ahydra

IMPs [hv=pc=n&n=s9hj73dk875cqt974&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1h(10-14%204+H)p1sd(t%2Fo%20%5Bnormally%20minors%5D)3h(MAX%206H)4c4hppp]133|200[/hv] Opps play a precision variant. 1H = at least a 4-card suit with 10-14 HCPs. The 3H rebid shows a maximum with six. Partner's double is for takeout, normally showing the other two suits. Thanks, ahydra

IMPs, both vul [hv=pc=n&s=sq7h76daqj5ckt653&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=p1n(12-14)2s(5!s%204%2Bm)]133|200[/hv] 1NT = weak (12-14) 2S = spades and a minor No fancy systems available. 2NT = natural and invitational, 3m = non-forcing, double = takeout, 3S = stopper ask. Thanks, ahydra

To be honest, you might have just bid 4S holding four covers and a ruffing value. Partner's weak two should be decent vul vs not in 1st (not sure if GiB understands the nuances of seat and vulnerability though), so even opposite a minimum, 4S should have play. But you are certainly right that the hand is far too good for a weak two opener. 6-4 shape, a great suit and a ton of intermediate cards. I would open 1S every day of the week, and twice on Sundays. ahydra

With the trend of ever-lighter openings and responses, I think one cannot afford to give up a natural 1NT. Playing such I would have overcalled 1NT on the first round. Two-suited NT can still be used by a passed hand. With this hand, I guess you have to double, with the understanding that it may not be a classical takeout double. Similar things arise even when playing natural 1NT e.g. you swap the black suits on that hand, now you don't have a spade stop. Agree with DozyDom that the fact opps are playing fantunes style (bidding, not cardplay!) offers little reason to change your system. ahydra

I'm not entirely sure why we think East is bidding 4H on a small singleton or doubleton. It achieves absolutely nothing, as NS have agreed diamonds. Can not West be 6-6 in the majors? True, East didn't double 7D - but it would depend on the level of the East player as to whether he knew about Lightner doubles. msjennifer, well done on finding a good line. But, how did you come to the conclusion that "[West] did not have a opening hand with both the majors" (and hence that East had the CK)? Something about the way they played their Michaels? ahydra

Abuse should be reported to abuse@bridgebase.com, rather than accusing people publicly on this forum. ahydra

I would overcall NV but not vul. After partner bids 2D and RHO 2H, I'd like to bid 3H to show a good raise in diamonds with shortage in hearts, provided that's the agreement. Failing that I can try 2S, or if that's not an option, 5D (the hand rates to make 5D on a draw-trumps-and-crossruff). Likewise after 3H-(4H)-p; (p) I bid 5D. ahydra

So was I :). And indeed it does, as I wrote above - when responder rebids his suit after opener has rebid a suit, it shows 8-11ish and at least six cards. The reason it's different when opener rebids in NT is exactly as Stephen has described in his latest post. Imagine you held a 5cM and partner _opened_ 1NT: you'd transfer, right? This is pretty much the same thing, just with a different 1NT range. ahydra

Over a notrump bid, the 2S can be only five spades. For example, recently my partner held something like AQJxx x xx xxxxx in that auction, which would much prefer to play 2S than 1NT. (Of course, some play that you can rebid 1NT on a singleton spade, in which case it probably is sensible to have six.) Opener is expected to pass 100% of the time. The situation you are referring to would occur over a suit rebid by opener, e.g. 1C-1H; 1S-2H. This shows about 8-11 HCPs, six hearts. It is not forcing, but is constructive. Over a notrump rebid, yes, assuming you are playing XYZ / Checkback / something of the sort. Say you play XYZ: over 1C-1S; 1NT, 2C -> 2S = INV with five spades (I think), 2D -> 2S = GF with 5+ spades, and a jump to 3S shows 6+ spades and slam interest, setting trumps and demanding cuebids. Over a suit rebid, it shows 6+ spades, GF, not necessarily SI. For example, if you hold AKxxxx Axx xx Jx, and it goes 1D-1S; 2C-3S; 3NT, you are more than happy to pass. ahydra

Thanks all. Seems I should have passed - I bid 4S which went down, and the other table was allowed to play 3S making, so that was -5 IMPs. Here was the full hand: [hv=pc=n&s=sj83hjt3da962ca62&w=sat97642h72d4ckjt&n=sk5hq86dkqjt53cq9&e=sqhak954d87c87543&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1d1h3d(mixed%20raise)3s4dpp4sppp]399|300[/hv] I had liked the look of the singleton diamond, but I think the point raised by rmnka447 and others that partner holding say Kx spades and some useful cards would likely raise 3S to 4S is the key here. There are good odds on partner showing up with just one spade as was the case. Little was I to know that North was bidding on a pile of quacky rubbish and 4DX would have been rather profitable! ahydra

Thanks all. So, 4.5-2.5 in favour of double. Partner had a flat 13 count, opps could make 2H and we could make 3S (even 4 with some good card-reading). Of course, next time RHO will have some of partner's points and we go down. I thought it was a clear X if nonvul or holding a little bit more, but vul it was a bit much. Other table opps didn't think so though, and combined with my wimpishness and partner's misdefence it cost 7 IMPs. BTW, I could have sworn this post had a poll. Perhaps when I edited it on my phone it deleted the poll? :huh: ahydra

