1. I like sixfour's twat (OK, that didn't come out right, but you know what I mean...just bid 4H)
2. You've got 14 cards, but I assume the distribution is 5620. If so, I like 3H -- shows the extra length, and your hand is more valuable if hearts are trump.
3. 4H. IMPs, singleton, probable 10-card fit, white/red...just do it.

Yes, I was 5=6=2=0

On the other hands (the 9 card suit, and the 4 fit for partner's preempt) I asked for plans. This is not a one part question; assume the opponents might compete on either hand.

What will you do next over the likely bids they can (will in fact) make?

Yes indeed -- you did ask for a plan.

1. After bidding 4H, I assume RHO has a monster and will X after P-P. I guess I am always bidding one more heart (particularly in any pass-out situation) up to 6H. Five-loser hand, count on partner for one trick, and the worst we can go down is three tricks doubled. -500 feels OK here when the opps likely have a vulnerable game.

3. If LHO bids 4S after my raise to 4H, I think I'd be willing to compete to 5H. Partner rates to be short in clubs, so black suit cross-ruffing could get us within a trick or two of making. And if LHO bids 5C, I pass in tempo and try not to drool on the table.

1. I bid 5H. LHO guessed 6D, all pass. Minus 1370

2. I bid 3S. Partner had Qxx J KJ9xxx xxx. Both Majors sat well. Lose 10 when Kranyak just bid 4S with my hand. Only 4 of 16 pairs drove to game.

3. I bid 4D. This was the winning action as a diamond lead was needed to beat 5S (partner competed over LHOs 4S bid)

Yep that's not happening, 2-6 with two matches to play, and one of those wins was by just 1 IMP, great. Three of the losses were relatively close but that's kind of irrelevant where I got destroyed on three of them. Not been playing well for about a month now

Well got a game swing on one board in the match that did get played and the rest were either pushes or I just didn't get an overtrick so fine I guess

1. 4H or 5H. I like both of them.
2. 3H. I prefer to play 6-2 over 5-3 fit. Never 4S.
3. 4H. Would have been nice to know what kind of hands we bid 3H, but I'm never passing. What would 4D be? I'd like a diamond lead when LHO bids 4S.

Alright, 7-1-2 in this month's Bean Cup so it looks like I'll get promoted, a few hands where I lost a bunch. Note all hands are best hand IMPs against robots (and while I would normally not use best hand as knowledge, I've kind of got to assume that the opponent would):

r/w second to act:

K95
T532
AKJ53
Q

1d - p - p - 1n (11-14 balancing)
p - 2c - p - 2d
p - ? (2n is described as 13hcp invide to 3, do we just jump to 3 anyway?)



r/w 3rd to act

A32
K62
AK
A9742

p - p - 1c - p
p - 1h - 1n (18-19 balanced) - all p

Lead is T, dummy is J875 - 874 - QT53 - J8, plan is?



r/r last to act

AK6
642
A432
JT5

p - p - p - 1d
p - 1h - X (takeout) - XX (3c heart support)
1s - 2d - 3s - p
p - X (described as 4-4 in reds, maximum initial passed hand) - p - ?

I didn't read the hand. Best hand is 'not bridge'. I get not wanting hero to have a 5 count on a given hand, but just give them a minimum of 10 (or whatever number you prefer) HCP. Let the other hands be unconstrained.

I don't make the rules of the competition and I don't like it either. I mentioned it at the start for transparency but it didn't actually affect a thing in terms of the questions asked. Given this thread is pretty dead, and if this is the level of comment I'm going to get I'll just go with whatever in the comp's discord I guess

thinking of taking this game up, there's a number of bridge clubs in the region

how beneficial is it to have a partner to take it up with me? is it reasonable to just show up and be able to find a pickup game?

how does that stuff typically work

mostly looking at doing this from a social perspective - local clubs say i need to take some classes or read a book, any suggestions on that?

As a club director, if you showed up first time without a partner, odds are strongly against the odds I'd have a partner for you. I'd play with you, but would have resources to find you a partner next week. I am very happy to play with a complete beginner week 1 just to show them the club. But you could also email your local ACBL club director and say you are interested in beginning.

If you want a resource to learn bridge trickybridge is solid.

I didn't look the spoilers, but first hand I go straight to game, this hand is better than an invite.

Second hand I duck first round and take Kh, probably in the third round. With AQJ of H in a a passed hand, RHO has at most one black honor card, hopefully not a spade, but a club and I can keep him off lead. I cash AK of d and play a low spade to the J in dummy.

Easy pass. That jump to 3S sounds silly and I'm not scared of the occasional -730/-530 because i will compensate with many +500.

Hmm, I thought a bit more about that 1NT hand and I think I actually need to play As and another S after cashing diamonds. RHO might have a stiff spade honor. If he doesn't, I hope both spade honors are with LHO and RHO has at most one of KQT of clubs. I think they are entitled to at most 2S, 2H and 2C tricks with that layout

Now I read the spoilers.

LOL at that 1NT defense, returning a diamond. 1NT has no play with that layout if they just switch to spades.

What did partner have to double 3S? I suppose at some point you played 3 rounds of spades to limit them to 4 spade tricks. Where did the other 5 come from?