andy_h

Heh, I was going to say that.

I have very little experience in a SAYC framework as well as this sequence where a 3H raise would be NF (even playing non-2/1 I would much prefer this to be GF), so I guess the question of whether South should move on depends on what kind of hands North would bid 4H on and what hands would go via 4th suit forcing (and even after a 3C 4th suit forcing, if opener bids 3NT over 3C, how weak/strong of a hand would bid 4H). But nevertheless I have a feeling that South should pass 4H due to the lack of 4th suit forcing. Any time that North has weak trumps (say Jxxx or Qxxx) the 5-level is in serious jeopardy (imagine x Jxxx KQxxx KQx or xx Qxxx KJxxx Ax etc.) Any time that North has a minimum GF and control rich hand should obviously go via 4th suit forcing, say with xx KQxx Kxxx Axx or Kx KJxx Qxxx Axx).

Spade for me too.

Prefer to bid the first time with this 5-5.

3NT, don't see any other alternative. Preempts (sometimes) works.

I agree with another galaxy.

Not my job to bid what could be a very super thin game. I assume I can invite with 2NT so partner can raise if he has a good hand :)

Yeah sure I bid. Void, 3 card support and a potential source of tricks, I expect 6D to make more often than it goes down.

Sure

This is imps and partner could have some average hands where game is ok. ♦Jxxx ♣K and a spade value we are then playing the overcaller for the Ace of clubs. I raise to 5D

I'd bid 2H over 1S. Sure it might be a slight overbid but I want to try and get the nature of my 5-5 across. Any time partner has a weak NT with 3 hearts I definitely want to be in game so I don't want to create any problems starting with 1NT.

I will probably try 5H now along the way towards 6C.

I would have doubled 1C fwiw

I like 4H, 7-4 and all, hope they're leading a spade

4S

5H

4H

I would also bid a forcing 2S then a NF 3S.

Bid game. It's vul and it's imps, anything could happen like a friendly lead or a misdefence. I've got sharp cards too so I don't know why I'm trying to find reasons not to bid game.

I agree with gnasher. If partner has 3532 there's a chance that he might've overcalled or possibly led a heart if the heart suit was headed by the K. On the contrary if partner's lead was from 4th best with 3-x-x-4 clubs could have been the safest lead as nothing is preventing declarer to be 18-19NT with three clubs (and therefore it won't be considered as declarer's "main" suit).

From experience I don't think 1C-1D-1M being unbalanced meshes well with XYZ (or vice versa however you want to read it).

I don't like 3H, I very much prefer to start off with 2NT assuming you don't use any other cue-bids to show specific 6-5s of course. The reason is that the opponents are already one(two) step(s) ahead in the auction: They have created a game forcing auction and RHO may already be looking at spade support so our 3H doesn't do much damage. If I hope to disrupt them or potentially wanting to find a (making) 'sac' against either black suit game, then bringing our two suits into play makes more sense (for example partner having 1-4 in the reds) as well as letting partner on the info too. The 3H certainly does preempt the auction a bit but remember that they have forcing passes at their arsenal - and not only that but potentially a penalty double too. For a heart suit headed by the AJ1087 I would always expect that to be a 7card suit when bidding 3H in a game forcing auction.

Agree with l milne. 3rd seat favourable opening these days can be almost anything.

At first I thought it was an easy 4H bid considering partner is bidding at r/w in a game forcing auction but then I thought that because we have the hearts we will never buy the contract and our bid is only going to help the opponents judge their heart holdings as we've announced a most-likely 10 card fit. But then I thought it's possible that partner has a freak and will push onto 5H so it's now back to an easy 4H bid. This may give the opponents information about the heart suit but it's worth it by taking away a whole level of bidding - just imagine LHO not knowing what to do if he needs to set clubs or spades as trumps.

Double and double