yes colors and IMPs/MPs makes a massive impact into this sort of decision

decent colors and IMPs, just take your money and run

it gets hard after that

Converting an X at the 1 level is underrated and missed a lot by the population. In terms of a general rule you need to have at least 5 trumps, and usually with decent quality. It is far better to pass out sitting over the opener, ie to the left of them, than under.

Shortage in partners primary suit is a massive plus as it means both that your partners tricks will be standing up or you can get ruffs if the opponents don't also have shortage there, and with the presence of a misfitting hand we're less likely to have a game on.

Slightly different spot, but in a tournament last weekend I had QT752 x Kx KJTxx and partner opened an unbalanced 1D, RHO overcalled 1S and I passed. Partner reopened with an X and at game all I chose to pass this out. If I was sitting under declarer's spades this would be far less attractive. At the other table the opponents declined this opportunity to reach 3N which happened to be good on this occasion but is by no means a winning spot opposite all of partner's 1D and X reopen range.

We could have collected 800 if I had lead my stiff heart, a lesson learnt, but I chose to lead my partner's suit with the Kd. While in high level contracts its often best to force declarer with trump length in your long side suit, in low level contracts its better to score ruffs and try and prevent declarer from getting cheap tricks with small trumps.

The decision at IMPs vs MP is far more nuanced. At imps the difference between 2 and 3 off vul is -3 or +5 imps, at MP its a 0 vs 100. I would just give it a shot a few times and develop your intuition for it.

You hold in first seat, r/r, MPs:

Void
AQJ9x
QJxxx
Txx

1H-(2D)-2S-(P)

What do you bid?

Ugh. Is 3C totally crazy? If partner doesn't have at least 4 clubs, then I think he will either correct to hearts or rebid spades. For instance, assume partner has 3 clubs and at least 5 spades. Likely no more than 2 hearts (otherwise he would have supported hearts rather than bypassed), and there are only 3 diamonds left in the deck. If partner has 2 hearts, then his distribution is 5-2-3-3, 6-2-2-3, 7-2-1-3, or 8-2-0-3. I think with any of these distributions partner will either correct to hearts (which we're happy with) or rebid spades (which is not great if partner has 6, but hopefully he'll correct to hearts). If partner has 1 heart, then he has at least 6 spades and will rebid them (which is not great if he has only 6).

My other choice is 3H. But I hope somebody who actually knows what they're talking about will weigh in.

2N, don't see any alternative. Pass is an interesting shot which could work sometimes. The auction has devalued our hand with diamonds on our left and there is no strain we really want to play in.

Is 2N forcing? Are you really okay with partner letting it sit there with a spade void?

It's not forcing, yes I'm ok if he passes and we don't get higher...

2NT is 100% nf. Partners 2S was 100% forcing making 2NT nf. Ugly problem. I bid 2nt as well.

2n is really ugly but agree it’s the only
Option... it sucks sometimes when they bid your suit lol. I had the same inclination as hackdeath that this kind of hand at MP is maybe a decent shot to pass a forcing bid, but I think with a spade void it’s still anti percentage (1552 and the same hand would be a better pass for instance but still totally random)

Fwiw I am sure 2n is passable in my partnerships but wouldn't be shocked to learn that some people play that 2S here promises a rebid.

I couldn't bring myself to bid 2N and bid 3H, so shame on me. Post round beer discussion also suggested 2N was the consensus choice.

1H-(2D)-2S-(P)
3H-(P)-4D-(P)
4H-(P)-5D-(P)
5H-(P)-6H-PPP

What do you think partners hand looks like?

AKQxxxx/Kx/void/KQxx

Pretty close.

AKxxxxxx/KT/void/AKx

Sadly hearts did not break 3-3.

Why do hearts need to break 3-3?

Spades 3-2 and hearts 4-2 you can make 13 tricks. Spades 4-1 or hearts 5-1 don't see a way. If they let you duck a spade might be able to win against 4-1 break there, but don't see many variations where that's viable.

2NT is ugly but the only bid. 3H should really promise 6h.

Your partner didn't bid very well either.
Why 4D? Would 4C not have been a cuebid for hearts? 4C is the superior bid, because if partner skips the diamond control, you are always bidding slam and might even investigate the grand.

x
AQJxxx
xxx
xxx

Is all you need to have a playable grand slam.

I don’t understand why 4c would be a cuebid for hearts, no suit has been agreed so it seems like 4c should just be clubs. I know it’s a silly example but the advancer could be 7-6 in the blacks haha. But even something like 6-5 or 6-6 or a really good 5-5 (akxxx x ax akqxx or whatever) might wanna bid some clubs. I think the language should be 4c is clubs and 4d is an artificial raise in hearts (better than a 4h bid)

Well if that is the convention, I would probably have done 5NT Josephine/GSF directly, since I'm an optimist.

With these actual two hands it is no shame to end in 7h. If hearts are 4-2, spades must be 3-2 and if hearts are 3-3, spades can be 4-1 (assuming diamond lead). I think that is well over 60%

Ruff diamond, cash Kh, ruff spade, draw trumps etc.

is this really an opening bid now. i must have been away far to long

Seems fine to me. Very high ODR but that's ok.

Was wondering if/when I'd get that response. If you're not opening that, you need to live a little.

do you play bridge for enjoyment, or to win. cuz i think if you are going to open that formage in first chair then you deserve getting fixed for a bid. what would you have done if your partner had made a neg double? leave it in with 2 tricks? then your pard never trusts you again.bridge is a game of patience and skill. if you have to try to filet the deck you will always be only a novice.

Wouldn't occur to me to not open that. Maybe dial down the theatrics about always being a novice lol

i respect your opinion here as we have played on bbo, but when you are dealt this hand in fist seat there is no way it gets passed out, therefore you can always describe your hand nicely on your second call. bridge is a game of partners and if they think you can open a hand without spades or defensive tricks they will never trust you. on the other hand if you have a way to convey to your pard that you have opened trash then go for it. but expect to be called that word that we cannot say in the bridge world. that was the point i was trying to mke. no offense intended in the novice call.

Hey guys, fun one from district GNT last weekend (A's). Opps are very good local experts (won the open -- well for now at least, it's still in debate who won as you might see on the D22 GNT BW thread by Rick Roeder haha).

All white. Partner deals.

1D (P) 1H (3C) ; 3S (P) 4S (P) ; 4N (P) 5D! (x) xx (P) ? To you.

QJxx KJxxx Jx xx

Pass. Partner has some bunker and wants to play this. I have Jx of trumps, so that suits me just fine.