pooltuna

What's that, I've never heard of it. I'm sure the jargon is getting you on this one. Maybe if he had called it a "Zia qbid" it would be obvious to you :)

I suspect holding the KQT♦ instead of KQ9♦ might have a bigger impact on the results in this particular case as this will destroy some of the holdings where Jxx opposite xxx produce a stopper against the K leaders holding KQ9

You have a gift for understatement here :)

yes East was asleep at the wheel when he didn't make a 2♥ call over 1♠. He must have been dreaming that partner would be able to protect his ♠ holding in this auction instead of simply supporting with support. I can't imagine why East would want to play 1♠x in this auction which destroys his only reason for not making the obv immediate raise.

I agree with this you are essentially "LOTT protected" with a 10 card fit and I suspect that 3♦x will make a lot of the time while making life difficult for the opps.

basically the preempt did its job and I can't tell if I am going way overboard so I stick to a conservative 4♠ call

isn't 3♣ a qbid at this point. I geton the bandwagon and bid 5♥/5♣x

This was an effective defense at the table as well and IMO the correct defense although the path to 5 tricks is still unclear.

I thought it was a blackjack term because when you tie the dealer they "push" your bet back towards you :blink:

generally this auction is an auto "find the best" major lead but the combination of my ♣ void and ♦ length make me wonder if this is an exception

my choice is the informative auction 1NT - 3NT :)

looks like all 32 breaks handle fairly easily by A and low. However this is played like this to handle some of the 41 breaks where the singleton is either the K or T. You usually bite the dust against KTxx vs x. Sure you can pick it up on your left by finessing the 9 but you increase your 32 losses when RHO has Tx I'm not good at these things either...but leading the Queen seems to pick up singleton 7, 8 or T on your left and singleton T or K on your right. Ace and then low picks up singleton K or T on either side. So, doesn't leading the Queen pick up an extra 4-1? (Really asking, I'm never confident in these things.) looks like a good catch to me as I actually did an excel spread sheet on the 41 and 32 breaks. Note that while "Small to A unless RHO plays T,8, or 7 then finesse the 9" picks up two more 41 splits while it loses four 32 splits which means the cost is a lot higher.

then I show where I live 3♠ You don't "live" somewhere because you have exactly one jack more there than in each of the other suits. but I also have 3 more cards in that suit than any of the others :lol:

probably not too bad a call with [hv=s=skxh8765432dxxckx]133|100|[/hv]

1) X>2NT>>2♥>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>P...Can't you bid 2NT over partner's 2♠? 2a) If you don't have an agreement make one but I would treat it as invitational as 3♣ was available as a qbid 2b ) I have the strong Michaels call 2c) X 3) ugly choices as your ♠ spots hoover very well my inclination as a result is to make a -X and then 3NT passing partner's 4♥ call if he finds it.

looks like all 32 breaks handle fairly easily by A and low. However this is played like this to handle some of the 41 breaks where the singleton is either the K or T. You usually bite the dust against KTxx vs x. Sure you can pick it up on your left by finessing the 9 but you increase your 32 losses when RHO has Tx

then I show where I live 3♠

Still takes 6 days to finish it(56 or 64 bds/day). Do you want it to take longer?

yes it is the high canyon walls here in New Orleans!! WAIT! That is water!!! glub glub glub

I would choose 2♦ if that is an option because the hand is too good for 3♦ :blink:

assuming you do something stupid like make a -X and the auction continues....(P) 2♠ (P), what does the 2♠ call show and are you now calling 3♣. Or the auction continues after the -X .....2(sp) 2NT (P) what does the 2NT call show and are you ready for it? IMO your best choice is pass and is clear. On the second hand I am inclined to pass as well

carding is standard

carding is standard

[hv=n=s843ht95dt73cat98&e=s9ha643dqj9ck7543]266|200|prior to the opening lead Dummy jokingly says with anybody else for a partner I would have passed[/hv] You are playing a 56 board team match, in second seat for this hand and hear the following incredibly complex auction. The opponents are playing 2/1. West North East South - P P 2NT P 3NT all pass Bless his heart, partner finds the killing opening lead of the ♠5 (sarcasm/off ). Declarer wins the first trick with ♠J and plays the ♣Q; partner playing the ♣6 and dummy plays the ♣8. Do you win this trick and how do you continue? Okay,okay I didn't really think you were that stupid :) Declarer continues with the ♣ J and after partner discards a small ♦ dummy plays the ♣9. How do you defend? EDIT: Carding is standard

The problem is not in the shuffling & dealing of the cards as the opponent MUST be present during this process. This does not always occur and opponents are fairly lax about enforcement ... i.e. trusting.