jeffmcgow

That's because they might find a very good sac. I'd be much more inclined to bid a fitjump 4♣ than splinter 4♥. As it's matchpoints a quick auction also gives you the chance of 13 tricks on a non-diamond lead when you have two top losers in diamonds. So a direct 4♠ for me.

I would apply the New Law (Wirgren/ Lawrence) Assuming 13 working points for partner and (optimistically) a doubleton diamond this would suggest bidding 2♠ on 1. and 4♠ on 2. If I was pessimistic (e.g. just conceded 800) I would bid 2♠ and 3♠ respectively For those who have read the book "I Fought the Law of Total Tricks" I like to use the formula suggested by Louis Brickman on the newbrigelaw.com site (question 13.) Compared with the tables of WP and SST in Lawrence's book, this is so much easier and quicker to apply in the heat of battle. (PS This is my first post so I hope I haven't done anything wrong. I see replies on some other Bridge forums and would be terrified to enter a reply :) )