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cooperate or not?


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What's 4H? Or was that part of the question too?

If 4H is a splinter I bid 4S as the 5lvl could be very dangerous. For example losing top two diamonds and a slow trump maybe if I need to trump my 4th heart/diamond.

If 4H is natural (and preemptive-ish too?) I pass also. It probably isn't this one as my RHO passed, but if it is maybe I would like to raise to 5 or even 6H. Not sure if I like 5H as that may force the opponents into a slam and I wouldn't know what to do then as that could go off with SA and a spade ruff.

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First of all, many players play that, over a double, 2 is not forcing (assuming that it is a natural call). So the question as to whether 4 is natural or a splinter is not trivial. However, I am sure that an overwhelming majority of players would interpret 4 as a splinter bid.

 

Given that it is a splinter bid, partner must have some slam interest. There is no point in splintering without slam interest. Opposite as little as:

 

Kxxxx

x

AKx

xxxx

 

we have an easy slam (even easier if partner's heart singleton is the Jack). So, even with the takeout double, slam is certainly a possibility.

 

Having said that, it is hard to cooperate intelligently at this high level. Clearly, Blackwood is of almost no use. The only reasonable call is to cuebid my club void. Then, assuming that partner makes the most encouraging bid possible - 5 - I don't know what to do. I suppose I could just bid 5 and hope that partner will be able to go on with the right hand. But how will he know that the K is MUCH more valuable than the K on that auction?

 

Given all of the foregoing, I believe that the prudent course of action is to sign off in 4. If partner bids again, I will be happy to cooperate (unless he cue bids clubs).

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4 is a splinter (what else?) the thread title cooperate or not? is the question  :P  4 or 5...

Oh, not to mention we may even lose a trump trick or two if partner has some clubs! For example say, QJxx x Axxx KQT9 and that's like a maximum? I'm definitely not going to bid 5 because that rates to have partner misevaluate his KQTx holdings or something like that. I would just happily bid 4 and hope I make it ^^

 

Edit: Oh, I am assuming a splinter is like 10-12 right, which is like the standard meaning?

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Agree with most of the others. Not clear to me that a jump to game isn't natural. In most of my partnerships I have it agreed as a splinter (helps that 2 for me would show and be forcing). Given that it is a splinter, seems a very obvious 4 call. Slam is possible sure, but let's let partner make another move before we cooperate.
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I have a suggestion that is going to be shot down out of the sky as soon as it posts, but:

 

Don't let your opp's takeout doubles change the basic structure of your bidding system.

In other words, except for some additional options that the double gives you, ignore the danged thing and just bid as you would have without the double.

 

Yes, I usually prefer that 1NT by resp remain forcing one round as it would be w/o the dbl, 2 level bids are as if no dbl had occurred (or you can use transfer responses to alleviate that issue). So, if you normally play 4H as splinter, why change? If it's a fit raise, you can actually devise a simple distinction between a fit raise with 3 versus 4-card support. If a bid at the 2-level is still forcing one round, then it's available to show a shape raise should partner next bid 4S.

 

Old fashioned? Perhaps. But, the only thing you lose is being able to play in 1NT (chances are it ain't staying there, anyway), and one can resolve that issue & play in 1NT if one plays that a XX shows a hand that normally would have bid 1NT F-1 without the dbl, sort of a negative redbl. [Just some weird, non-mainstream ideas.]

 

Getting back to the issue at hand: If 4H is splinter, then half of your hand is likely wasted. I'm all for trying to describe my hand in as few bids as possible so, therefore, I expect the 4H hand to have values in both minors, making slam unlikely.

 

DHL

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I have a suggestion that is going to be shot down out of the sky as soon as it posts, but:

 

[ugh!]

I have another suggestion. DOn't let partner's actual choice of Opening bid change your entire responsive structure. Play systems on as if opened 1NT over all the openings! Then, you cann0ot get confused about what things mean.

 

The only thing you give up is the ability to play at the one-level in a suit, and who does that anyway?

 

:blink:

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