chasetb

While I wasn't the intended target for that question, I have a few guidelines as well: 1.) 4+ card support, GF raise 2.) Usually a balanced hand. If there is shortness, 17/18+ dummy points (13/14+ HCP) and intending to show it or RKC 3.) If a 5 or 6-card suit, cannot have 2/top 3 honors. What are your splinter ranges? For me, a direct splinter shows 0-1 cards in the suit, 9-12 HCP, and 12-16(17) dummy points. I would evaluate your hand as 17 dummy points, and go the low road because of HCP. Here, partner has enough to push for the slam, and I hope my partner and I would be able to bid the grand.

I would have splintered with 4♦, and consider 2NT a distant 2nd. Ace sixth isn't bad, but I would expect 2♦ and then supporting Spades to show 2/top 3 in ♦.

My 3♠ should be 16-18 points, not just 18. I don't want to be there, best defense sets me one trick. [hv=sn=chasetb&s=SAQT84HKJ9DKJCJ87&wn=Robot&w=S762HT32D9432CKQ6&nn=Robot&n=SJ53HAQ84DT5C9532&en=Robot&e=SK9H765DAQ876CAT4&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=1D%28Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points%291S%28One-level%20overcall%20--%205+%20!S%3B%208-17%20HCP%3B%209%29P2S%283+%20!S%3B%206-10%20total%20points%29P3S%285+%20!S%3B%2017-%20HCP%3B%2018%20total%20points%29P4S%283+%20!S%3B%206+%20HCP%3B%207-10%20total%20points%29PPP&p=S2S3S9STSAS6S5SKS4S7SJH5H4H6HKH2HJH3H8H7H9HTHQD6HAD7C7D4DTDADJD2D8DKD9D5CJC6C2CAC4C8CQC3D3C5DQS8SQCKC9CT]400|300[/hv] To go above 3 of the suit, it should always have reversible values, whether it be HCP or dist. points. GIB has neither here, and I can crack it for +500 if it just passes like it should. [hv=sn=chasetb&s=SJ3HA75DJ987CAKJ2&wn=Robot&w=SKT54HJ986DT6C953&nn=Robot&n=SAQ97H2DAQ42CT864&en=Robot&e=S862HKQT43DK53CQ7&d=n&v=o&b=17&a=1D%28Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points%291H%28One-level%20overcall%20--%205+%20!H%3B%208-17%20HCP%3B%209-19%20total%20points%292H%28Cue%3A%20limit%20raise%20or%20better%20--%204+%20!D%3B%2011+%293H%284+%20!H%3B%205-7%20total%20points%293S%284%20!D%3B%204+%20!S%3B%2021-%20HCP%3B%2014-22%20total%20points%29P3N%284+%20!D%3B%205-%20!H%3B%205-%20!S%3B%2020-%20HCP%3B%2011+%20total%29PPP&p=H6H2HQH5HTHAHJC4CAC3C6C7DJD6D2DKH3H7H8S7H9D4HKS3H4C2S5S9CQCKC5C8D7DTDQD5DAD3D8STCTS2CJC9D9S4SQS8SJSKSAS6]400|300[/hv]

I'll throw out one there - Blossom. It ran from 1990-95 (I was in the 2nd grade in '95) and starred Mayim Bialik in a family show that addressed lots of life issues (oddly, most of which I have yet to experience). For not taking formal acting classes and such, you can see her work improve from season to season, she's a natural. And beautiful as a teenager. They are currently showing it on the Hub network.

1.) Hopefully BBradley or someone else can chime in on this, but I don't know how to take that code and make it larger. 2.) Your diagram shows YOU as North, so I don't know if you are joking or not. If you were South, then North should clearly support Hearts. I think 4♥ is the bid, since 8 of 12 HCP are in the minors.

