[Cyberyeti]

Bid these:

---

Dealer S

1) bid these unopposed
2) bid these if E overcalls 2♠ or 3♠ (edited, it's E not W that overcalls)

[DavidKok]

I play 14-16 NT, which might be of massive importance on this deal. Assuming 15-17 NT:

1NT-2♣*; 2♠-3♣; 3NT-P. Opener could perhaps try 3♦ over 3♣ because of the maximum and the aces, but with shortness in both partner's suits I would sign off. Maybe a better player would bid 4NT quantitative.
1NT-(2♠)-3♠*; 3NT-P. The 3♠ bid shows a GF hand with exactly 4 hearts and no spade stopper.
1NT-(3♠)-X; 3NT-(P).

No slams for me, and after these starts I think it is resulting to get to 6♣.

With my 14-16 NT I would bid:
1♣*-1♥; 2NT-4♣; 4NT (signoff)-???, I have no idea if North wants to give it another try. I would probably pass.
1♣*-(2♠)-X; 3NT-4♣; 4♦ opener may expect partner to be short in spades, so all the points are working. I think South is worth a control bid on this auction. But the partnership may well derail, for example continuing 4♥; 4♠-4NT; 5♦-6♣; 6NT?.
1♣*-(3♠)-X; 4NT(natural)-5♣; 5♦-??? and let us hope North is a clairvoyant, with the diamond king likely to be offside the defence takes 3 tricks in notrump before declarer has their 10th so 5NT would be a disaster guess. Either 6♣ or 6♦ rates to make, and passing 5♦ would likely not be the end of the world with how difficult it is to bid these hands.

[mw64ahw]

Cyberyeti, on 2021-August-07, 10:56, said:

Bid these:

---

Dealer S

1) bid these unopposed
2) bid these if W overcalls 2♠ or 3♠

With an MLT of less than 6.5 we are in slam territory if a fit can be found. 15-17 NT

1. Depending on which method I'm playing
1NT - 2♠ (♣ transfer)
2NT (no super accept)-3♥ a super-accept is more likely to land in 6♣/6NT
3NT - 4NT (Quantitative although I doubt I'd make the bid)
6NT (Max)
or
1NT-2♣
2♦- 3♣ (4♥5+♣)
3NT - as above

2. I X an overcall of 3♠ with partner taking to 3NT

Over 2♠ I use Transfer Lebenshol so
1NT-(2♠)-2NT-x
3♣-x-3♥-x
3NT

I doubt it goes any further with the overcall there

[DavidKok]

The average MLT of a 15-17 NT is 7, the extra strength slightly compensates for the lack of shape (down from 7.5 from a minimum opening). A MLT of 6.5 opposite without a fit does not make a good slam try, in my opinion.

[mw64ahw]

DavidKok, on 2021-August-07, 11:29, said:

The average MLT of a 15-17 NT is 7, the extra strength slightly compensates for the lack of shape (down from 7.5 from a minimum opening). A MLT of 6.5 opposite without a fit does not make a good slam try, in my opinion.

I assume Min <=6.5 with Max<=6 knowing that a balanced hand can be <=7 with too many Quacks. With a fit you likely have a gain and with 7 versus 6.5 I can still stop in 5

[Cyberyeti]

DavidKok, on 2021-August-07, 11:18, said:

With my 14-16 NT I would bid:
1♣*-1♥; 2NT-4♣; 4NT (signoff)-???, I have no idea if North wants to give it another try. I would probably pass.
1♣*-(2♠)-X; 3NT-4♣; 4♦ opener may expect partner to be short in spades, so all the points are working. I think South is worth a control bid on this auction. But the partnership may well derail, for example continuing 4♥; 4♠-4NT; 5♦-6♣; 6NT?.
1♣*-(3♠)-X; 4NT(natural)-5♣; 5♦-??? and let us hope North is a clairvoyant, with the diamond king likely to be offside the defence takes 3 tricks in notrump before declarer has their 10th so 5NT would be a disaster guess. Either 6♣ or 6♦ rates to make, and passing 5♦ would likely not be the end of the world with how difficult it is to bid these hands.

What's your club ?

And sorry I will edit the OP, it's E that overcalls spades

[Cyberyeti]

Winstonm, on 2021-August-07, 11:45, said:

1N-2C
2S-3C
3N-P

1N-2S-X*-P
3D-P-3S-P
3N-P-P-P

1N-3S-X*-P
P-P

X*=negative

Sorry I edited the OP, it's E not W that overcalls spades

I'm slightly surprised people seem to treat this as 17 rather than 18, I feel the ♠1098 make it worth more. Doesn't matter to me (playing a weak NT with a 15-bad 19 1N rebid) but is critical if you play 15-17.

[Winstonm]

Cyberyeti, on 2021-August-07, 11:55, said:

Sorry I edited the OP, it's E not W that overcalls spades

I'm slightly surprised people seem to treat this as 17 rather than 18, I feel the ♠1098 make it worth more. Doesn't matter to me (playing a weak NT with a 15-bad 19 1N rebid) but is critical if you play 15-17.

Thanks.

I would feel better about an upgrade with the Q10x of hearts. I would like a 5-card suit but the diamonds are good enough to add that value. It's close and a reasonable upgrade. I can go either way with that argument.

For me the bidding would be pretty straightforward.

1N-2C
2S-3C
3N

1N-P-2C-2S
P-P-3S-P
3N-P-P-P

1N-P-2C-3S
P-P-X-P
(3N or P*)-P-P-P
*depending on vulnerability

Hats off if you got to slam. I would not.

[DavidKok]

Cyberyeti, on 2021-August-07, 11:41, said:

What's your club ?

