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I try not to include too many advanced conventions in these videos. I don't want to overwhelm beginner and intermediate players. Serious and Non-serious 3NT are fairly advanced. As a personal choice, I prefer non-serious 3NT. Both are a good addition to 2/1. Cheers, Rob

@@durhamdbc I get that - you want to stretch people though and get them out of their comfort zone.

Hi John; With a 4-card major, always start with Stayman. That includes all hands with 5-4-x-x and 6-4-x-x. If partner shows a 4-card major, you have found a fit. If partner bids 2D, denying a 4-card major, jump to 3 of your 5-card major to show 5-4 and game forcing (or bid 3 of your 4-card major if playing Smolen) With 5-5 in the majors, transfer to 2H and then bid 2S = invitational with 5-5 in the majors transfer to 2S, then bid 3H = game-forcing with 5-5 in the majors This approach is the "standard". You could create some other approach, but I have found this works just fine. Cheers, Rob

That is certainly a reasonable interpretation. It could even be a (3-2-2)-6 hand.

@@durhamdbc thanks. I guess without a very good 6-card club suit since we didn't rebid clubs earlier.

Hi John; Glad you like the video :) We are in Oshawa, which is in Durham Region, about an hour east of Toronto, Ontario. I've actually played in the Durham SC club a few years back. Nreat club with a great Italian restaurant in the area. Cheers, Rob

@@durhamdbc oh right - there is a Durham in the UK where I'm from.

Yes, that’s smolen

Hi William; Thanks for your passionate response :) Your bidding is very standard and right out of a textbook. I, however, have a few differences to my bidding theory - When someone opens 2C, they have a big hand (in hcp and/or playability) - I generally bid 2D (waiting) because it gives the 2C opener as much room as possible to describe their hand - I don't respond 2NT to a 2C opening because it contravenes the previous point and it can wrong-side the contract On this auction, South was able to show the 5+ spades and the unbalanced nature of their hand and that is game forcing (this last point is mine). When North makes a simple raise, the rule of fast arrival is in play (because 2S was game-forcing), so North has shown their potential slam interest. South makes a cue-bid because he wants to know if the diamonds are stopped by North. Cue-bid auctions are superior because they allow you to find making slams and stay out of unmaking slams. Clearly North has enough to go to slam opposite a 2C opening, almost all the time. In your auction, there are a couple of concerns. - If North has 1 ace, which one is it? - If its the ace of hearts, then there could easily be two diamonds losers off the top - North's raise to 4S in your auction is a sign-off, showing a minimum with 3 spades and no slam interest (even in your textbook) - Is North really slammish? With 12 hcp opposite a 2C opening, I would say they are. There's a reason that all the pros use cue-bids. They remove ambiguity. My final point is to suggest that in almost all 2C auctions, it is responder who should be deciding if slam is viable, not the opener. Opener has a strong, easily described hand. Responder is the big unknown. I trust my partners to use their judgement. Have a great day.

I went to RUclips.com and typed durhamdbc in the search box. - It returned a list of videos. Then I clicked on the picture of me - It took me to the channel And the videos are there. Not sure why this is showing the incorrect video for today. I suggest you try it my way.

Hi Bruce; Since I already bid 3C, I am forcing (manipulating) my partner to cue-bid hearts if they have one. By bypassing clubs after having bid them already, there is a strong inference that I am not worried about clubs. There is nothing wrong with bidding 4C. Since I have the ace of diamonds, partner will make the same heart cue-bid. In general, you are correct, a club cue-bid is clearer to partner. Great observation. Cheers, Rob

Texas is done only when there is no slam possibility - it takes away opponent's bidding space in case they have a profitable sacrifice. 2h followed by 4nt is available as quantitative raise with 5 card spades, 4h followed by 4nt is rkcb.

Another great question. Okay, here goes. Imagine you hold: S: AQJxxx H: Axx D: xx C: AQx You know you have an 8-card fit and the only thing left is to make sure you have the key cards to make slam _______ Now you hold: S: AQxxx H: Axx D: Kxx C: Ax You know you have the hcp for slam, but are uncertain if you have a spade fit ______ This time, you hold S: AJ10xx H: Axx D: Kxx C: Kx You are uncertain about slam as well as whether you have a spade fit --------- The solution is to play Jacoby transfers as well as Texas transfers where: 1N - 2H 2S - 4N = Quantitative raise in NT w/ 5 spades 1N = 2H 2S - 5N = Forcing to slam in NT or spades w/ 5 spades 1N - 4H 4S - P = 6+ spades, only wanted to play in game 1N - 4H 4S - 4N = 6+ spades, only need to know about key cards. --------- There are also some other sequences for Jacoby transfers that most people don't know 1N - 2H 2S - 4S = Mild slam try in spades (6+ spades). This bid is very rare 1N - 2H 2S - 4C = 6+ spades, splinter in clubs, slammish. It is the same when you bid 4D or 4H instead of 4C 1N - 2H 2S - 3C = 5-x-x-4, game-forcing and usually slammish. - Opener now continues with - 3N to show no fit for either suit - 3S to confirm a spade fit - a cue-bid in a new suit to confirm responder's 2nd suit, clubs - This sequence also works the same with 3D ______ So, to answer your question. If you want your cake and eat it too, then you have to consider other (possibly strange) hands that may come up. Hope this helps clarify things. Cheers, Rob

Hi; Brilliant! You are quite correct. There is a club-spade squeeze against East (on the left). I make these videos to help players improve their game with a focus on Beginners, through Advanced. We occasionally find an exotic (cool, nifty intriguing) element to a hand, but I am reluctant to include some of the more complex examples, like squeezes; I don't want their eyes to glaze over! I am thrilled that you found the squeeze. Well done! Keep on finding all the "FUN" stuff :) Cheers, Rob

Thanks very much. There are so many things that are understood by the top players but just not in print and we enjoy letting others in on things.

It depends on your agreements. Some players play that a jump-shift is forcing to game (as you have mentioned) while others play that it is forcing for only 1 round. I respond very aggressively at the 1-level so I play that a jump-shift (or a reverse) are only forcing for 1 round.

Bidding 3NT is very reasonable and its the bid most will choose. By bidding 4th suit forcing followed by 4D, I get an opportunity to explore for slam while still keeping notrump in the picture. If partner doesn't give me a cue-bid (maybe their hearts are soft values like QJx) and bids 4NT, I will Pass. Otherwise, I'm off to 6D. There is some small danger that 4N doesn't make, but I'm will to take the risk for a small slam that will get me a top.

S😮orry. I meant my comment as reply to the query: "what 3s would mean?" But typed at the wrong place. Anyhow, thanks for your response.