[chasetb]

The first 4 hands are from a recent NAP District Qualifier (matchpoint scoring). Hands 2-3 are the same person, and hands 4-5 are the other person.

1.) Off 1, should have been -2. North was 0355 and 4♣ makes double-dummy, though they probably don't make it.

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2.) Will you bid, and if so what?

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3.) We play lebensohl - what do you bid?

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If you bid 3♣ (forcing), the auction continues ... (4♥) - X. Do you run?
If you bid 2NT (to sign-off) or 4♣ (undiscussed over interference), it goes (4♥) - P - P. Bid 5♣ now?
If you bid 5♣,

Spoiler

South Doubles it and it gets passed out. How do you feel?

4.) What do you bid, if anything?

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5.) This happened awhile ago, trying to put it together from memory:

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[Yu18772]

hand 2 - 4♥ for me
hand 3 - I bid 2NT, and dont bid over 4♥ that was passed. If I decided to force, I dont run from the dbl (and that should be a plausible scenario to consider before 3♣ bid), I dont bid 4♣ as 3NT may very well be a better spot than 5♣.
hand 4 - Probably 4NT (two places to play) - even though that would take me to the 5 level. I have no tricks in defense, so cant afford my partner to pass over dbl, thus no dbl.
hand 5 - Dbl, and if partner bids ♦ correct to ♠.

[JLOGIC]

I will answer in order of how obvious I think they are:

1) 2S is absolutely ridiculous. What could go bad by bidding 1S with a 5332 13 count. Maybe your partner will bid 1N, and you're happy to pass. Maybe your partner won't overbid to 4S because you haven't shown a 6th spade when you are 5332. Words cannot describe how much I hate the reopening 2S with a 5332 13, it is terrible and pointless.

5) 4S is just what you do with this hand. At some point, you just accept it. Maybe you will miss a slam, maybe you will play the wrong suit, but you simply can't do anything else.

4) 4H. Similar to 5, what else? You just have to accept the imperfection if it. It is actually nice, you're not in direct seat, so the risk of partner trying for slam and going minus when you make exactly 4H is much less, and RHO probably doesn't have a rock crusher. You definitely have to bid, if your partner has something like a weak NT with an average of 2.5 diamonds, your hand is very good and you will make game very often. Personally I would overcall 4H in direct seat also, this is much uglier but the fact remains that 4D will get passed out when you're cold for game too often imo.

2) I waffled between 3H and 4H, but I'm going with 4. White in third seat you could open 3 much lighter, so it's possible to miss game with 3. 4 also just puts so much more pressure on them, and when you have a stiff spade it's more likely to "transfer" them to 4S. Your suit is obviously not great to play 4H X, but you do have the interiors. At least you don't have AT98xxx to go with Ax, the risk tht you go for a number when they make nothing is pretty substantial then.

3) This is a tough hand. I think I would start with 2N, but generally in competitive auctions it's better to get your suit in if you fear them preempting you out of showing it. I would rather have started 3C if they are going to bid 4H, but it's not automatic they'll bid 4H since they don't have HCP. I would also be worried about missing game on 2N p 3C AP, but forcing to gam eis not very attractive either. Having started with 2N.. I have no idea what to do over 4H p p, I'm probably bidding. Having started with 3C and hearing partner double, I'm thrilled to pass... partner didn't even make a forcing pass, we have no chance of making 5C. I would even be surprised if 5C was a great save if partner is Xing in front of us, I think he'd have to have diamonds or something for that to be the case.

[pooltuna]

1) East should treat his hand like a limit raise so the 4♠ call is justified. What West called is mostly just unlucky but is out of bounds of the 2♠ call agreement.

2] 4♥ is justified but can accept 3♥ if W is worried about the opps accepting the transfer to 4♠ and would feel more comfortable bailing out to 3♠

3] 2NT and over 4♥ take out insurance with 5♣

4] this is just a blind guess. I would probably pass but can accept either 4♥ or 4♠

5] accept the transfer....4♠

[whereagles]

1) 2S is not really an 'over'-bid, rather it's somewhat of a misdescription. The standard meaning is intermediate, i.e. 12-15 or so with 6 cards. (Personally I play it lighter, but ok.)

2) 4H, what else?

3) You have 7 losers, so statistically 4C is the expectable limit. Since 3NT needs a bit of luck with pard's club holding, I think best is to bid 2NT intending to pass 3C. After opps bid 4H and pard passes, I think I'd try 5C. Maybe it makes, maybe it's a good save, who knows?

4) yuck... 4H I guess.

5) yuck again... 4S I guess.

[Zelandakh]

1. West, obviously.
2. 4H
3. I would bid 2NT Rubensohl, showing clubs. This is one reason I think the method is superior to standard Lebensohl.
4. I can only think of 4H but hate it.
5. This is pretty close between double and 4S. I think taking our chances in 4S is probably better than trying to find the best strain at the 5 level.

[ochinko]

On the first one, what is East doing on 4♠? Obeing the law?

He has 9 losers in his hand, and being a passed hand, West bid with East's points in mind.

If East feels wildly optimistic, he could invite with 3♠, but 4♠ could only be a misclick.

West is a trick better than 1♠ in a balancing position so 2♠ is a better bid that 1♠. How could the votes be 8:0 against West? Ok, maybe a 1NT from West would be cleverer, but I still don't see how he overbid his hand.

[Phil]

Minimize the number of hands in a single thread please, thanks.

1. 2♠ is awful. I do not like it on a 5 card suit, and I despise it on a 4333 (er, sorry 5332). 4♠ is slightly aggressive but not bad.

2. (chuckle) I don't know. Being dealt eight card suits in 3rd seat NV is like going to Hometown Buffet for me. So much good stuff to choose from but they only gave me a single plate. 4♥ looks normal, but I can see having some fun with 1N or 2N here.

3. 2N is normal. I would have competed to 4♣. Passing partner's double is easy - we have a defensive trick.

4. Pass. Sometimes they getcha.

5. 4♠ and then take a quick look at RHO's breathing rate and pulse in his jugular as he doubles. If he's imagining telephone numbers, run to 5♣.

[Vampyr]

Phil, on 2011-November-08, 09:41, said:

Minimize the number of hands in a single thread please, thanks.

Why? It is much more interesting this way.

[campboy]

West didn't so much overbid as misbid. He has the values but not the spade length. Part of the problem is also that the hands fit badly with the duplication of shape: swap West's minors and 4♠ at least has chances. East's raise is normal. West having AKJxxx, KQx, x, xxx makes game very good and opposite AKJxxx, KQ, xxx, xx it isn't terrible. 4m is also more likely to make if West has either of these hands than his actual one.

[mcphee]

1: West needs an education on what this jump shows because this is not it.
2: 4H
3: I leb over 2H. Now face the 4H problem and my bet is that most of the field is bidding 5C, I think we can dble here to show a defensive value.
4: OK they got me as much as I want to bid the only thing I can do is dble and that is likely going to work out badly. When 50% of partners options look bad for my hand taking the low road has appeal.
5: They got me again, except this time 4S is it.