[jahol]

1) Sitting south, non-vulnerable against vulnerable, IMPs, you have this not very motivating hand

A3---Q742---J83---6543

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
...................................................pass
2C(1)--------pass-------2D(2)--------pass
3D(3)--------pass--------3H----------dbl
3S------------pass-------3NT----------pass
5S------------pass-------???

(1)...strong
(2)...waiting
(3)...natural, GF

What does your partner have?



2) Sitting north, vulnerable against non-vulnerable, IMPs, you have this not very motivating hand

J4---943---A8---KJ8754

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
..................................1H---------- pass
1NT(1)-------2D---------3C-----------5D
????

(1)...invitational hand, if H fit is shown later

What do you bid?


3) Sitting south, vulnerable against nonvulnerable, IMPs, you have this not very motivating hand

84---KQ763---J86---AQ3

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
1C-----------pass---------1H----------2D
pass(1)------3D----------????

(1)...less than 3 hearts

What do you bid?


4) Sitting north, vulnerable against non-vulnerable, you have this motivating hand

Q982---Q8632---void---AK84

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
1H-----------pass--------2D(1)------ pass
2S(2)--------pass--------3D----------pass
3NT----------pass--------4D----------pass
???

(1)...GF
(2)...just spades, not promising any extra points

What do you bid?

Does it make any difference, if the bidding is

North--------East--------South-------West
1H-----------pass--------2D(1)------ pass
2S(2)--------pass--------4D?

What is the difference? What does your partner hold in the first and second case?


Thank you in advance for any advice...

[FrancesHinden]

1.
Partner has lots of diamonds, nearly as many spades, and a huge hand.

I should be embarrassed by my 3NT bid last round holding a very dodgy heart stop (and 3H was doubled, I assume for penalties), nothing in clubs and 3-card diamond support. 4D would seem obvious over 3S.

I am tempted to bid 7D to catch up, but if I could think of showing a good 6D bid some way I would do.

2.
I would have raised 1H to 2H, rather than call this an invite at the 3-level.
Now I have to double 5D and hope for the best.

3.
Partner sounds as if he is 4225. I would double 3D for take-out, and bid 4C over 3S, which he can pass if he wants, or bid 5C if he is 4216, or possibly bid 4H if he has a suitable hand with Ax in hearts. The 5-2 heart fit might play well (KQxx Ax x KJxxxx, say). I'm being a bit optimistic - there may be no game anywhere on the hand, but it's imps.

4. On the first auction I bid 4NT as long as that shows a bad and unstuiable hand.
On the second auction diamonds have been set as trumps and partner is demanding I cue bid, so I bid 5C (unhappily).

[mgoetze]

1. It depends what my alternatives to 2♦ were. If I had a "double negative" 2♥ available, I'll bid 6♦, otherwise 7♦.

2. I don't think our hands fit well for slam (no heart honours), and I have the ♦A - double for penalties.

3. Unless partner is fond of opening light, I'll try 3NT.

4a. 5♦, a conventional bid meaning "shut up, please".

4b. Agree with Frances.

[Fluffy]

jahol, on May 8 2007, 10:17 AM, said:

North--------East--------South-------West
...................................................pass
2C(1)--------pass-------2D(2)--------pass
3D(3)--------pass--------3H----------dbl
3S------------pass-------3NT----------pass
5S------------pass-------???


What does your partner have?

My partner has..... to find a new partner after this deal

Now seriously I hope he has KQxx - AKxxxxxxx -

maybe something similar. 7 should be cold.

Quote

North--------East--------South-------West
..................................1H---------- pass
1NT(1)-------2D---------3C-----------5D
????

What do you bid? 

pass

Quote

North--------East--------South-------West
1C-----------pass---------1H----------2D
pass(1)------3D----------????


What do you bid?

double

Quote

4) Sitting north, vulnerable against non-vulnerable, you have this motivating hand

(2)...just spades, not promising any extra points

What do you bid?

Sitting north and playing (2) is an inconsistency, wouldn't sit there

Ok, first 5♦ sing off, second 5♣ cuebid (stonger)

[whereagles]

1. 6♦. I'm playing pard for a 2-loser 65 hand, of which I cover one. If he has ♥xx... well, sh*t happens

2. 5♥. Why didn't I bid 2♥ before?