I know I'm not whereeagles, and there are plenty of times I don't agree with him, but in this case we are 100% agreement. The only real problem I see on this hand is in the stopper ask - I know people that ask when they have 0.5-1.0 stoppers, and people that ask when they likely have 0 help. It looks like they didn't agree on which one they were doing. The evidence I have is PhantomSac's post (#21), which I have posted below this paragraph. He is a world-class player who has won a few NABC titles, and has a Silver from the 2011 Bermuda Bowl. While mikeh hasn't responded, I bet he would say the same thing, and if Fred would grace us with his presence, I bet he would also agree. I don't know Frances well enough, but she is another Expert whose opinion I value highly.

Here's a place where I can help, as per the ACBL, if you open 1♦ on 3 ONLY if it's exactly 4432, then you actually checkmark the 3 box, but have an arrow pointing at the 4 box. As for the Major, it doesn't directly say, but I tend to check 4 in 3rd/4th, but use the arrow to point to the 5.

I was South. I passed 3NT for two reasons: 1.) This partner is super-aggressive VUL, and jumps to 3NT far too often (almost all 10-counts, and plenty of 9-counts). She doesn't pattern out half the time either, so for all I knew it could have been a 2542/1543/1642/2641 hand (we've only played together a few times, but a few different times she has jumped with similar stuff. One time I held the huge hand, but 3NT barely squeaked by because everything was off.) 2.) My team was the underdog, not only against them, but against most of the field. I didn't see a reason to bypass 3NT. I think a 3♦ rebid is right on HCP, but wrong on the suit quality. Because of the 1♠ - 3♦ range, 2♦ is probably the better bid, and I WILL SPLINTER with 3♥ over 2♦, thus finding 6♦. Diamonds broke 2-2, with the 'Queen over the Jack' if you believe in that; Spades were 3-3 as well. I did find it funny that the other table missed it as well, partners didn't remember the auction however and since it was a 3-way, I had no time to ask them about it. Overall, we did well, only this hand and another hand that I'll write up soon gave us problems.

The splinter on the second round is perfect, but signing off over 4♦ is just criminal, whether it is LTTC or Diamond control. Full blame to North.

If the opponents didn't bid, I would have the same Precision auction. HOWEVER, since I bet RHO would still bid 2♣ in 4th seat, my auction would start: 1♣ - (Pass) - 1♦ - (2♣) ; X (takeout) . Now South is max HCP for the 1♦ bid and has an 'assumed' 4-4 fit, but the trumps are really weak, and North could have 2-3 fewer HCP. I probably still end up in 4♥, but I don't like it. Tough hand all around

Playing 2/1, no Gazzilli/Bart, as dealer you have: ♠AJT96 ♥J ♦AJ3 ♣AK52 EDIT- 1♠ - 3♣/3♦/3♥ would have been 3-9 HCP, if the lower end 7+ cards, if the higher end possibly only 6. 1.) After 1♠ - 1NT (Forcing); how many people agree with bidding 2♣? If it matters, IMPs, all Vul, opponents are pro-client pair, but the client is a Grand Life Master. The other table sitting N-S is also a pro-client pair, the pro has won a Bronze at the Bermuda Bowl while the other is just a Platinum Life Master. 2.)

