steensland

Thanks for the replies so far. I hope to see more. Regarding 3rd suit shows and 4th asks, that is the common norm for the first stopper bid. If three suits have been bid naturally, a bid of the fourth asks for a stopper (after a minor suit raiser). That is very logical, as that is the most likely thing stopping you from bidding 3NT. But in my examples, the bidder knows that his partners does not have the stopper, so the 4th suit is not asking for a (full) stopper. Half stoppers is perhaps the most natural use of the bid, but the reason I asked the question in the first place was that I was surprised that this bid was not more commonly discussed, as half stoppers in not anything we regularly care for or have the ability to indicate. In fact, I found very little information online regarding these bids. I did find this from Richard Pavlicek, though:: Source: http://www.rpbridge.net/3f00.htm I think it has merit, but if he is the only one playing it, then perhaps the half stopper is better anyway.

This is my first topic, so please bear with me. (Sorry for confusing topic description, which I cannot edit. Should have said "where X is already denied by partner") I am wondering about the best use of bidding 3 of the only remaining suit in a stopper showing sequence, after partner having implicitly denied that stopper. I think that the situations only apply when SHOWING rather than ASKING for stoppers, when there are multiple potential suits unstopped. Please submit your recommended usage of these bids. If you believe that the vast majority of players is playing something different than you, please also submit your view of the what the majority is playing. Many auctions qualify. Feel free to point out differences between the auctions below or supply better example auctions, if you think my examples are flawed. I am looking for a general guide line. Ex 1: 1♣ : 3♣ 3♦1 : 3 ♥2 3♠? 1) ♦ stopped, some suits still not stopped, else 3NT 2) ♥ stopped, ♠ unstopped, else 3NT Some possible meanings of 3♠ that I can think of: a) half stopper, inviting partner to bid 3NT with also half a ♠ stopper b) stopper, but wanting partner to declare (perhaps based on ♠A vs possible ♥K with partner) c) shortness d) something else Ex 2: 1♠ : 2♣ 3♣ : 3♦1 3♥? 1 ♦ stopped, ♥ unstopped, else 3NT Ex 3: 1♦ : 2♣ 2♦ : 3♦ 3♥1 : 3♠? 1 ♥ stopped, ♠ unstopped, else 3NT Thank you