A couple of hands...

[Foxx]

1) 7♦. Partner's five-six, with all suits controlled. Maybe five-seven. Whatever partner needs, I have it. Even ♠KQJ10x ♥---- ♦AKQxxx ♣AQ, pretty much a bare minimum for partner's bidding, gives us around a 70% chance.

 

2) 6♣. Yes, I'm taking a real high dive here, and this could easily have me feeling sick after the hand. But partner has extra playing strength and I have six-card support. I'd love there to be a way to show it without going out on a limb. Any heart finesses needed will be working through the overcaller.

 

3) Double. Action. I want partner to do something intelligent. With 4-2-2-5 shape, the honor location will guide the way for partner. I am prepared to convert 3♠ to 4♣ with opener pretty much marked with five clubs.

 

4) 4NT if it's natural, otherwise 5♣. We'll have a better idea about where to go if I show where my values are now. What's more, maybe partner is sitting on a four-card club suit, in which case that strain won't play worse than any other.

 

In the second case, 5♦. Partner's diamonds are sound yet I'm about to put down a junk dummy. Time to hit the brakes.

[jahol]

First deal:

 

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=skqj106hdakq965caj&w=s852hak983d104ck107&e=s974hj1065d72cq982&s=sa3hq742dj83c6543]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

I was North and the final contract was 6D (although my partner was thinking very long about what I had). With diamonds 2-2, 7D can be made. In my opinion, 4S (instead of 5S) would not have shown the real power of my hand (what should I bid with just 5-4 distribution, 22-24 points, but not that many tricks in my hand?). During our discussion, we agreed that 4D bid from his side was probably better than 3NT bid.

 

 

Second deal:

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=skqj106hdakq965caj&w=s852hak983d104ck107&e=s974hj1065d72cq982&s=sa3hq742dj83c6543]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

I agree that my 1NT bid was controversial, but it seems to me, that simple 2H raising does not interprete strength of the hand (clubs may start very attractive in many auctions). Finally, I decided to bid 5H (as some of you have proposed) and that was the contract made (after singleton club lead). 6C is the best contract due to HK in the right hand (what can be expected with not bad probability on the base of the auction). Still, I can hardly blame my partner.... Looks like 4H would have been final contract after my 2H bid....

 

 

Third deal:

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=skqj106hdakq965caj&w=s852hak983d104ck107&e=s974hj1065d72cq982&s=sa3hq742dj83c6543]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

In the situation described, south doubled, north (me) bid 3S and south 4C. Should north have passed? I was thinking for a long time (4H is some alternative, I think) and but finally bid 5C contract, which was doubled by E.

 

 

Fourth deal:

[hv=d=w&v=e&n=skqj106hdakq965caj&w=s852hak983d104ck107&e=s974hj1065d72cq982&s=sa3hq742dj83c6543]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

As you can see, 6D is laydown. I would prefer immediate 2D-4D bid from the south.

[Apollo81]

[jdonn]

Overall you were pretty reasonable on these hands.

 

1: You would pass 3NT with the hand you describe, it sounds like a minimum with no extra shape. On this hand 5♠ was an overbid, partly due to the club loser and partly since your diamonds aren't as solid as they look (why can't partner be like 2515?) If your jack of clubs was a small diamond your bidding was perfect. On what you had 4♠ is plenty, you have already opened 2♣! 5♠ accuses partner of being unable to evaluate his hand.

 

3: Partner should pass 4♣. Your auction was perfect, it would get you to 5♣ if partner was 4216 instead of defending 3♦ undoubled had you passed. I still can't believe some people would pass. Partner had a 12 count with the least possible shape, and the hands are on a 3-3 break for game!

 

4: You are right about 2♦ 4♦. The people who didn't want to cuebid for partner had he bid that way should take a good look at his actual hand.