[EarlPurple]

We have polls on here, but never mind.

1.
all vulnerable (pairs)
1093
AJ9754
42
A4

pass - pass - 1D - 1H
pass - 1NT - 2D - ?

I'd probably have bid 2H first time around - saves me a problem now but my partner may have defence to 2D - presumably 1NT showed some values in that suit and they are badly placed if I am playing a heart contract so I must go silently. 2NT would be a better bid than 2H if partner can provide me Qx and be able to run the suit.

2.
all vulnerable (teams)
9
AQJ8
AK942
AK3

What do you open?

1D, what else? You only open a strong bid when partner might be able to give you game on a hand where he can't respond now, but he'll need quite a lot to give me game here.

3.
we vulnerable, they not (teams)
K543
AK94
A6
AK7

3D - Dbl - pass - 3S
pass - ?

4D. May as well make one attempt, but will pass if partner simply bids 4S, and will bid 4S over 4H.

[EarlPurple]

Quote

1. Partner had:
QJ82
6
K873
KJ95

The 1NT bid wasn't the greatest. 2H went down, because they were waiting behind you with KQ832 in hearts! This contract was doubled, but many people bid 2H... Pass is the best bid.

The 1NT bid is totally correct, I have made a vulnerable overcall and partner is maximum for his pass. What else can he bid? I could have 17 points (I am one of those players who makes simple overcalls on strong hands, which is the modern approach). I agree that with the hand I actually hold pass is now the best option.

Quote

2. Partner had:
A872
9643
1085
104

If you open 1D, partner can pass, it depends on style. You'd think you missed 4H, but again the trumps were K1052 behind you, and 4H went -1. Nevertheless 4H is the contract to play. At the table partner passed and 1D was a good contract. But 4H is the contract you should be playing. Maybe 2C or another strong opening?

In 4H I lose 2 trumps, a diamond and?

Quote

3. Partner had:
AQ109
863
1095
Q65

4S was no problem, 5S makes because you can ruff a D, 6S has no chance at all. Do you like the 3S bid?

Of course I'd expect partner to bid 3S on that. My double is take-out and he bid his best suit, which is what I requested. If I held that hand and partner doubled and bid 4D over my 3S I would rebid 4S.

[helium]

1 pass
2 1 d
3 4 s

[everton]

1) Pass
2) 2C - I don't want to play my cold game in 1D
3) 4S - good controls but I don't have that much to spare. If partner can't jump, I don't think there will be a play for 6, and we haven't made 4S yet.

[inquiry]

How did I miss a shot at free beer....

1) Pass. I have bid 1H vul, that is enough. If it is right to compete, partner still have another bid. Hint.. try not to bid the same values twice.

2) 1D. There simply is no other choice in my system. If I open 2C with this hand, I have no way to stop below game other than to pass an artificial 2H negative response and hope my partner has hearts (shudder).

3) 4S. When I double one of these preempts, I "expect" partner to have about 7 to 8 points. His 3S bid should show no more than about that much (unfortunately, he sometimes doesn't have the points I rely upon him...maybe I need a parnter than can catch the right hands for me). So my flat 21 versus his roughly 8 at best is 29. Even counting one for the doubleton, not enough to risk getting too high. He will think his 6,7 hcp hand is golden if I start cue bidding.

[Free]

And the winner is: ...

[Azzkikr]

1. 2H, you have very little defense. i dont think you pard needs much to make 2H or one off in 2H but it seems values are spread equally. but even though you have 2 bullets you could have saved some problems by just overcalling 2H. might encourage the opps to ocmpetet to 3D.

2. just open 1D no point in jumping around if pard doesnt have any cards.

3. just bid 4S you r pard should move with any values(8/9+) so you shouldnt be concerned about missing slam.