[JLOGIC]

Some of these might not be that interesting/hard but they swung a lot of imps in Fort lauderdale last week which I'd say was easily one of the hardest regionals I've ever seen.

1) K Txxx --- AT8xxxxx

R vs W, RHO opens 2S showing weak with spades and a minor. Do you overcall?

2) xx KT8x AQJ98x T. Bidding all by you:

1D 2C
2D 2S*
3D 3H
3N 4C
4D 5N

-2S did not promise 4 as you were not in a GF and most other rebids would be NF.

-You could have bid 2N instead of 3D, thoughts on this?

-3H at the time was usually a stopper ask, but obv when partner pulls to 4C he's showing something in hearts.

-5N is pick a slam

3) Kxx Qx Jxx ATxxx. R vs W

P P 1H* 2D ?

1H is precision style, limited to 15. Say you double (feel free to comment on this). The auction continues:

P P 1H 2D
X 3D 4D P
4H p 4S p
?

What is your call?

[hrothgar]

1. Love my shape, however the hand is just too weak for a three level overcall.
If there was ever a time when I wanted to preempt over their preempt, it would be now.
Sadly, I don't get to play adjective overcalls.

2. What would 3♥ over 2♠ have shown? (2NT didn't cross my mind)

I'm bidding 6♥ over 5N

3. What is partner's opening style with two suiters?

Would partner prefer 1♣ or 1♥ with some 5=6=0=2 15 count?

[awm]

1. I'd pass. The shape does make bidding tempting but this hand is just too awful and it's easy to see partner going overboard. If opponents do something that tends to imply a big fit I might back in later though.

2. What did 2♦ show? If it's just a waiting bid then 3♦ seems obvious; if it promised at least a fifth diamond then I prefer 2NT over 3♦. Anyway 5NT seems to be asking us to pick a minor suit slam as it's pretty clear we don't have a major suit fit. We already implied a good diamond suit but it's quite possible to have doubleton club on this auction and we have only one. I'd go with 6♦.

3. I would not have doubled; my first choice would've been pass and second choice 2♥. In the actual auction it seems like partner is showing four spades with diamond shortage and a good hand. We might have slam but it's easy to imagine a club loser and a slow major suit loser (i.e AQxx AKxxxx - Qxx might be a typical partner hand and I think a point lighter with this kind of shape is also possible). I'd just pass 4♠ at this point; slam will be optimistic at best, not to mention that 6♥ will often be better than 6♠ and it'll be hard to get there.

[JLOGIC]

On 2, 2D did show a 5th diamond.

On 3 do people think 4H is a passable bid, and partner would bid 4D then pass with 4S and 6H? If it's not passable does that mean it was last train (and that I shouldn't have bid it)? If 4D guarantees 4 spades that implies that 3505 and 3604 can never bid 4D, is that correct?

Richard, 3H would not be natural on 2 over 2S, I think I'd bid it with Axx xxx AKJxx xx or something. Partner might upgrade some 15's.

[bluecalm]

1. 3♣. No doubts for me. It makes very good slam opposite 4 card support and not much else (or even nothing else) and if partner doubles them he won't be disappointed either. I don' see myself passing if the jump in diamonds anyway so I should bid now.

2. 6♦ again seems to be clear. I guess partner have stiff K if the bidding is natural. It can be useful to ruff a club in my hand to establish the suit.

3.Too much depends on agreements. If 4D was choice of games then he could be 4-5-1-3 and I need to bid 5♣ if it was all natural he can have very powerful hand with 4spades (like AQxx AKJxxx x xx). Anywya, I pass, if no agreements then any action is too risky imo and 4♠ is often reasonable spot.

[kayin801]

1. Pass (emphasis on the ) It could be a nice surprise later, and partner still has a chance to bid.

2. Would have bid 2N, partner had the choice to bid 2♥ as well, I assume. 6♣ now, I think it would have been reasonable to show clubs after 2♠ with 3 of them and after 4♣ with 2 of them. Partner should correct with a non-solid 6 bagger or worse. I've had worse stiffs then the 10.

