pooltuna

1) any non-constructive raise (or better); a hand with -X shape but unable to risk playing at the 3-level; any other non GF hand; any hand that wants to make a penalty X of 3m 2) yes and it does not perforce have xtra values as partner could just be providing protection for your penalty pass 3) as little as a 1-level TOX 4) with a nonconstructive raise hand bid 3M, otherwise normal TOX responses apply

at these colors this is a borderline decision

for anyone thinking of opening this hand at these colors my tantō is available for the rarer but normal use ;)

5♥

I think you mean 4H. Depends if your methods are good or not, but either way wouldn't you rather play 4♥, which might give you a GAME bonus, opposite a strong hand than a 5-0 fit at the 1 level? why are you convinced this is our hand? make partner 5143 or 5242 or 6232 or 6241 or 6223 with a 12 count. Now it goes 1S p 1N x p p p or 1S p 1N x 2S p p x p p ? or 1S p 1N p p p Do we really wanna play 1NT in a hand we could easily go down 3? If partner shows a good 17-18 with 2N how do we decide on 4H or 3H. Maybe our partner has an AQJ10xx spade suit that will be just fine opposite a void. I think bidding 1NT in standard is wishful thinking/irresponsible you are not sitting for any x of 1NT so that can't happen and while an X of 2♠ is more problematical a runout could still work

2♠ looks like the best lie

i.e. is this an overcall or a response to partner's opening call

You don't sit for this ...you stand up in your chair and yell "harvest time" :rolleyes:

6♦

Misfit? We could have an 11 card fit. Let's, oh I don't know, not declare the deal a misfit after a single opening bid by one player, hmm? The odds of a misfit are high enough that I would hate to use a NON forcing 1NT call with the hand. No problems with a forcing or semiforcing 1NT call though

cute! Well we all got Burned again as usual whereas the actual East only got burned! :)

so with 1♠ loser and no wasted ♠values how many hcp do you think you need to make a slam a %age winner?

Huh? I just woke up so maybe I'm missing something but I don't understand what you mean. edit: Ok, you just flipped the hands, I'm a moron. I would just bid 4H on hand 1, and 5S on hand 2. Same, including initial confusion over MFA lol. I'm confused by this comment. Overcalling 3♠ shows 9 spades? you rate to know where 11 of the ♠ are is what I was trying to say

1) 6♥ - Basically looks like a 30 point deck and your side looks to have 27+ 2) 6♦ - hope you don't have 2♥ losers

yep I come down to the same 5 cards but instead of playing mind games with declarer I discard in order ♥ retaining enough to set the hand and then ♠ the same way I would discard if I held 92 KT98765 72 K7

My initial gut reaction is to lead up to the QJ♣ twice this catches all 33 splits and 42 splits where North has Ax. That option gone at trick 2 I try for a ♥♣ squeeze which has a couple of variations.

yes there is and clearly opener's partner is a peon. :P

So what do you do with the first hand which had xx ajxx akxxx xx not anywhere close to 15-17? I guess you bid 1.5 {he]? Guess my problem is that I need to report to BBO that my "." is broken and I can only bid whole numbers. ;)

well based on the first few tricks it looks like we are playing a suit contract presumably ♦ but probably ♥ based on the title?

Playing a KS based system using weak NT(12-14) where partner expects a noncompetitive auction like 1♦ 1♥; 3♥ to show at a minimum a balanced 18-19. How does one distinguish between ♠xx ♥AJxx ♦AKxxx ♣xx and ♠xx ♥AJxx ♦AKxx ♣Axx, assuming you think the spread for a 2♥call should distinguish between these hands?

You hold at IMP pairs [hv=d=n&s=sat2h4dk87432ck93]133|100|Scoring: XIMP[/hv] and hear the auction proceed 2♣ P 3♦ P 3♠ P 4NT P 6♣ P ? Do you have enough information to comfortably pick the contract? While I am sure you are delighted with the auction feel free to comment :) Partner held :)

glad to see someone else thought 3♦ was about right for this hand :)

you mean 6♣ right? :) (sorry since you asked for no jokes I couldn't resist)

on this auction if 3♥=stopper, 4♥=splinter, does 5♥=exclusion?

I'm going to give away the farm (I never liked farming anyway:) ) and lead the ♠J