This one wasn't me, but GIB East didn't bid 1♠ on the first round, and GIB West bid 3♣, never mentioning the 6-card ♥ suit. [hv=sn=crenert&s=S863H9DAJT2CQT932&wn=Robot&w=SJ2HAKJT53D4CAKJ6&nn=Robot&n=SAQ4H8742DKQ7C874&en=Robot&e=SKT975HQ6D98653C5&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1C%28Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!C%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%29D%28Takeout%20double%20--%202-%20!C%3B%203-5%20!D%3B%203-4%20!H%3B%203-4%20!S%3B%2012+%20total%20points%29R%284-%20!C%3B%2010+%20HCP%292D%285+%20!D%3B%206-10%20total%20points%292N%283+%20!C%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points%293C%282-%20!C%3B%203-5%20!D%3B%203-4%20!H%3B%203-4%20!S%3B%2018+%20HCP%3B%2019+%20total%20points%3B%20likely%20stop%20in%20!C%3B%20forcing%20to%203N%29P3S%285+%20!D%3B%205+%20!S%3B%209-10%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%29P3N%282-%20!C%3B%203-5%20!D%3B%203-4%20!H%3B%203-4%20!S%3B%2018-25%20HCP%3B%2019+%20total%20points%3B%20likely%20stop%20in%20!C%29P4S%285+%20!D%3B%205+%20!S%3B%209-10%20total%20points%29D%283+%20!C%3B%2014-21%20HCP%3B%2015-22%20total%20points%29PPP&p=H9HJH2H6D4DQD9D2SAS5S3S2H8HQS6H5C2CAC4C5CKC7D5C3C6C8STC9D6DTSJD7CJSQD8CTDKD3DJH3H7SKCQHKS9S8HAS4S7DAHTH4]400|300[/hv] GIB DUCKS Kx, and so I drop it!!! [hv=sn=chasetb&s=SA72HT4DAK53CKQT8&wn=Robot&w=SQJT954HKQ6DQ82C4&nn=Robot&n=SK3HAJ983DJT974C6&en=Robot&e=S86H752D6CAJ97532&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=2S%28Weak%20two%20bid%20--%206+%20!S%3B%2010-%20HCP%3B%209+%20total%20points%29PPP&p=C6CAC8C4H2H4HKHAH3H5HTHQS4S3S8S2C9CTH6D4SAS5SKS6D3DQD7D6D2D9CJD5HJH7S7S9D8DTC7DKCQSTH8C5SQH9C2CKSJDJC3DA]400|300[/hv]

I think the only two options are to open 1NT or to open 1♦ followed by 2♣ rebid. Honestly, I would never be in a serious partnership with anyone who opens this 1♣.

Quit being so supplementary!

I didn't realize that they had cut off the description. The rest of it was "2+ ♠, 15-17 HCP, 16+ points". Steve, I have a good idea of Bob's writing, and that was definitely meant as a joke. Sadly, I know of more than a few people at the local club for whom that IS GERBER! The point was that Standard Jacoby 2NT sucks in it's response structure (for sure, though this one is better than the other common one of the 3-level showing singletons and the 4-level showing voids). I'm not sure, but I think lycier might also want balanced 12-14 HCP hands with 3-4 card support into 1♥ - 3NT or 1♠ - 3NT. I would disagree with 4-card support unless 4333, and I would expect softer values and no worthless doubletons.

The few times GIB has cuebid before and jumped like that, it had control of EVERY side suit, so I faked the A♦. Why not 4♣ here, and I can avoid going to the 5-level and going down on a different hand layout? [hv=sn=chasetb&s=SK3HAKJ654DK9C953&wn=Robot&w=ST8754H9DAQJTCQ86&nn=Robot&n=SAJ2HQT73D65CAK74&en=Robot&e=SQ96H82D87432CJT2&d=e&v=n&b=18&a=P1H(Major%20suit%20opening%20--%205+%20%21H%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B)P2N!(Jacoby%20-%3E%20support%3B%20balanced%20--%204+%20%21H%3B%2013+%20total%20points)P3N(Balanced%20submaximum%20--%202+%20%21C%3B%202+%20%21D%3B%205+)P4S(Cue%20bid%20--%201+%20%21C%3B%201+%20%21D%3B%204+%20%21H%3B%20no%20%21CA%3B%20no%20%21DA%3B%20%21SA%3B%2016+%20total%20points%3B%20forcing)P5D(Cue%20bid%20--%202+%20%21C%3B%202+%20%21D%3B%205+%20%21H%3B%202+%20%21S%3B%201)P6H(1+%20%21C%3B%201+%20%21D%3B%204+%20%21H%3B%20no%20%21CA%3B%20no%20%21DA%3B%20%21SA%3B%2017+%20total%20points)PPP&p=S5SJSQSKS3S4SAS6H3H2HKH9H4DQHQH8S2S9HJSTH5S7H7D2D5D8DKDADJD6D7D9C8CAC2C3CKCTC5C6HTD4HAS8H6DTC4D3C9CQC7CJ]400|300[/hv]

