Explain this auction

[gnasher]

Interesting argumentation on frequency grounds. Would it shift your thinking if you were in Europe, surrounded by people who hate 3-card raises (and for whom having 3 hearts would consequently not imply a maximum)?

In the part of Europe where I live, raising with three-card support is completely normal.

[mgoetze]

In the part of Europe where I live, raising with three-card support is completely normal.

 

Wait I thought you live on an island somewhere off in the Atlantic Ocean! ;)

[TWO4BRIDGE]

As usual, J-Lo's posts are well thought out and Justin makes compelling arguments.

 

But on a few points, I have to agree with PHIL ( pass the smelling salts, please ) although not on all things...lol ( I did re-read your posts, phil -- I now agree that 3H [ by Opener ] does not "agree Hts" ).

 

I think, as phil and others have stated, the 3♥ bid would be better served to show 3 cards -- NOT 2 ( but IMO not attach any "extras" meaning -- didn't Opener's 2C rebid after his 1D open deny little, if any, extras ? ) .

 

I think, if Opener has 2 cards Hts and no Sp-stop, he should rebid 3D or 3C -- the 3C being the last option as "could be only 4 cards" . Afterall, we have numerous cases where " Clubs get little or no respect ".

 

But here is my main argument against what I would label " the ambiguous 3H bid " ( as showing 2 or 3 cards ) . You have eliminated " room " for Responder to make a 3H bid with at least 6 cards ( or a good 5 card Ht suit like in the OP [ post # 9 ]: A K Q J x ); and have subsequently eliminated clarification of the 5-of-trump bid and have eliminated the use of any RKC-asking bid ! !

Allowing room for Responder to bid 3H would NOW allow suit agreement by Opener ( with 2 cards ) which would clarify 4NT ( or 4S! ) as RKC and 5H! as "asking for a Sp Ctrl ":

 

1D - 1H

2C - 2S!

3D ( or 3C ) - 3H

4H - 4NT( or 4S!) or 5H

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Let me give you another cute auction:

 

1D 1S

2C 2H

3H ?

 

I thought this was going to be the auction actually when I saw the thread. This came up recently. This auction is similar, but we are on firm ground that 3H always shows 4 hearts so there's no confusion there.

 

And now for Justin's other 4SGF auction containing the Ht suit.

I know he avoided "artificiality" , but I never do.

I have a possible simple solution ( somewhat analogous to the Muppet solution for the problem hand [5s/4h] in Puppet auctions ):

 

Switch the meanings of 2NT and 3H ! ! !

 

1D - 1S

2C - 2H!

??

..2S = have 3s

 

..2NT!= no 3s, but have 4h(w/4h Responder can now bid 3H[let the cuebidding begin]; anything else denies 4h)

..3H! = no 3s, no 4h, but have Ht-stop

 

..3D = no 3s, no Ht-stop, but have 6d/4c or good-5d/4c

..3C = no 3s, no Ht-stop, but have 5d/5c [ Edit: or not-so-good-5d/4c "catchall" ].