A short sequence I've never seen before

[EricK]

How often do you see a new, short, unopposed bidding sequence?

 

This one was perpetrated against me last night:

RHO Me LHO Pard

1♦ P 2NT P

4♦ All Pass

 

I won't even ask you to guess what they each held, as the knowledge might kill someone with a pre-existing heart condition.

[olegru]

Strong, natural, Ace asking?

[broze]

Would take 4D as just a natural slam try with long D. Forcing of course. :D

[aguahombre]

Treadwell would probably have declared it as delayed Texas.

[awm]

Maybe 2NT was forcing to game or four of a minor, and 4♦ was fast arrival? :P

 

Or 2NT was a weak raise of diamonds and 4♦ was obstructive?

[kenrexford]

Strangely, this reminds me of a similarly shocking auction that I and a partner of mine actually executed successfully.

 

1♣-P-1NT-X-6♣-all pass

 

The 1NT was alerted as 2-5 HCP. Because we were red on white, the further explanation was that the more vulnerable, the more minor cards I had to hold. 6♣ was down one when a King was in the wrong place, but the location of that King made 5♥ or 5♠ cold for the opponents. Had the King been placed elsewhere, their contract would fail, but our slam would make.

 

So, extrapolating, perhaps 2NT as a "Weak Minor Jacoby Raise" with 4♦ as "1-2-4 stop?"

 

The 1-2-4 stop is obvious. As to the merits of 2NT as a "weak raise," I would need compelling evidence of the merits.

 

 

[Vampyr]

 

The 1-2-4 stop is obvious. As to the merits of 2NT as a "weak raise," I would need compelling evidence of the merits.

 

This is fairly common in England, with a double raise showing a mixed raise.

[Cyberyeti]

This is fairly common in England, with a double raise showing a mixed raise.

 

We actually play 1♦-2N as 5-8 5+♦ (with a non GF inverted 2♦ and 3♦ as 5+♦ 0-5) so this auction could occur for us, 4♦ would be natural and preemptive.

[StevenG]

English club game? 2NT is 11-12 balanced, doesn't deny a 4-card suit anywhere. 4♦ is game invite.

[EricK]

English club game? 2NT is 11-12 balanced, doesn't deny a 4-card suit anywhere. 4♦ is game invite.

That's the closest so far, but still not quite right. Responder had a 4-4-1-4 hand with 11 hcp. Opener also appeared to have about 11 hcp. They were missing ♦KQJ9xx, so 4♦ wasn't the par contract by any means.

[the hog]

4♦ should set the suit and be asking or Aces.

[whereagles]

Without agreement, and opposite a random, I would take it for

 

a) invitational for 5D

b) invitational for 6D

 

Obviously, you'd have to guess right.

[benlessard]

RKC in D, using 4NT for keycards in minors is terrible.

[barmar]

RKC in D, using 4NT for keycards in minors is terrible.

Minorwood and Kickback are both better alternatives, but I'd never consider using either without explicit discussion.

[PhantomSac]

It depends on the context of the system. If 2N is invitational then 3D over that is non forcing so it makes some sense to just play 4D as forcing and the beginning of cuebidding since you have no other forcing bid with diamonds. If you play 3 of a major as shortness maybe that changes it (or maybe not). If 2N is forcing then 3D would be forcing so 4D as keycard definitely seems right.

[Zelandakh]

It depends on the context of the system. If 2N is invitational then 3D over that is non forcing so it makes some sense to just play 4D as forcing and the beginning of cuebidding since you have no other forcing bid with diamonds.

An interesting variation on this is to play 4♣ as agreeing diamonds and forcing cue bids (with 4♦ showing clubs), freeing up 4♦ for your choice of RKCB or a general slam try.

[billw55]

Opener is a BBO random? My guess is he really wants to be declarer. Gotta get past that pesky 3NT.

[EricK]

Opener is a BBO random? My guess is he really wants to be declarer. Gotta get past that pesky 3NT.

This was face-to-face bridge. Opener is an ex-partner of mine. I broke up the partnership largely due to his inability to consistently get even the first round of an unopposed auction correct. His new partner seems even worse than he in that respect. I have played against them a few times now, and don't recall their ever getting to the correct contract.