pooltuna

As everyone seems to keep forgetting the conditions (V vs NV; yes YOU are V & you are playing IMPS) I assume they personally know your partner. Consequently, since I don't, would you please confirm his lack of sanity so I can understand the bad preemptive 3♣ hands so many seem to know he is likely to hold.

Since you are asking me to call for YOU :) rather that X I would just support ♣ as it looks anti%age to make a TOX for whatever 2 suits. And since I am making the call for you I am sure this cannot possibly be penalty :) :) :)

♦ > A♥>>♠>>♣

right after Art's pass the second choice is IMO a direct 7♣ as it looks cold if partner has 3♦ and 7♣. Those and 3 major suit winners = 13. So you foist the last guess on them when they can't tell if you are trying to jack them up to the 7 level.

your partner should make a 2 card limit raise to 3♠ but you are too strong for an intermediate 2....how about an intermediate 3♠ call. Just because these calls don't come up often doesn't mean you should turn your brain off like some seem to be advocating. The possiblities are quite extensive. I.e. if 2♠ shows an intermediate call with 6♠ what does a 1♠ call that rebids 2♠ show?

this is when you use Stayman instead of transferring the ninth trump often will provide a means of finding the 12th trick

But as your point count goes up you usually only have specific finesse losers or specific ace losers...cards that keep you from making slam not 3NT. Basically you can ignor stayman if you are in the 28-32 HCP zone. This also avoids playing in an 8 card major fit when you have a 5-0 break.

This is correct

Hamman eggs in one basket? :)

Generally I will open 1♦ unless there is great disparity between suit strength

Yes I guess it would be if you play regularly with a partner who refuses to protect you

agree that trying for slam is optimistic but definitely a place to try for a swing hand if you need it

You don't think 3♠ shows a ♠ suit I hope

4) J73 KQJ AJ98 Q54 looks like 3343 to me 8) 87 KT8 AJ8 AT984 looks like 2335 to me did this get edited or did some card look funny to you?

Alright so to complete our logical construction what do auction like (P) P (P) 1♦ (P) 1x/2♣ (P) 3♦ or (P) P (P) 1M (P) 1x/2y (P) 3M ...y<M now show...I would hope it is no longer invitational!

Is partner allowed to hold ♠Kxxxx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣KJxx oh wait that is an opening hand now-a-days! :) You are allowed to be a human being, call XX and over 4♠ call 5♦! edited after I read the voting options

It is even better when the OP tells us what the calls mean. For example IMO a weak multi 2♦ call is nearly insane at these colors and form of scoring so are the opps playing 2♦ as intermediate/strong balanced, i.e. do we have any feel for the opps sanity level? What kind of overcalls can I expect from partner in this situation, i.e. is he making a preempt? Don't tell me you don't make preemptive overcalls/preempts as IMO it is not clear that the opps are really preempting!

Amen!! So what does a 4th seat hand that opens 1♦ and rebids 2♦ now look like :) Even better is when the auction is 1M with a 2M rebid from 4th seat

I am a Bandwagon rider

1] pass 2] X 3] 4♠ 4] pass 5] 3NT 6] pass 7] pass 8] pass 9] pass

Bandwagon...as others have noted your partner had a 2-card limit raise :)

yeah this is high risk territory so you would probably normally only X if they were playing some weak NT version. Versus the strong NT the GUOG principle pretty much applies. At least with this hand you know what you are going to lead even if LHO transfers and they play in a suit.

Hearty agreement! In fact if the 3♠ callers insist on their call we need to teach them a new game! The rules can be found at this URL My link

Half of your hand's high cards are fillers in your partner's suits. You have a first round control card in partner's probable shortest suit and a second round conrol card in a suit where he probably has 3 cards, altho 22 in the majors is possible. I think 13 is more likely since the opponents are not preempting in ♥. All your features make your minor suit ODR very high and risk/reward for trying highly favorable.

3♠ is simple! The opponents are 50+% to have a makeable game so you force them to bid it. I mean why would you want to give them the option to bail out at the 3 level? :)