pooltuna

pass and hope I beat them

1} 2♣ 2} pass 3} 3♥

since this is MP you need to play this with the assumption that 4♠ will fail against reasonable defense.

count me with the other 5♥ bidders

routine X, K.I.S.S.

You can't assume anything until you define the possible responses to the -X, i.e. 2♦ no 4 card major minimum so 5+♦ (3352,2353) 2♥ minimum w/3+♥ (2344,3343,3334 worst cases) 2♠ minimum w/3+[sp}] (3244 worst case) 2NT 18-19 balanced 3♣ forcing 1 rd initially both 4 card majors 3♦ invitational w/6♦ 3♥ invitational w/4+♥ 3♠ invitational w/4+♠&<4♥ 3NT long running ♦suit 4♣ splinter for either major 4♦ 6+♦ with one 4 card major 4♥ to play 4♠ to play one possible version of responses

I understand Mace is highly effective and non-lethal plus can be administered out of chainsaw reach. A Taser is also highly effective but potentially lethal for someone with heart problems plus it probably is harder to use and more expensive than the Mace.

chainsaw is really no problem what is irritating is having to lug around the 12ga shotgun all the time when I am home. As a telephone comp employee I am sure they have a right-of-way for their cable and would be glad to bury it if he is willing to bear the cost for doing that but it ain't cheap (at least in the USA)

At these colors 2♥ should be a good description of your hand to partner

IMO mainly for protection from the psychers. With the hand you showed I would think 3♣ would be a reasonable call. Edit:oops lost focus on the original auction so yes maybe 2NT

you boxed yourself in with your initial call. IMO pass or 1NT would be a better choice (for me, in that order).

On the most probable auction a ♥ lead only makes sense from xx or Kxx. So I go up with A. If RHO shows out then at least the ♦ and ♠ finesses are more likely to work on 10 vs 13 blank spaces basis.

I would just bid 4♠ to minimize the information given to the opponents.

This is too good for 3♦ so I would settle for 2♦ :)

some of us are still rooted in the stone age :)

i think all the leads Frances suggested were aggressive is that what you are asking? I kind of thought both auction were similar enough that I thought it was funny that she would lead aggressively in one but not the other

Agree it is low odds that a) you don't set them and B ) that they run because you X. Nevertheless the risk/reward ratio looks fairly high :P

I am inclined to bid whatever shows a limit raise in ♠ for me that would be 3♠

What do you mean "bid your hand"? You have five diamonds behind the overcaller, a stiff in partner's primary suit and no guarantee of an eight card fit, is it really clear that 2♠ is bidding your hand? Yes. Amen! yeah, Mark, you have 5♦ behind declarer but did you notice your spot cards J8xxx does not translate into J879T :P

I assume you mean opening leads. The auction and your hand needs to suggest that the opponents will be either crossruffing or trying to establish a long suit by trumping small cards in the suit. A small caveat if the long suit will be overruffed by partner a trump lead is not as critical as if you are short in the suit and declarer will be overruffing behind you or discarding losers.

So if I double I get a whopping extra 100 points as in 860 vs the 760 I was going to get and for a net of 0 extra IMPs while risking a runout by my LHO and which puts my partner on lead? I am on lead and will just settle for my 13 IMPs.

As far a leading a small ♦ from Jxx you must never have encountered dummy holding QT9x opposite declarer's A32

leading from QTxx is fairly aggressive I would think

see other thread

since you are making aggressive leads does this mean ? :lol: