dealmegold

This is a stronger hand than I would usually make a simple overcall with, but admittedly that's not based on any deep insight. So if your agreement for overcalling on strong two suiters involves using 2NT for bottom two, then that's what I'd do here. OK, the clubs aren't great but with a club fit and a diamond stopper, isn't p going to put us in NT? I also think 3♣ is the best way to express the strength of the hand and should be forcing here, but that comes with the understanding that you're going to bid 1♥ with this hand in the first place, which isn't clear from your agreements.

Unless partner has AK tight in a minor, you have 0 losers. yup, see edit

you'll have to forgive me, I'm an idiot

According to the online BBO SAYC, 2N is forcing and artificial, showing 6-8HCP and only 4♠, with the intention of signing off at the 3 level. (3♣ or 3♥ would be forcing over 2♥.) According to the online BBO 2/1 card (I hope the sequence has the same meaning in SAYC and 2/1), you are supposed to rebid 3♣ with a minimum reverse or 3 of something else with a game-forcing hand. This is how we play it. Lebensohl over reverses. If it's part of the BBO SAYC that suggests it's fairly standard.

2♣ for me is almost a game force - it can be dropped in 4♣ if we fail to find extras or stoppers for NT. With that in mind I bid 2♣, making it easier to find 3NT.

What systems do people have to find a 5-3 spade fit after 2♦?

What are these problems over 2♦ and 2♥ (he asks naively...)? Over either of those rebids by opener, I'd let opener play 2♥. Maybe a forcing 1NT allows me to plump for 3♣ without that being FSF, but I can't necessarily see that being a better contract (I should probably have a better suit). I'd still rather give opener the chance to play 1NT opposite those handy looking clubs.

I've got the green book, "Modern Bridge Bidding for the 21st Century". It's a description of a complete off-the-shelf bidding system which incorporates 2/1 GF, i.e. there are also sections on 1NT openings, strong openings, overcalls etc. The system works fine most of the time and I have used it with some friends as a kind of baseline on which we can all agree. It does have a few holes, and with a regular partner you'd want to develop it a bit further, maybe taking some ideas from the purple book. It's poorly written. Hardy has an annoying habit of repeating himself, so you'll get an introductory paragraph which explains the system, then a longer paragraph which says exactly the same thing in more words. That's sometimes confusing, because you're expecting to be told something new. On the other hand, there are loads of examples and exercises which clarify things a great deal. I'd recommend the book to someone who's not really playing any consistent system already, and wants to be able to say "I play X". If you're already playing another system complete with bells and whistles and want to try 2/1, you might find this book frustrating to read.

We've tried eleven card bridge. Deal out eleven cards per player, leaving eight (unknown) cards undealt. Then play bridge as usual - obviously you bid for the number of tricks you'll take beyond five, and 6NT is the highest bid. I think we moved game down to 70 points. Anyway, it was a horrible game and I don't recommend it.

Yeah, you should have opened 1S!

...and if p makes the wrong bid because he's afraid you won't understand the correct one, that's his problem!

First hand I bid 3C, J97x is not a stopper! Also I'm not too worried about the lead coming through my hand if p bids 3NT. Second hand 2NT. Actually 3NT since with my partner 4sf is only invitational. But I definitely take preference to NT as I have the stoppers and I want the opening lead to come into my hand. So it definitely depends on the hand!

ditto! out of interest - what do you do with your balanced 18 counts?

Sadly, Masterminds have not gone anywhere.....and I suspect they never will.... Using bridgebrowser, you would be highly surprized how many times 2♣ with 20+ hcp is passed by a partner with 5+ clubs and low count. On the good side, this is only one hand at matchpoints. Of course, some of these auctions have to be bidding misunderstaning (one partner playing precision or similar, the other not). Or the kind of "misunderstanding" where their profile says SAYC and they don't play transfers? Yes, I'm angry!

You are wrong. I announced it because I was simply concerned about the possibility to be removed from the table for the nonserious bidding....what would you think if smbd bid 7♠ in the first seat? the possiblity its a real serious bid is 1:1000......? :) If they booted me I would report them for abuse!