[EricK]

Hand 1 (MP Pairs):

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You might not like the 1♠ bid, but you're stuck with it now. 2♦ is undiscussed, but partner is no expert and has a limited bidding vocabulary - so assume it is natural of some sort.

Hand 2 (MP Pairs):

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The opening bid is Acol, so could be a 4 card suit if in a strong balanced hand. 4♠ is pre-emptive.

[Fluffy]

guessing at the 5 level...

First one I don't object to bid spades but I'd rather do it more loudly at the 3 or 4 level. Now we are left guessing, anything could be right. I can see -800 and I can also see them going down, although they will most likely make, I will pass and hope it is not the case.

Second one I'd hate to see the auction die without me showing 5 card support, I bid 5♥.

[nige1]

Hand 1 (MP Pairs):
You might not like the 1♠ bid, but you're stuck with it now. 2♦ is undiscussed, but partner is no expert and has a limited bidding vocabulary - so assume it is natural of some sort.

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IMO Pass = 10, 5♠ = 9, 5♥ = 6, Double = 5

Hand 2 (MP Pairs):
The opening bid is Acol, so could be a 4 card suit if in a strong balanced hand. 4♠ is pre-emptive.

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IMO 5♥ = 10, Pass = 7.

[cherdano]

Hand 1: 5♠ - I think they are making, and I have an 8-card suit and a fit for partner's suit.

Hand 2: 5♥ - I have no idea who is making what, and I have 5-card support and a singleton.

[whereagles]

Hand 1: if pard is a joker, 2♦ might even be a psyche. In any case there seems to be a massive double fit around. I'm bidding 5♠.

Hand 2: this one is much closer. I'll bid 5♥ because I have absolutely no idea who can make what.

[gszes]

we have no reason to suspect we can set 7c and it could be that
that both opps are needlessly worried about their p having wasted
spade honors that might keep them out of slam.. SURE 5s is a
probably a great sac over 5c but then well sure 6s is a great
sac over 6c and then well sure 7s is a great sac over 7c I think
this is a time where silence is golden and maybe just maybe the
opps have not bid as accurately as they might have.

[gszes]

hand 2 got so carried away with hand one forgot to get to this one:(

This hand is simply much better than p might expect when they made their 2h overcall
(by a LOT) 5 trumps singleton spade and we can envision slam opposite as little as
xxx Axxxxx Ax Ax and we expect more? at these colors for the overcall. I would be willing
to x 5s even w/o assurance we can set it and once that decision is made it seems to
me all that might be left is should we consider

4n

as a way of getting to 6 and making a "smarter" decision about any further competitive
decisions. IMHO 4n is fine as long as we decide in advance to avoid slam unless p shows
at least 4 controls (this logic seems obvious but it is not always going to be right).
Sometimes just the mere fact we are bidding 4n will be enough to make sure we arrive in
6 if lho bids 5s (p will carry on with 4+ controls and maybe even cue bid looking for a
grand (which hopefully we will avoid).

[dboxley]

1. Pass, this is NOT forcing. The 5♣ bid was obviously to make so rho has a good hand with hearts and clubs, not that it matters, I don't have anything so I pass.

2. 5♥, raise with support.

[lesh]

1. I will pass on this one but 5♠ doesnt look unreasonable and both could be right. I wont blame partner if he decides to bid 5♠. But in the future I prefer him to describe his hand earlier rather than second guessing at the end.

2. 5♥ I will only be scared if we go to the 6th level but passing seems more dangerous since partner can pass 4♠ and both games could be making.