Two possible bids

[AL78]

5 card majors, strong NT, MPs.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj9842hadk964ck65&w=sk5hkt8432d5cq742&n=st6hqj5daqt832c93&e=saq73h976dj7cajt8&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1c1s2hp2nppp]399|300[/hv]

 

I lost the first seven tricks, and a club when the finesse failed.

 

After partner's 2♥ response, I had a think and decided that bidding 2NT, showing a 12-14 HCP balanced hand with a spade stop is a more descriptive bid than raising hearts. Completely wrong here. Was my reasoning that bad?

[smerriman]

Partner seems too weak for a 2♥ response.

 

But the major fit is always going to be preferable. You have no idea whether partner has diamonds stopped, or if they have another distributional hand, or have slam interest, etc, and if you don't show heart support now, they'll never believe you'll have it later (if you're fortunate enough to bid again).

[TylerE]

Not supporting a known 8 card major fit is the worst bidding sin you can commit.

 

I don't care for 2♥ either, but that was not the fatal injury.

[Cyberyeti]

There were not 2 possible bids, there was one and you didn't make it, partner has 5+ hearts, you have 3 and a doubleton.

[FelicityR]

Even though I agree with the other commentators here, I don't necessarily agree that it's your fault (100%) entirely. Yes, raising to 3♥ was overwhelmingly preferable to bidding 2NT, but partner has an unbalanced hand and should have pulled you to 3♣. West is in a far better position to see the danger in the ♦ suit as your 2NT bid promised some sort of stopper in ♠s and he/she has the ♠K. So what suit is possibly a danger here in no-trumps: ♦s obviously. That's not rocket science.

 

Yes, you could have ended up in a 4-3 fit if partner is 4333 shape precisely and minimum, but then isn't partner now going to bid 3♥ here? After 1♣ - (1♠) - 2♥ - 2NT - 3♣, you then bid 3♥ and arrive in the same contract.

 

However, if we do open 1♣ only promising 2+ as some players do, partner bidding like this isn't an option.

[crapdown4]

5 card majors, strong NT, MPs.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj9842hadk964ck65&w=sk5hkt8432d5cq742&n=st6hqj5daqt832c93&e=saq73h976dj7cajt8&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1c1s2hp2nppp]399|300[/hv]

 

I lost the first seven tricks, and a club when the finesse failed.

 

After partner's 2♥ response, I had a think and decided that bidding 2NT, showing a 12-14 HCP balanced hand with a spade stop is a more descriptive bid than raising hearts. Completely wrong here. Was my reasoning that bad?

 

As others have said, not bidding 3H was terrible--you must support with support. That said, pard should not have passed 2NT--he should have bid 3H, on the premise that you should have a doubleton heart on this auction. That bid wouldn't be forcing.

 

I see this all the time, pard makes a subminimum bid and then tries to compensate for it later in the auction. Best course would be a negative double followed by a heart bid. Shows exactly what he has.

[TylerE]

Best course would be a negative double followed by a heart bid. Shows exactly what he has.

 

On what planet?

 

Not Earth.

[smerriman]

On what planet?

 

Not Earth.

? That would be my bid too; I don't see an alternative - unless of course you play NFB, in which case 2♥ was right to begin with.

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=sj9842hadk964ck65&w=sk5hkt8432d5cq742&n=st6hqj5daqt832c93&e=saq73h976dj7cajt8&d=e&v=b&b=10&a=1c1s2hp2nppp]399|300| AL78 '5 card majors, strong NT, MPs. I lost the first seven tricks, and a club when the finesse failed.After partner's 2♥ response, I had a think and decided that bidding 2NT, showing a 12-14 HCP balanced hand with a spade stop is a more descriptive bid than raising hearts. Completely wrong here. Was my reasoning that bad?'

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

IMO AL78 was unlucky. Over South's (1♠), I rank

1. 3♥ = FIT 5+ ♥ 4 + ♣ -- only by agreement :)

2. Double = NEG As suggested by Crapdown4; intending to persist with a non-forcing 3♥ later.

3. 2♥ = F/1 (F/G in 2/1). IMO an overbid.

After 1♣ (1♠) 2♥ I rank...

1. 4♥ = NAT WEAK, playing 2/1.

2. 2N = NAT Seems OK to me.

3. 3♥ = NAT N/F (if 2!H isn't F/G).[/hv]