[apollo1201]

2 hands where we had very different views with partner. One bidding and one lead problem. My arguments looked so weird to partner that I feel the need to get unbiased (not telling who had the hand and the choice) opinion.

1) MPs all red, LHO deals and passes, so does partner, RHO opens 1S, what to do with

xx
JTx
AKQx
AJxx

2) Uncontested auction from opps, 1S - 1NT, 3D - 5D, what to lead with

Jxx
Kxxxx
xx
Kxxx

[mw64ahw]

1. On the first one I double (Power) or alternatively bid 1N not worrying about a stopper.
2. Trump

[awm]

1. Double seems extremely normal.
2. I like a club lead here; given the auction they have a big diamond fit and we see spades are breaking, so you need to grab your round suit tricks while you can. Heart vs. club are pretty even but I've found that leading the shorter suit in such situations is often a bit better (longer suit is more likely to be declarer's shortage, which is usually not the best of leads). Opening lead is often a bit of a guess though and I wouldn't criticise any lead except a spade (which seems hopeless).

[Zelandakh]

The answer to #1 depends on where you live. If you come from the English-speaking world, it's a WTP Double. In Central Europe, where a X is often a promise of 4 hearts, you have to come up with a different solution. I think they Pass and come in later but it's not a style I know very well.
For #2, I think Adam's analysis is pretty solid, though I'd like to know whether 1NT was weak, forcing or semi-forcing before committing to it.

[awm]

Zelandakh, on 2026-April-04, 12:39, said:

The answer to #1 depends on where you live. If you come from the English-speaking world, it's a WTP Double. In Central Europe, where a X is often a promise of 4 hearts, you have to come up with a different solution. I think they Pass and come in later but it's not a style I know very well.
For #2, I think Adam's analysis is pretty solid, though I'd like to know whether 1NT was weak, forcing or semi-forcing before committing to it.

Hmm, having lived and played bridge in Central Europe for the last eight years, I wouldn't say I've noticed this, although I did once partner a Turkish player who played this way. Will ask around in Switzerland and Germany!

[mike777]

awm, on 2026-April-04, 11:18, said:

1. Double seems extremely normal.
2. I like a club lead here; given the auction they have a big diamond fit and we see spades are breaking, so you need to grab your round suit tricks while you can. Heart vs. club are pretty even but I've found that leading the shorter suit in such situations is often a bit better (longer suit is more likely to be declarer's shortage, which is usually not the best of leads). Opening lead is often a bit of a guess though and I wouldn't criticise any lead except a spade (which seems hopeless).

This

[pescetom]

awm, on 2026-April-04, 13:14, said:

Hmm, having lived and played bridge in Central Europe for the last eight years, I wouldn't say I've noticed this, although I did once partner a Turkish player who played this way. Will ask around in Switzerland and Germany!

Here in Italy not many would double on this. I would expect similar behaviour from a Turk or from a Spaniard (given what I saw in Tenerife).
Some would breeze 1NT without a stopper (with or without a disclosed agreement to do so) but maybe not vulnerable.

[mike777]

 pescetom, on 2026-April-04, 14:44, said:

Here in Italy not many would double on this. ...

Italy? Rather surprising response

[johnu]

1. Standard takeout double for me. Would I like a 4th heart? Absolutely, but if I don't show values now, when (and how) do I show them?

2. What don't I lead? Before I decide, I look at my hand and see that declarer's long side suit spades has a pretty even split, as does the trump suit diamonds. Declarer should have no problem drawing trump, and the spade suit should produce several winners at least. To beat 5♦ or maybe just take the tricks we are entitled to, I rule out a spade or a trump lead which allows declarer to draw trumps and set up spades.

As to hearts or clubs, hearts are longer by 1 card so declarer profitably pitching a heart is more likely than pitching a club by the smallest of margins. So I lead a low heart without much conviction.

[Zelandakh]

awm, on 2026-April-04, 13:14, said:

Hmm, having lived and played bridge in Central Europe for the last eight years, I wouldn't say I've noticed this, although I did once partner a Turkish player who played this way. Will ask around in Switzerland and Germany!

