1 Spade or a Heart raise

[dickiegera]

[hv=pc=n&w=saj6543hkqt6d4cj8&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=1hp]133|200[/hv]

 

Do you bid 1♠ or give a Heart raise.

If a heart raise do you splinter 4♦ or Jacoby 2NT?

[mcphee]

Usually I use jacoby for a balanced pattern, but I think that a F raise in H will give me a better photo. If partner does have a short suit it sure rates to be S and that would be a treat to know early.

[blackshoe]

I would bid 4♦ before I would bid 2NT, but while I believe pretty strongly in "support with support" I really think that with six spades I ought to show the suit now.

[chasetb]

Yes we have 6 Spades, but because they are headed by the AJ, we need to show the Spades first, then support partner's Hearts. A rare case where the FSJ by an unpassed hand pays dividends.

[rogerclee]

I definitely like a splinter, the auction rates to become inconvenient if we respond 1S, and we will not get to show our diamond shortness. Great hand for fit jumps but I don't play them here.

[MrAce]

If you are playing

 

1♥--1♠

2m--3♥ as forcing then you may take your chances by starting 1♠ but even then it is not risk free (i;e they compete b4 it comes to this)

 

Unfortunately this is not the std practice and 3♥ will show an invitation hand, that is what Roger meant i believe, because now you will have to bid 3♣ over 2♦ to create a forcing auction and god knows when will you be able to show your heart support. It will be a disaster auction if pd rebids 2♦ with std methods and he is likely to bid them.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

How about revamping the "Impossible Spade" ( who ever uses that anyway ? ) ?

 

1H - 1NT! = either (a) F1*, the normal 6-9 hcp or (b) GF w/5+♠ AND 3 or 4 ♥

 

If Responder rebids ♠ next , it is hand (b):

For example:

1H - 1NT!

2C/2D/2H - 2S = hand (b)... anything else is hand (a) .

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* the 1 round force ( F1 )1NT! can also be 3 card ♥ limit raise shown by the 3H-jump rebid over Opener's minimum rebid of say, 2C/2D

[gszes]

1s

 

I will have no problems later raising hearts in some way shape or form and the

fact that I started with 1s before supporting hearts should at least give p the

idea that I was partially interested in slam the moment I heard the 1h bid. We

do not search for miracles but we allow p to show us a miracle hand when they

have one. Once in a rare while the opps will get us to the 5 level before we have

ever raised hearts but it will be so infrequent as to not really be a factor overall.

 

Many bids in bridge are about trying to convey information about unusual hands

and the failure to splinter or use a game forcing raise should clue partner in to

the idea we have an unusual hand.

[mr1303]

I splinter.

 

If I bid 1S and partner bids 2 of a minor, I'm stuck between an inelegant 4th suit forcing auction or an agricultural leap to 4H. How partner is meant to know how to continue after that I don't know.

[SteveMoe]

2N (Jacoby)

I slightly prefer a 2nd round control in ♣ for a splinter.

I prefer suppressing ♠s when holding 4+♥s. If partner has a ♣ singleton, why paint a ♠ lead for South (...they might find it anyway).