3. dbl and bid 4♣ over pard's eventual 3♠. I'm actually hoping pard passes this dbl gawd I hate support doubles...

4. 4NT, to play. And I don't know what's the difference between the 2 sequences.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

#1 6-5, I bid 6D
#2 double, I have a def. trick
and partner opened
I would have liked to show club
support, but no idea if 6C makes
#3 Pass, they got me, and partner
is still there, if I double, I will hear
spades
#4 5D, what else?
If it goes down, and partner is angry,
he has my sympathy
Most likely the 2nd seq. sets trumps,
the first may still imply interest in a
different strain, but given your hand,
I dont care

With kind regards
Marlowe

[jdonn]

jahol, on May 8 2007, 05:17 AM, said:

1) Sitting south, non-vulnerable against vulnerable, IMPs, you have this not very motivating hand

A3---Q742---J83---6543

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
...................................................pass
2C(1)--------pass-------2D(2)--------pass
3D(3)--------pass--------3H----------dbl
3S------------pass-------3NT----------pass
5S------------pass-------???

2) Sitting north, vulnerable against non-vulnerable, IMPs, you have this not very motivating hand

J4---943---A8---KJ8754

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
..................................1H---------- pass
1NT(1)-------2D---------3C-----------5D
????

3) Sitting south, vulnerable against nonvulnerable, IMPs, you have this not very motivating hand

84---KQ763---J86---AQ3

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
1C-----------pass---------1H----------2D
pass(1)------3D----------????

4) Sitting north, vulnerable against non-vulnerable, you have this motivating hand

Q982---Q8632---void---AK84

and the bidding up to now was:

North--------East--------South-------West
1H-----------pass--------2D(1)------ pass
2S(2)--------pass--------3D----------pass
3NT----------pass--------4D----------pass
???

(1)...GF
(2)...just spades, not promising any extra points

1) I have to say this every time, 3♥ is silly! When we have support raise partner, you failed to do so twice. 4♦ is the only correct bid over 3♦. At this point 7♦ is clearly correct if partner can be at all trusted.

Why do people have this aversion to raising partner just because the suit is a minor?

2) 5♥, if they double I may decide to run to clubs, but I'm sure as heck not defending 5♦.

3) Double, wtp? It just shows points.

4) 5♦ unless you want to lose a partner, or have agree this to be NF.

[hatchett]

1. I agree with those that say we should have raised♦s earlier. Having got to this stage we have an enormous hand; I would bid 7♦

2. 5♥

3. Double

4. The second sequence should set ♦ and demand cue-bidding
On the first sequence I would bid 5♦ and in the second sequence I would bid 5♣.

[Codo]

1. As anybody I spoiled the bidding so far and now have to guess. I guess 6 Diamond, not 7, but this is close.

2. 5 Heart, we have a huge double fit, I will never ever defend 5 Diamond with this hand. But again my bidding so far had created the problems.

3. X business

4. 4 Heart (I really dislike diamonds) and 5 Club ( forced)

I may agree on some new bidding agreements after these disasters:
1. Support with support
2. Support even more often with support.
3. a reverse is stronger then a weak opening.

Yes this sounds like real hot and new stuff, but try it, it works.

[inquiry]

1. Wish we were playing Misiry, I would know rather than have to guess what to do. But partner is forcing to slam opposite pressumed wasted values in hearts -- A gun was held to my head and forced me to bid 3NT. And I have an unexpected trick (spade ACE). If Seven doesn't make, I will be very unhappy with the leap to 5♠. I suspect partner holds KQJxx void AKQTxx A or similiar.

2. Raise with support is an idea I very much like. I would have raised hearts on the first round like everyone else. Now I have blind decision, double or finally show my support. If I had raised initially, I could pass having shown my values and support, or I could double. I have to wonder where the spades are. Sounds like they have double fit as do we. So I will abstain, as itis difficult for me to get partner's input as I have kept him the dark and now I have to make a utilateral decision. If the director comes to the table and says I must bid, I will doube.

3. Dbl, correct 3S to 4C, 4S to 5C, pass 3H, pass 4C, pass 3NT, pass 4H.

4a. 4NT - after I tried to signoff in 3NT, this is not blackwood, nor forward going. Partner will probably place the contract with his next bid. He has been warned.

