What's your plan on this hand?

[awm]

Well the cheapist bid is 2S, so what do you propose bidding with

Qxx Ax Axxx Axxx?

 

I can understand you wanting to re-arrange the meaning of the bids, so that the cheapist call is the cue bid (heart support or flexible with no 5 card suit), although that has its own problems since typically you need more space on a potential misfit then you do when you have a fit or semi-fit for partner's overcall....

No, I do not want to re-arrange the bids. In this particular auction I would suggest:

 

2♠ = spades, but could be four spades with a good hand and no other clear call. Maybe it could even be three good spades. In any case it is forcing.

2NT = natural, not forcing

3♣ = clubs, but will be a real suit because something like 4234 bids 2♠

3♦ = an actual heart raise because something like 4234 bids 2♠, forcing

3♥ = normal heart raise, not forcing

 

With the example hand of Qxx Ax Axxx Axxx, I would probably bid 3NT. Being able to hold up the diamond ace for three rounds makes the notrump contract a lot more sound, and having only Qxx removes spades as a possible strain for game. However, I could even see bidding 2♠ on a strong three-card suit on occasion (say KQx Ax xxxx Axxx). Note that it's not really clear what you do with this hand if you start 3♦ and partner bids 3♥, since you still have a game force and you still don't know which strain to play in (I guess you just bid 4♥ and hope partner's suit is good and he survives the tap?). And if your agreement is that 2♠ can just be a forcing call you're less likely to hang yourself (yes, partner will raise to 3♠ with four spades, but it might even be the right strain then, and partner will give you leeway with only three spades by cuebidding to show a three-card raise).

 

Note that bidding 2♠ works great any time partner doesn't have a raise (he's making a totally natural bid which will usually allow you to set the strain). It might even be a good call if partner expects a five-card suit.

[han]

Next time you'll have AKx Kx Jxx Jxxxx and you'll want to bid 2S on a 3-card suit...

 

Again, I'm not saying that your proposed solution is a poor idea. Not at all. I'm just saying that it has nothing to do with why you got a poor score.

[bhall]

The practical bid with a new partner is 3N, although it doesn't work on this deal. You expect to run RHO out of diamonds before possibly having to lose a trick to him in establishing a ninth trick, if, say, hearts don't run.

 

2♠ should certainly be forcing, although it is likely to lead to a shaky 4-3 game on some hands where 3N is cold. At least, if partner rebids 3♥, you will have found one 8-card fit. If he rebids 2N or 3♣, you are likewise well positioned. I would rate this as the best choice in an expert partnership.

 

3♦ could easily work out, since partner is likely to hold 6 decent hearts, and subsequently raising his 3♥ rebid to 4 will get your general strength off your chest. However, the cue does not ask him for another suit, and he can hardly have enough controls to cuebid back. And when he holds a 3=5=2=3 minimum, he will still rebid 3♥, while 3N could be your only making game.

 

If you want to see his eyes spin, you can start with 3♣ and rebid 3♠, but I would suggest moving quickly to another table thereafter.

[jdonn]

3♦ could easily work out, since partner is likely to hold 6 decent hearts, and subsequently raising his 3♥ rebid to 4 will get your general strength off your chest. However, the cue does not ask him for another suit, and he can hardly have enough controls to cuebid back. And when he holds a 3=5=2=3 minimum, he will still rebid 3♥, while 3N could be your only making game.

If you bid 3♦ and partner bids 3♥, isn't it clear to bid 3NT now? You are obviously offering a choice of games at this point since you didn't bid 3NT last round, so this particular auctions seems to be one of the advantages of bidding 3♦.

[bhall]

3♦ could easily work out, since partner is likely to hold 6 decent hearts, and subsequently raising his 3♥ rebid to 4 will get your general strength off your chest. However, the cue does not ask him for another suit, and he can hardly have enough controls to cuebid back. And when he holds a 3=5=2=3 minimum, he will still rebid 3♥, while 3N could be your only making game.

If you bid 3♦ and partner bids 3♥, isn't it clear to bid 3NT now? You are obviously offering a choice of games at this point since you didn't bid 3NT last round, so this particular auctions seems to be one of the advantages of bidding 3♦.

I believe you're right. Bidding 3N over 3♦-3♥ should be choice of games, although some might interpret the delayed 3N as indicating a doubtful or partial ♦ stop. I still prefer 2♠, if partner is an experienced player with a decent sense of the constraints on competitive auctions.