rd6789

3nt shows this type of hand - open anything else and you'll never convince partner you hold this

me too - and the 2♥ bid - and the pull to 2♠ - perhaps three wrongs make a right?

For the bonus point - no can't agrre with 2♥ - you bypass a good 6 card ♠ suit and you don't want a ♥ lead if they play the hand. If partner's modern style means overcalling on 4-card suits with a good hand you've really made life hard by raising. If partner's modern style mean overcalling on rubbish at IMPs I suggest new partner. I will stick in 2♥X - partner may be able to ruff a spade or two in hand and sort of cross ruff to 7 even 8 tricks even with poor hearts

strong, "natural" (might be 3 looking for 3NT)

ok you have 5-3 fit but 4-4 fits often play a trick better so why not explore?

to play - lots of diamonds and the AC rather go for 10 tricks than 11 4NT also a slam try if partner has tops in the majors

I prefer just 4NT 2 places to play in case partner is 13(45) in which case the D fit will be better. I don't think pass is right if they have 10 card fit which is likely - if they have boiunced me then well done them

No I am for pass - the majors are too good - even in H I have Qx and a ruffing value. In 3rd this doesn't apply and 3D would be good. I think it is a style thing - not to preempt with 4 of a major - it is a good style imho.

3♥ - partner has a reason for opening so I cannot pass with such good support nor can I bid game on my own

2♠ - partner will have 5 (on my methods) and my hand looks suit orientated and I don't like to bid 1NT on xxxx

If as responder I am 4M-5m (or poss 4M-6m) I just want to bid my shape out. Why does it help to bid singletons?

I cant see this as a 2♣ opener. I think in every system I have played 1♣ - 1♠ - 4♣ shows a 4xx6 shape with very good clubs and very good spades. So that is a good place to start. Over partners 4♠ you can go on with 5♦ now if partner has xx of clubs he should sign off but with anything else I expect him to bid 6 and may look for 7

great if you awant to get to 3nt with them cashing the first 5 or 6 heart tricks - they told you they had hearts and you ignored them - with akqjx of hearts I expect I'll find the lead. why not 3♣ - minimum no heart stop nothing else to bid

why not bid 3♣ if you are balanced and haven't got a stop in opps suit - after all partner forced you to bid and must be able to cope with that hand - with nothing in their suit maybe you have to play in club partial as your only making option even with 25+ if they have 5 hearts to cash. [not on this hand obviously]

1. I prefer 3X after 1♣ as weak as (i) often opener will have 12-14 balanced and we want to jam the auction and (ii) hands where I have good ♣ support and no other suit to bid and so want to use a splinter will be rare. After a X I play fit jumps always so 3X becomes good enough clubs to play at the 4 level plus good holding in that suit. 2. 1m-(1NT)-2m showing 5 and <7 otherwise I X 1NT 3. I think the X shows ♦ - we still don't know what our best fit is and I don't want to have to go to the 3 level to show ♦ - we might have a 9-card fit and 3♦ be our spot

I would expect partner to cue bid 4♦ if he held say xx/AQxxxx/AJ/xxx since the hands seem to fit so well. With say xx/Qxxxx/AJx/KQJ he might decide the club values are so poor and the trumps too that he will for now deny the A♦ btw if partner bids 4♥ over my splinter I think the bid now is 5♥ - bid slam with good trumps

No, what I want to know is does he have A♦ - if he bids 4♦ and that shows the Ace I will bid 5NT - give partner xx/AQxxx/Axx/xxx and 7 is very good - be nice if he had the J♥ too

I am worth 4♠ - by telling partner I am short in clubs he will downgrade say AKJ in that suit and with good hearts he may bid six - after all he only needs AQ to 6 and JD and AQJT to 5 and JD is good too! I have learnt he doesn't have A♦ so I have lost interest in the grand - but if he doesnt have any points on ♠ or ♦ he could well have good ♥

How about starting with a splinter? After all you have your fit and describign 5-5 as responder AND support is very tricky if you go round the houses. I know splinters usually show 4 card support but the extra values compensate. On the first hand posted if p has A♦ and AQ♥ we can get to 7

After an auction like this I can only imagine playing in ♣ or ♠ and since I have 2 spades why look further? I would play 4nt as BW, 5♣ to play (hate spades), 5 ♦ ♥ as cues agreeing ♠. I can't see any point bidding 5♦ since I have ♥ control too so I will bid 5♠ asking p to bid 6 with a decent hand - say he might be void in clubs and semi-solid spades or solid spades

I wouldn't bebidding 2♥ over 1♠ with this hand - that could go for 800 or more - so 3♥ isn't on the radar. If we have a game on partner will say something. And if we miss a thin one I expect it'll be flat.

yeah sorry i realised after posting 2NT is the bid on 1. But I also wanted to ask about 1♣ - 1♦ - (2♥) 3NT now must be 18-19?

Playing 2/1 with a new partner (no system discussed) how do I show 18-19 balanced after 1. 1X-(p)-1Y obvioulsy 3NT yes? But what about after 2. 1X-2Y (not a jump) say 1♠ - 2 ♦ still 3NT? nb If I had discussed in detail I would play 2NT here as either 12-14 or 18-19 3, does anything change if fourth hand comes in? say 1♠ - 2 ♦ - (2♥) I don't play 2/1 that much but twice on bbo my partner has seemed suprised when I put down 18-19 after 3NT on auctions 2 and 3 Was it me or them?