[dburn]

Out in the silent Rockies
Tracking the teddy bears,
There's a man whose brow is furrowed,
Whose hairs are silver hairs.
Folks in that far-off region
Know him as Jaundiced Jim,
And now I'll tell you his story.
How do I know it? I'm him.

---

You play a strong no trump, five-card majors, and not all that much else. What call do you make?

If you would not open 1♥, you may consider yourself barred from the next episode. But if you would, there is more.

[zhams]

open 2c then 4H,or namyats.

[the hog]

1H

[gnasher]

I'd open 1♥.

This looks like the sort of hand where the vulnerability and form of scoring might become relevant later in the auction.

[FrancesHinden]

I could open a Benji 2♣ because it's a rule-of-25 hand, but I'll probably stick with 1H for now.

[dburn]

You open 1♥, LHO bids 2♦, partner passes and RHO bids 2♠ (forcing). What call do you make?

[gnasher]

gnasher, on 2011-March-26, 03:28, said:

This looks like the sort of hand where the vulnerability and form of scoring might become relevant later in the auction.

Go on, tell us. You know it makes sense.

[mangosteen]

gnasher, on 2011-March-26, 09:27, said:

Go on, tell us. You know it makes sense.

It was IMPs Pairs, you are vul and opponents are non-vul.

[mtvesuvius]

I open 1♥ and rebid 4♥ now

[FrancesHinden]

I'll bid 4♥ now. When someone bids 5♦ I won't know what to do, but I can't see how to solve that problem this round.

[pooltuna]

mtvesuvius, on 2011-March-26, 11:35, said:

I open 1♥ and rebid 4♥ now

He said what "call do you make" not "bid to you make" oh wait the dog needs to go outside for a walk

[mtvesuvius]

FrancesHinden, on 2011-March-26, 12:24, said:

I'll bid 4♥ now. When someone bids 5♦ I won't know what to do, but I can't see how to solve that problem this round.

Well, some sort of autosplinter of 4♦ is possible, but I have no idea what that should show, or what it should do/create. I think I'd bid on over 5♦, but it's quite difficult.

[whereagles]

4♥. The timing is right: opps don't have spades, so they'll have a hard time discovering their minor suit fit.

[y66]

5H for me Jimbo.

[the hog]

4H now looks canonical to quote Nuno.

[dburn]

gnasher, on 2011-March-26, 03:28, said:

I'd open 1♥.

This looks like the sort of hand where the vulnerability and form of scoring might become relevant later in the auction.

My apologies. The scoring is IMPs (Butler pairs, not teams of four). You are vulnerable, the opponents are not.

Whatever you do at your second turn, your left-hand opponent will bid the lowest sufficient number of spades less than five, or will pass. Your partner will pass; and your right-hand opponent will also bid the lowest sufficient number of spades less than five, or will pass. What call do you now make?

[nigel_k]

Open 1♥ and rebid 4♥. I will probably have to bid 5♥ next but might buy it in 4♥. Stranger things have happened.

[gnasher]

I too would bid 4♥ on the second round. 4♦ may well show a 4♥ bid with short diamonds, but I don't really want to partner to start upgrading club honours. I think I'll have to make all the decisions myself.

Now it's gone

1♥ 2♦ pass 2♠
4♥ 4♠ pass pass

It feels a bit wet, but I think I'll let them play there. In 5♥, even if they start with a spade lead, they'll switch to a trump at trick two. Unless the spades are Qxx-Axxxx and partner has two hearts, I can't see eleven tricks.

If I could double 4♠ for penalties, I might do that, but partner will probably think it's more of an action double. So far he's done very well to keep quiet about his club suit, but he might not be able to resist a third time.

[Free]

1♥ opening, followed by 4♥, looks like a WTP for me.

[pio_magic]

dburn, on 2011-March-27, 11:50, said:

lowest sufficient number of spades less than five, or will pass. What call do you now make?

So the questions is: 5♥. X. Pass.

I will bid 4♥ first that my partner knows more about my hand. Since I am unlikely to make 5!h and they have excellent chances not to make 4♠ I'll try my best. Probably lead the ♣.

P