apollo1201

Thanks David for this scheme. Indeed the only usually accepted fup is 2S to show the 12-14 4cd support. Other fups and subsequent rebids by responder have many possibilities such as is 1S forcing, can 1S be balanced, does 1/2NT deny 3-cd, considering responder showed more than absolutely minimal value, should 2NT be 18-19 or 15-17 with sg S…

The S suit is not great but so is your H stopper. You have so far not enough info to be sure that NT would play better than S, should partner have a fit. I therefore see no reason to hide your S suit and bid 1S or X depending on your methods. The three existing ones are: - X is 4S, 1S is 5+: eaases competitive actions or getting to the 5-3 but obligés passing with 8-10/11 and no H stopper - 1S is 4+ and X is values but no stopper (less pressure in opener to balance or bid) - the more modern one is to reverse those 2 bids so that you benefit from a « transfer » putting opener on lead to right side the contract and allow an acceptance of the X transfer to show 3-cd support only

On the 1st one, X is likely to get you to the best strain, as partner will bid their 6-cd H or 3-cd S. If they are 2533 (and opps overbid their D length), well, they might pass for a non dramatic IMP loss (300 vs. 420). Not sure what to do, though, with a shapely hand with C. On the other hand, 4S is vey committed and would a slightly better suit as partner could be singleton (1525 or 1624 with a non-great hand or suit that prevented a free bid of 3H). So I X and see what comes. For the 2nd, how many cds did 1C promise? 2+ or 3+? How high / low can go the 2C? Is 3C a limit rase or a preempt? Trying to see how this would push partner to X balance rather than bid 3C. In all cases, I’m not Xing this, I am not bidding 3NT (which could be a make with some luck and H wide open), and hope to set this. 2NT was an intelligent bid but it might help opps now. Hoping the S10 will be key…

16 facing 16 with a minor fit at MPs are the hardest when no one dares going past 3NT. But here S whatever the method with all the Aces should be confident enough and N with reasonable extras and a good Kx in opener’s suit collaborates. Sth like 1S-2D 3D-3H 4C, the key bid and the rest is easy If opener rebids 3NT, it is not so easy to continue with responder’s hand.

Thanks Mikeh and it makes sense. After all, if it is not partner who bids but the opps, we just won’t balance. I really don’t know why I was told H with weak, S with « non weak ». Is 2H passable after the cue bid? How do you differentiate xxxx xxxx Jxx xx from QJxx Kxxx xx xxx? You have to jump to 3H over the cue bid?

I thought you bid 1S only with modest values, 4-7 maybe, so that if opps compete, eg opener repeats the suit, you can show your 2nd major and let partner decide which one suits best as partner might only be 43 in the Ms. After all, with this hand, Kxxx Qxxx (xx xxx), you want to battle at the 2-level and not let them peacefully play 2m. And if you had a 5-carder, you would just repeat it. The downside is with a very weak hand, you’re stuck repeating your H when partner has a monster. However, here, partner is ~19-20 balanced, and we can pass. We already know partner doesn’t have 4 hearts. I wander btw over a 1NT rebid, is it like partner had opened? So 2C Stayman, transfers, etc. Although you’ve named your suit already.

Isn’t it a textbook 3H?

Partner must have mixed a H in their D’s otherwise 3H should be enough (GF raise with 3-cds, and probably an unbalanced pattern since they did not chose a strong NT as opening, as I suppose you play it strong). AKxx AJxx KJxx x Indeed, partner shouldn't force to the 4-level with only 3-cds, as the 4SF doesn’t guarantee a 5th H (often has it but in some cases it is a lousy 4-cd suit, like here!). How do you deal with 18-19 bal? Especially when not holding a 4-cd S? Could partner really have sth like AKJx AJx KQJx xx As a last try, partner lost her glasses (or found a glass full of alcohol!) and just imagined a splinter bid in support of my C, having forgotten I bid H first, so has a 4144 or 4054 hand almost worth a 2S jump rebid: AKxx x KQJx KJxx Should we apply the general advice of not passing a « strange bid » by partner? Reminds me of an evening I had been obliged to play (to replace a suddenly sick teammate) after a red eye, opened a nice 20 count with 1NT (forgetting an ace) and decided to « super super accept » partner’s transfer in my 3-cd major. 4S= for a flat hand and a good laughter.

An easy wtf 2H With so much in my hand (and this useless DK that prevents maybe getting the bidding back at 4 or 5D), I can bid S later and clearly show I have 5(+)/4(+). Even partner will be able to show if they have 4-cd S over a « cheap » 2H. Furthermore, if I X and bid H later, it will show a much weaker hand with 5 good or rather 6H and a tolerance for S, not necessarily 4. I was always told when you have a natural and an artificial call, both legitimate, always go for the nat.

For me, 3H just shows 8-10 with 4-5 cards. AJT, AQ and K are probably good positionned news, and I clearly have more strength than I showed. But I have a lousy shape and a lousy fit. Not sure all that will be enough to convince me to bid 3NT or 4H even red at IMPs. At MPs I just pass. The bidding probably went 1S pass pass (and often pass in last seat, sometimes X) everywhere else. Xing with 4333 shape, values in opps suit and just 3 in the other major will clearly not be a popular choice with 14 (admittedly good) HCPs.

Well, you play multi against multi😅😅 I guess here with partner I’d X (13-15 bal or 19+), and partner bids 3NT over LHO pass or correct bid. Now, I can safely bid 4C, which probably doesn’t thrive partner and she might persist in NT. Oh well, 6C anyway now I know the HK and some D goodies are there? I could try 5D en route to 6C and here it would work. But I’d not dare it undiscussed (forcing or not).