And sorry I will edit the OP, it's E that overcalls spades

Sorry, my 1♣ is "Can be a 2-card suit, non-standard, may contain up to 5 diamonds with a balanced minimum (12-13)". It's a popular local version of the Full Dutch Doubleton. Important is that it contains (almost) all balanced 12-13 NT without 5cM, as well as all balanced 17-19 NT without a 5-card suit outside clubs, and then also all hands with natural clubs (again with a caveat, 4♦5♣ minimum openings are opened 1♦ in this system, but it's not very relevant right now).

[jillybean]

Cyberyeti, on 2021-August-07, 10:56, said:

Bid these:

---

Dealer S

1) bid these unopposed
2) bid these if E overcalls 2♠ or 3♠ (edited, it's E not W that overcalls)

1NT:2♣
2♠:3♣
3NT

1NT P 2♣ 2♠
P P 3♣ P
3NT

Weak nt
1♦:2♣
2♠:2NT
3NT

1♦ P 2♣ 2♠
2NT P 3♥ P
3NT

[Cyberyeti]

I think we'd bid:

1♦-2♣ (whether 2♠ is bid or not)
2N(GF not necessarily bal)-3♥
4N(Quant)- ?

Now partner knows I'm 18-19 bal, well upholstered in diamonds and spades almost certainly 4342/3343, might bid the slam, might not.

[nullve]

Cyberyeti, on 2021-August-07, 10:56, said:

Bid these:

---

Dealer S

1) bid these unopposed
2) bid these if E overcalls 2♠ or 3♠ (edited, it's E not W that overcalls)

1)

nullve(S)-nullve(N):

1♣(1)-2♣(2)
2♦(3)-2♥(4)
2♠(5)-2N(6)
3♣(7)-3♠(8)
4♣(9)-4♥(10)
4♠(11)-5♣(12)
6♦(13)-P

(1) "10+, NATish unBAL" or "11-13/17-19/23+ BAL"
(2) "13+, primary C, unBAL"
(3) relay (GF)
(4) "13-15"
(5) relay
(6) "1-suited or (3)4+ H"
(7) relay
(8) 13-15, either 1435 or 0445
(9) slam interest, no C fit
(10) 1435
(11) Parity Key Card Blackwood in D
(12) odd # of key cards, no trump Q
(13) contract

2)

nullve(S)-nullve(N)

1♣-2♣-(2♠/3♠)
X*-P

* penalty

[LBengtsson]

17 opposite 13 high points and no 4-4/5-3 fit make game more likely to be bid than slam as other posters have said before. well done, Cyberyeti if you get to slam especially if opps make a bid, though when opps make a bid that gives you maybe extra bid to describe your hand.

[Douglas43]

Playing weak NT: 1♠ - 2♣ - 2NT (bal15-19 GF)- 3♥ - 3NT. Opponents presumably silent over the 1 Spade opening

Responder shows 4♥, 5♣ and better than minimum, but absent a 5-3 Club fit I think we stop in 3NT. Well done if you bid the slam.

[sfi]

Cyberyeti, on 2021-August-07, 10:56, said:

Dealer S

1) bid these unopposed

Assuming a normal-ish strong NT, I would expect something like:
1NT - 2C
2S - 3C (4H, 5C, slam interest)
4NT (max, no fit) - Pass

Quote

2) bid these if E overcalls 2♠ or 3♠ (edited, it's E not W that overcalls)

This would be shorter:
1NT - 2C (2S)
P - X (takeout)
All pass

[Cyberyeti]

sfi, on 2021-August-08, 03:08, said:

This would be shorter:
1NT - 2C (2S)
P - X (takeout)
All pass

Not sure how good a result you'll get off this (Obv fine at teams). Overcaller has 7 spades to the KQJ and ♦Kx (2-2 in the others), so the good news is you get 500, the bad news is that anybody in NT gets 520.

NT would be 4 or 7 depending on the diamond finesse 6♣ is cold and makes 7, 6♦ and 6♥ will make with ♦K onside (6♦ with an overtrick). In fact because spades are 7-1 not 6-2 and neither red suit is 5-1 6m/N are completely secure wherever the diamond is.

[pescetom]

We play 15(14)-17 and would not revalue this one even though it is "good".

1NT - 2♣*;
2♦* - 2♠*;
3♣* - 3♥*;
3NT - p


Opener denies 4 card hearts but shows max strength, responder shows clubs and mild slam interest...
Opener bids 3NT as he has no fit and only 4 card diamonds, things probably stop there.

[Gilithin]

Given how popular TWalsh is on here, I am mildly surprised that noone has started with 1♣ - 1♦ -- 1NT - 2♦ for Scenario 1. Is it because the auction with a 2♠ overcall after 1♦ gets awkward?

[fromageGB]

Gilithin, on 2021-August-08, 10:39, said:

Given how popular TWalsh is on here, I am mildly surprised that noone has started with 1♣ - 1♦ -- 1NT - 2♦ for Scenario 1. Is it because the auction with a 2♠ overcall after 1♦ gets awkward?

I had not given mine!
1♣ - 1♦!
1NT(17/18 denies 4 hearts) - 3♣(5, GF slam hoping)
3NT

and opposed :
1♣ - 1♦! (2♠)
2NT(17/18) - 3♣(not necessarily slam hoping)
3NT

Not a sniff of slam.

[sfi]

Cyberyeti, on 2021-August-08, 07:57, said:

Not sure how good a result you'll get off this (Obv fine at teams). Overcaller has 7 spades to the KQJ and ♦Kx (2-2 in the others), so the good news is you get 500, the bad news is that anybody in NT gets 520.

I'm not sure either, but I'm quite certain that's how the auction would go. Sometimes they have six of them, or partner has an honour.