[rogerclee]

MP, r/w, 2nd seat

Tx xxx KQx KQJxx

1H P 2H X
3H ?

edit: changed the hand

MP, r/r, 2nd seat

KTx Txx Q9x KQxx

1H P 1N 2S
P ?

Partner is aggressive, if you pass it goes X P 3D ? back to you, your opponents are non-terrible.
edit: If you bid 3S it goes X P 4D ? back to you.

[kayin801]

X on first, any other bid is too committal and P is too wimpy. I don't think this is pure penalty but I don't think it necessarily commands partner to bid though. If partner leaves it in I lead a trump and I don't see where they're getting 9 tricks from. I think we get 100 frequently and 300 a lot of the time we would be getting 130.

3♠ on the second, I have 3♥ available as a better spade raise below game and partner did make a 2 level red overcall.

[655321]

First hand I would pass because it seems that with this soft aceless hand we will often have 4 tricks to lose. Still, bidding 4♣ could easily work, perhaps it is cold, perhaps opponents make 3♥ and don't double 4♣ when it is one down, perhaps they take the push to 4♥ and go down... almost convinced myself to bid!

Second hand I would always raise to 3♠ immediately.

[Fluffy]

I cannot pass first hand, partner is unlimitted, even slam is possible. I'd bid 4♣.

Second had again partner is unlimitted, so 3♠, close to 3♥.

[Cascade]

Not sure about the "pass" comment. I will pass neither hand.

1. 4♣ and I think it is an underbid.

2. 3♠ the shape and soft values convince me not to make a stronger raise.

[nigel_k]

4♣ on the first. I think there are many normal layouts where we make and they are down only one.

Second one 3♠ is plenty as I like partner to bid 2♠ quite aggressively in this situation and I have soft values but still clearly too much to pass. I would seriously consider passing if partner had bid 2♠ non vul.

[cherdanno]

4♣ and 3♠.
On the first one, I like the chances that partner has a heart singleton. In that case, 4♣ will usually make.

[the hog]

4C on the first and 3H showing a good S raise on the second.

[rogerclee]

Both of these hands were my (strong) opponents' problems.

1) My opponent bid 5C which turned out to be terrible. The last making contract was 2H actually, even 3C is down. Partner has AQJx Jx xxx Axxx.
2) My opponent passed both times which I found surprising. Opps can make ten tricks in diamonds or 9 tricks in hearts on a spade lead, 3S (doubled) is down 1 on a club ruff (partner has Q98xxx xxx A Axx).

[pooltuna]

1) This looks like shooting for a very small target but I would try - 4♣

2)I think I have the values for a 4♠ raise but not the distribution so 3♠

[whereagles]

rogerclee, on Oct 17 2010, 10:39 PM, said:

1. MP, r/w, 2nd seat

Tx xxx KQx KQJxx

1H P 2H X
3H ?


2. MP, r/r, 2nd seat

KTx Txx Q9x KQxx

1H P 1N 2S
P ?

Partner is aggressive, if you pass it goes X P 3D ? back to you, your opponents are non-terrible.
edit: If you bid 3S it goes X P 4D ? back to you.

1. I have to do something... 4♣. Would have overcalled 2♣ the round before, though.

2. Pass throughout because when everybody's bidding, I tend to trust opps the most

[Cascade]

whereagles, on Oct 18 2010, 08:31 PM, said:

Pass throughout because when everybody's bidding, I tend to trust opps the most

It is getting hard to find decent partners.

[mcphee]

The first problem I like dble which lets us get to 3N when partner can bid it, 4C is not enough so double seems to cover most of the base pads.

Second was easy 3S raise and when 4D comes back to me I can now Double to play for 200. If partner is 6-4 in the blacks suits maybe he will come to life now that we've turned up the heat.

[Fluffy]

mcphee, on Oct 18 2010, 09:35 AM, said:

The first problem I like dble which lets us get to 3N when partner can bid it, 4C is not enough so double seems to cover most of the base pads.

If partner bids 3NT double will be best, but is in likelly, even possible?.

I though the risk of playing 3♥X with such high ODR was not worth the benefits.

[MFA]

1. 4♣. A slight underbid, but 5♣ is too optimistic. I don't see hoping for 3NT. Our tricks are so slow that we need specific cards; heart stopper + both minor suit aces or heart stopper + ♣A + ♠AKQ. Even if he did bid 3NT over a double it would be against the odds to pass it in my opinion.
Passing 3♥ is not an option.

2. 3♠. I would always raise here but it is easy to see that passing could be right.

[rhm]

1) 4♣, which is about right on values.
2) Pass. Partner is likely to hold 3 cards in ♥ under the opening bidder. You have rubbish. Will bid 3♠ over 3♦.

Rainer Herrmann

[hanp]

4C and 3S. I think 3S is quite clear, 4C less so because I don't think we have game and I hate to burn partner for competing.