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At teams I think 5D is clear - could be a game both ways. At pairs more tricky but I do have an offensive hand so 5D probably again - pass can't be forcing so I have to decide myself

yeah me too - where are my tricks? And I don't go to the 3 level on an 8 card fit. 3C probably one off but if I X I tell dec where the clubs are and he may turn one off to a make

Well I'm in the 'opening 4S is daft' camp - I play 4S is a preempt.... this hand has way too much potential. As south I would pass a 4S opener playing v my regular partners as I am certain North won't have KQ to 8 and an Ace - too strong

3NT - partner can't have a big red 2-suiter as he would have X'd so chances are he has something in clubs. I think 9 tricks may be the limit I do agree that usually 3S here would/should show a stopper with 2 suits bid by opps. Also partner will pass 3NT with 6H so it's a bit of a gamble, but hey opps are there to make life difficult

pass

it'd be rkc if they passed, so when they bid 2♣.... its rkc

if you're going to keep bidding through 6♠ (which I agree with) why bother with 4♣ - I think it's only appeal is to wheel out a gadget - but that gadget is inappropraite with this hand 4♠ here would show a 10-card fit but you have an 11-card fit so 5♠ does not seem unreasonable

What is it that Eric Kokish says of pairs - it's not really bridge, or words to that effect ;)

Yeah I like 5♠ - much better than 4♣ But I think on this hand it is not about consulting partner - how can he/she imagine you have such a distirbution - you must take control of the hand - if you bid 5♠ and they bid a slam I am bidding 6 on my own not waiting for partner

an attacking lead I think at teams - small ♥ my best suit and my shortest - I am worried about dummy having 4 tricks to go with declarer's 6 - so we need to set up our tricks while still have spade control.

No, not X'ing Yes, 2♠ balance at pairs

well I did say big fit, play the hand - I think 6♠ is clear at teams (I really don't care what partner's clubs are do I?)

unless you do it a lot my worry opening 45 in the majors in 1NT would be: how you find your 5-3 heart fit playing 4-card stayman and your 4-4 spade fit playing 5-card stayman

Looking at this hand again i dont see why the big hand just didn't bid blackwood - if partner has AQ♠ and A♣ then 7 is ok, if has one Ace and Q trumps or just 2 Aces then 6 - the splinter doesn't really help does it..? Once in a blue moon you'll get too high but then that happens....

4=5=1=3 is hardly ideal but you aren't that well placed with this hand after 1♥ 1NT even 1♥ 2♣ and 1♥ 2♦ aren't that great. I suppose you will have to introduce your spades but if 2minor is not game force then your hand is not that great. Not that I am saying that you should open 1NT but I think ridiculous is an overbid. if partner bids at the 2 level I think I am well-placed - I bid 2♠ and we get to 3NT or an appropriate game. After a 1NT response I can bid 2 can't I ? I am ok opening 1NT on 5422 but with a singelton K and so many values in the majors it does seem very off centre ...

If ever there was a hand that called for imagination it's this one - 2 ♥ - muddy the waters ;) I am going to play the hand whatever happens.. big fit, play the hand, btw partner can't judge this one unless your fit jumps are always 56 !

To open 1NT on a 4513 shape seems ridiculous, Ok now you are in a tricky spot, but I think 1NT here would be 12-14, with 18-19 I can bid 3NT so that leaves 2NT which seems right - a semi-balanced 15-17 hand

4♠ with this? And I'm the one who got less crazy :P (I think I'd advance with the opener's hand because it's very offensive and has extra strength) how can you advance without anything in ♦ or ♥ ? This is clear to bid 4♠ - but whne partner moves on you can bid 6

the saying is always lead an Ace v this type of auction - probably they have 11 tricks and you have 3 so need to hold the lead.

so how about you hold Jxxx/AKQJxx/void/xxx - this is what I think a 5♠ bid shows - I can't use blackwood for trump quality as A♦ isn't relevant or perhaps you use exlcusion for that (which i dont play)

I play X for take out :lol: X on these hands and partner will be keen to tell you l about that nice 6 card club suit they hold, proabably at the 4 or 5 level - and they'll play it it X'd 1 ♠ at pairs and perhaps favourable at teams otherwise pass

how good are your trumps? to look for a ♦ control I bid 4♥ - then we can stay in 4♠ if we don't have one :lol:

i think you mis-read the bidding - 2♥ a transfer not a suit.... but I agree with you that you must move :)

You are forced in case partner is weak. ok I didn't realise that. But my main poitn is partner has asked me to evaluate where I am on the 15-17 band and I have 16 with a good Q so not minimum so I bid a slam

This is a boring 15 count - I wouldn't expect partner to invite on that v 15-17 I am for 6 - the Q♠ is very good and I am not minimum - I would like partner to play it to protect his ♦ so I will try 6♠ ps why did I bid 2♠? doesnt that suggest 3?