I have never heard anything about Jerry Helms also independently around the same time coming up with that defense structure. I would expect it to be 'to play' in all situations, unless a longtime partner can prove to me it has a better meaning/usage. On a side note, at a very weak club game it once went P - P - 1♣ to me. I held a balanced 25 HCP hand, but luckily partner (a very weak player) and I had the agreement that 3NT was 25-27 HCP whether opening or overcalling, so I bid it. Everyone passed, and after the opening lead partner put down an 8-count with two Kings and a nice KQTxxx suit (was missing K Q J J overall). I immediately congratulated RHO on attempting to psyche me out, and made 7. This was tied for top with one other pair; everyone else made 6. It also turned out his wife had more HCP than he did! :lol:

I'm not arguing with the definition of 'biddable', but when the first description is 4- ♠, as in 4 or less Spades, and then it says 'biddable spades' then there's a conflict, unless GIB can only have a very strong 4-card suit. [hv=pc=n&nn=GIB&sn=chasetb&s=sj87hk2daqt64cjt3&n=sak32ha54dkj75cak&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=2cp2np3s(5+%20%21S%2C%2020+%20points)p4np5dp5hp5sp6sppp]266|200[/hv] Got it, and as you can see I did it. Thanks for the help there!

On hand 1, I was bidding this way planning to stop in 4♠, but decided later that partner had 5-6 Hearts. Anyways, my 2♠ showed 16+ points and 4- ♠, but biddable ones?[hv=sn=chasetb&s=SKJT9543HAKTD9CJ6&wn=Robot&w=SA7H432DQ52CA9753&nn=Robot&n=S82HQ865D743CKQT8&en=Robot&e=SQ6HJ97DAKJT86C42&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=1D%28Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points%29D%28Takeout%20double%20--%203-5%20!C%3B%202-%20!D%3B%203-4%20!H%3B%29R%284-%20!D%3B%2010+%20HCP%291H%28Length%20--%204+%20!H%292D%286+%20!D%3B%2011+%20HCP%3B%2012-15%20total%20points%292S%283-5%20!C%3B%202-%20!D%3B%203-4%20!H%3B%204-%20!S%3B%20biddable%20!%293D%282-4%20!D%3B%2010+%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points%29PP3H%283-5%20!C%3B%202-%20!D%3B%204%20!H%3B%204-%20!S%3B%20biddable%20!S%3B%29P4D%281+%20!C%3B%204+%20!H%3B%201+%20!S%3B%205+%20HCP%3B%20no%20!CA%3B%20!DA%3B%20no%20!SA%3B%205-%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%29D%286+%20!D%3B%2011+%20HCP%3B%2012-15%20total%20points%29PP4H%281+%20!C%3B%202+%20!D%3B%204+%20!H%3B%201+%20!S%3B%205+%20HCP%3B%20no%20!CA%3B%20!DQ%2Cno%20!DAK%3B%20no%20!SA%3B%205-%20total%20points%29PPD%282-4%20!D%3B%2012+%20HCP%3B%2012-%20total%20points%29PPP&p=DKD9D2D7C4C6CAC8C9CKC2CJS2S6SKSAC7CQHJHAS5S7S8SQDAHTD5D3SJH3H5H7DJHKDQD4STH4H8H9DTS9C5HQH6D8S3H2CTD6S4C3]400|300[/hv] Hand 2 (Entered an Indy midway, so created it). GIB is North. On a side note, how to I modify it to enter names? [hv=pc=n&s=sj87hk2daqt64cjt3&n=sak32ha54dkj75cak&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=2cp2np3s(5+%20%21S%2C%2020+%20points)p4np5dp5hp5sp6sppp]266|200[/hv] I don't think it's standard, but over 2NT I pitch to you all that 3♣ should be Baron and 3NT to be 5+ ♣, and both to be forcing to 4NT. [hv=sn=chasetb&s=SAK84HAKTDJ843C92&wn=Robot&w=SJ963HJ9543DQCJT5&nn=Robot&n=SHQ82DAK9652CQ643&en=Robot&e=SQT752H76DT7CAK87&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=P1D%28Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%29P3S!%28Splinter%20--%205+%20!D%3B%203-%20!H%3B%201-%20!S%3B%2014+%20total%20points%29P3N%283+%20!D%3B%205-%20!H%3B%205-%20!S%3B%2011-20%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20to%29PPP&p=S3C3SQSKD3DQDKDTD2D7DJH3D8C5DAS7D9H7D4H4D6STC2H5D5S5C9CJH2H6HKH9HAHJH8C8SAS6C4S2HTCTHQC7C6CKS4SJCAS8S9CQ]400|300[/hv] Over 1♣ - 3♦/3♥/3♠ or 1♦ - 3♥/3♠, 3NT should promise at least one stopper, and be more limited in points. I would say limited to 16- HCP and 18- points, but I am open to suggestions here.

