WesleyC

Crushed by your own NT range.... I think the fact that you passed 2S is a good sign that your original 2C bid was a poor choice. I'd rather pass 1NT (hoping to balance with a double over 2H) or just punt an immediate 3NT (which might play well on a passive lead).

If this hand has 'willingness to compete' then what hands do you pass with? :ph34r: I'd lead the S5 at the table but i don't have a strong feeling about it. On the auction dummy is marked with a few points and declarer probably has spade shortage. If dummy's spades are strong, the spade lead might set up a useful discard. On the flip side, leading any other suit could help declarer untangle it. My second choice would be a club.

I think my original post came across the wrong way. I've changed the post slightly to refect this. :P

Tough hand - versus strong opponents I'll lock in a +ve score and pass 2S. Opposite weaker opponents I'll try 3S.

First a disclaimer: I'm not and never will be a director :P I'll offer my 2 cents anyways. With the 'Penalty Double' explanation the Jc play seems clear. If declarer had played the Kc, found West with Q9xx Qxxx AQxx x and gone for -300 he would certainly be stuck with that score. However if the double was explained as 'No Agreement' declarer HAS got a reasonable chance to find the winning line. East is marked with a balanced hand including the AKh, Ac and exactly 3 clubs and he'll often have the Qs. Therefore the incorrect explanation removed declarer's chance to make the contract and they deserve adjustment.

While opening a wide ranging 1NT in 3rd seat does have real benefits, a lot of (undeserved) gains can come as a result of not properly informing the opponents about your tendency to make such bids. One incident occurred at world juniors a few years ago playing against the USA. At the time we were playing a non-penalty double of 3rd seat 'strong' NT. Grue/Kranyak (i think?) opened a 'strong' NT in 3rd seat about 4 times in the match and didn't once have a full opening bid. My memory is a bit hazy but I think they brought home a no-play 3NT with 12 opposite 10 on mis-defence and then later in the match responder didn't even invite with a bad 9. I felt the whole thing was pretty unethical. I confronted them about it after the match (in a friendly way) and got the 'it's just bridge' response. In an international event where styles vary heavily from country to country they could've been a lot more transparent about their agreements. Light 3rd seat NT openings have become more popular in Australia since then. These days I usually treat a 3rd seat NT as weak (with penalty doubles and a constructive overcall structure focused around majors). I've found this solves a lot of the problems. <edited to change to the tone of the post>

In order of opening biddyness: Hand #2 1D (almost a strong 2) Hand #3 1S (not close) Hand #1 1D (close) Hand #4 3C/1C/P (depends on position/vul)

1) 5C. 2) I'm not sure (Bidding 2NT as passed hand without a fit isn't my style). 3) 1H. No need to jump around when it could easily be our deal. Even if the opponents do have a big spade fit, I will often get to show my diamonds at a reasonable level. For example after: (1C) 1H (1S) P (2S) 3D (4S) partner is perfectly placed.

Nil at MPs it is very unlikely they will let us play 2D in a 9(10?)+ card fit. I'd prefer to raise to 3D on the second round and then pass if they guess to bid over that. In the actual problem, I'd mostly pass, occasionally double (based on table feel).

Unless one of the opponents has done something weird, West is almost exactly Q9xx Qxxx AQxx x. So the Jack should hold it to -1.

After 1C - 1S - 2NT -3C - 3H -3S -3NT, opener is marked with 2434 shape (maybe 1444). With a combined 29-30 HCP and a misfit, responder's pass is clear.

I think its impossible to avoid 3NT on this hand if the opponents don't bid spades. You can't win them all! 1D-1H-3NT seems like a normal auction. cRi cRi: Using 1D 1H 4D* & 1D 1H 4H to show hands with a fit might be a worthwhile change to your system.

1. 1S. Both opps have already passed once, so partner rates to have a strong hand. 3H gets the overall strength of my hand across but introducing my spades might help us if the auction gets competitive so I'll try that. I don't have a very strong opinion though. 2. I do play (something like) precision but I wouldn't open this 2C. Count me in for the appropriate minor preempt on the first round. If you did make me open 2C, I wouldn't volunteer 4C. What does 4D mean?

2C is clear, 2H is clear (and shows good judgment), SOUTH'S pass over 3S is no good. With a fit and a singleton spade, I'd bid 4H. If you're going to overcall lightly, you can't make up for it later by passing once you've found a fit. After 3S P P, North has good reason to think 3S is going down (because South has denied a heart fit *cough cough*). He would like to double for penalties but can't so he passes. You can't win them all. <edited to clarify that it's south's fault...>

Even if I did have a forcing, non-leaping Michaels bid available, I prefer to double as East. Planning 4H over 3NT/4D, to show a strong flexible hand. The big upside to double is when partner has a bunch of diamonds. (4S) 5D would be a dream continuation. The only continuation that doesn't excite me is all pass. Then again, partner might be excited enough about that for the both of us... After East bids 4H, I think West's 5H is fine. The As, QT6h and minor quacks all look useful. Partner's range for 4H at these colours is pretty wide. 5H could get us to a good slam or might be a couple off vs a making 4S. Back to East now - 6H is Terrible. Immediately after introducing your 5c suit at the 4 level ISN'T the time to be punting slam in it. Pass and hope you've got an 8c fit!

