They've already opened the bidding. How do I bid this monster hand?

[@kvom01]

The pair stopping in 2S did well as 6S goes down on bad breaks.

[@johnwest2156]

I have a couple of comments I hope you don't mind and a simple solution for over callers bid, you state that a double by you is 100% forcing, I beg to differ, you as the doubler have no clues as to what your partner has, they may have 5 or 6 hearts and feel confident in passing and turning this takeout double into a penalty double, that option is there, you as doubler would cringe but you won't get a rebid, because after your double the bids would be pass, pass, pass. I would bid 2 hearts The Michaels cue bid, perfectly describes this hand, if east supports hearts, I south with only 2 hcp's should get in the bidding knowing they had a 9 card spade fit, the shortness in your potential minor is still ok, south could ruff small diamonds, but whenever advancer bids spades north should jump to 4 spades as advancer I should then pass, I hope this comment gets you thinking, but I disagree that a takeout double can't be passed ergo turning it into a penalty double, and if you don't know the Michaels cue bid its worth learning, thanks

[@nirupmalkani788]

Thank you for this.

[@MENSA.lady2]

I bid 2H

[@pietergeerkens6324]

Playing Michael's, I'm going to bid 2H at the first go rather than double, as I'm only looking for 3 spades in partner's hand, not 4. I believe this makes it a bit easier to find the spade fit when it's right. This also removes temptation from Partner if he was dealt QT98xx in hearts (and West was dealt thee club K instead of the heart Q and club J).

[@susanallison183]

Good one, thanks.

[@sandipchatterjee7746]

This is simple if you play Ghestem. I 'd reach the right spot with 3C, showing S and D and will perhaps fool around a little bit with RKC before bidding slam. But of course, I may go down. I am BIDBOLD in the BBO :-)

[@rukdropov]

The only practical bid is double. It is possible the partner will pass, but that is unlikely. The most probable auction is 1H-Dble-Pass-2C-Pass and then you get to jump bid spades at some level. One suggestion is to bid 5S showing a slam try in the red suits. The idea is that when you double and don't raise partner, then you have the other two suits except when you jump bid in a suit. The five bid takes you past game and is unusual is a slam invitation but says I am not sure of the suit yet. Partner may see you as one suited but there is no perfect solution when the game forcing cue bid is not available.

[@BrianOxleyTexan]

What should 2H cuebid mean over 1S? I agree this auction does need to be complicated, and (Roman?) Blackwood makes sense for the given hand.

[@PeterHillier-t2s]

How about N bidding 2❤? Shows a very strong hand and 1st round control in ❤️

[@jeanfrobisher5577]

Thanks......such an interesting hand

[@LearnBridgeOnline]

So glad to hear it, Jean! Isn't it a wild hand?

[@jonthomson5764]

If these videos are targetted at beginners then fine, but not even discussing Michaels as an option here seems like a huge omission

[@4dotaonly]

Michaels assumes less than an opening Hand. You sure underbid your hand and convey wrong information to partner, much like unusual NT.

[@okrasaghia]

@@4dotaonly it does not assume less than opening unless you specificly agree that with partner (I don’t). Regardless it is forcing and you will learn what you need, if partner has at least 3 spades. Then you can bid RKB and slam regardless what your partner believe you have. North is in charge and decide where to stop. It is only unfortunate that it does not make.

[@rukdropov]

@@4dotaonly Not true. There are different versions of Michaels.

[@rukdropov]

Once again old fashioned ACOL has an easy bid of 2H (equivalent to a 2C opener). Two suiters would have been bid bid naturally in the distant past. Where the direct cue-bid is reserved for distributional hands you have problems. That has to be accepted. The idea is that two-suited hands suitable for competition are much more likely than the rock crusher.

[@edsimnett]

There are different Blackwoods... isn't Roman more common?

[@nirupmalkani788]

What will E discard? Won't they discard few diamonds since E has only 1 Spade in it's hand ?

