TWO4BRIDGE

Here is some unusual "science" : Some splinter systems show singletons at the 3-level ( such as modified Bergen ) which allows showing VOIDs at the 4-level. North can better take control ( since no 2 quick losers in any side suit ) with a rare VOID-showing jump-bid of his own: 1S - 4C! ( VOID splinter for ♠ as trump ) 5D! ( Exclusion RKC ) - 5S ( 2nd step = 1 key card, excluding the ♦ Ace ) 6S

Partner must be announcing a big 2-suiter -- ♠ & ♣ -- because he had other bids available such as a "forcing pass" to find out more info from you at a lower level . Now, however, I'll bid 4S .

Mike777 : ....In your trump Q-ask auction using 5H, the reply is 5NT = ♠Q + ♥K : 5 trump = no trump-Q 6 trump = trump-Q, no outside king 5 or 6 of suit = trump-Q and cheapest king 5N = trump-Q and king of asking suit is the cheapest king - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - broze : As Mike777 said, you can't cue a void ( or singleton ) in partner's bid ( natural ) suit .

Since the OP plays "Cheapest bid new suit" (such as the Bourke Relay ), which is 2D! here and may be artificial, then 2H instead is NON-forcing : 1C - 1S 2C - ?? ....... 2H = weak, 5/4+, non-forcing ....... 3H-jump = 5/5 invitational - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In OP's auction, 3H = 5/4+, established a GF after going thru 2D!

Mainly to "tick" you off. Actually, I'm curious about a Precision auction or a Relay auction . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BTW, I wasn't proud of our auction . No one got to the grand, and only ~ 1/3 of the pairs bid the small slam . Right or wrong, East explained that since she had K x in partner's suit, she didn't want to " further muddy the waters" . But I agree with YOU, East should have "insisted" on that 9 card suit.

We "luckily" reached slam with Opener finally blasting with 2 possible ♦ losers : [hv=pc=n&s=saqj8hakqjt95dq9c&w=s543h84da8cqjt632&n=skt762h763dca9754&e=s9h2dkjt765432ck8&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=2c3cp(NOT%20a%20bust)p4hp5cp6hppp]399|300[/hv] Making 6H+1

After the 3D! check-back ( NMF for this version of Wolff ): North only has denied 3 cards ♠ ( otherwise would rebid 3S ).... ... and denied 4 cards ♥ ( otherwise would rebid 3H ) . The 1C opening does not necessarily deny shorter ♦ for a 18,19 hcp hand. So, Opener could easily be 2 3 4 4 .

Actually, I'm going to change my reply ( of post # 5 ) to 1NT. Because it is not everyday that I get to use one of my toys if Responder has enough to "ask" via NMF : 1D - 1S 1NT - 2C! ( NMF ) ?? .. 2H = 4 cards ♥ , no 3 cards ♠ .. 2S = 3 cards ♠ , no 4 cards ♥ .. 3H! = 4 cards ♥ AND 3 cards ♠

2♦ Then Responder can bid the Bourke Relay ( 2♥! here = cheapest bid new suit ), if warranted, to "ask" if you have 3 cards ♠ .

You may recall, it was a thread regarding Inverted Minors where Ken Rexford made this priceless comment: "Stoppers are for losers" .... ( In other words, if the point count is there, just bid [some level of] NT ).

West shouldn't go RKC not knowing about 2 quick losers in ♠. What if East showed only 2 key cards ?

A) Opps helped you agree ♣ at a low level. B) So it is easy to use Minorwood ( 4C ) as RKC -- let's say by East . C) West shows 2 + ♣Q . D) Now this allows for TWO low-level K-asks ... ( the first guaranteeing ALL key cards + the trump Q ). E) West is the only one who knows of the extra length ♣ suit and can count 12 tricks, so he is the one to take the plunge at 7C after the 2nd K-ask. He is hoping Partner has "something else" besides the 3 bullets to garner the 13th trick.

Cyber.... You sure have a lot of bids to show 2 key cards + void, etc. So, how do you show 1 key card + void, etc ?

This may be "all wet" : From my post # 16 ( and both hands post # 20 ) : South North 1S - 2D ( 1RF ) 2S - 3C! ( cheapest-bid new suit forcing, could be artificial ) ?? ...3D ( 3 cards ♦ ; Edit: denies 4 cards ♥) ...3H ( 4 cards ♥ ; 1st priority ) ...3S ( ♣-stop(s), possibly 4 cards ♣ ) ..3NT ( no 4h, but have ♥-stop(s) ) so, after ......... - 3C! 3D ( 3 cards ♦ ) - 3H 3S .................. - ?? ..........................3NT probably a suggestion to play ( I don't think "Serious" applies here ) .......................... 4C would be a cue, or perhaps last train ? .......................... 4D would be Minorwood since suit agreement was on 3-level .......................... 4H would be cue, denying a ♣-Ctrl so, after .......... - 4H 5D ( no ♣-Ctrl either ) - pass

Without Void replies what else can you bid other than 5S = 2 + ♠ Q ? Using Void replies, the 5th step is 5NT = 2 + void somewhere ( obviously the ♥-void ) but says nothing about the ♠Q. One method I saw for 2 + void + trump Q was to reply 6-trump ( 6♠ here ) .

