1H-1N(f)-2H-2S

[rbforster]

I've read about the "Impossible 2S" bid used to show good hands after 1H-1N(forcing)-2m. For example,

 

1♥-1N*-2♣-2♠ strong club raise (stronger than 3♣)

1♥-1N*-2♦-2♠ strong diamond raise (stronger than 3♦)

 

However, I haven't seen any discussion of what this means when partner rebids hearts:

 

1♥-1N*-2♥-2♠ ??

 

Typically in 2/1 methods, the best hands in 1NT forcing are 3 card limit raises, which would normally just bid 4♥ here on account of the good fit revealed by partner's 2♥ rebid.

 

Does anyone have any specific use for this particular "Impossible 2S" bid? Should it be some sort of strong heart raise, or maybe showing some sort of other problem hand in 1NT forcing that is otherwise poorly handled in 2/1 methods?

[awm]

Seems to me that bidding 4♥ on a 3-card limit raise over 1♥-1n-2♥ is rather poorly considered.

 

After all, we don't force game with four trumps opposite five trumps and 10-11 points. Usually a 5-4 fit will play better than a 6-3 fit. So why should we force game with three trumps opposite six trumps and 10-11 points?

 

It seems quite reasonable to use 2♠ as a three-card limit raise here, or perhaps to reverse the two and use 2♠ as a two-card raise.

 

Another option is to use 2♠ to show a hand with both minors (i.e. 2155) with forward-going values. This is rather a problem hand since 2NT with no spade control can be a disaster, and you don't really want to pass with potential game values, bid 3♥ on a singleton, or guess a five-card minor in an auction where partner would normally pass with singleton and a minimum.

[Guest Jlall]

I thought 2S minors is standard. If you don't play any way to show an invite over 1M directly in a minor, you can play it as 1 minor invite. You can include 3 card limit raises in these if you want but I always just bid 4 with that.

[mike777]

I thought 2S minors is standard. If you don't play any way to show an invite over 1M directly in a minor, you can play it as 1 minor invite. You can include 3 card limit raises in these if you want but I always just bid 4 with that.

Yes, this is what I play. One suited minor invite.

 

 

1h=1nt=2h=2s forces 2nt.

Now I bid my one suited minor invite hand.