[jahol]

This is just a couple of hands, not necessarily problems for you, but definitely problems for me or my partner (leading to disasters in some cases).

1) (clear?) (you are vulnerable)
You have K1064--A95--A--J10976. Your partner started with pass and RHO opened the auction with 4 spades. Your reaction?

2) (still simple?) (both vulnerable)
You have KQ3--Q76--AQ106--752. Your patner started with pass again and RHO opened with one heart. Dou you pass or not?

3) (Are there ways...?) (both vulnerable)
You have AQ8--Q108--KQ753--74. The bidding was
1 club(LHO, natural, 4+)---1 spade(CHO)---2clubs(RHO,natural, 6+PC)---???. What is your bid?

4) You have A976--4--Q952--K1084 (nobody vulnerable) and the bidding was
1D(CHO, 5+diam)--1H(RHO)--double(you, 1spade would be 5+in sp)--2H(LHO)
pass(CHO)--4H(RHO)--???
What is your bid?

5) You have AK9862--KJ--964--K4 (opponents vulnerable) and opened the auction with 1 spade (5+, 12-17PC). Your partner bid 3H, what is game forcing and at least 6 hearts with at least two top-figures (A,K,Q) in hearts. What is your bid?

6) You have void--QJ103--J107542--832 (only you vulnerable) and, after your pass, LHO opened 4 spades doubled with your partner and passed back to you. What now?

Thank you in advance for all comments.

Jahol

[mr1303]

Here are my thoughts:

1) This action is obvious. Pass. Unless you play that double is penalty, in which case I might try this, but sadly it is take-out. Hence I pass. If partner reopens with a double, it's Christmas come early.

2) Again, obvious. 4333 shape + a weak NT = pass. Double is revolting, and all your strength is defensive. I want nothing to do with this auction. I'll pass now and forever.

3) 3C. Showing a good raise to the 3 level. I'll take a chance on bidding 4S if partner bids 3S here, but I'll be ready to apologise if I'm wrong.

4) Nasty. Either pass, double or 5D could be right. I'll guess 5D, and expect it to be wrong.

5) Can I change my methods? If it's a strong jump shift, I'll bid 3S, and see what partner does (if he bids a new suit, then it's agreeing spades, if he bids 4H then I'll cue-bid the club K). If partner can have a 12 count for this bid, I want to throw myself into a pit of gravel.

6) 5D. I fear the tap in 5H. Incidently, I assume partner's double is take-out. My hand suggests it might not be.

[joker_gib]

1) Dbl (penalty for us, 4NT is t/o : not sure this is the best way to play but that's what we play ! )

2) Pass : no shape, not enough HCP's to find a bid

3) 3♣ to show a good ♠ raise

4) Everything can work but I think I'd double cause it seems the most flexible bid

5) 3♠ and what do I hear ?

6) Pass as this is penalty (see 1)



Alain

[inquiry]

jahol, on May 11 2005, 07:56 AM, said:

1) (clear?) (you are vulnerable)
You have K1064--A95--A--J10976. Your partner started with pass and RHO opened the auction with 4 spades. Your reaction?

1. Pass after the required "pause" over the stop card. Automatic. If partner has something he can reopen with double (he will be short in spades), which I will pass. 4NT needs to be saved for two places to play, not takeout. Also, if you bid 4NT for takeout, you missout when your partner has a defensive hand with a spade stack.

Quote

2) (still simple?) (both vulnerable)
You have KQ3--Q76--AQ106--752. Your patner started with pass again and RHO opened with one heart. Dou you pass or not?

Pass without a care in the world.

Quote

3) (Are there ways...?) (both vulnerable)
You have AQ8--Q108--KQ753--74. The bidding was
1 club(LHO, natural, 4+)---1 spade(CHO)---2clubs(RHO,natural, 6+PC)---???. What is your bid?

3♦ if fit jump is avaliable, otherwise, 3♣, mixed raise.

Quote

4) You have A976--4--Q952--K1084 (nobody vulnerable) and the bidding was
1D(CHO, 5+diam)--1H(RHO)--double(you, 1spade would be 5+in sp)--2H(LHO)
pass(CHO)--4H(RHO)--???
What is your bid?

Ok, they have out bid me. I pass without ever showing my diamond support. A second double here would not be outrageous, but it is not for me.

Quote

5) You have AK9862--KJ--964--K4 (opponents vulnerable) and opened the auction with 1 spade (5+, 12-17PC). Your partner bid 3H, what is game forcing and at least 6 hearts with at least two top-figures (A,K,Q) in hearts. What is your bid?

I would bid 4♣, but then I don't play strong jump shift (when I did, I played either the suit partner jumped in (hearts here) or the suit I opened would be trumps, so 4♣ is a cue-bid).

Quote

6) You have void--QJ103--J107542--832 (only you vulnerable) and, after your pass, LHO opened 4 spades doubled with your partner and passed back to you. What now?