3. 5♣, Axxx, AKxxxxx, -, Kx isn't impossible and is consistent with the auction. I'll sign off if partner can't cue his void. Agree with X, though 3♣ isn't awful since we're passed.

[JLOGIC]

Of course if you think 4D agrees spades and 4H is last train it might be circular and imply I should not X ever with this hand, which I can easily be convinced of!

[Flameous]

1. I'd love to but I just can't bring myself to do it. (No, I don't even know whether I mean bid or pass)

2. I was going with 6♦ but after I read kayins reply, I came to same conclusion that I should bid 6♣ since with anything better I have already supported. Only question is that did 4♣ set trumps which makes my 4♦ a cuebid in support of clubs, now I'd go back to 6♦ again.

3. I play that responsive double guarantees 4 card major (or gf strength) These hands are horrible for that style. This is quite alright still as it's not too hard to pass, but in a similar sequence I held Qxx xx xx AKTxxx and I just don't see a good solution. Of course it has its upsides that it's always 4 like here.
Note that with limited openers I'd always bid 2M with these sort of hands as it could be quite weak raise so partner won't skyrocket and we can usually probe for NT. With unlimited openings it's bit harder as partner is more often bidding 4M, also on 5 cards.

[whereagles]

1. No overcall. Would if the singleton K were in another suit.

2. Bidding is fine, though I've clue what's going on. I'll just bid a (hopefully) safe 6♦.

3. Call? No call. I think I might've passed 2♦.

[nigel_k]

1. 3♣. I think bidding now is less dangerous than coming in later, and passing throughout with this shape is too risky.

2. Agree with 3♦ and would bid 6♦ now. I doubt partner is 1-7 in the minors.

3. Agree with X and raise to 5♠ now. Partner is 5-6 as he would double 3♦ with 4-5 or pass my 4♥ with 4-6. I think partner should bid 4♦ on any 5-6 hand so could be nowhere near as good as AQJxx AKxxxx x x at that point. However pulling 4♥ to 4♠ suggests some slam interest or he would have just bid 4♠ earlier. I seem to have the right cards but will hedge with 5♠ in case a wheel has come off.

[awm]

I think double on hand three should show four spades.

Obviously in high-level auctions you are sometimes stuck and have to make a "negative" double with only three cards in the unbid major. But I don't think that can be the case at the two-level; a game-forcing hand with this kind of shape can always bid 3♣ and a weaker hand like the one actually held can pass. Passing is not that dangerous, since partner needs a real maximum for game to have chances and even then it may be tough if partner is fairly flat (i.e. 3NT is the obvious spot but diamonds may establish, 4♥ might have play but the tap is being taken in the wrong hand, etc).

It does seem to me that 4♦ should agree spades; it's hard to imagine a limited opener that is essentially too strong to just bid game in this sequence despite not having a known good fit. Something that upgrades based on the (presumed) 4-4 or better spade fit and side shortage is possible though. This does suggest that 4♥ should be some sort of cuebid or last train (oops). I don't think opener should be making responsive doubles with 4-card spades; we will (almost) always have a 4-4 spade fit in that situation and might as well bid it. Better to reserve the responsive doubles for patterns like 3613 or 3514.

[pooltuna]

1. No overcall the risk part of risk/reward is too high at these colors

2. a]I think 3♦ would be more discouraging than 2NT so is appropriate
b]How many times I am going to have to bid ♦ on this hand - 6♦

3. At least 2♦X isn't game! Well I have done my best to keep a lid on partner but a Qbid here is pretty much free so I make it 5♣. Alternatively I could just take control and RKC into 6♥.

[kenrexford]

#1. Yes.

#2. I don't understand this auction completely. Would 2♥ by partner have been non-forcing? Really? And, I don't know that "something in hearts" means. I also don't know whay my options after 2♠ were 2NT and 3♦, as 3♥ seems at least somehow plausible. But, if I walked into this auction with only the information provided, I'm bidding 6♥. I just hate being in this situation of having no assurance as to what the heck was going on earlier and why neither of us can apparently bid natural hearts until the six-level, even if we might have a 4-4 fit.

