bidding plan?

[mike777]

Q964

KJ5432

Q7

5

 

 

1nt=15-17

 

1nt=p=?

 

 

What is your bidding plan and why?

[pclayton]

I'm assuming IMPs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I think the hand is good enough to force to game and Smolen over 2♦. Pard won't be able to evaluate properly if I transfer and push to 3.

 

I don't play 1N - 2C - 2D - 2H as invitational anyway - its a garbage sequence, so thats out too.

 

Probably another one of my no-play games.

[mike777]

I'm assuming IMPs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I think the hand is good enough to force to game and Smolen over 2♦. Pard won't be able to evaluate properly if I transfer and push to 3.

 

I don't play 1N - 2C - 2D - 2H as invitational anyway - its a garbage sequence, so thats out too.

 

Probably another one of my no-play games.

hmm ok so you want to play in 5-3 or 4-4? or something else?

[cherdano]

To me, 2♦ then 2♠ looks fine, showing 4=5 invitational. Partner still won't know that ♦KJx is reasonable and ♣KJx is trash, but he should be able to evaluate reasonable more often than not.

 

Arend

[han]

I'll just let partner play in 4H.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

I dont play smolen, so 2C - Stayman,

intending to bid 4H over 2D.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[joker_gib]

Enough for game so Smolen and 4♥ over 3NT

 

Alain

[Fluffy]

I'll just let partner play in 4H.

I am on this side as well, 6-4 opposite balanced is very likelly to play better on the 6-2 than 4-4

[joker_gib]

I am on this side as well, 6-4 opposite balanced is very likelly to play better on the 6-2 than 4-4

This, of course, is also very true ! :)

[ochinko]

I'll just let partner play in 4H.

I am on this side as well, 6-4 opposite balanced is very likelly to play better on the 6-2 than 4-4

Me too. I play Smolen only with 5:4 in the majors.

 

Petko

[inquiry]

Couple of options....

 

First is to start with stayman, and if partner fails to show a four card major, rebid 4♦ (or 4♣) as whatever you use for second round transfer to 4♥. There is little need for smolen here as you are not going to play in 3NT. If you don't play second round transfer, then just rebid 4♥, or if necessary, try smolen. Then hope partner can work out 4♦ after 3NT as transfer to 4♥ anyway.

 

Second option, transfer to ♥ and if partner doesn't super accept, simply invite game in ♥. At imps, going to 4♥ (or 4♠ if fit is found) seems best. BTW, with six hearts, I might just TEXAS the hand at round one, expecially if I don't have second round texas available.

[Guest Jlall]

I also like 2C followed by delayed texas if no spade fit is found. This hand is strong enough to force to game with 6-4.

[sceptic]

I also like 2C followed by delayed texas if no spade fit is found. This hand is strong enough to force to game with 6-4.

 

don't suppose you care to elaborate what that is to those of us that have never heard of it :rolleyes: and whyt it is good or bad?

[pclayton]

I think Delayed Texas is the same as Extended Smolen in the auction: 1N - 2♣ -2♦ - 4♦. Guess it depends what time zone you live in. :rolleyes:

[Guest Jlall]

I also like 2C followed by delayed texas if no spade fit is found. This hand is strong enough to force to game with 6-4.

 

don't suppose you care to elaborate what that is to those of us that have never heard of it :rolleyes: and whyt it is good or bad?

1N-2C-2D, texas is still on. 4D=hearts, 4H=spades. I like this because I have no idea what other meaning 4D would have, and you get to search for a 4-4 spade fit and still transfer into hearts without giving away much info.

[Beto]

I like this because I have no idea what other meaning 4D would have, and you get to search for a 4-4 spade fit and still transfer into hearts without giving away much info.

Maybe can use 4c and 4d as singleton with 5-5 both majors, slam try

4h and 4S would be 6-4 but no slam...

 

with 6-4 and slam try u bid smolen and then

reopen 3NT in 4c/4d to show singleton

[mike777]

Many suggest looking for the 4-4 spade fit, others suggest playing in hearts (maybe 6-2) regardless of 4-4 spades. Is bridge theory settled on which is better?

[mikeh]

I do play smolen with 6-4 hands, and can show the 6 card suit by retransferring over 3N. However, this is a borderline hand. I do not play delayed texas: altho it has some appeal after a 2♦ response, playing my preferred form of smolen it is generally not needed.

 

However, this made me think (unusual for me this early in the morning).

 

How about using smolen AND delayed texas. Using Smolen (1N 2♣ 2♦ 3♠ 3N 4♦ to show the 4=6) would be mild slam interest and using delayed texas would be sign off or responder is about to use keycard (including exclusion).

 

Here, delayed texas and pass.

 

Make it a better hand: say AQxx KJxxxx Kx x and use smolen.

 

Haven't thought it through (still on my first cup of coffee) and it would rarely arise.

[han]

I like that suggestion. Certainly with this hand there is no reason to bid Smolen (at least none that I can think of). But with slam interest it should help partner if we show the side major.

