TWO4BRIDGE

Assuming 2D! = game force, then 3♣ should show extras just like a direct 2♠ could show extras. You can devise a way in which a 2H! rebid will show a minimum ( with subsequent bids to show 4s or not ). But then 2H! will not guarantee extra ♥ length. However you can show extra Ht length later ( at the 3-level ) .

Looks like twoshy pegged it right: " Playing a heart from hand loses to x-AT9x when LHO has the spade ace: they setup diamonds and we take only 0+2+2+4. " A) So, upon winning the 1st trick, you have to go to dummy w/small ♣ to lead a small ♥ toward the Q . Here East has the A T 9 x but must duck ( otherwise you get 4h, 2d ( since opps will clear the suit ), 3c ( 4c here because of the 3-3 split ). When he ducks, you win ♥Q and switch to a ♠ up. Now you will get 2s, 2h, 1d , 4c ( have to rely on the ♣-split if opps don't try to clear the ♦ suit ). B) But let's say WEST held the ♥ Ace. His only entry will be gone when they try to set up the ♦ suit....( switching to a ♠ to East for a ♦ thru ) ..... You will get 2s, 2h, 2d, 3c ( 4c here ). C) Even if you make "my" inferior play of ducking the opening lead of the ♦ J , you still win the race only because East holds the ♥ Ace and the ♣ split .

I've got a similar "crude" one if I felt Opener was not strong enough for a Reverse: 1♥ - 1♠ 2♦ - 2♠! ( GF a la Meckwell for the 1♥-1♠-2♦ sequence ) 3♦ - 6♠ But since 2S! is a GF it might go slower after 3♦: 3♦ - 3♠ ( sets Sp as trump; asks for cuebids ) 4♣ - 4♥ ( denying a Diam Ctrl ) ?? But I think South will have "cold feet" to go past 4S with a trump void.... unless he has "ice in his veins".

I can't.

Zel.... what about borrowing the use of 2♦! in some fashion from gwnn's post ? 1D - ( 2C ) - ?? 2D! = perhaps: 4 Hts, could have 4 Sp 2H! = 5+ Hts 2S! = 5+ Sp X! = 4 Sp, no 4 Hts

Thx...for the "optimiization".... I think you are right.

Declarer should have ducked the opening lead of the ♦ J.

Agree ... After thinking about it some more, banging down the Ace wins twice as often as leading the Q : After the Ht ruff, there are only 3 trumpsa out : K J x West East a) K J x - 0 b) K J - x c) J x - K d) K x - J e) K - J x f) J - K x g) x - K J h) 0 - K J x Bang down the Ace ... wins c) and e) Lead Q ..... wins only d)

One method is to promise Spades "at all levels" and say "nada about Hearts". That way: 1D - ( 2C ) - ?? 2H = 4+ Hts 2S = 5+ Sp X = 4 Sp, does not promise Hts

Here is Justin's quote from a Sept 14, 2010 thread: http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=41586&st=15 Jlogic: " Keycard is bid on almost every slam hand at all levels, and when it isn't it's usually because there was a quantitative auction like 2N-4N-6N, or the opponents preempted you out of being about to bid keycard. This is not for no reason, keycard is absolutely vital to slam bidding, GL trying to cuebid your way into every slam correctly. "

Well, Im glad the contract is 6H and not 6S as shown. Win sK and now hope the Hts are 2-2 after the ruff. Lead the hQ ... hoping to smother the J.... and the K onside.

1D - 2C! ( 2/1 GF ) 2H( 4h, denies 5+d ) - 3C ( can't bid 2S since it would SHOW 4s; no Sp-stop ) 3D ( temporizing; no Sp-stop either ) - 3H ( 3h ) 4H ( I guess I'll try the Moysian fit ) - pass

Where's gnasher when I need him ? 1D - 1H 2S! = GGG ( Gnasher's [ artificial ] Gameforce Gadget ) Andy, how would this auction continue ?

Describe your Rule-of-18 . I thought it is only for 4th seat openers like Rule-of-15 .

