - i'm not sure I do either but I'm not thrilled about the alternatives. On the actual deal 6C was a lucky make (opposite AQx xx Kx AQxxxx). 5H was also making. My usual partner and I play that double by a pre-empter (after being raised) suggests a wish to compete further which would've been perfect on this deal. 3. I was interested in finding out whether its standard to play 3C as forcing or non-forcing. I would double on this hand, preferring another sharp card for a (forcing) 3C bid. On the actual hand partner bid 3C (assuming it was NF). Everything sat terribly for us and we were headed for a very bad board until the 2D bidder (holding a 3370 5 count) bailed us out by competing in hearts. 4. My usual agreement is that 4S here shows a powerful single suiter, so this hand didn't qualify. Responses to this post have confirmed that most of you bid 4S just 'to play'. I bid 3S and the auction continued (5D) p (p) ???. I guessed to pass but it would've be nice to have been able to bid 4S the first time. There were 11 tricks in diamonds and 9 or 10 in Spades. 5. Opposite AQ KJxxx xxxx xx 5NT 5H 6D 4C are making. We got to 5 clubs. 6. I was venting a little with this post - 2H was making, our way. :)

4D would be non-forcing. This hand is an obvious raise to 6D. Give partner as little as x xxx AKxxxxx Ax and slam is laydown. How is he supposed to bid anything else without control of hearts?

2S is obvious on this round. Next round depends on what agreements you have. If new suits show extras and responder will jump to 4H aggressively with 5 decent hearts then you might be able to pass a 3H response.

Two points in favour of 5H are: 1. It's quite likely you won't get doubled. 2. Bidding 5H will also get you to a good slam sometimes (particularly if partner has a spade void). But against 5H: The LOTT isn't so accurate for very high numbers of trump (18+). It tends to overestimate the number of tricks available slightly.

"Assign The Blame" and "What's The Problem?" A page of abbreviations would be cheating - more fun to learn them yourself :)

Agree with everyone. 5S is a slight overbid. 7H is pants-on-head retarded. :)

Close between 5H and Double. Definitely not 4NT - Even if partner is 1345, 5H will often play a lot better than 5D. If the opponents are aggressive I'll double (and hopefully catch them in a 9c fit). Versus more conservative opponents I'll take insurance and bid 5H.

This thinking seems backwards to me. Surely hands with soft values in the Majors ARE the ones that want to declare an NT contract? I also don't understand why you want to be "Less encouraging towards 3NT". Looking at [Qxx KQxx KTxx Tx] you can tell that 3NT is the only game with a chance. All you need is partner to have some pointy cards and good suit. For me double would be a hand like [Axxx xx Kxxxx Qx] which IS flexible about strain. 5C or 5D could be right opposite a shapely overcall and if partner has a little extra including some soft stuff in the Majors, we'll easily find our way to 3NT (played from his side of the table). Playing your 'double-just-shows-values' style, what does a 2NT bid look like?

I don't like your partner's double - with a nice holding in both majors and only 4 diamonds, 2NT seems auto.

1. 2S is obvious with such a good suit. 2. Double. Prefer flexibility at the 3 level with a flimsy heart suit. Also maintains the small chance of a penalty pass.

I prefer an immediate 5C over 1H. Now I pass. Without agreements, It's not clear that double is lead directing. I'd double with 0247 to suggest further competition.

3C. Partners x (rather than 2NT) must suggest diamond values so 3NT seems unlikely. And with 22 in the majors 5m is a long way away. With Jxx x AJx AKJxxx i'd bid 2S.

I wouldn't have found it at the table, but in hindsight I really like the double here. Even cashing one spade might be enough if declarer is 1246 with a trump loser (and can discard the spade on a heart). I'd expect a spade lead to set the contact an extra 25% of the time, plus 10% more when its going off on any lead. Some of the time teammates won't be in slam, in which case double hardly costs at all.