[@VictorMollo]

If West should happen to open with the Ace of Clubs (not recommended 😀), you almost have a squeeze against East. After three rounds of spades, Ace of Diamonds and a diamond ruff in dummy, Ace of hearts and the last two spades, East has to find four discards from H7 CK965 DJ108. Unfortunately the H7 is spare, so you don't have the count, and you have no entry to the CQ even if East were squeezed.

[@georgiostsiokris5311]

after 3 spades ana a diamond ruff, how on earth will you enter souths hand for a squeeze to operate???

[@SimonMostyn]

A true story. Earlier this month, there was a hand in Div 3 of the Premier League where South held S void H AKQxxx D void C AKQJxxx!

[@RexLivingston-r9o]

What does S bid with 3433 shape and 2 hcp ?

[@rukdropov]

Double is not a forcing bid where on earth did you get that idea? It is a take-out, yes but partner may pass if they feel that defending 1H is right. It is highly probable that partner will bid but to say that it is 100% forcing is simply wrong.

[@jwy4264]

i mean there are always exceptions right

[@DarklordZagarna]

There's little chance that partner has the values necessary to convert a takeout double to penalty here.

[@lindamenzel566]

Isn't there a problem with hearts also, if N/S get the bid for spades?

[@kmohan24]

I spades break 4-0, the contract will go down?

[@kennethgee2004]

well yes monster hand but with that many HCP at 22 you have to do 2S as response. It is both a jump bid and a preemptive bid. You know that the opponent has opened with 10-13 HCP and 13+ total. You have 22 HCP and 26 total. there cannot be many points left. You go 4NT and you are guaranteed set. You really should have been at 4S contract. partner would come back with 3S almost without thinking. You then bid 4S and make.

[@kennethgee2004]

oh and i missed that opponent also bid poorly as they should have opened with 2H as they have the total points and strength in hearts, so their preemptive would have been hit with 2S and partner 3S and you 4S and that is pass by partner as they do not have the A you need otherwise they could give that.

[@weishen2010]

when the monster fails

[@kennethgee2004]

most monsters do fail as there are imbalances in the hands.

[@raymurrayie]

I was thinking of bidding 2 hearts with norths hand, how wrong would that be?

[@indianattneeleeming2327]

That wouldn't be wrong if you play Michaels and your partner knows that you can have a hand as strong as this one. If you and your partner don't play Michaels, you have to double instead to get Partner to bid.

[@johnwest2156]

I agree with you 2 Hearts The Michaels cue bid is perfect

[@CommunistBearFighter]

Please... don't respond if you don't know.... Michaels cue bid is just far too weak. With up to 17 points it is fine. However 18 or more points, you MUST double.

[@puffinbasher]

In general this hand is too strong for Michael's. However, I'm slam forcing with this hand, so all the normal rules go out the window, i want to describe my hand enough to get to the right slam. 1h 2h, with plans to bid 4h as one over key card in response to 2d (there are enough points out that theoretically partner could hold the ace of clubs), and 5nt pick a slam over 2s (showing a slight diamond preferance, and hoping partner would not go to 7 with king of hearts). I doubt I'm getting a non negative response to a cue bid, but if I do, worst case scenario I have pick a slam. Its sometimes OK to make a "wrong" bid, if its forcing and your then planning to take decisive control. Honestly, there is a chance that hearts are something like 6 1 1 5 and partner might convert my double to penalties if his only length and strength are in hearts. This isn't a spot that's taught often, as bluntly when's the last time you had a hand *not* in competition you would want to slam force. I think my opening slam force sequence (modified kokish, 2c 2d 2h 2s 3nt) I have bid twice, ever, so no need to concern. This hand has a loosing trick count of one. So yes i would say, Michael's is good in your agreed range (either split ranges, or 11-18 being the more common) or for 1 loosing trick hands (most of which will be high twenties.

[@thearcticlord3920]

Doubling does nothing. It just invites a useless 2C bid. You want to know which horse to back Diamonds or Spades. Bid a Michaels' Cue Bid, 2H, and your partner will tell you. A slam is pretty much nailed on.

[@tarupatel5231]

😍😍👍

[@paulhadlington8179]

The Americans sometimes call it a "power double" ...