Is a 1♠ rebid by Opener not forcing ?

South: N/S Vul South AKJT9x void QTxx AJx If you think this hand is too strong to open 2S in 4th seat, then 2S on the 2nd round I think should show this hand: P-P-P-1S 2H-P-P-2S ... instead of a 3S-jump.

Pretty tough one to say the least. I think you need to start with a 2/1 GF of 2D!..... ....and then show your 5/6 shape even if it means bidding Spades the 2nd time at the 4-level. Partner may NOT have 3 cards Sp, but may leave you in with 2 cards. If he has only 1 card Sp or a void, then knowledge of 6 cards in Diam may make the 5D contract a favorite....

Agree that you can't have 2 outside K's . So just "show" the King that you have with a 6D reply. Partner will then "place" the contract. If you didn't have an outside K, your bid would be 6S ( the "agreed" suit ). It is left up to partner to pass or correct to 6NT.

A sometimes poster here, Bill Higgins, has looked in depth at the possible uses for the 1H - 2S! sequence . He says ( Aug, 2006 ): " The systemic problem with the auction 1H (p) 1S when responder has game forcing values, heart support and a good spade suit continue to bug me. The issue: 1S is the only new suit response to a major opening that does not create a game force (in 2/1). If responder to a 1H opening has game forcing values, heart support and a spade suit which constitutes the main feature of the hand, the auction can become a real mess. This happens because of the steps required to establish a game force. I looked at Kaplan inversion, but that really deals with a different issue . Using 2S as a Soloway Jump Shift does at least directly deal with the issue, but I have not been all that happy with the treatment (all the documentation I find uses more strength than just game forcing, and the other options are somewhat rare and not themselves real problems in search of a solution). Now, I am thinking more along the lines of 2S as an unlimited (at least invitational) fit jump raise. Preliminary thinking re continuations: 1H - 2S ( fit-jump ) 2N!(Relay) - ?? 3C/D Shortness (any strength) 3H limit only, no short minor 3S+ game force, cue bids Any thoughts? "

It doesn't matter which method you use on this deal. As I pointed out in my post # 33, when you find out you are missing ONE KEY card, it could be the ♥Ace. And if your method permits, you will also find out you are missing the ♥Q. And eventhough you have 10 trumps, you will lose at least 2 trumps if you are missing the A, Q and J.

I think you meant 5D = 1 or 4 ... ( I assume 4NT! = xRKCB is Meckwell's Voidwood for Hts with a Sp void ...) Regardless, what if that 1 key card ( excluding the ♠A ) = the ♣ACE ! That would mean you are missing the ♥A and possibly the ♥Q and ♥J !! which could mean 2 trump losers.... eventhough you have 10 trumps. It would be nice to "ask" for the ♥Q, but no room available after the 5D reply. You could ask if playing 4NT! = x 1430 and 5C = 1 key; thus, 5D = ♥Q-ask But, alas, you find the ♥Q missing as well :(

My choice is between 2D! = limit raise+ ( but I rather have 5 cards Cl ), or 3NT . I'll choose 3NT ( eventhough I don't really like it ) .

I like the Multi-defenses that start with a DBL = opening values with 5+ cards in one of the Majors: p - ( 2D! ) - X - ( 3H! ) p - ( 3S ) - p - ( p ) ?? Now partner knows your Major is Hts with no extras and can go from here.

Let's look at question # 2 ... the Transfer case. gnasher has another Game Force toy [ http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/45920-1n-2h2s-3d/ ( post # 16 ) 5/21/2011 ] where 3C!( by Responder ) = artificial, GF, 2-way "multi" . Responder is showing 5M/4+m Next by Opener: 3D! = 2 cards M, asks for the minor 3M! = 3 cards M [ more about gnasher's method: quote name='gnasher' timestamp='1305964752' post='547972' ] Zelandakh also offered some refinements to the above in reply ( # 29 ) 6/13/ 2011 .

p - p - p - 3NT Why should the "gambling 3NT" be restricted to the minors ?