TWO4BRIDGE

Isn't this a situation for good/bad 2NT ? Then you would have 2-ways to bid 3D .

Deleted...I misread the 1S open as 1C open ...

Side issue: What bids(s) do you use if you have just one long minor ?

Stayman ( cue-bid): --3D Stayman no diamond stopper [ direct-denies ] --2NT Leb followed by 3D Stayman [ slow-shows] with diamond stopper No Stayman ( 3NT ) --2NT followed by 3NT to play [ slow-shows ] with diamond stopper [ no 4cd Major ] --3NT to play but no diamond [ direct-denies ] stopper [ no 4cd Major ]

I didn't have an agreed structure with partner... ... so, I decided to use the dreaded Gerber on this deal : Partner A K x x J x x K Q x x A x 1NT - 4C! 4S - 6D As it was, 6C would have also made .

Partner opens 1NT ( 15-17 ) , opps silent, IMPs : 1NT - ?? Your hand: x x A J T 8 x x K Q J x x What is your plan ?

2H showing 3 cards is enough after the 4th Suit GF : East 1D - 1H 1S - 2C! 2H - 3H ( extra length ) 5C ( Exclusion-RKC ) - 5D ( 0 or 3, excluding ♣ Ace ) 5S ( ♥Q-ask ) - 6H ( no Q or no 7 cards ♥ )

I like PhantomSac's 3H over 3D ( post # 7 ) with the intention of showing ♣ next : North 1S - 2C ( 2/1 GF ) 2S - 3D 3H - 3S 4C ( this would be a cue ( ♣Ace ) for ♠ -- not necessarily a double-fit ) - 4D 4H - 4NT ( RKC for ♠ ) 5S ( 2 + ♠Q ) - 6C ( only 3 key cards in ♠; 4 key cards in ♣ ) EDIT: Unfortunately, 6C would not mean "to play" but would be a 3rd Rnd Ctrl-ask; so, if you want to play in a small slam, 6S would have to be bid instead of 6C; but missing 2 key cards, 5S should be passed . Also, "4 key cards in Clubs" is an incorrect statement ... there may be only 3 if the Sp K were shown as a key card instead of the Sp Ace ( the reply to 4NT RKC for Sp ) .

If playing Leb3 ( Lebensohl over a Reverse ), then a 2S rebid is forcing and undoubtedly will save room . The near solid ♦ begs for that suit to be trump -- even without support : South 1D - 1S 2H - 2S 3H - 3NT 4D - 4H 4NT ( RKC ostensibly for ♥ ) - 5H ( 2 - ♥Q ) 6D If Responder only had 1 key card, you would have stopped in 5D .

At the time I was playing with someone who said 1S here would show the unbalanced 4s and longer ♣. With a 4-4, you bypass a ♠ rebid and bid 1NT . I agree with you ... as I have seen ♠ suit "lost" .

See my post # 11

Well, I finally remembered reading in MaxHardy's yellow paperback ( p.149 ) about "the least plausible ( or most outlandish lie ) rebid " after being stuck for a bid after 4th suit Game Force . The 4th Suit GF auction was the same one shown here . He suggested 2S also since the 5s/6c hand is very rare . And if you did have that hand, a 3S rebid next would show the 5s/6c : 1C - 1H 1S - 2D! 2S! ( does not guarantee 5 cards ) - 2NT or 3C/D/H 3S = 5s/6c

I guess there is something to be said for the hand with the Queens to do the asking here: North 1NT - 2C 2S - 3C! maybe artificial 3D! ( asks ) - 3S ( yes, 3C! was artificial, but have a ♠ fit and need cuebids ) 3NT! ( ♣-cue ) - 4C ( ♣-cue ) 4D ( ♦cue ) - 4NT ( RKC ) 5C ( 0 or 3 ) - 5H ( 2nd step = specific K-ask; guarantees all key cards and trump Q ) 6C ( ♣ K; no ♥ K ) - 6D ( 2nd K-ask ) 6NT ( ♦ K ) - 7S - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Note: 3C! here by no means standard .

1S ostensibly showed 5c/4s ( Walshish ) : 1C - 1H 1S - 2D! ( EDIT: 4th Suit GF; not NMF ) ?? Opener's hand: A K x x A x x x x x x x x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Edit: Yes, 2D was 4th suit GF ( not NMF ... duh.. brain fade ) .

Over a minor-rebid, some play "cheapest new suit forcing " ... sooo : 1C - 1S 2C - ?? ...... 2D! = artificial new suit forcing ...... 2H = non-forcing

The Spade

Well, this hand was played in a BBO tourney by a friend of mine. His partner, a " BBO expert " , chided him for opening 1D . They received a bad board because of the induced ♦ lead by partner ( opps made 12 tricks in a ♥ contract rather than the cold 11 tricks on a ♣ lead ) . Easy to see post mortem .... duh . I too, would have opened 1D .

Both Vul 1) Would you Open: 1D or 1C ?? Q x void J 10 x x x x A K Q J 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2) Let's say it goes: 1D - ( 1H ) - p - ( 4H ) ?? Would you now bid 5C ??

To me, 3D should promise 5+ cards and 2 of the top 3 .

In general: " If you have NOT supported partner's suit, then leading LOW is from 3+ cards whether you have an honor or not. If you HAVE supported partner, then leading LOW is from an HONOR . " -- from Phillip Alder's newspaper bridge column ( ... he makes this point over and over again ) .

Has anyone mentioned Meckwell's treatment for this special case : 1H - 1S 2D - 2S! = artificial GF ( instead of the 4th suit, 3C ) They now consider 2S! here as a " popular modern treatment " .

Rule of 17: If partner opens a weak 2, add the number of high card points plus the number of trumps you hold. If the sum is at least 17, bid game in partner's suit. (Zeke Grabour, ACBL) EDIT: Same as Ben ... I didn't see inquiry's first post .

Rather than reach North with the ♣Q, you decide to overtake the ♥10 ... only to find out that the ♥ are 5-1 . On the other hand, let's say you don't overtake the ♥10. ♣Q - ruffed, ♠, another ♣- ruffed, another ♠, ♣- ruffed ♦Ace for minus 1

Depending on your partnership's preference, the cuebid in balancing position can have one of two meanings: 1 - A two-suited hand (the Michaels convention); or 2 - A strong, game-forcing takeout. I think most would prefer Michaels. Whether OP's 6-loser hand is strong enough for Michaels ( having to go to the 3-level ) is anybody's guess .

Ben ... if South had 6 cards ♣, then his partner would have 2 cards.... but OP said he "discouraged " on the lead of South's Ace . Wouldn't North start a hi-lo with 2 cards ♣ ?? So, if South only has 5 cards ♣, then he only has 4 cards ♠ ... and you can safely ruff low .