I bid 4NT, scramble. If partner bids 5♣, I will correct to 5♦ implying heart tolerance.

[Blofeld]

Mostly I agree with various comments so far.

1) and 2) look like obvious passes.

On 3), the 3♦ bid would be nice (what other than a fit jump could it be?). After this or 3♣ (preferably this as partner's bid will be more informed), though, I'll pass partner's 3♠.

4) Can I go back and change my first bid? Partner's shown a 5 card suit for which I have good support. I'd like to let him/her know about my support straight away, precisely to keep p informed in decisions and avoid guessing myseful if the bidding proceeds like this. Would 3♥ have been a splinter, or do I need to go to 4♥ for that? Splintering in ♥s or bidding 2♥ to show diamond support seems better than emphasising the spades.
As set I think I have to pass, though.

5) 3♠. If p has some support and shortage, it may well play better in spades than hearts. Happy to bid 5♣ over 4♥. I don't really mind an immediate 4♣ bid, either.

6) 4NT may work some of the time, but I'm afraid that partner will prefer hearts when this is wrong, so I'll bid 5♦

[Fluffy]

1) easy pass

2) pass is the correct one, never to be blamed.

3) 3♣

4) uhhh.. 5♦ seems good, but partnter may still have ♠, so double.

5) 4♥, support with support

6) 5♦, we better assure some trump control.

[HeartA]

Fluffy, on May 11 2005, 07:08 PM, said:

1) easy pass

2) pass is the correct one, never to be blamed.

3) 3♣

4) uhhh.. 5♦ seems good, but partnter may still have ♠, so double.

5) 4♥, support with support

6) 5♦, we better assure some trump control.

ditto.

[joker_gib]

joker_gib, on May 11 2005, 07:31 AM, said:

1) Dbl (penalty for us, 4NT is t/o : not sure this is the best way to play but that's what we play ! )

2) Pass : no shape, not enough HCP's to find a bid

3) 3♣ to show a good ♠ raise

4) Everything can work but I think I'd double cause it seems the most flexible bid

5) 3♠ and what do I hear ?

6) Pass as this is penalty (see 1)



Alain

Was kidding on 1) and 6) of course !

will pass on 1) and bid 5♦ on 6)

[P_Marlowe]

1) Pass
2) Pass
3) 3C, unassuming cue, at least inv. strength,
in case of minimum with fit
4) 5D
5) Did 3H set trumps? In this case 3S stands out,
else 4C, as a cue bid, setting hearts as trump
6) 5D, unless the double is penalty

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Gerben42]

1) Pass in tempo (after the 10 seconds stop)
2) Pass
3) 3♣ forcing raise
4) 5♦ - Isn't Polish Club great, eh Justin
5) 4♥ - Anything else would be an overbid. And do not play stong jump shifts.
6) 5♦ - Partner asks me to bid my longest suit and the winner by two cards is ♦.

And no, double in 1/6 is NOT penalty.

[P_Marlowe]

Gerben42, on May 12 2005, 06:53 AM, said:

5) 4♥ - Anything else would be an overbid. And do not play stong jump shifts.

Hi Gerben,

I doubt that a cue is an overbid, afterall
I have AK in spade, KJ in hearts, and I
just promised an opening bid, with the most
likely hand being 12-14 bal.

I agree, that one should not move over 4H,
if partner signs of in 4H, but showing some
live, i.e. saying I have a couple of nice fitting
cards, cant be an overbid.

It would be nice, if the 4C cue bid promise the
Kking or Ace, because now partner has the
chance off evaluationg his club holding.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[bearmum]

1. X (if penalty) otherwise pass and HOPE P can X
2. PASS
3. 3♣ =good spade support
4. a tough one -- I would probably X and convert 5♣ to 5♦
5. 3♠ showing 6♠ and less than 3♥(I think )
6. again I will Pass if the X is penalty bid 5♦ if it's for takeout

[civill]

jahol, on May 11 2005, 06:56 AM, said:

1) (clear?) (you are vulnerable)
You have K1064--A95--A--J10976. Your partner started with pass and RHO opened the auction with 4 spades. Your reaction?

pass or dbl; If the choice is dbl,they must escape away.

Quote

2) (still simple?) (both vulnerable)
You have KQ3--Q76--AQ106--752. Your patner started with pass again and RHO opened with one heart. Dou you pass or not?

dbl or pass;If the choice is pass,you don't express your 13HCPs & sides support.

Quote

3) (Are there ways...?) (both vulnerable)
You have AQ8--Q108--KQ753--74. The bidding was
1 club(LHO, natural, 4+)---1 spade(CHO)---2clubs(RHO,natural, 6+PC)---???. What is your bid?

2♦,then raise PD's ♠

Quote

4) You have A976--4--Q952--K1084 (nobody vulnerable) and the bidding was
1D(CHO, 5+diam)--1H(RHO)--double(you, 1spade would be 5+in sp)--2H(LHO)
pass(CHO)--4H(RHO)--???
What is your bid?

pass;PD has passed their 2♥,Dbl or 5♦ is over opinionated.

