MinorKid

I think clubs are likely for partner's second suit. Otherwise, opponents would had both black suits and had responded some sort of Fit Jump instead of rising Spades.

In this high level imo wheather or not we make our own contract is a bigger concern. I'd focus on north's strengh and fitting honors for him. I'd save stuffs like shapes, TTE etc. at lower level competition.

IMO it is quite likely a forcing pass (same effect as a take_out) if i were north i would had bid 1♦ *** 5♣ *** x or P for take_out depending on agreement. With this agreement through, as South, i would had chosen to defend against the Doubled contract (North could be weaker). Even if this sequence shows 19+5+2+1=27DP there is some combinations which make less tricks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South have no fitting honors and he'd hate it. He knew one or both of the minor suits is not solid, where otherwise north would surely open 2♣. Add the ♣J to north and he would still open 2♣.

why DBL ?

Let me guess: LHO has ♠AKQx..s RHO has ♠xxxxs... nothing to spare. Why not bid boldly?

Bidding 6♦ is completely right! 6♦ = 10 4NT = 8 5♦ = 7 It is a matter between 6♦ or 7♦. Shown in the bidding, partner would have at a singleton spade + >12 valuable Point count, or void in spades + >10 valuable point counts. Either way a 6♦ bid would be sufficient. If I were partner holding the void + >12 valuable point counts (smth like ♠- ♥AKxxx ♦Kxxxx ♣Qxx), provided I can figure out how you decides 6♦, i would take a shot for 7♦. Another suggestion is to bid 4NT which asks p to pick a minor suit. However, when you raise from 5 to 6 he would rarely find 7 himself. Anyway, ♣ or ♦ is not a very big deal for me. As long as partner has 3 diamonds it's enough, and the bidding do not suggest a bad break at all, isn't it? I do not completely disagree 5♦ if you consider your partner bidding slightly weaker over a weak 2. 5NT is awful, unless your partner is nicknamed Minor*what*.

I knew bids like: 1♣ 1♦ 2♦ 3♣ where the last bid is not a cue but also a support. Are there any difference between above and below? 1♠ 2♣ *natural 2♦ 3♦ 4♣

I vote 4♣ on a descriptive approach It's time to show your clubs. It's better to bid control with honors rather than let partner to guess between an ace (king) or a void (singleton), which is a siginificant difference between partner's "good" and "bad" holding. It's the clubs that matters. Some may argue if we put the "3NT" off our mind, then partner will treat 3♥ as an control...whatever it is. However, the point i am concerning is the potential of a double-fit, where both suits are mutually established to provide many tricks from runs, discards, and ruffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGGRASIVE APPROACH : 3♥ TRIAL RESPOND 3♠ = ♠ Kx or ♠ x or ♠ - ---> :) RESPOND 3NT = ♣ values ---> :P ELSE :(

IMO if the ♦QJ were ♣QJ then we would perfer 3NT. I can't think of any system that can specify those honors below 5NT. if the ♦AQJxx were ♦AKQxx (subtracting an outside Q) i prefer 1♦ -> 3♦ forcing or 1♦ -> 2♥/2♠ -> 3♦

I have encountered such a hand from RHO before. RHO overcalled 4♠ on my partner's 1♦ for ♠Qxxxxxxx♥xxx♦-♣xx And i've got ♠-♥Kxx♦KJTxx♣AKQJx Why she bid like that? It's because we were too cute. Our partnership was too optimistic.

Honestly speaking both 3♠ and 4♦ is not better than just showing an outside stopper. Last but not least, don't waste bidding spaces if one is not very fear of missing responses/overcalls, opener.

2♣ 2♥ 2♣ 2♠ 20+ or >9 tricks 2♣ 3♣ 2♣ 3♦ 20+ or >10 tricks IMO weaker than that just open one. Okay "3NT is forcing" is a joke.

I am completely against this heh. It depends on how strong a 2♣ opener rebids 3♦. I will play it as 20+HCP and/or 11 tricks.

Yes we did made the top, but not only us. IMO if opener hears ♠ response it is possible to see game doing down.

I totally argee with it. :P One of the reason they call me MinorKid. So let's make the 3NT a descriptive forcing bid, to 4NT perhaps. Just for this example hand. If 3NT is forcing i can't see any better bids! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMO we know we have at least 11 tricks. All we have to find: ♣ second round control, in priority. ♥ control ♠ control ♦ AKQJ... so we support immediately, 4♦ then 5♣.

1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 3♣ 3♦ 3♥ 4♦ 5♦

If x is too much i'd pass. At least passing will not cause damage. If partner x i'd try 4♣.

IMO you need your partner to hold exactly ♠ AKQ(x) to let 3♠ bid worthwide, however his spades do not improve much futher even you did bid it. If he has 4,5+ ♠ he would had opened 1♦, through there's no garentee. The other side of the coin: You also need partner to hold at least ♦AKQxx or ♦ AKxxxxx to let 4♦ bid worthwide. But it is much more likely. I will bid 4♦ too. Planning to cue ♣. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Partner has 10 tricks, 20+HCP for 2♣ 3♦. With your ♣A and it is 11 tricks. There is no problem to push on with 4♦, and cue ♣ to see if he returns.

x IMO because of the void the hand is upgraded to play at 4-level. If p bids ♣ it would be a good thing.

P.S. Two points in favour that we are the top: It is hardly E-W stay quiet on other tables. It is hardly one would choose 6-1 fit rather than 7-3. But the character of Hong Kong people tend to be: Very Quiet Very Ambitious somehow "Aggressively"

If my old high-school friend was there there'd be autions like: 2♣ 2N 3♦ 3N 4♥ 7♥! :) The GOD hates this kind of buffing ... and gives LHO ♠KQJx :)

The get rid of this trouble, my p suggests: 1. Assume doubler has 1-4-4-4 2. How many HCP has doubler got? 3. Imagine his hand: Evenly distribute his honors among other three suits. 4. Make decision on my own.

I tried my software again and it "yelled" 6♥! 6♥! ... whatever third round of bidding was 3♦ 3♠ 3N or had the opps compete. I doubt there's someguy get over our score by 7♥. I decided it is our last game in the club if we had archieved the top, and try some other locations else perhaps after my yet coming busy exams. I will ask for the last week's score next Wednesday. Thx jjbr i am confident we did "great" but top of the board... thx all

IMO x of 4♠ is neagtive double, it can be passed but suggest to be taken-out. On the first oppotunity The x means IMO: short of spade rel. balance on other suits. and Strengh to 5-level with expected,average partner's strength. Partner just have to decide his own. :( 4NT over 4♠:any two suiter. Partner bids cheapest avaliable suit.

Maybe not. Then again it is about 100 % that ♣A that will be in the dummy. One of the sucessful act by partner --- he hides his ♣ and jump all the way to 7♦. So a passive lead or a lead of an Ace is likely.