How is this handled?

[hrothgar]

Silly question:

 

Assume that you held your 5=4=0=4 hand

Partner opened 2♦ showing a standard Weak 2

Moreover, you can be pretty sure that partner doesn't have three Spades

 

Would everyone start bidding hoping and praying that partner has a 4 card heart suit?

 

This hand screams misfit. Yes, we have a lot of values, but thats not going to be much help if partner lays down a 1=3=7=2 or some such

 

Personally, I think that the 2♥ response is shooting at a pretty small target. yes, this will pay of veyr well if partner can raise hearts. Balanced against this, I think that there is a very real chance that 2♦ is our last chance at a plus...

[mike777]

<!-- ONEHAND begin --><table border='1'> <tr> <td> <table> <tr> <td> Dealer: </td> <td> South </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Vul: </td> <td> EW </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Scoring: </td> <td> IMP </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tr> <th> <span class='spades'> ♠ </th> <td> AQJ82 </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='hearts'> ♥ </span> </th> <td> KJT8 </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='diamonds'> ♦ </span> </th> <td>  </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='clubs'> ♣ </span> </th> <td> AQ87 </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td>  </td> </tr> </table><!-- ONEHAND end -->

 

West  North East  South

 

 -     -     -     1♠

 Pass  1NT   Pass  ?</span>

 

If your solution involves bidding 2♥ then what is a minimum hand for partner that would raise 2♥ with four trumps?  with five trumps?

2h and then 3c, we may miss a nv game.

 

 

3h if we were vul...

 

 

side note I expect pard to raise over 2h with almost any hand and heart support after 1s=1nt=2h

[benlessard]

3H, I like the T of H, and the AQJ of spades. And ill pass 3Nt if partner bid it.

[fromageGB]

1S  - 1NTF

2C* - 2D ( expected )

2H ( should describe this hand )

_____________________

* 2C could be as few as 3 cards

... and this is standard?

I believe it is pretty common to bid 2♣ as the better minor that may be 3 card. Denying gadgets, I would say it is standard. So when partner makes a weak takeout to diamonds, 2♥ seems a perfect description of the shape and strength.

 

Having not bid hearts initially is a problem, as will partner take you for 5404, or will he take you for maybe 5314 and asking for a guard in hearts to bid NT? If so, it may not achieve its intended aim, unfortunately, but there is a good chance partner will understand you hate diamonds and want to play elsewhere.

 

Yes, if he bids 2♦, I want to bid 2♣. Bit if he was going to pass 2♣ I want to bid 3♥ :-)

[Winstonm]

2/1 was not stipulated so I attack this problem from the point of view that 1N shows 6-9 or maybe a bad 10. If so, a practical rule of thumb would be to rule out slam as a very low probability event even if it could be successfully bid. Getting to the best game takes priority now.

 

Due to that, I do not want to take any risks on missing a game and will force the issue with 3H - don't really like it but like every other bid less.

[MarkDean]

I would bid 2♥, but I basically always play 2/1, so I could be convinced the nuances of standard could make other calls more attractive.

 

I would expect partner to basically never pass with five hearts, and if he passes with 4, we might have missed a good game, but he might have a bad hand with diamond wastage, so we might survive.

 

If partner bids 2♠, I will bid 3♣ next.

[andy_h]

2♥, then 3♣ when partner bids 2♠ false preference