[jillybean]

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Minimal agreements , any jump will be preemptive

[mikeh]

Mps or imps? I’ll bid 5D anyway. Easy if one plays 1D shows 4+. Even easier if one plays 1D is always unbalanced but, given minimal agreements, I’ll do it anyway.

It’s useful to bear in mind that aggressive bidding on wild shape is very difficult on the opps. Even if they ‘should’ double, they often don’t and even when they ‘should’ bid on, they often don’t. Too many people worry about what might happen. Bid 5D in tempo, and LHO is very likely to feel ill about his choices.

[jillybean]

It was IMPs but when I play live it's mostly MP

I did worry about what would happen and bid a pathetic 3D but was given a second chance.

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[pescetom]

We play 4+ 1♦ and for me this would be an automatic 5♦, even at MP.

[jillybean]

Do you bid same, any vulnerability?

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2025-August-04, 10:37, said:

Do you bid same, any vulnerability?

With this exact hand, yes.
Give me more losers in the majors and I might chicken out vulnerable.

[WasWinM]

If I could guarantee a 5D response I’d trot out Blackwood.
So I settle for the pedestrian 5D.

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2025-August-04, 08:03, said:

It was IMPs but when I play live it's mostly MP

I did worry about what would happen and bid a pathetic 3D but was given a second chance.

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Here are two questions you need to have asked before you bid 3D.

Given your lack of hcp and your short majors you should be as,ing: what do I do if LHO raises spades and they bid 4S….either immediately or after a raise on your left.

Are you going to be happy?

No.

Are you going to save? Yes.

Those answers tell you what you should have bid the first time.

You got lucky. Partner has a great hand for you.

But LHO was under no pressure over your delayed 5D. He’d had an the opportunity to describe his hand….great spade support, some shape, but not a strong hcp hand (he could have bid 4D to create a force). And RHO will/should have listened to the auction.

Compare this to the possible effect of an immediate 5D. LHO knows that he wanted to bid 4S, so he’s under tremendous pressure. Note that they may well go 800 in 5S, although 500 is equally possible. Or he might double.

[jillybean]

One thing I can do to improve my game is slow down, and think.