Bridge in Oz

Here's an everyday kind of deal with multiple points of interest. Vulnerable against not, opponents passing. You K4,J87,KQ875,KQ6 1 ♦ 1NT 3NT Partner AJ1072,K10953,A2,9 1♠ 3 ♥ Pass 3NT is OK but usually you want to be in 4 of a major when there is an 8-card fit. This is why New Minor Forcing and Che...

OK I'll agree that partner's 4-minor over 3♠ should be natural. But just for fun let's run with your example where you hold:

♠ 543
♥ A9
♦ AQJ9
♣ AK52

Suppose partner has:

♠ 876
♥ KQJ10
♦ K432
♣ 43

Now 4♥ on the 4-2 fit is the only game that has a chance.

My thinking is that 4-3 fits are playable, and without a spade stop 4♥ on a 4-3 could easily be the only making game.

But yes, it's asking a lot to think partner will play 4 of a minor as a slam try without prior agreement!

The question becomes, what does 3♠ mean here? You haven't discussed it with your partner. What should it mean? My general philosophy is that bids should mean whatever is most helpful on balance for the given bidding sequence, while not being weird. In this sequence you will probably want to end in 3...

I picked up this hand today. IMPs, everyone vulnerable. 107,AQ4,AQ106,KJ32 RHO opens 1♠. A double seems the least of evils. Ideally you'd have four hearts but they weren't dealt to you. It's best if partner picks a suit, and at worst a 4-3 fit should be playable. Let's say you double and partner bid...

I'm presenting this hand as food for thought. Many will disagree with my approach here, and that's fine, you may have better methods. The point is to think ahead about the bidding and card play. You pick up this hand at IMPs, all vulnerable, three passes to you. AK,AQ8,K98642,AK Not bad! You pretty ...

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This is an exercise in matchpoint thinking. I think many players would pass. But let's consider some points. 1. The only case for passing is if 4♣ makes and 4 ♦ is down two or more doubled. This seems unlikely because your side has at least half the points. 2. All of your cards are working on offenc...

Matchpoints, nobody vulnerable, you pick up as dealer:

♠ K42
♥ K5
♦ AQ10987
♣ 64

You open 1♦, LHO bids 2♣, partner doubles and RHO bids 4♣.

Your call.