[Phil]

Han included me and Haspel in a match with his Hoemies. Here's a few interesting decisions:

Long match.

1. r/w , Qx Ax QT9x AKJxx

2♥ - dbl - 4♥ - ?

2♥ is frequently 5.



2. Txx, AKJ, Jxx, AQxx

1N - 2♥
2♠ - 3♣
3♠ - 4♦ - x
4♥ - 5♥
?

3. r/w, KJT87x AT98xx x void

1♣ - (1♠) - ?

[JLOL]

1) This is not how haspel gave me the auction, not sure if you changed the auction on purpose or haspel gave it wrong. I would bid 5N with the given auction.

2) 6C seems clear, the 44 fit will be better and it might protect partners DK.

3) I'm sure this will be considered weird but I like passing with this. my goal is to describe my hand best by later bidding hearts rather than to penalize.

[xcurt]

1. 5NT seems clear. If hearts are 5422, maybe we can pitch my heart on a spade.

2. Partner has pretty much forced to slam, but I don't see how to get to 7 facing, eg, AKQTx, --, Axxx, KJxx, so I'll park it in 6♣.

3. I would pass too, but not because I hope to describe this hand later (I don't think I can) but because I think that 2♥ is going to endplay me into bidding 3♥ next round and then pulling 3NT to 4♥. 4♥ is going to play like a dog if partner doesn't have hearts too, so I think that passing is the best way to get some information. Plus, we might belong in spades anyway (Qx, x, AQxx, KQJ9xx).

[1eyedjack]

I was going to double 4H on hand 1 before I saw the other responses. So far I haven't changed my mind. Sure they may be stealing our 5m and the vul is perfect for the oppo. But I will settle for a plus a few hundred against a speculative 11.

Hand 2 I regret opening 1N now. What would pass of 4D show? Does 4H deny a diamond control? Anyway 6C along with the crowd. Same with passing hand 3, which to me seems the least contentious problem of the three.

[gnasher]

On 1, what's the difference between 5NT and 4NT followed by a raise?

[JLOL]

gnasher, on Apr 15 2009, 02:07 AM, said:

On 1, what's the difference between 5NT and 4NT followed by a raise?

It might help partner to know that you have a slam forcing hand so that he can bid 7 at appropriate times? Never thought about it.

[JLOL]

1eyedjack, on Apr 15 2009, 12:03 AM, said:

Hand 2 I regret opening 1N now.

LOL?

[whereagles]

Hum... HOK as in "Het HOK", the Amsterdam bridge club??

1. Dbl seems clear. To me, at least Will probably pass pard's 5m bid.

2. I hate it when pard makes undiscussed bids that I have to guess the meaning. Anyway, I don't like the looks of this, so sign off in 5♠.

3. Pass too. Pard's expected hand is some crazy 65 in the minors. If it isn't, he'll bid something and we get to show our hearts.

[Apollo81]

(2): What would pass of 4♦x have meant? If it shows a poor hand, then I'd have done that -- partner can XX if he wants me to cuebid anyway.

[Gerben42]

Quote

Hum... HOK as in "Het HOK", the Amsterdam bridge club??

Yep.

#1. 5NT

#2. 5♠, I don't like where this is going.

#3. I would bid 2♥ only if it is not forcing, otherwise pass.

[Apollo81]

1. 4NT then cuebid 5♥.

2. 6♣

3. Pass

[kfay]

Alert: Overbidder

1) I bid 4NT and follow it with a 5♥ cue.

Edit: Maybe this is too much.... gnasher has brought up the key idea I think.

2) Really tough. Why didn't partner save me the anguish and bid keycard? This makes my club suit righteous but my ♥ wastage sucks bigtime. If partner is 5-5 then 6♣ (and probably 6♠) is most likely laydown. Partner's failure to bid 4♣ is also a concern. I'm envisioning AKQxx x Axx J10xx. I go low with 5♠ I guess.

3) I just bid 2♥. I'm a simple man.

[mikeh]

1. 5N. I hadn't thought of 4N then 5♥ but while it is seductive, I don't think the hand is quite strong enough... that sequence is a grand slam try, and the hand doesn't merit that by itself... give me a stiff A of hearts, and maybe make one of my Queens a King and I would do it.

Anyone who doubles must hate bidding slams

2. 6♣: Sure, I have a poor hand in context, but maybe having nothing in diamonds is good news... and if the hand plays a trick better in clubs, then 6♣ has to be better than 5♠. I assume that we have denied any form of diamond control in this auction.

3. pass for now. Not sure what I am going to do later... I am not planning on leaving in a reopening double...we have too many hearts in that scenario.... may have a tough time catching up if he reopens 2♣.... but this may not be a real problem is this is as much of a misfit as that may suggest.

[whereagles]

mikeh, on Apr 15 2009, 04:00 PM, said:

Anyone who doubles must hate bidding slams

If you're trying to provoke me into biting, keep trying. You'll be doing that for a long time.

[Echognome]

1. 5NT. At least try to get to the right strain.

2. 6♣. Many reasons why this may be the best spot. The 4-4 can often be the better contract and protects partner's potential diamond card on the lead.

3. I think I would pass. Hate not to bid a 6 card heart suit. One alternative I haven't seen mentioned (maybe I'm blind) is double, planning on bidding hearts cheaply next round. We obviously don't expect partner to leave it in, but when we bid hearts next round, we have limited our hand.

[jdonn]

1. I like the 4NT then 5♥ plan.
2. 5♥ is a big bid, I'll offer 6♣.
3. I wouldn't have thought to pass, but since others thought of it for me I'll pass.

[Phil]

1. Justin, how did Haspel give you the hand? I'll check the record to see if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

Say you cue 4♥ instead of 5N (which is reasonable I think too). Is there much difference between that and some stronger initial actions? Does 4♥ imply spades for anyone?

2. 6♣ is indeed the winner. Pard held AKQJx x Kxx Kxxx. I bid 5♠ which is certainly horrible in retrospect (even five gets beat on a diamond through), but I pictured more like AKxxx, x, Axx, Kxxx for some reason.

3. I'll hold off on what I did here.

[JLOL]

Hard to cue 4H when they bid 4H!

[Phil]

JLOL, on Apr 15 2009, 10:28 PM, said:

Hard to cue 4H when they bid 4H!

Doh!, then they just raised to 3.

[Jlall]

Phil, on Apr 15 2009, 06:20 PM, said:

1. Justin, how did Haspel give you the hand? I'll check the record to see if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

Say you cue 4♥ instead of 5N (which is reasonable I think too).

Quote

Doh!, then they just raised to 3.

I loled.

Over 3H I would start with double, what happens?