Quote

5) You have AK9862--KJ--964--K4 (opponents vulnerable) and opened the auction with 1 spade (5+, 12-17PC). Your partner bid 3H, what is game forcing and at least 6 hearts with at least two top-figures (A,K,Q) in hearts. What is your bid?

3♠ at first,6-card suit.

Quote

6) You have void--QJ103--J107542--832 (only you vulnerable) and, after your pass, LHO opened 4 spades doubled with your partner and passed back to you. What now?

Quote

bearmum Posted on May 12 2005, 06:51 PM

6. again I will Pass if the X is penalty bid 5♦ if it's for takeout

[Gerben42]

Sorry but for me it is not clear that 1♠ - 3♥ - 4♣ would be a cue bid. I have never played this auction as strong jump shift after reaching intermediate level (as beginner I did play it like this but probably forgot about it).

1♠ - 3♥ - 4♣ ?

AKJxx
x
xx
AQxxx

or

AKxxxx
KJ
xxx
Ax

Big difference and lovely self-preemption.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi Gerben,

you are right, 4C is not necesarily a Cue
Bid, at least not per default, altough nothing
else makes really sense, because the seq.

1S - (Pass) - 3H - (Pass)
4C - (Pass) - ...

is not the star example for strong jump shifts,
because of the high level.

Opener has always the possibility to bid 3S,
which says, I dont have anything worth wilhe
to tell at the moment, giving responder the
chance to tell, which hand type he holds.

But the orginal poster defined 3H as a 6 card
suit, ... i.e. responder holds only a very specific
hand.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Strong jump shifts have a bad name, because
the teaching is fairly bad. Most teaching is dated,
coming from the 50's / 60's, but there are some
newer developments (Soloway Jump Shifts, Goldmann
(???) Jump Shifts).
The same is true for strong 2 openings, which are
better than most people believe, and which are also baldy
teached ...

[jahol]

First hand.

Scoring: IMP

---

As you can see, the only potentially winning action is PASS. The aggressive bid from east side hit the point. After penalty double, the declarer will made the contract - either directly discarding hearts when HA is not cashed, or just "guessing" spades. After pass, there is a good chance, he will misguess trumphs.
In my opinion, the double should just to show points, it is neither penalty nor purely propositional. Unfortunately, my partner decided to play it as clear penalty.

"Board six" is the same hand as board one, from my perspective. I think, I am in good agreement with most of you bidding 5 diamonds. After this bid, doubled from the west, my partner lost nerves completely and we finished in 6 hearts doubled down four.

Second hand.

Scoring: IMP

---

I agree with a couple of opinions here that my hand has got some potential to be bid (indeed, I CAN find cases when similar hands are bid with world class players). So, I doubled and very soon found myself playing two diamonds doubled. The first lead was HK followed with SJ(!) "ducked" with RHO and taken with my SK. I played DA and small diam, because, very often in similar situations, the trumph distribution is not that bad, as it looks on the first sight (the bidding was pass-1H-Dbl-Rdbl-pass-pass-2diam-Dbl-pass...). However, this was not the case. The opponent taking diam trick trumphed for the third time. Now, if I had played spade to the queen (believing that SA is to the right from me), I would have gone down four times for 1100 (opponents trumphing last time and cashing spade tricks then). After a while, I played H allowing east to make his H ruff, but keeping control of the board. Since my opponents made mistake, I escaped with two down and -500, what was not that bad result, since many pairs bid and made four hearts on the opposite line.
Still, I will definitely pass next time.....

Third hand

Scoring: IMP

---

My partner bid 4S immediately - he agreed that it was mistake during the discussion after the competition. So, the bidding was:

1club-1spade-2clubs-4spades-???

Now, west, the mother of my partner (!) by chance, made educational cruel penalty double (!). Down two, -500 and 11IMPs lost.


Furth hand

Scoring: IMP

---

(1D-1H-Dbl-2H-pass-4H-???)
With couple of potential defensive tricks, I doubled (my double was not to show spades, my partner would have bid spades after 2H having spade suit). This was passed and found a very bad action, because the declared (mother of my partner) guessed spades correctly and made the contract!


Fifth hand

Scoring: IMP

---

After 1S-3H (explained in my first contribution), my partner bid 3 spades only. Having some support for spades and not seeing any support for H from his side, I bid 4spades, the contract we played and made +1.
In my opinion, 4clubs should be cue and confirmation of H suit, because the 3H jump should be (logically) strong indication of one suit colour.

A relatively big criticism of strong jumps can be found in the contributions. In my opinion, such criticism is not fair, provided that the jump shows both big strength and explicitely defined very good suit at the same time. Such information may be very useful for slam bidding. By the way - which way would you reach slam contract (6H, not 6S, which is one down!) bidding American Standard?