how many hearts?

[kfay]

I also agree with Justin, I'd definitely bid 3♠ here. I'm just describing my hand. I already opened 1♦ intending to bid ♥ (I agree) so I don't see the problem. Anyways I also agree that it doesn't show any more values than bidding 4♥ right now.

[pclayton]

I'd be interested, Phil, in knowing how you'd see the situation if your partner had insisted on using the majority approach: 2♠ might be based on a high card raise to game with 4 card support.

If 2♠ might be based on a high card raise with 4♥, then it makes sense from a construction standpoint to assign a weaker, distributional raise to 4♥ - if that answers your question. It seems pointless to jump to 4♥ on a 19 count 2443.

 

However, I take issue with the idea that this is a majority view. I suppose we are both speaking from our collective experience, but mine is that 2♠ denies 4 card support. Why?

 

There are so many ways we can make a direct raise with 4 trump, that diamond oriented hands and hands with 3 card support need to go through the cue. Examples are:

 

xx, AKx, AKxx, KQxx;

 

xx, Ax, AKQxx, AQxx (maybe this is a 2N opener for some);

 

x, Ax, AKQxxxx, Axx

 

xx, x, AKJxxxxx, AKx

 

This is a similar situation to a hand that makes a takeout double and responds to partner's one bid. I would generally exclude hands with 4 card support after (1x) - x - (p) - 1y - (p) - 2x for the same reason.

 

Mike, if your sources tell you that a cue bid could include 4 card raises I believe you, but that hasn't been my experience.

[jdonn]

I've had this discussion with a lot of experts, and I can assure you that it is "standard" though perhaps not best that 2♠ can include power 4♥ raises.