Thanks both for your hints. I found another one after some research and it looks like the one I had heard of, which is at 4NT but coping for the fact that partner has at most 1 ace + KQ trumps. It says 5C no ace (5D asks for one or tow between K and Q), 5D one ace, 5H one ace + K or Q and 5s one ace + both KQ. Seems playable as well over 3 and 4 level openings.

Late in the thread because of time zones (and a late wakeup, I confess), but interrogative at the 5 level (or a stressful 4S above 4H, please dont pass!) is quite common here and I said ok 5C wtp when I saw the hand (except you’ll get a C lead and maybe a bottom if partner rejects) and had to read a few replies before someone mentionned this. Over the interro, 1st step is no control (so that you never bid above 5M), 2nd step is 2nd round (K or single) and 3rd is 1st round (A or void). A second relay can distinguish between shortness or honor control. With the given hand it is then easy to place the contract, remembering partner shouldn’t have two aces. QJ 8th or 9th with CA and AQ or AJ 8th if CK. And too bad if they have A 8th and CA and we have 7 by ruffing out H for discarding the C or D losers. But keycarding to address this rare hand will leave you clueless when partner bids 1 ace, and opening leader had a natural CA or CK lead nevertheless. As a side, I heard someone once having a special BW for preeempts but can’t remember what it was. Does anyone play a special thing?

Mikeh had it (as always) well explained. 6-cds (as you can’t expect partner to be balanced and have at least 2-cds), and less than invitational values. Could be KQ 6th and out if you use 2H for other bids (like strong jump shifts, or reverse Flannery) than a weak jump shift. The only hands I would risk repeating my H with only 5 is when those are actually good and most of all textured to have 1 or maybe 2 losers in the trump suit facing shortness, eg KQJTx or KQT9x or QJT9x. The hand must also have a strong allergy to partner’s suits, and also prefer risking ending on a 5-1 fit rather than playing NTs. Figure sth like Mikeh’s « typical » hand with slightly more robust H, but shorter by 1, to be replaced by a diamond more.

Shows rather 5 than 6 with invitational values. With 6 good H, you can jump to 3H so 6 bad H can also be in the picture

Shows rather 5 than 6 with invitational values. With 6 good H, you can jump to 3H so 6 bad H can also be in the picture

The question should be what do you bid next. If you bid 5H, do you give up at 5S (I guess so). If you bid 6H, are you letting 6S go (I guess not). What strength promises (or denies) the 4S bid?

Ok you guys all have a 4-cd limit raise conventional bids and I don’t. Because I don’t wanna be left in 3S. I could bid 2NT 3 cd limit (or very flat GF that wants to propose 3NT despite the 5-3 fit if partner refuses the invite) but it would be a bid distortion. And partner could imagine more defense and more S cashing against 5D by opps. My partner doesn’t like bids that can trigger a cheap overcall below 3M or a lead directing X. So 3S is the only limit with 4-cds. Is that fear overrated? Or too old school?

We lack a little sth for a splinter. So it will be a heavy raise to 4S. LHO, your turn.

Late in the thread. I can’t splinter after X (this would be a minimum splinter in an unopposed situation), but I’d like to think I could bid 3C as a fit jump in tempo. OK, it is 54 the other way round usually (I use 4m for 55/46), but the AK are better when the suit is short. At least, partner can do sth intelligent if it goes 4S after me. And probably do sth more intelligent knowing I have a presentable C suit rather than a D stiff. Otherwise, 2NT limit raise would do the job (planning to bid 4H no matter what). I like Mikeh 3NT convention. As it is, after the preemptive jump to 4H, Xing now will show unexpected defensive values and partner will hopefully know what to do with this.

Hilarious. Now I have to find a way to explain my (non bridge playing) colleagues why I’m laughing the hell out of me during our coffee break.

I’d have passed, meaning I want to play more but if you X that, that’ll be fine. That rules out single suiters so probably a balanced super 2NT opening with shortish C. Maybe 4432 shape would be better than 3532 but sometimes you need to do with what you have. Partner should have hinted you a bit more, though, by XXing to show a positive hand.

Yeah it seemed interesting. I guess refusing the transfer shows no fit and explains where you live? I also read a method from Levy in France with no negative, and where you show only 55 shapes or 6+ suiters, 1 pc in each suit for a 2-suiter (or 3 overall if the opening is the non GF 2D used for strong 2’s, one trick less than GF hands), or 2 pcs for a one-suiter (and a side goodie over 2D). The reason for that is he discovered slams are easily missed when opener has a fit for responder’s 2nd suit that often remains hidden during the auction, or a semi-fit in responder’s 6+ suit that this latter sometimes does not dare repeat. Otherwise you usually find your way so no need to preempt partner and save space responding the waiting cheaper call, 2D or 2H. E.g, 2C-2M is M + a cheaper suit or single M, 2NT asks, and 2NT is both m. 3M is used for 7-cardrers with 2 top, 3m same but Levy who is very precise also allows 6-minors with the J so that opener with a sg honor knows the suit is solid (😅!!). Seems interesting too and worth sharing.

1st😁😊

You are in (good? questionable?) company, Stephen: mine 😉 I’d X at W because 2 good cases (I hit partner with a major) vs. 1 bad (partner bids 2C and even when he does, he would have 5 or some values, with a poor (32)44 there are merits to try 1M), at green on top of that... I’d pass as E because this sg spade is frightening. Looks like I would be waking up the sleeping waters. I might be overthinking this a bit, but someone once balanced against me when I had a strong minor + S 2-suiter that I had chosen to open at the 1-level, and within 2 minutes I was tabling 11 tricks at 4S. But yeah, N should strive to find a bid.