4b. 5C - 4D in a game forcing auction sets trumps and is strong slam try. 5C tells partner that I lack ACE or KING in either major, and that I have ACE or KING of clubs. He can probably reconstruct my AK (or AQ) of clubs for this bid, with at most Queen in both majors and the fact that his diamonds probably have all the high honors. To have an opening bid then, requires two top clubs.

[Apollo81]

I'm going to disagree with many of the posts so far.

Quote

A3---Q742---J83---6543

3♥ was a bad bid (prefer 4♦). I'm not 100% sure I should bid 7♦. I would probably bid 6♣ and pass if partner bid 6♦.

Quote

J4---943---A8---KJ8754

1NT was a bad bid (prefer 2♥). I would bid 6♣. IMO the chance that this is down when 5♥ makes is less than the chance that we will play in 5♥ (making or otherwise) when 6♣ is cold were I to bid 5♥. I strongly prefer 5♥ to double.

Quote

84---KQ763---J86---AQ3

At MPs I would certainly double, but I do not like doubling partscores at IMPs unless we have them down 2 for nearly sure. I would bid 4♣ on this hand. I suspect partner is 3226.

Quote

Q982---Q8632---void---AK84

First auction: 4NT if it is natural and NF. 5♦ otherwise.
Second auction: I thought most people played this as RKC in diamonds. If this isn't what it means, then I would bid 5♦. I refuse to cuebid when my hand strength is unknown and I have the worst possible hand for partner.

[jdonn]

Apollo81, on May 9 2007, 10:01 AM, said:

I'm going to disagree with many of the posts so far.

Quote

A3---Q742---J83---6543

3♥ was a bad bid (prefer 4♦). I'm not 100% sure I should bid 7♦. I would probably bid 6♣ and pass if partner bid 6♦.

Quote

J4---943---A8---KJ8754

1NT was a bad bid (prefer 2♥). I would bid 6♣. IMO the chance that this is down when 5♥ makes is less than the chance that we will play in 5♥ (making or otherwise) when 6♣ is cold were I to bid 5♥. I strongly prefer 5♥ to double.

Quote

84---KQ763---J86---AQ3

At MPs I would certainly double, but I do not like doubling partscores at IMPs unless we have them down 2 for nearly sure. I would bid 4♣ on this hand. I suspect partner is 3226.

Quote

Q982---Q8632---void---AK84

First auction: 4NT if it is natural and NF. 5♦ otherwise.
Second auction: I thought most people played this as RKC in diamonds. If this isn't what it means, then I would bid 5♦. I refuse to cuebid when my hand strength is unknown and I have the worst possible hand for partner.

1) I don't understand this at all. How can someone not think a working ace and unshown support opposite a slam force is worth a grand. And Ben....you know exactly what to do, you aren't guessing! Partner shows a strong hand with spades and diamonds and only one loser, and you know what that loser is, and you cover it, and even if he was taking a chance in diamonds you have that covered. What am I missing?

3) Since when is this a penalty double? If there were a book about what a double shows in this position, this hand would be on the cover. It shows the strength to be bidding and no clear direction. Frankly if partner did pass I'd expect down 3, maybe 2 on a bad day. It does not show a stack.

Whereagles, support doubles helped us here they didn't hurt us. They allow partner to bid 3♥ on a doubleton honor over my double if he is stuck. Why complain about a convention that just made the auction a lot easier

4) Unless 4♦ is agreed as something else, like RKC, doesn't it say "please cuebid with your unknown strength even if you have the worst possible hand"? Partner will be annoyed when he holds A A AKQJxxxxx xx since he will think you have the real worst possible hand, KQJxx KQJxx x Qx.

[FrancesHinden]

I didn't notice partner's 3C bid on the second hand. Ignore my double.

[Apollo81]

jdonn, on May 9 2007, 11:27 AM, said:

1) I don't understand this at all. How can someone not think a working ace and unshown support opposite a slam force is worth a grand. And Ben....you know exactly what to do, you aren't guessing! Partner shows a strong hand with spades and diamonds and only one loser, and you know what that loser is, and you cover it, and even if he was taking a chance in diamonds you have that covered. What am I missing?