As it happens I also live in Germany. In fact I was recently re-reading an old 2022 DBV Magazine and spotted an article about you and Elianna winning the German Mixed Pairs . You might not be aware of it but the official Forum D documentation reads that for this double, you either need to have 4 hearts or a big hand. Since Forum D is a direct copy of SEF, my assumption would be that the same applies there. And SEF is in turn derived in part from Italian bidding concepts, so I would not be surprised if it also exists there in some form. Personally, I have always played the UK/US way and that is what I have agreed with my German partner. On an international forum though, I think it's incorrect to state that Double is automatic, even though that is indeed true for both of us.

[apollo1201]

Thais all for your answers that pretty much confirm my views😅😅😅😅

Actually, both were problems partner had to solve and as we just started playing together, her way of thinking and assessing is more important than the result itself.

For me, on 1, the extra strength and no S honors were enough to compensate the absence of the 4th H. Partner said she absolutely needed a 4th H to double so bid 2NT for minors‼️‼️.

RHO bid 3S and thankfully I had a flattish weakish and quackish enough hand (incl Qxx S) not to compete despite 4 small clubs… for 3S+1 and an average board.

On the 2nd you were right that with only good news for déclarer in S and D, we needed to cash out quick so a passive lead was like surrendering without fighting. Partner said she would never under lead a K.

[mike777]

apollo1201, on 2026-April-05, 02:13, said:

Thais all for your answers that pretty much confirm my views��������

Actually, both were problems partner had to solve and as we just started playing together, her way of thinking and assessing is more important than the result itself.

For me, on 1, the extra strength and no S honors were enough to compensate the absence of the 4th H. Partner said she absolutely needed a 4th H to double so bid 2NT for minors‼️‼️.

RHO bid 3S and thankfully I had a flattish weakish and quackish enough hand (incl Qxx S) not to compete despite 4 small clubs… for 3S+1 and an average board.

On the 2nd you were right that with only good news for déclarer in S and D, we needed to cash out quick so a passive lead was like surrendering without fighting. Partner said she would never under lead a K.

"Absolutely"
"Never"

[awm]

Hmm I’m generally not a fan of leading away from kings against suit contracts, but you have to listen to the auction and look at your hand. An auction like 1♠-2♠-4♠ is very different from the one given in this thread.

[johnu]

apollo1201, on 2026-April-05, 02:13, said:

Partner said she would never under lead a K.

The nightmare hand, 4 unsupported kings with no clues in the bidding. Is there a time limit for playing a single board?

[akwoo]

apollo1201, on 2026-April-05, 02:13, said:

Thais all for your answers that pretty much confirm my views😅😅😅😅

Actually, both were problems partner had to solve and as we just started playing together, her way of thinking and assessing is more important than the result itself.

For me, on 1, the extra strength and no S honors were enough to compensate the absence of the 4th H. Partner said she absolutely needed a 4th H to double so bid 2NT for minors‼️‼️.

RHO bid 3S and thankfully I had a flattish weakish and quackish enough hand (incl Qxx S) not to compete despite 4 small clubs… for 3S+1 and an average board.

On the 2nd you were right that with only good news for déclarer in S and D, we needed to cash out quick so a passive lead was like surrendering without fighting. Partner said she would never under lead a K.

For most players, trying to think instead of just following rules leads to worse results. The rules are pretty good. If they try to think about possible exceptions, they'll start imagining they're in an exception when they aren't actually in one far more than they'll actually get an exception right. Basically, their thinking is worse than the rule.

Now, someone on the mental upswing (as far as learning bridge is concerned) will learn from their mistakes and eventually, from trial and error and practice, their thinking will become better than the rule. For them, trying to figure out exceptions to the rules will eventually improve their game, even if it temporarily makes it worse. Most bridge players are, however, too old to be on the mental upswing. Or they just don't want to think that hard.

I don't know your situation, but you may have to choose between your partner as they are or finding a new partner.