Natural Bid Taken Away

[FelicityR]

As you probably have gathered by now my regular partner and I play a basic 2/1 system with a few standard conventions added on. There's holes in our bidding artillery and yesterday was a prime example. Playing a small four team (IMPs) round robin at the club, I got caught out with a Michael's Cue Bid Overcall.

 

It took my natural 2♠ bid away - We play 1M-2M as a Constructive Raise with 3+ trump support and 8-11 HCPs. The hand is at the upper end of our raise, 2 honours in the trump suit, 11HCPs, with a ruffing value, though the singleton ♦K is hardly an asset here. What do you think is best here, and as always thank you for your replies.

 

[hv=pc=n&w=sqj8hj874dkckjt87&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=1s2s(Hearts%20%2B%20Minor)]133|200[/hv]

[pescetom]

I think it's fairly normal to play here 3S as constructive NF and 3H ( which is not in your poll) as a limit raise, which is what I would choose if it can be (or always is) 3-card.

[sfi]

Agreed - a 3H cue to show an invitational raise looks about right. Even with the soft values, this hand is stronger than a simple raise.

 

If you made it weaker (replacing the DK with a small diamond, for example), I would accept the push to 3S with good shape. Partner should make some allowances for me maybe bidding one level higher than I really wanted to.

[FelicityR]

I think it's fairly normal to play here 3S as constructive NF and 3H ( which is not in your poll) as a limit raise, which is what I would choose if it can be (or always is) 3-card.

 

Thank you. They do say you learn something everyday. That's easy to remember too.

[neilkaz]

Thank you. They do say you learn something everyday. That's easy to remember too.

Unusual vs Michaels. https://www.larryco.com/bridge-articles/versus-michaels-or-unusual-notrump

 

The basic principle is cue bid (in this case of their known ♥ suit) is limit raise or better.

[Zelandakh]

Whichever of 3♥ or 2NT is being played as a low-ODR limit raise seems fairly obvious playing basic agreements. If having the luxury of FNJs then 3♣ (showing a spade fit plus a club suit) is a strong alternative. See page 44 of Partnership Bidding at Bridge for more on FNJs in this auction!

[HardVector]

I agree with the idea of bidding 3h has a limit raise kind of hand, but I'm leaning toward a double here. If they get to 3c or 3h, I'll hit it. If they get to 3d, I'll bid 3s. Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but if south has hearts and clubs, it looks like bad news for whoever wins the auction.

[Tramticket]

I agree with the idea of bidding 3h has a limit raise kind of hand, but I'm leaning toward a double here. If they get to 3c or 3h, I'll hit it. If they get to 3d, I'll bid 3s. Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but if south has hearts and clubs, it looks like bad news for whoever wins the auction.

 

 

Your heart suit lacks quality for defence and you have a spade fit. This is IMPs and I'd much rather try for a vulnerable game rather than try for a non vulnerable penalty.

[apollo1201]

As HardVector points out, you can’t X to say that is my bid. It is penaltyish in at least 1 of their suits. At IMPs, red, I’d be worried about missing a game bonus if we end up in 3 something Xed by me or partner.

 

It is admitted that when stolen a level, a fit you’d have given a level lower can be given higher if you are in the upper range. You definitely have a 2.5 S call but it doesn’t exist in the bidding box. So 3S be it.

[heart76]

With my reg partner we have 2NT=limit+ raise and 3M preemptive both with 4+ cards. I'd re-evaluate the hand to 9, 10 when counting the HJ which is not working. So we're in game only when partner has extras.

Pass in tempo to re-open in case they end up in D? On a good day you X them in 3C...

[dsLawsd]

Nothing wrong about 3♠ as you must have something to get there.

 

However, the idea about double is that you need more information about their hands- it could be that clubs is the RHO suit after all.

you and later partner get to vote again later. IMPS are won by being right and unless we have decent clubs not likely to have a game.

We shall see?

[nekthen]

There is a case for 2N being lebensohl. (in competition, I think 2N should always be leb if you play it, otherwise the brain ache of working out when to use it is enormous)

So

3 of a minor must be a suit with 3 card support

3♥ is a good raise with 4 cards and no ♥ stopper

3♠ is pretty much any old rubbish with 4♠. Likewise 4♠ with 5 card support, even at red v green.

3N 2 spades and minors stopped

2N followed by pass or 3♦ must be to play

2N followed by 3♥ is a good 4 card raise with a ♥ stopper

2N followed by 3♠ or 4♠ is a values raise with 3 cards

2N followed by 3N 2 spades and all other suits stopped

 

I do not like doubling 2♠ as it gives opp two extra bids (pass or rdbl) which a smart pair will have assigned meaning to

I guess it means "partner I have very short spades if I double again it is penalties"

[mcphee]

This hand presents a mild problem with such good C which we are not sure are of value. I am not a big fan of 3H but it could work out just fine. Partner has an eye on the colors and will stretch to bid a vul game in which case they will be pleased with this dummy.

[msjennifer]

SIRS..I learnt something entirely new .I never imagined that the 1S-(2C)-3H shows a hand just like this.I shall be thankful if any one of the 3H bidders explain why 3H shows such a hand and not either a GF with strong heart suit or a shortness in hearts. My answer to the first question is I bid 3S as we play the LTC.8 losers with good three card support..This is our bid in any position. And last question why opener can not have a heart suit ? Why imagine that hearts is opponents suit and not diamonds ?

[Tramticket]

SIRS..I learnt something entirely new .I never imagined that the 1S-(2C)-3H shows a hand just like this.I shall be thankful if any one of the 3H bidders explain why 3H shows such a hand and not either a GF with strong heart suit or a shortness in hearts. My answer to the first question is I bid 3S as we play the LTC.8 losers with good three card support..This is our bid in any position. And last question why opener can not have a heart suit ? Why imagine that hearts is opponents suit and not diamonds ?

 

Are you looking at a very small screen? The opponent bid a Michaels TWO SPADES

[sfi]

Why imagine that hearts is opponents suit and not diamonds ?

It looks like you missed the explanation of 2S, which shows 5-5 in hearts and a minor (the Michaels convention). It is normal to use acue bid of their suit as a raise, just like if they had overcalled 2H.

[msjennifer]

Sir.THANKS.Indeed I was looking at a small screen.,After seeing more carefully I agree with the 3H bidI I DID see the RHO bid as 2C and not 2S.

[msjennifer]

It looks like you missed the explanation of 2S, which shows 5-5 in hearts and a minor (the Michaels convention). It is normal to use acue bid of their suit as a raise, just like if they had overcalled 2H.

Sir,thanks for correcting my oversight (or shall I say undersight).Of course the 2S bid is a routine Michaels bid.I misread it as 2C and not 2S on my mobile screen.So sorry and thanks again.