AKQJ K982 K8 JT9 5 A6 AQ5 Q876532 1NT - 2S! ( transfer to Cl, 4-suit transfers ) 2NT! ( pre-accept ) - 4C! ( RKC ) 4H ( 2nd step = 1/4 ) - 4NT/5C ( to play, since 2 key cards missing ) pass..............Responder chooses 5C unless he feels lucky at 4NT.

What is 3♥? It seems to me that there is a "cheaper" way to force . 1S - 2D ( 1RF ) 2S - 3C! ( cheapest-bid new suit forcing, could be artificial ) ?? ...3D ( 3 cards ♦ ) ...3H ( 4 cards ♥ ) ...3S ( ♣-stop(s), possible 4 cards ♣ ) ..3NT ( no 4h, but have ♥-stop(s) ) The direct 3H by Responder over 2S takes away 2 useful replies at an economical level . Maybe the direct 3H by Responder should show a freak 6d/5h ?

3H should be enough. How often does partner guarantee 4-4 on this auction ? He might only be 4s/3h with enough values .

Edit: Mike777 and the last 3 posts ( by Rainer, Andy, and Ben ) make a compelling argument about Opener's balanced shape and minimum values based on the first 2 rounds of bidding -- something I had not thought about before . I agree that Responder ( East ) should use this information and sign-off in 4H. Now for a slight change. Let's make Opener unbalanced ( w/ 5 cards ♦ with the same values and the ♥ - fit : West ........... East A x .............. J 10 A 9 x x ........ Q J x x A x x x x ...... K x Q x .............. A K x x x 1D ............... 2C 2D ............... 2H 3H ............... 4C ?? Now will West continue with a move, since East has not limited ? If East's 4C were a Frivolous Cue ( also denying a Sp Ctrl ), then West would have an easier decision .

I beg to differ. 2C! was a 2/1 GF w/♣ suit but did not deny a 4 card Major. Thus, after the 2/1 GF, 2H is not a reverse but just shows a 4 card major: and at the same time it denies a 5+ card ♦ suit. If Opener had rebid 2D, that would have shown a 5+ card suit, but still NOT deny a 4 card Major. There is still plenty of room at the 2-level to find a 4-4 Major fit... if one exists. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Of course you may want to treat 2H as a Reverse, and maybe you have designed a structure to accommodate this. [ Didn't we just have a recent thread entitled: Don't Hide a 4 Card Major ? ] . But, if 2NT were rebid by Opener with this hand ( as you suggest ), you wouldn't even have suit agreement ( ♥ ) at the 3-level. Responder could rebid 3H, then Opener could agree with 4H -- now at the 4-level . Responder is unlimited, and if he had a big hand, the entire cuebidding space BELOW 4H has been lost ! As mentioned by others also, .... Ser/Friv 3NT is the answer.

Looks like you need to play one of the Serious/Frivolous 3NT . When ♥ are trump, the 3♠ cue needs to be made playing either one . ..... By-passing 3♠ would deny a ♠ - Ctrl. If playing Serious 3NT, then 4♣ by East is a Frivolous -- or courtesy -- cue . Armed with that information, West should put on the brakes.... instead of stepping on the gas.

3D should always be at least 4 cards. ( Use 3C! when you need an "artificial GF " ). What was NOT bid over 1H: .... 2C! = Rev Drury showing a limit raise w/ 3 or 4 cards ♥ . .... 2H = mixed raise w/ 3 or 4 cards. .... 3H = weak raise w/ 4 cards After the 3D SJS: .... 3H = bare minimum preference with as little as 2 cards ♥. .... 3S = ♠ still in the picture with at least 2 of top 3 honors, 5+ cards; no interest in ♥/♦. .... 3NT = none of the above, also no interest in ♦, but more than likely not the best spot. For this hand that leaves: .... 4C! = advance cue for ♦... should be 1st Rnd Ctrl. .... 4D = weak preference w/ 4+ cards ♦ .... 5D = stronger preference and/or added length, but no outside Ctrls. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I think I'll only go 4D on this one.

1D - 1S 2NT - ?? 1D should be 4 cards... maybe 5 cards. 2NT shows 18,19 balanced. And Responder has 11 hcp w/3 kings: K x x x Q x K 10 8 x x K x You are on the "cusp" for slam. This is one of those "NT" auctions where I reserve 4C for Gerber.... and now is one of those rare times to use it . When Opener replies 4NT = 3 Aces, he is bound to have some useful Q and J and/or ♥K to makeup his 18, 19. Bid 6D on that 9 card fit.

4♣ is a flawed bid since it doesn't immediately show BOTH suits as Leaping Michaels does over a weak 2Major. That is why I prefer Roman Jumps over a weak-2D ( as in my post # 5 ) . [hv=pc=n&s=sa9764hajd742cj87&n=sthqt532d8cakqt54&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p2d3h4d4sp5dp5np6cppp]266|200[/hv] Now a 4♠ bid is clearly a Ctrl cue ( for trump suit,♥ or ♣, to be decided later ) . 5♦ = Ctrl cue 5NT = pick-a-small slam

You have more than enough for 3D .