Control 1st and 2nd

[kgr]

The answers in topic http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=30492&hl=

kind of suprised me. I thought that 4D would show extra's.

 

Do you have rules about control bids? When they show extra's or when they are obligatory? Any reference to a good internet site?

 

Thanks,

Koen

[kenrexford]

That's a small question with a huge answer. All sorts of possible issues present themselves, depending on the specifics of the sequence. I don't think you will find any easy answer.

 

I mean, you should get one of two types of answers:

 

1. A stated rule, or

2. A complicated statement of theory and agreements, from which one should be able to deduce on the fly whether a specific cuebid in a specific undiscussed sequence is purely cooperative or indicating extras.

 

IMO, I would be very skeptical of the merits of any answer resembling the first option. Unfortunately, most sequences where this question could arise are sequences that involve some art to the science rather than strict, easily articulable rules.

[MFA]

The important thing is the degree of limitation.

 

In your splinter example, responder narrowed his strength to 12-14 hcp. Therefore he should cooperate fully in showing controls below game level and that doesn't show extras.

 

If a hand is unlimited in nature it should only cooperate with cuebids if it has some slam ambition of its own. For instance:

1♠-(3♣)-4♣ strong spade raise. Here opener signs off in 4♠ with any minimum regardsless of red cuebids.

[gnasher]

(1) If your partner has shown slam interest of his own, and you can cue-bid without raising the level, you should almost always do so. This answers the question you posed in the other thread.

 

(2) If your partner has said that he isn't worth a slam try of his own, you should only cue-bid if you yourself are worth a slam try.

 

(3) If you find that you keep having cue-bidding auctions where neither partner knows how strong the other is, think about whether you could have done something to limit one of the hands earlier in the auction. It's fairly pointless to start exchanging information about controls when you don't know whether you have the wherewithal for twelve tricks.

 

(4) If you're stuck with a cue-bidding auction where both hands are unlimited, don't cue bid with a bad hand, but do cue bid with an average one. Don't go past game unless you have extras.

[Fluffy]

If your range is very wide you should cue with extras, however, remember that a pass from partner's double after the splinter, already shows slam interest, becuse otherwise he would sing off in 4M. Partner wants to go on and you should follow his path.

[kgr]

What if the 1st control you give is above game or on the 5 level. Is it always promising 1st control then? E.g.:

1♥-2♣

2♦-4♥

??

Suppose 2♦ is forcing and 2♣ followed by 4♥ showed 12-15 pts with 4 card ♥ and good ♣'s.

If opener now bids:

4♠=

- Can this be 2nd control because of the level the bid is?

- Can this be 2nd control because of responders bidding (not long in ♠)?

5♣=

- This always denies control in ♠. Denies 1st and 2nd control?

- This control is never bid with shortage and can also promise the Q (Pomises A, K or Q in ♣)?