[1eyedjack]

PhilG007 I think it is time for you to throw in the towel and just accept that you are out on a limb here.

I would be among the first to agree that novices generally suffer from a myth that with an opening hand you have to act over RHO's opener when much of the time an initial pass is indicated. This is not a good example.

[MrAce]

 billw55, on 2015-May-20, 07:28, said:

gotta give him credit for entertainment value though.

He is playing.

[manudude03]

I would love to hear his teammates when partner has Kxx Qxx Qxx xxxx and defended 1S for -80 or -110 with 6 of either red suit making.

[PhilKing]

 MrAce, on 2015-May-21, 02:12, said:

He is playing.

No - pass is right. If partner has as much as:

♠xx
♥xxx
♦xx
♣xxxxxx

He should appreciate that 4♥ could well be on and so should balance with a double, preferably in a voice of thunder.

[mikeh]

 PhilKing, on 2015-May-21, 05:58, said:

No - pass is right. If partner has as much as:

♠xx
♥xxx
♦xx
♣xxxxxx

He should appreciate that 4♥ could well be on and so should balance with a double, preferably in a voice of thunder.

No...no....no!!!

The voice of thunder is used for penalty doubles!


Unless one is playing upside down attitude signals, of course. Here, with your example hand, a quiet or even doubtful double is in order.

[mycroft]

With bidding cards it's harder. You can drop a high preempt on the table with a good thud, but they don't make weighted red cards.
Standing on the chair still works, though.

[diana_eva]

I wish someone wd clear up the BS and spell out what x followed by a suit means, which that suit should be, the higher or the lower and why, and perhaps how the bidding can continue depending on what partner does next. It's all fun and games, but OP might want a real serious answer too. I realize that it's already been suggested to X and see what happens, but for a real beginner this doesn't mean much.

Edit: Oh sry, Artk78 already explained. I missed it in the fog

This post has been edited by diana_eva: 2015-May-21, 10:28

[PhilKing]

 diana_eva, on 2015-May-21, 10:26, said:

I wish someone wd clear up the BS and spell out what x followed by a suit means, which that suit should be, the higher or the lower and why, and perhaps how the bidding can continue depending on what partner does next. It's all fun and games, but OP might want a real serious answer too. I realize that it's already been suggested to X and see what happens, but for a real beginner this doesn't mean much.

Edit: Oh sry, Artk78 already explained. I missed it in the fog

FWIW, if I held this hand at rubber bridge (in a very strong game), I would bid 2♠. This still has the old-fashioned meaning - game values and a very distributional hand. We can't be certain game is on, but it has play opposite most zero counts.

[RedSpawn]

 PhilG007, on 2015-May-19, 01:37, said:

How many players would have the courage to pass this hand? Yet that is exactly what you must do and trust to partner to take action in the balancing seat(as a good player would) Too many players tend to forget that bridge is a partnership game DON'T FORGET YOUR PARTNER!!!!!
Doubling for take out on this hand is idiotic as you have no tolerance for clubs. A 1NT overcall promises a double stop in ♠ which you don't have. You have 19 points and RHO has opened the bidding. If partner has a 'bust' which is highly likely,you still only have 19 points. It is not yet time to get excited..(!)
Pass and hope that partner will keep the auction open.

Hmmm, Phil, I have been likened to you in other posts for my entertainment value, but I see where we are similar. We are both passionate about the game and want partner to have a say.

However, you should refrain from opening a 3 suited hand as 2 ♣ because you will need a lot of bidding space to describe your hand shape when looking for a fit with the guy across the table that you do sincerely care about.

Also, if opponents bid 1 spade, you must double since you have a powerhouse hand and a suit of sufficient length in the next round for a rebid. This is called a "power" double. You can not wait for your weaker partner to play your role with this monster hand. And pass is blasphemous.

[Phil]

Pretty terrible thread to pull out of the dung heap Redspawn.

[RedSpawn]

 Phil, on 2017-April-25, 08:51, said:

Pretty terrible thread to pull out of the dung heap Redspawn.

Agreed. But I wasn't looking for this one, really. I found it looking for something else about the artificial 2 club string that you responded to me on and the Bridgewinner poll for which I lost on a landslide. A variety of users were comparing me to PhilG and so this one seems to have some similarities especially with respect to the 2♣ angle.