the_dude

Assuming strict 2/1 with no comp, off in comp... 1H 1S 2C P 2H P ? Can responder pass? Our meta-rule states the following is not forcing after 2/1 in competition: either side rebids his suit, raises, or bids 2NT. However, I can see why this might be an exception. What do you think?

Downloaded the software ... looks great. I don't find the interface busy (as others have said) - I like the fact that there is so much functionality at your fingertips. Playing in this app (as opposed to flash) has been a wonder. I look forward to tournaments being enabled so I can pay you for your efforts :) One request ... *PLEASE* put *LANDSCAPE* mode on top of your list. Many of us have ASUS transformers, or the like, with attached keyboards that only really work in Landscape mode. Having to close up the keyboard, and type on the screen, is more pain that I can endure... Great work, thanks!

I also (systemically) lead low ... Question for those of you that do so too... Do you still lead low from 982? How about 987? (again, specifically an unbid suit vs suit contract) The reason I ask is this ... I've kibitzed some top folks who I was pretty sure led low from xxx turn around and lead the 9 from 98x. Of course I understand the promotional aspect ... but if your reasoning is that count is paramount .. then at what point do you start deviating from this?

I'm not sure why I'm playing puppet stayman if I don't open 2NT with this. Also .. 2NT is only a slam killer if you have A) a good 5+ card suit that might not be found out, and B) significantly more playing strength in said suit than 20-21 would indicate. I don't believe either of these conditions apply to this hand.

[hv=pc=n&s=saq83hj6datcqj943&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=p2h]133|200[/hv] IMPs. Your partnership tends to open all balanced 12s and most distributional 11s, but not balanced 11s. You do play lebensohl if it makes a difference... Sort of a humdrum hand but I'm curious to hear your opinions ... thanks in advance.

2NT for me too ... it simultaneous gives your partner maximum information so that he can compete to the correct level ... and denies your opponents space to do the same. You rate to be in a highly advantageous position most of the time ... with the downside being you will go for your life once in a while. Such is life.

IMO you have to pass unless your partnership has agreed that you can open hands like this. Lacking that agreement, partner might really bury you in a variety of ways and be justified in doing so. Come in later with a 2-suited bid, since you are vulnerable (and a passed hand) partner should expect something like this. You certainly can't open 2H with this (way too good, partner will pass with many hands that can make 4H or 5D or more) and opening 3H or 4H in first seat is a little much for me. In third seat I'd have no problem with 3H or 4H if you felt like swinging.

We have a meta rule that all Xs by Opener on his second bid are takeout - usually with extra values depending on the level. (there are very very few exceptions) By responder it is penalty-oriented - some sort of good hand with no fit for openers suit and uncertainty what to do. Basically a "partner please do something intelligent" bid.

2♣ because a) I think the main value of UnusualNT/Michaels is partner being able to compete accurately. When you extend them to 5-4 hands,you might occasionally find a fit that you would otherwise have missed, but you force your partner into guessing on the rest of the hands and give up your advantage. b) I have so much defense, I don't want my partner bidding over 4S on shape unless he thinks we are making it. Pass because the upside is questionable and my partner may think he can pull to hearts.

[hv=pc=n&s=sakt8h54dj76ckj53&d=w&v=0&b=8&a=1c1d1h]133|200[/hv] New-ish partnership ... we have agreed to play snapdragon but little detail. This auction is a bit of an outlier, what's the best use for double here? a) double shows 4 spades and 1♠ shows 5. b) double shows spades and a tolerance for diamonds, 1♠ shows no tolerance for diamonds. c) ditch snapdragon on this auction and use double for something else. (what?) Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I believe Cuebid is just defined as bidding a suit that the opponents have already bid naturally - so a natural cuebid overcall just means that you are bidding their suit to play. A common cuebid overcall is: (1♣) pass (1♥) 2♥ It is fairly standard to play 2♥ as a natural bid here.

How in the heck does something like this happen??? Link

You can have game opposite a yarborough with xxx of spades. You have a good slam opposite Qxxx xxx xxx xxx. Still want to play 1♠? You can't risk 1♠ being passed out (and with the opponents only having 16hcp, it is a real possibility).

Count me among the "stoppers are for losers" crowd. I think the most valuable thing you can do at the second bid is distinguish between 12-14 balanced and "not 12-14 balanced". If you want to stick with a natural-ish structure, do this by bidding 2NT regardless of stoppers (which is forcing to 3m). You may occasionally get to stopperless or wrong-sided 3NT contracts, but, your good hands will be much easier to handle. Inquiry's structure looks like a nice improvement as well.

2♥ vs 3♥ = 30 years ago 2♥ would have been more reasonable ... but since most people today would open 1♥ without the A of Diamonds, then I think you need to bid 3♥ with this hand. Otherwise your 2♥ rebids have too wide a range. Partner will never know when to make a game try. 2NT = once you downgrade your hand to 2♥, how do you all of a sudden upgrade it to 2NT when partner rebids your singleton???? 3♠ = given that partner has 0-1 spades and 80% of your values are in side suits, I have no clue why you are insisting on spades as trumps. 4♠ = to roller coaster of hand evaluation continues...

