Opener second bid

[paulsim]

Hi all,

 

1S p 2C (2H)

?

 

What would you think is the best approach?

 

 

A. If playing 2/1 GF

 

A1. Pass deny stoppers or strengh?

 

A2.- 2NT still min-max?

 

A3.- Double is penalty oriented?

 

A4.- 3NT?

 

B. If playing standard (2/1 10HCP+ Just F1)

 

B1. Pass would deny stoppers or strenght?

 

B2. 2NT strenght? One or two stoppers requeried?

 

B3. Double would be penalty oriented?

 

B4.-3NT strenght? Balance hand or running suit? One or two stoppers requeried?

 

Ty all,

Kind Regards,

[DavidKok]

If playing 2/1 GF: shape first. 2♠ shows six, a new suit shows 4, 2NT shows a good heart stopper and likely a balanced or semibalanced hand. I play double as takeout, you could opt for penalty instead. Pass is just the rest (can be strong). 3NT doesn't exist, but if partner decides to bid it I'll play them for a hand with very good hearts and a flat minimum. If you have agreed that 3NT is a solid suit and 3♠ is a broken suit you can also play that here.

 

If playing standard I'd probably play the same but also any minimum has to pass regardless of shape. Thankfully most shapely hands are worth a bit more on the auction. 2NT should probably be Good/Bad with 3NT to play, but that's up to you.

[helene_t]

[...] a new suit shows 4 [...] I play double as takeout [...]

If double is t/o I think a new suit should show 5. 5224 looks like a good hand for a t/o double.

[Gilithin]

2NT shows a good heart stopper and likely a balanced or semibalanced hand.

Surely you are making a forcing pass on most of these? You are typically going to be delighted if partner sends back a Double.

 

If double is t/o I think a new suit should show 5. 5224 looks like a good hand for a t/o double.

Begs the obvious question - what exactly would you see as the key differences between a direct 3♣ raise, Pass followed by bidding clubs, and Double followed by bidding clubs?

[helene_t]

Begs the obvious question - what exactly would you see as the key differences between a direct 3♣ raise, Pass followed by bidding clubs, and Double followed by bidding clubs?

Sorry I should have said 5242 - with 5224 we can just raise, unless playing a style in which 2♣ was semi-natural.

Anyway:

A direct 3♣ would show more clubs. Maybe it should even show 5 as 2♣ could be a 3-card suit, but in a style where 2♣ is almost always 4+, that maybe goes too far.

Double followed by clubs should show some interest in defense - obviously don't double if we want to play at least 3♣ ourselves, even if double is not penalty.

Pass followed by 3♣ sounds like a minimum balanced hand with 3-card support.