#3. Double is fine. 4♦ is a matter of partnership understandings. Was this a power raise to 4♠ all along, or was it choice, or was it "choice, unless"? I don't know why partner is doing this, precisely, but I'm bidding 5♣.

(Just reviewed your responses. If I had to decide on what 4♦ should mean, I think choice is better with a limited opening. If the opening were unlimited, then I like "choice unless," which means that Opener is making a power raise of spades BUT Responder can bid 4H as an option to play with only three spades and good two hearts.

Stated another way, 4♥ is NOT LAST TRAIN in this auction. Please. How thin can you slice this thing?!?!? You have to be able to bid 4♥ with this hand, and partner has to be able to respect that. In fact, he should make the "power raise" in many instances where he is marginal anyway.)

[JLOGIC]

Ken I think you misunderstood me. I meant that over:

1D 2C
2D

2 of either major doesn't promise 4, and could just be setting up a GF. He would bid the one he has values in, as in old fashioned bidding.

Partner could have bid 2H if he had 4 hearts (though it wouldn't have promised them, it's pretty easy to untangle after we raise), so we definitely don't have a 4-4 heart fit here.

[kenrexford]

JLOGIC, on 2011-April-14, 15:02, said:

Ken I think you misunderstood me. I meant that over:

1D 2C
2D

2 of either major doesn't promise 4, and could just be setting up a GF. He would bid the one he has values in, as in old fashioned bidding.

OK. That's much better. LOL

I still am not sure why I cannot rebid 3H after 2S, but that's another issue. (It would have helped consider a Moysian, though.)

I'm now bidding 6♣. If partner had the stiff diamond King, he'd bid 6♦, not 5NT. If he had better clubs than my diamonds, he'd bid 6♣, not 5NT. Strangely, I think he wants to play in whatever minor has the 10.

[bluecalm]

I have just noticed that we are not 5-8 in first hand but 1-4-0-8. I still overcall but now I understand why other people don't :-)

[quiddity]

1. I would pass. I hope it doesn't get passed out!
2. 6♥
3. 5NT. Maybe not quite worth it, but we do have 3 useful cards for partner and maybe this will help us get to the right strain at least.

I don't understand doubling on 3 with diamond length, no 4 card major and no game in sight. What's the point?

[rogerclee]

Quote

3. 5NT.

I don't understand doubling on 3 with diamond length, no 4 card major and no game in sight. What's the point?

lol

[quiddity]

ok, it is a bit funny. I'm willing to accept that 5NT is insane.

[nige1]

JLOGIC, on 2011-April-14, 12:22, said:

Some of these might not be that interesting/hard but they swung a lot of imps in Fort lauderdale last week which I'd say was easily one of the hardest regionals I've ever seen.
1) K Txxx --- AT8xxxxx
R vs W, RHO opens 2S showing weak with spades and a minor. Do you overcall?

1. IMO _P = 10, 3♣ = 5.

JLOGIC, on 2011-April-14, 12:22, said:

2) xx KT8x AQJ98x T. Bidding all by you:
1D 2C
2D 2S*
3D 3H
3N 4C
4D 5N
-2S did not promise 4 as you were not in a GF and most other rebids would be NF.
-You could have bid 2N instead of 3D, thoughts on this?

2a. IMO 2N = 10, 3♦ = 9.

JLOGIC, on 2011-April-14, 12:22, said:

-3H at the time was usually a stopper ask, but obv when partner pulls to 4C he's showing something in hearts.
-5N is pick a slam

2b. IMO 6♣ = 10, 6♦ = 8, 6♥ = 6, 6N = 4. 6♥ is probably a Moysian or Burnsian fit but it could be right

JLOGIC, on 2011-April-14, 12:22, said:

3) Kxx Qx Jxx ATxxx. R vs W
P P 1H* 2D ?
1H is precision style, limited to 15. Say you double (feel free to comment on this).

3a. IMO 2♥ = 10, _P = 9, _X = 8, 3♣ = 3.

JLOGIC, on 2011-April-14, 12:22, said:

The auction continues:
P P 1H 2D
X 3D 4D P
4H p 4S p
? What is your call?

3b. IMO 5♣ = 10, 5♥ = 8, _P = 6, 4N = 3..