Strong jump

AKxx
(void)
AKxxx
KQJx

I open 1D, partner bids 1nt. I bypass the brain and bid 3nt.

Some say the better bid is 3C, strong jump game forcing showing 5D,4C
Partner does not have a 4 card major. We have a minor game, slam perhaps.

Im still reading sbout the case for bidding 2S (reverse), will post my thoughts later.

Regardles, this was with a new partner, we had not discussed reverses, strong jumps etc - my lesson is THINK and trust your partner. :-)

Trivia

DONT rebid 5card minors.

Often, what is the best bid to describe your hand? PASS

I'm still not using support doubles. Not getting the hands or forgetting the bid?

Sandwich 1nt

I had a partner introduce me to 'Sandwich 1nt' today.

(1D) P (1H) 1nt = 8-12 points and 44 in the unbid suits.

I perhaps incorrectly, double here to show the other 2 suits.
What is the advantage of this artificial 1nt?
It steals the bid from the opps, what else?
Is it standard? and then the bigger question;
Should I add it and use up brain cells memorizing it, whats important, whats not. :-)

Isn't everything unusual?

Or so it seems!

Unusual vs. Unusual

1S (2nt) 3D = gf spade raise
1S (2nt) 3C = gf with 5+ hearts

This is what I have agreed to play with Richard. Best discuss the meanings with other partners, it can be reversed. Simple, quite easy to remember and solves the problems I have had creating a forcing bid.

Here are some other sequences I need to be clear on and discuss with partners, thanks R.

1S:2D
2S

1S:2D
2NT

1S:2D
3C

When U2nt is not U2nt...

As you can see I have been very lax in writing to my blog. Well I have been on holiday which accounts for about 2months of missing entries, the rest I have to put down to laziness, being disillusioned with this game or just too busy!

A new thread on BBO forum and yet another sequence I need to think about.
(1M) P (2M) 2nt 2nt shows the minors right?
Not necessarily.... http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=21041&hl=


This game is always challenging me.


(1S) P (2S) 2nt = '2 suits'
"Yes, 2N is 2 suits, and yes if partner has diamonds>clubs>hearts partner is supposed to bid CLUBS. " (Jlall)

So...
(1S) P (2S) 2nt*
(P) 3C (P) 3D = Diamonds and Hearts


How will I remember this!

Forcing minor raise

Partner opens 1D and I hold xx,AJx,KQTxx,KJT - what do you bid?

I don't have any gadgets to handle these hands. I have posted the question on BBO forums
and as expected, have received many different suggestions. Everything from dont bother learning how to bid these hands, inverted minors, criss cross, and more.

So this is work in progress, to be updated.

Limit raise or GF?

Another bad bid, made without first pausing for thought.
1S:2H
4H

Sounds easy? I have 10+ points and 5 hearts, my partner is happy to play 4H
Wrong

I held:

Qxxx
Axxx
xx
AJx

and decided I was too good for a limit raise and not good enough for a game force.
Apparently, there is no such hand . A limit raise is 9-(bad)12 3or4 card support and a gf is 12points 4card support. Makes sense!

So this is a clear limit raise 3S would have been perfect or if I think this is worth more, 2nt GF raise. I have been told many times not to make a 2level M raise without 5cards, I have the choice of a limit raise or a GF, no need to create my own bid!