[hv=pc=n&s=s52ha72dkqj62cqj2&n=sthkj83d53cak9876&d=w&v=n&b=12&a=1d2cp3nppp]266|200[/hv] Ok, lets assume you want to be scientific and are also playing in a new-ish partnership. You bid 2♦ and your partner bids 2♥. Your options are now: 2♠ - sounds like some sort of natural-ish spade holding. We play an immediate 2♠ would have been natural and forcing 3♣ - sounds passable 3♦ - sounds like you are looking for a diamond stopper 3♠ - you didn't immediately splinter ... is this asking for a spade stopper? Would you ever do this if it wasn't discussed? I guess you are stuck with 3♦ hoping for a 3♠ bid if he has a card. Seems like alot to hope for. I knew our partnership wasn't on firm ground for finding a spade stopper, so I blasted ... Is there an "expert standard" agreement regarding unbid suits after the opponents have bid? I'm not looking for any obscure homemade conventions .. just "expert standard" thoughts about this auction. Thanks!

As the person you quoted, let me elaborate since I didn't put it very well above. I wasn't trying to say don't preempt in second seat - since as mentioned, getting your shape across early has huge benefits. What I was trying to say is that second seat preempts should bedisciplined - meaning you strictly adhere to whatever your partnership defines as a preemptive hand given the vulnerability. Since you have accelerated the auction and your partner is 50% likely to hold the good hand, you want him to know exactly what you have so he can make a good decision. So long as your second seat preempts accurately describe your hand, let'em rip. (Preempts in 1st seat, and even more so in 3rd seat, can be much looser (read: deviating from your accepted standards) because the possibility for enemy disruption is so much higher.)

I love my hand .. game will probably be a good shot if partner has a 4 card minor - if he is 6133 then maybe not so much. Still 4NT for me. Agree with the earlier poster that 3NT should be takeout but that is pessimistic imo. You could be way, way worse. I can't imagine my partner is balanced - at least in our style. Balanced hands not strong enough to start with X are defending 3H.

West can see that this hand has all the hallmarks of taking one more trick than the LOTT would indicate. xxx in the long trump hand means taking the ruff in the short hand - this in itself is often an extra trick vs what the Law says. Also the double fit (opener rates to have 5 clubs) and all values in our suits can indicate more tricks than the Law. And that's assuming 16 total trumps. If there are 17 total trumps (easily possible) then it is even clearer to bid 3S. This is alot harder for East to judge. If West turns up with 4342 or 4333 then East has made a mistake by bidding again. (PS: sorry about bringing the Law up in the A/E forums .. but it actually works for me :) Hope it isn't a ban-able offense :P )

I've played alot of GIB tourneys .. and 5M means "a normal person would have bid 6 but I am bidding 5 just to confuse you". It took me some time to figure this out .. but once you do you have an edge on the field :) edit: just noticed the post above mine said pretty much same thing ... sorry for duplicate advice :)

I used to pass these hands, but after consistently bad results I now overcall 1NT all the time. I had a similar experience as the OP once ... my LHO (an older lady) was absolutely furious when I showed up with a singleton after overcalling 1NT. While she was sputtering in rage, I looked her straight in the eye, and with utter seriousness said, "I'm so sorry, I had a spade mixed in with my clubs". She would have bought it too, had my partner not started cracking up...

[hv=pc=n&s=sq643haqj42d5cq52&n=sk5h9863daq4ckj94&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1sppdp3hppp]266|200[/hv] All actions seem to be somewhat defensible, yet the missed vul game is not. How would you have gotten there?

Certainly 3♥ is not forcing under normal 2/1 agreements. Most follow the meta rule that in a competitive 2/1 auction, responders second bid is not forcing if he a) rebids his suit, b) returns to openers suit, or c) bids 2NT. As for missing this particular game, no big deal. I suppose Opener could make an inspired raise to 4, but no one would shoot him if he didn't. It's a 21 point game where neither player has a Queen or Jack and every single high card is working overtime. That's impossible to judge accurately. (note that you still require a 3-2 trump split, it's only a ~68% game).

I voted 3D, because it applies maximum pressure to the opponents when it is their hand, while (somewhat) describing my hand to my partner if he has the big one. Obviously you are going for a number if you play 3Dx, but honestly, that is not a likely result. I suppose partner might take a 5D sac that goes for 800, but again at equal colors he doesn't rate to be saving too often unless you are on a huge fit. Most of the other results rate to be in your favor. If partner bids 3NT with Kx of Diamonds, you have a 50-50 shot (ditto for any doubleton if he can stop some suits). If he bids it with Kxx, you are in 3NT when you might otherwise not be. You have successfully warned him off of overbidding a big hand with no diamond fit. And of course your opponents will have a much harder time when it is their hand.

Just FYI, I play BBO on the ASUS Slider (10 inch tablet running Android 3.2) and it works great.