Tricky hand. North has a bit of a problem on the very first round. In my system I would bid 2H showing INV+ in diamonds. CY's negX is OK too (though to be honest I would bid 3S over that as South, which would instill some panic in North!). After 1D-(1H)-2H, 2S (NAT GF) is clear by South, and now North needs to plan ahead. With such a flat hand it would be tempting to try 3H-3NT; 4NT, but if South has a MIN with shape (opposite which your AAAK are golden) you could miss the slam. I think his best bid is actually 3C. Then: 3D-3H 3NT-4D (set trumps, asking for cues) 4H-4NT 5S (2 with Q) So, North knows South has probably a 4S6D(21) (6 diamonds likely since didn't bid 3NT over 3C). The spades must be pretty good given the 2S bid rather than just signing off, probably KQxx. So he counts 3 spades, 6 diamonds, 3 other top tricks for twelve. Spades or trumps could split which is about 61%, not great odds for a grand but not bad either; plus, partner might have CQ or SJ. Thta's probably enough to punt 7D, though on a more cautious day he could try 6C last train and South will probably sign off, given that he has a minimum. ahydra

IMPs, nobody vul [hv=pc=n&w=sat97642h72d4ckjt&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1d1h3d(mixed%20raise%20%5B7-9%5D)3s4dpp]133|200[/hv] Opps are playing weak NT with 4-card majors. 3D shows a mixed raise, about 7-9 points with at least 4 diamonds. No agreement about how forcing your 3S bid was. ahydra

IMPs, vul vs not, opps are reasonably solid players [hv=pc=n&w=skj96h5dt93caj742&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=p1n(12-14)p2d(!h)p2hppp]133|200[/hv] Am I a wimp - should I have doubled 2H? Edit: defence to 1NT is Landy (2C = MM), others natural, with X 15+. ahydra

Solutions: ahydra

I suspect the other tables didn't have the somewhat dubious 2S interference. ahydra

Good points, but I'd describe a 15-card hand as being a rather atypical minimum... :) ahydra

Also would have opened 1NT. I probably pretend I have one more point and bid 2NT now to rightside the club stopper for 3NT. edit: ah, that's an insufficient bid! Double it is then. ahydra

Add another vote for 3D on the third round (instead of 3S). Hopefully partner can deduce from the pass followed by 3D that I have 4=4=4=1 or 4=4=5=0 (I suppose possibly (54)40 too), less than INV. ahydra

Shocking indeed, as normally it's me making the insane bids :) ahydra

From today's tournament. All are IMPs and spots are exact. These are puzzles for I/A players, experts use spoilers please. #1 (easy) [hv=pc=n&s=saqha95dqjt642caj&n=sj9864h84d7ckt862&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1dp1sp3dppp]266|200[/hv] You might bid 2NT (upgrading to 18) not 3D, sure. Anyway, opps lead the H2 (4th best). You duck in hand hoping they'll continue hearts but no such luck: East switches to the D3 to the ten and king, and West continues another heart. #2 (medium) [hv=pc=n&s=sa63hak76da92ck65&n=sqhqjt2dt875caqj2&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1dp1hp3hp4n(RKC)p5c(1 or 4)p5d(ask Q)p6h(yes, but no K)ppp]266|200[/hv] OK, you may not want to reward partner for her aggressive raise to 3H, but all's well that ends well. Can it end well though? West leads DQ (standard leads), East playing the 3 (encouraging). If you duck West continues with DJ. #3 (hard) [hv=pc=n&s=sa73hat8da765ck98&n=skt5hk94dkt94c542&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=p1d(playing%20weak%20NT)1s3d(limit%20raise)ppp]266|200[/hv] Perhaps North might have picked 1NT, but instead landed you in this ghastly contract with mirrored pancakes (maple syrup optional). West leads the S8 (3rd/5th). If you cover with the T then East will play Q, otherwise 6. If you draw trumps then West has Qx. ahydra

Interesting responses, thanks all. My thinking as West was basically along the lines of cherdano's, give partner most fairly ordinary hands and 4H has play, given the CA is likely to be onside. That said, just bidding 3H is probably better (correcting partner's presumed 3NT to 4H) as it defines the hand's strength more closely. I don't like to pre-empt with so much defence (prefer at most 1 trick outside), perhaps even in 3rd seat too lest partner misjudge an ensuing competitive auction, though I probably would open 4H with this in 3rd. Not to mention we might belong in spades. ahydra

Well, the problem is that partner might only have three spades, and even a 4-4 fit would likely split 4-1. Something else could easily be the right contract such as 3NT, 5D or even 6D. Without good agreements such as 4C then pull 4H to 4S, or 4D forcing, the best shot probably is 4S and pray. I actually chose 4D, hoping to bid 4S over 4H or play 5D. Actually partner had five spades! Only thing is, his hand was KQT9x JT9xx x xx... I did look under the table for the two aces he'd dropped, but didn't find them. My 4D contract went five off. Surprisingly the double was also replicated at the other table but there West chose 4S for one off. ahydra

[hv=pc=n&w=sa764hq6daj643cqt&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=3cdpp]133|200[/hv] IMPs, none vul. Is there a textbook bid for this kind of moderate-strength, no clear direction hand after a pre-empt? Thanks, ahydra

[hv=pc=n&w=sq83hkqt9642d3ck7&e=skjt7hj7dkq6caqjt&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=1h3ddp4hp4n(RKC)p5d(1%20or%204)p5hppp]266|200[/hv] IMPs, none vul Any blame for getting to 5 missing three aces, or just unlucky that we had virtually every other point in the pack? ahydra