pooltuna

6♥, it might make or the opps might save

But if you don't lead a ♥ how are you going to finesse partner's Kx♥ when dummy has no entry? :) I also have a preference for ♦J

hopefully practice on the ski jump helped you learn how to land better at the bridge table :)

Doubling with this hand givess partner way too many no win options too often. As a rough gauge you should save X for 6 or 7 loser hands at the bottom end. This one is an 8

since you have hosed yourself with the system at this point I think you need to call 3♠ at least the short hand will take the ruff. Won't be the last time you play a 4-3 fit.

count me with the doublers

1.) RKC seems appropriate 2.) probably should have bid 3♠ the round before, certainly here altho partner will pass this and you may have missed game

the Dutchman and the Dog :)

you still don't have a ♦ control, right? 5♥. This assumes that 3♠ was smolen not sure why partner skipped 4♠ unless we are supposed to infer a ♠ control

DSIP X :)

well 5♥ clearly commits to 6♦. Looking at the ♦K and the ♠A seems a bit light for 5♦ so after a 5♠ Qbid I might bid 7♦

you mean something like a hand I played :) Hmmm I couldn't get to trick 4 but in fact I returned to my hand and finessed the ♥Q :)

50.5% to west for not preempting 50.5% to east for not looking up the definition of take-out-double

then talk to me before hand and I won't pass :)

yeah it's tough when you gotta go with the "blind pig method" :)

I agree with this generally altho I have called 1M with 4 when I was at the rock bottom of an opening. 4531 I would think 1♥ instead of negative X would be acceptable as long as partner doesn't play it to deny 4♠ however with 5431 I think you have to go the negative X unless you can call GF ♥s on the next turn (i.e. after 1♠)

hmmm...how about 5♣-(5♥)-6♣-(6♥);P(first round control?)-(P)-7♣-(7♥); P-(P)-X-all pass :unsure:

♦>♥>♣>♠

sorry but it is not forcing unless by previous discussion Yes it is. well if you are playing with me and you bid 3♣ you are playing it there. you have other calls to force with.

Yes, I didn't fully read the explanation b4 leading. Asking for the Q drop was too outre for me to even think of it as a choice and standard would be the A so have to reverse in this situation.

finessing RHO for the ♥J is entirely reasonable as EW are R vs W and given the missing high cards even [hv=d=s&v=e&s=skxxxhxdaxxxct98x]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] is pretty light for this action.

1♥, 1♠, 2♣ are all choices since you know at least 8 of partner's cards (8M minimum) and RHO's failure to raise ♦ is somewhat indicative of partner holding 3 I would elect to play one of my 7 card fits at the 1 level. Thus 1♥

I could tolerate 2♣ but have no great feelings one way or the other. Consequently I think that 1NT was preemptive enough to say sometimes preempts work :unsure:

first make a list of your potential choices. Clearly some number of ♣ are choices 3♣,4♣,5♣, even 6♣ as is 3♦ (assumes forcing), and finally 3♠ regardless of how you play it then whittle down the choices. 3♣ is probably non forcing, 4♣ is probably only highly invitational, 5♣ is pretty unilateral and may miss a slam, 6♣ is also unilateral and may be too high or too low. 3♦ shows a good suit and for me would be forcing and this would make, again for me, 4♣ forcing it probably will help partner make a better decision after LHO's 4♠s gets passed around to you. Some might play 4♦ as a picture bid with ♣ support. Finally 3♠ could be a LR+ for ♣ or a general GF Qbid and 4♠ a splinter for ♣ one plus of 3♠ is that partner may get a chance to bid 3NT which slows you down since you now have ♠ wastage. This is pretty much a toss up IMO between 3♦ and 3♠

Not sure that I understand this post... Are you asking for pointers to beginners texts on takeout doubles in the modern game? Are you saying this obvious penalty double should be played as takeout? Are you saying because this obvious penalty double is a penalty double, therefore many of the doubles that were penalty doubles 60 years ago but are now treated as takeout, should still be penalty doubles? Perhaps you could elaborate for me, thanks. I probably play more doubles as penalty than the average BBF poster.