PASS! I bet partner has ♠xx ♥KJTxxxxx ♦x ♣Qx, everything sat offsides and South gets a Club ruff (Clubs are 5-1) for 5♥-1

Bbradley is almost 100% right. He nailed the double-counting, and how to get the Diamond percentage from what o.p. gave as the percentages to win 4 diamond tricks. SuitPlay says you can pick up a singleton King, HOWEVER if East reads the situation properly, you can't get 4 tricks from Kx onsides (duck the first round when North leads low, then when the Queen or Ten is led next, cover it). SP has it as ~19.0% that you can get 4 diamond tricks, so 65.9% of the time you should make the slam. You are unlucky that it fails and have a few wasted HCP in Spades, but are lucky in that North showed up with 4 controls, nice spot cards, and 8 AKQ points (A = 3 / K = 2 / Q = 1 ; better than controls or HCP for NT contracts).

Yes Steve, except whereagles isn't playing Precision - I am assuming it's a Strong Club created to simulate as closely as possible a Forcing Pass system. After all, the posted hand is the reason why they expanded the Precision 2♦ opener to include this hand type, with a bad Club suit. Or, they can just make 1♦ = 0+ . I have had a bunch of good results when opening 2♣ on 5♣-4M hands (but club suits good enough to play in a 5-1 fit), but very poor ones when partner opens it on a bad Club suit. I would pass at the table, because many times partner will have 6+ Clubs, or at least better spots, and there's no guarantee that Spades will play better than Clubs.

I don't know if you checked the link out (it's 6 years old), but it sounds like you are using the 5+ both Majors defense, and that is the one I would be using here as well. Double is my first choice, Pass would be second, and 2NT comes behind 3♦. I don't know what Kokish would say, but I would use the 5+ defense on 5-4 either way, or 5+ Spades 4+ Hearts. I'm unsure on 5+ Hearts and 4+ Spades, but for simplicity throw that under the 5+ as well.

Funny you say that, because in a Kraft-Kokish weak NT system I have, his two defenses advocate the opposite. The 5-5 hands double with a Weak NT, and the 4-4 hands pass (double here shows both minors or a 20+ HCP (semi)-balanced hand). Hence why I doubled. Check out pages 363-4 of the link above.

The bidding description is very poor. 3NT should deny more than 3 Hearts or 3 Spades, and while we can dispute the HCP range, the fact is that it should be capped. If Michaels does start at 10 HCP, then I think 3NT should be like 16-21 HCP; unless you overcall here on a lot of sub 10 HCP hands, you should have a good play for game, and unless a total misfit, you want to be looking for slam with 22+ .