Unusual problem

[Jinksy]

You're playing on BBO with a random partner who rates himself as World Class, and everything you've seen so far suggests it's not an exaggeration. Your entire system discussion is 'SAYC, 3041, Standard carding with Lav'.

 

In those circumstances, how would you (as opener) interpret this auction? (Matchpoints, if that matters)

 

1♦ 1♠ /

1N 2♣ /

2♥ 3♣

[kenrexford]

4S, 5+ clubs, forcing.

[PhilKing]

It's impossible to answer without knowing whether he thinks he are a fish or a shark. How have you played so far?

[gszes]

Entirely too easy to begin with 2c and bid spades later with 5+ clubs and 4 spades and gf. This sequence is much more likely some kind of game force with a problem in clubs for NT purposes. Something like KQxx Axx KQxx xx. Even if one hates the idea of bypassing spades stating with 1s and rebidding 3c over 1n will also work well to show a GF (though in this case there should be some slam interest).

[mikeh]

4S, 5+ clubs, forcing.

not if he knows how to bid

[Jinksy]

It's impossible to answer without knowing whether he thinks he are a fish or a shark. How have you played so far?

 

I hadn't had many chances (that I noticed) to do anything colossally brilliant or stupid. I think I'd bid fairly solidly, but we'd only had 2 or 3 hands, and he'd been declarer on 50+% of them (don't think hogging).

[kenrexford]

not if he knows how to bid

That's how I have always bid it. With 55, gf, I would have jumped to 3C rather than 2C. With weaker, longer clubs, I would have bid 2NT rather than 2C. With 5S and 4C, I wouldn't care to introduce clubs.