3) Since when is this a penalty double? If there were a book about what a double shows in this position, this hand would be on the cover. It shows the strength to be bidding and no clear direction. Frankly if partner did pass I'd expect down 3, maybe 2 on a bad day. It does not show a stack.

Whereagles, support doubles helped us here they d3.  dn't hurt us. They allow partner to bid 3♥ on a doubleton honor over my double if he is stuck. Why complain about a convention that just made the auction a lot easier

4) Unless 4♦ is agreed as something else, like RKC, doesn't it say "please cuebid with your unknown strength even if you have the worst possible hand"? Partner will be annoyed when he holds A A AKQJxxxxx xx since he will think you have the real worst possible hand, KQJxx KQJxx x Qx.

3. Kxx Ax xx KJxxxx. Clubs are 3-1 and hearts are 4-2. How many tricks are you taking on defense? I know a reasonable number of people share my view about IMP partscore doubles. Note that partner can have the sQ too and they might still make it on normal breaks. Partner can have some other worse-for-defense shapes too where he might not bid 3♣ over 2♦ for various reasons, or things might break worse than normal. I even think folding this hand is not that far out in left field.

I suppose the theme for the other two is that your assumptions about what bids might mean in these auctions seem a little different than mine. KQJ10x -- AKQxxx Ax (KQ) looks like a 5♠ bid to me, and 6♣ looks like it shows a trick. On the diamond hand I may technically be in the wrong about the requiredness of a 5♣ cue, but IMO the number of hands like you suggest (partner needs a second round club control and can't figure out whether I have one even though I opened) is smaller than the number of hands where my hand just doesn't provide enough for slam or the "solid" diamonds break badly.

[jdonn]

I won't harp on the others any more (except to say I think your example of a 5♠ bid for partner is ridiculous - we bid partner's void and never showed support, and he thinks 4♠ doesn't show his hand after opening 2♣?), but when you double 3♦, which is not a penalty double, why would partner pass on a minimum with xx of diamonds and a six card suit? I would bid 3♥, taking advantage of apparently having already denied three, but 4♣ is acceptable. Pass isn't. Everything you are saying makes it sound like you think double is for penalties, which it's not. It shows a hand just like this one.

[FrancesHinden]

Apollo81, on May 9 2007, 05:57 PM, said:

KQJ10x -- AKQxxx Ax (KQ) looks like a 5♠ bid to me,

What on earth do you think a 4S bid looks like, if that's a 5S bid?

[Apollo81]

jdonn, on May 9 2007, 01:02 PM, said:

(except to say I think your example of a 5♠ bid for partner is ridiculous - we bid partner's void and never showed support, and he thinks 4♠ doesn't show his hand after opening 2♣?)

ok ok i guess so

[Fluffy]

whereagles, on May 8 2007, 02:54 PM, said:

4. 4NT, to play. And I don't know what's the difference between the 2 sequences.

It is the quality of the suit

[whereagles]

jdonn, on May 9 2007, 03:27 PM, said:

Whereagles, support doubles helped us here they didn't hurt us. They allow partner to bid 3♥ on a doubleton honor over my double if he is stuck. Why complain about a convention that just made the auction a lot easier

by all means, if supp dbls helped you, keep using them. I'm just allergic to them... lol. Mostly because dbl is such a nice and flexible bid that it's a shame to squander it to show any 3 card support.

I prefer the Robson/Segal scheme, where you just support with a 3 card suit if the hand is distributional. That keeps dbl for hands where you want to bid and are really stuck.

[cherdano]

jdonn, on May 9 2007, 09:27 AM, talking about 1H-2D-2S-3D-3N-4D, said:

4) Unless 4♦ is agreed as something else, like RKC, doesn't it say "please cuebid with your unknown strength even if you have the worst possible hand"? Partner will be annoyed when he holds A A AKQJxxxxx xx since he will think you have the real worst possible hand, KQJxx KQJxx x Qx.

I would think that this hand would jump 4♦ in the second round, which would show solid trumps and force partner to cuebid. The slower sequence shows partner needs more, either a little help in diamonds, or some useful strength.

I would still cue 5♣, since it shows a lot about my hand.