Time pressure

We bid these cards to the poorish 6C, which was makeable but failed. East was a passed hand. We had No1C2C8-10 balanced with a major2D2Hspades & a minor2S3C4-2-3-43D3S6 SPs4C4D0 or…

11-15 balanced

Strong club systems are generally light opening but that's maybe not such a good idea with relay methods. Our 1H opening is 11-15 with 4+H, denies 4 spades. The wide…

DCB zooming

So 3S showed 3-4-3-3, 8 SPs.What was 5D? We have this DCB guideline "The farthest you can go is a raise of the ask, without substantial extras." This is because…

Rubens Rule

4NT is a contract that could (should) have made but didn't, even after the SJ lead. everyone else played 3NT on their combined 30-count with no fit. Looks like West…

Endpoints for balanced positives

Intro 2NT14-4-2-33C24-4-3-2, 4-2-3-43D44-3-3-3, 4-3-2-4 (5), 4-2-4-3, 2-4-3-43H*53-4-3-3 (5/6), 4-3-2-4 (6), 4-3-4-2 (5/6), 3-4-2-4 (5/6), 2-4-4-3 3S*53-4-3-3 (7), 4-3-2-4 (7), 4-3-4-2 (7), 3-4-2-4 (7), 3-4-4-2 (5/6)3NT*53-4-3-3 (8), 4-3-2-4 (8), 4-3-4-2 (8),…

The 33-point 6NT

Simple arithmetic for Standard pairs permits auctions like 1NT - 6NT, where responder has a flat 18-count. Relay can sometimes do that via a long sequence, though the combined HCP…

2m or 1NT

The modern Precision trend is to require six to open 2C. That helps responder judge fit, though there is the issue of 4-card majors in 2C, since opener could be…

Kontrol ask plus MST

1S both majors, 2C relay. South saved us two steps.East needs to find that exact hand. Kontrol-ask is better with a singleton and the only relevant queen being in describer's…