Not the first hand (looks like 3H the first time). The second is possible. So is the hand from the actual deal (although it's minimum). I guess we can't make slam after all! B)

4S gets my vote - its hard to imagine a hand for partner where slam isn't excellent. I don't mind 4C either. However if I did bid 4C with only the stiff Q, I wouldn't feel comfortable passing a subsequent club bid (which could be the right strain).

This problem is all about partnership style. Opposite my partner's strong single suiter with spade shortness, I think 6H is odds on.

If you feel compelled to sacrifice over 3NT, you should have bid 3S on the first round to involve your partner in the decision. Unilateral guesses like 2S then 4S are an insult to your partner's judgment.

I ran a quick simulation (10000 deals) of exactly the situation you suggest. With 13 opposite 13 both 4-3-3-3 average (double dummy) tricks was 8.99. With 13 (4333) opposite 13 (4432) the average total was 9.03. So you're spot on.

I did a simulation a while back and the results agree with Nigel_k. The setup was: - North is 11-19 - South is semi-balanced with enough points to give the partnership a total between 20 and 30. - 10,000 simulations each for North being 4333, 4432 and 5332. Double dummy analysis suggested the average number of tricks when North's shape is 4333 is actually slightly HIGHER than when he holds 4432 or 5332. This unexpected results is likely caused by the limitations of double dummy analysis. "Cloud 3NT" contracts (as Kenrexford calls them) are aided by double dummy declarer play and occur more frequently when opener is 4333. However, the underlying message is clear - 4333 hands should not be significantly devalued for declaring NT. I believe upgrading hands with Aces and interior texture, while downgrading hands with Queens and Jacks is a better way to split the marginal hands when considering a No-Trump invite.

You're certainly forcing to game and playing with a pickup partner, a natural 3H bid seems most sensible. But what about 3D? With a bit more discussion it makes sense to use 3D as a major inquiry (on a hand like this) which leaves 3H to be used on very shapely hands (with serious interest in a different strain). Of course the meaning of 3D/3H is easily reversible.

To be honest Larry, I often think that myself too! There are some advantages though. 1) Our opening range for 1M is more like 9-15 so there is a little more to sort out. 2) You gain a lot of bids by going via through the puppet that can be used to describe unusual hand types. After 1H 1NT 2C* 2D, 2H is a maximum with 5+H, and 2S/2NT/3C/3D show (usually strongish) distributional 2 suited hands with a longer Major. 1M 1NT then 2S/2NT/... directly show either weak but highly distributional hands or stronger canapes. 3) You still get to play in 2C sometimes (when responder is weak with long clubs) after 1M 1NT 2C* P!. Similarly 1M 1NT 2D* P! has come up a handful of times, usually getting us to a decent spot. Just out of interest how what would you rebid after 1S 1NT on these hands?: 1) AKxxxx xx x AQJx, 2) KJTxxx Kx x Axxx 3) KJTxx Kxx x Axxx 4) KJTx Kxx x Axxxx If you're interested in trading system notes I'd love to check out how you deal with some of the other situations. Us 4cM canapers need to stick together :) Mike

4D is certainly clear on this hand - but no-one has really discussed what it shows. I think AKxx x xx AQJxxx would be 4S for everyone, what about: a) AKxx xx x AQJxxx? b) AKxx AQTx Qx KJx? Personally i like 4D with a) (then 4S over 4H*) but would settle for 4S with b). Slam is a long way off and you've got an easy double of 5D. So I guess 4D close to guarantees a diamond control? Mike

The key to this question is the nature of 1S. Assuming the standard interpretation (natural but non forcing, with 2S game-forcing jump shift also available) then opener is limited and can no longer make strictly forcing bids. I'd play 1D-1H-1S-1NT-2C as natural, non-forcing. Typical hand is 4054 12-17, a little more if 4144 or 4153 perhaps 15-17. With 18-19 and a similar pattern opener should try 3C rather than 2C. Responder should stretch to bid again with more than a minimum, because opener could still be quite strong. In this sequence with my favourite partner, 3C would be a simple courtesy raise and 2H (the impossible rebid) would show a great hand for clubs with nothing wasted in hearts. 1C-1H-1S-1NT-2D is also natural and non-forcing, but slightly stronger (as playing in 2c is no longer possible). Perhaps 4045 14-18 or 4144 16-18. Once again responders (impossible) 2H would show a super hand for openers new suit (in this case diamonds). Just my 2 cents, Mike :rolleyes: