Undiscussed free bid

[kenrexford]

1♥-P-1♠-P-

1NT(99% 5332)-P-2♦(GF, Artificial)-X-

3♣???

 

Partner opens a heart, you respond a spade, and partner rebid 1NT, which you play as showing some 5332 almost always. 5422 is possible if the four-card suit is horrible. 1NT with a five-card major is very frequent.

 

You then bid 2♦, part of two-way checkback, game-forcing and artificial.

 

This is now doubled, presumably for a diamond lead/suit.

 

Partner has several options, including pass, redouble, and a suit call. He opts for 3♣. What is this???

 

I asked two professional players, with different results. I have my own theory, different from these two experts. My partner had a completely different hand.

 

What would you expect?

[mikeh]

I would expect 2=5=2=4 with bad ♣s, but would not be surprised to see something like 2=5=3=3 with xxx in ♦ and AQx or KQx or so in ♣....and maybe the third possibility, but certainly not one I'd spring on a partner without dscussion is that it shows a 3=5=2=3 with a maximum :(

 

In fact, now that I think about it, maybe there is a case to be made that opener, without the double, should use the 'impossible' 3m rebid over 2♦ as showing that hand: 3=5=(32) max with tripleton in the bid minor.... I wouldn't use it, I think, because I prefer to stay out of partner's way as much as possible until I know why he bid 2♦.

 

So I have covered 3 possibilities, which isn't much help, but I would never 'expect' the third.

[Free]

Why show a poor ♣ suit? You didn't do it at 2-level, so why at 3-level? Imo this should be 3♠ and cue, ♦ control unknown.

[Finch]

I wouldn´t be pleased trying to work this out at the table, but I would go for 3523 (in that order) with a low doubleton diamond and good clubs.

[pclayton]

I think we should pass the double with a lot of hands that have nothing to say (2533 for instance).

 

Why bid in front of CHO who wants to continue to describe his hand? The double actually helps us, since pard can bid out at the 2 level. It also gives us the opportunity to play 2♦ xx'd.

 

To me 3♣ is a hand that is in between a 1N and a 2♣ rebid. Something like: Kx, KJxxx, AJ, Jxxx. 1N is reasonable with the strong doubletons, especially at MPs.

 

I suppose the 5233 with strong clubs is possible; (Qx, Qxxxx, xxx, AKQ?), but it feels like a useless bid.

[luke warm]

i'd probably think it was either 2524 or 2533 with strong clubs, looking for no trump... i agree with phil that pass seems best

[Codo]

i hate partners who rebid 1 NT wiht 2524 but there are some (including me...) who do so at matchpoints. So I guess, this is what he has.

[johnjo42]

May I venture to suggest that this kind of mix-up only goes to show why a natural system (or as near natural as possible) usually pays dividends.