[pclayton]

I do play smolen with 6-4 hands, and can show the 6 card suit by retransferring over 3N. However, this is a borderline hand. I do not play delayed texas: altho it has some appeal after a 2♦ response, playing my preferred form of smolen it is generally not needed.

 

However, this made me think (unusual for me this early in the morning).

 

How about using smolen AND delayed texas. Using Smolen (1N 2♣ 2♦ 3♠ 3N 4♦ to show the 4=6) would be mild slam interest and using delayed texas would be sign off or responder is about to use keycard (including exclusion).

 

Here, delayed texas and pass.

 

Make it a better hand: say AQxx KJxxxx Kx x and use smolen.

 

Haven't thought it through (still on my first cup of coffee) and it would rarely arise.

Mike - what does the responder bid if Opener accepts the Smolen and bids 4♥, i.e. 1N - 2♣ - 2♦ - 3♠ - 4♥. I suppose with the knowledge of the 6-3 fit, this may be enough encouragement but it does put a wrinkle in the sequence.

 

Less hassles if responder has a 6-4 hand and the sequence starts 1N - 2♣ - 2♦ - 3♥......

[SoTired]

I agree with J. 2C then 4D if get a 2D rebid.

 

Use Smolen for 54 hands or 64 hands with slam interest when you really need to know if partner has 2 or 3 card support. It makes no sense to Smolen and then "insist". You want opener with the strong hand to be declarer. Plus, this hand has no intention of playing 3N. Why ask a question for which you don't care about the answer? All you do is give the defense help.

[mikeh]

I do play smolen with 6-4 hands, and can show the 6 card suit by retransferring over 3N. However, this is a borderline hand. I do not play delayed texas: altho it has some appeal after a 2♦ response, playing my preferred form of smolen it is generally not needed.

 

However, this made me think (unusual for me this early in the morning).

 

How about using smolen AND delayed texas. Using Smolen (1N  2♣  2♦  3♠  3N  4♦ to show the 4=6) would be  mild slam interest and using delayed texas would be sign off or responder is about to use keycard (including exclusion).

 

Here, delayed texas and pass.

 

Make it a better hand: say AQxx KJxxxx Kx x and use smolen.

 

Haven't thought it through (still on my first cup of coffee) and it would rarely arise.

Mike - what does the responder bid if Opener accepts the Smolen and bids 4♥, i.e. 1N - 2♣ - 2♦ - 3♠ - 4♥. I suppose with the knowledge of the 6-3 fit, this may be enough encouragement but it does put a wrinkle in the sequence.

 

Less hassles if responder has a 6-4 hand and the sequence starts 1N - 2♣ - 2♦ - 3♥......

well, I have always played that opener will try to cue a minor on the way to 4Major, if he has a willingness to cooperate with slam move.

 

This often cancels the advantage of the transfer, but r'ight-siding' the contract is never clearcut and the advantage of having the strong hand on play is diminished when the combined values are 'heavy', as they usually will be in a cue-bid sequence

[Winstonm]

(Oops. Didn't see this one right. Thought it 5/4. Oh, well. Being 6/4 I like Justin's treament.)

 

IMO, there are many sequences where is it correct to separate the meanings whether playing MP or IMPs, and this is one of those cases.

 

At MPs, it is right to find the best partscore; however, at imps, the emphasis should be on getting to game and slams.

 

Therefore, this hand is a good example of using "invitational or better Smolen" at the 2 level.

 

1N-2C

2D-2S.

 

Partner will bid 2N, 3N, 3H or 4H with confindence of the strength of the hand he is facing and you have told your story.

 

To compensate for this treatment, with a weak hand 54 you have to transfer into your long major and pass. Time to time you might play in a 5/2 instead of a 4/4 at the 2 level. Not much of a price to pay for being able to describe a game try hand adequately I don't think.

 

Winston

[whereagles]

It's a bit of a guess, but I would put partner to play 4♥.

 

However, if the partnership opens 1NT with singletons, then Stayman is in order.

[han]

(Oops. Didn't see this one right. Thought it 5/4. Oh, well. Being 6/4 I like Justin's treament.)

 

IMO, there are many sequences where is it correct to separate the meanings whether playing MP or IMPs, and this is one of those cases.

 

At MPs, it is right to find the best partscore; however, at imps, the emphasis should be on getting to game and slams.

 

Therefore, this hand is a good example of using "invitational or better Smolen" at the 2 level.

 

1N-2C

2D-2S.

 

Partner will bid 2N, 3N, 3H or 4H with confindence of the strength of the hand he is facing and you have told your story.

 

To compensate for this treatment, with a weak hand 54 you have to transfer into your long major and pass. Time to time you might play in a 5/2 instead of a 4/4 at the 2 level. Not much of a price to pay for being able to describe a game try hand adequately I don't think.

 

Winston

If you want to play this then I suugest that you bid the major in which you have 5 so that you can stop in 2H with 4-5 in the majors. Seems more important than rightsiding. (not to suggest that I would want to play this, I don't think that there should be many auctions that show invitational hands).