responding 4-4 majors

[jillybean]

Dealer: North Vul: NS Scoring: IMP ♠ A875 ♥ AKT4 ♦ 7542 ♣ 4

 

West North East South

 

 -     1♣    Pass  1♥

 Pass  1♠    Pass  ?

  

 

We all like to open on 11, how do I invite and show extra?

[hrothgar]

This depends a lot on what the 1♠ rebid promises

 

I strongly prefer a style in which a 1♠ rebid promises an unbalanced hand.

 

Partner should be sitting on either

 

4=1=3=5 shape

4=3=1=5 shape (he'd probably raise hearts with a minimum)

4=2=2=5 shape

any number of 6-4 patterns

 

I'd probably rebid 3♠. If partner is a sound opener, then 2♦ looks a lot more attractive.

[pbleighton]

4S. 3S is quite reasonable, but it's not my style.

 

Peter

[mike777]

Dealer: North Vul: NS Scoring: IMP ♠ A875 ♥ AKT4 ♦ 7542 ♣ 4

 

West North East South

 

 -     1♣    Pass  1♥

 Pass  1♠    Pass  ?

  

 

We all like to open on 11, how do I invite and show extra?

ya just bid 3s invite if partner opens on junk and I would rebid 4s if partner opens sound and not confuse the issue with 4sf.

[Guest Jlall]

I think this is way too good to invite. I would bid 4S, 2D is reasonable.

[kenrexford]

Visualize hands.

 

On the one hand, maybe partner could have a death hand, like QJxx-Q-Jxx-KQJxx? That's awfully pessimistic, but plausible.

 

Partner might also have the golden hand, like KQxx-Qxx-x-AKxxx, where slam has real play.

 

If 2♦ is forcing to game, it is probably worth forcing this to game. The pessimistic view is a stretch, and probably down one will be repeated everywhere. But, taking it slow might help work out matters.

[Winstonm]

This depends a lot on what the 1♠ rebid promises

 

I strongly prefer a style in which a 1♠ rebid promises an unbalanced hand.

 

Partner should be sitting on either

 

4=1=3=5 shape

4=3=1=5 shape (he'd probably raise hearts with a minimum)

4=2=2=5 shape

any number of 6-4 patterns

 

I'd probably rebid 3♠.  If partner is a sound opener, then 2♦ looks a lot more attractive.

Although I agree with the concept that 1C-1D-1M should be unbalanced, I've found the auction 1C-1H-1S to be unplayable as promising an unbalanced hand.

 

With 4324, you are forced to either raise hearts or bid NT, and with 4225 I don't know what you do as I don't think this should be called unbalanced.

[P_Marlowe]

3S.

 

Holding a singleton in partners

longest suit, is a neg. feature.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

 

PS: Going through FSF shows a stronger

hand, at least playing standard.

If you bid game or just invite may be a

mood thing, being red and playing IMP.

Partner will only pass with grap, i.e. he

will only pass if game has no chances at all.

[HeartA]

I think this is way too good to invite. I would bid 4S, 2D is reasonable.

I agree with Justin. This is far too good for inviting. I wish I could splinter with 4C.

[Guest Jlall]

I wish I could splinter with 4C.

you can if you wish

[han]

I think the hand is too good to invite with, but 3S would be the "standard" way to invite.

[whereagles]

The hand is an obvious game-force due to the singleton and superb controls. The only question here is whether to bid 2♦+4♠ or a straight 4♠.

 

I would try 2♦ most of the time. If pard happens to have a good 16-17, slam might be on. Bidding a straight 4♠ might leave pard with an uneasy feeling and I that's bad if slam is on.

[mhais]

2nt is forcing asking pd to describe his hand further in this case i will bid 4s.

[BillHiggin]

I consider that asking 1♠ to guarantee an unbalanced hand is too extreme for strong no-trump systems (fine for weak though). A more reasonable agreement (stolen from Benito) is that 1♠ confirms 4+♣ and shows suitability for suit play (Aces and spaces versus quacks). This works quite well in a system that includes xyz (without that, you may need to agree that 1N denies 4♠).

 

Of course, the OP must not include xyz since then the spectrum of ♠ raises is almost too great (immediate single raise, immediate jump raise, 2♣ then single raise, 2♣ then jump raise, 2♦ then single raise or 2♦ then jump raise).

 

I do like xyz a lot.

[jdonn]

Why not bid 4♣, this is a splinter even though it's in the suit partner opened so it seems perfect.

[whereagles]

jdonn: 4♣ splinter is perfect... if you're sure you have that agreed with pard :)

[skjaeran]

Being a light opener, raising to game is a slight overbid. But I'd not invite at IMP's anyway. I'll show my ♣ singleton on the way, so 4♣'s is my bid.

[jillybean]

I never considered 4♣ splinter, are you sure you wont be playing 5♣? :)

[jdonn]

Quite sure, it's a standard bid :) I have no worry that anyone I play with regularly would misinterpret.

[Guest Jlall]

Quite sure, it's a standard bid :) I have no worry that anyone I play with regularly would misinterpret.

I would take it as gerber.

[jdonn]

That's why we only play when you pay me exorbitant sums.

[whereagles]

justin, go sit in the corner and say 100 times: "I shall not mention the G-word again" :)

[the hog]

I open light and so this is worth only 3S. Opener has shown an unbalanced hand with at least 4C and 4S, probably 5+ 4. In view of this my C singleton does not look that promising opposite opener's C suit.

To those who suggest that 4C is a splinter - try it undiscussed in real life and see what ensues and then apologise to your partner. We, for example, play this as slammish with H and C. It is hardly a "Standard bid" to play this as a splinter, rather the opposite, in fact.

[Winstonm]

Quite sure, it's a standard bid :P I have no worry that anyone I play with regularly would misinterpret.

I would take it as gerber.

4C is ALWAYS Gerber.

[jdonn]

I open light and so this is worth only 3S. Opener has shown an unbalanced hand with at least 4C and 4S, probably 5+ 4. In view of this my C singleton does not look that promising opposite opener's C suit.

To those who suggest that 4C is a splinter - try it undiscussed in real life and see what ensues and then apologise to your partner. We, for example, play this as slammish with H and C. It is hardly a "Standard bid" to play this as a splinter, rather the opposite, in fact.

I don't know what country you are from, so what I am saying only pertains to the US as far as I know for sure. If you are from somewhere else then I have no idea.

 

4♣ is a splinter bid on that auction even though partner opened 1♣, that is standard. I don't even know where this controversy is coming from. Slam tries in clubs go through 4th suit forcing, or bid 3♣ if you have agreed that is forcing instead.