[mr1303]

You hold:

X
AJ9X
Xxx
AKJxx

Partner opens 1H. You decide to bid 2NT and partner shows a stiff diamond.

How do you continue?
Would you prefer 2C or 3S instead?

[chasetb]

I prefer 2♣ by far, since it's such a great suit. Having bid 2NT though, we need to cuebid, so assuming Italian style and that the you can still bid 3♠, that would be what I do.

[wanoff]

3♠ will find out if partner has 1st round control of diamonds. If yes, then 4NT 'exclusion' and over 5♠, 6♣ asking for 3rd round control.
If it was a small singleton diamond, then Blackwood.

[mr1303]

If you BW, partner has 2 without the Q. Leave it or 6?

[mr1303]

If you splintered, partner signs off. You are a bit strong for a splinter in your methods.

[mr1303]

If you bid 2C, partner raises, then after 3H partner cues 3S.

[P_Marlowe]

 mr1303, on 2016-May-02, 04:59, said:

If you BW, partner has 2 without the Q. Leave it or 6?

pass

[P_Marlowe]

 mr1303, on 2016-May-02, 05:03, said:

If you splintered, partner signs off. You are a bit strong for a splinter in your methods.

than I wont make the splinter, but if I did it anyway, than I will give up.

[P_Marlowe]

 mr1303, on 2016-May-02, 05:04, said:

If you bid 2C, partner raises, then after 3H partner cues 3S.

Did 3H show support, or could it be Hx?
But what ever: 4C. Lets see, if we hear 4D, which we will, ...,
given partners shortage, than 4S.
I would assume, that 4H is an offer to play, and I already did
show a heart cue, now 4S, and pass 5C.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[P_Marlowe]

 mr1303, on 2016-May-01, 22:28, said:

You hold:

X
AJ9X
Xxx
AKJxx

Partner opens 1H. You decide to bid 2NT and partner shows a stiff diamond.

How do you continue?
Would you prefer 2C or 3S instead?

2NT is fine, now 4S.

[lycier]

I'd bid 2NT.
After pd shows a stiff ♦, I'd better cuebid 4♣ to tell pd my tricks source so as to let pd to act as a captain.
After my 4♣, if pd rebid 4♦ to show voidness in ♦, I will bid 4NT to ask RKCB.

[Cyberyeti]

We would have started with 3♣ GF fit jump.

Of your alternatives, I would start with 2N, then assuming no kickback, I would start with 4♣ and over 4♥ I would bid 4♠ indicating even though we normally play Italian style cuebids that I have the ace of clubs (most likely with stuff to back it up) and most likely a singleton spade as I'd usually bid 3♠ with the K, let partner BW or cue from there.

[WesleyC]

Most people play 3S as a minimum G/F splinter, so this hand is too strong. I'm happy with 2NT.

However, a valuable (and extremely simple) improvement to the standard 1M - 2NT method is using a 3C response to show ANY minimum.

The main value comes when responder can simply sign-off on the next round (and opener avoids disclosing any information about their hand). But it would also be perfect on this hand. After opener's 3C, responder could continue with either 3D (to ask again for shortage) or 3S (to show a better than minimum G/F hand with spade shortage). Either way you should be very well placed to judge the final contract.

[gszes]

splinter bids lose some of their accuracy when there is a side 5 card + suit present. If you are playing 2/1 I think 2c is a standout but having begun this way I think a 3h bid here is a great way of showing p you have slam interest opposite their singleton and takes up virtually no space rather than making an unclear cuebid like 3s or worse trying 4c and seemingly denying a spade cue.

[rmnka447]

I'm starting with 2 ♣ also. I'll follow up with 3 ♥ over 3 ♣ to show the 2 suited fit. After cueing and key card showing 2 without the ♥ Q, I'm signing off in 5 ♥. If the answer had been 2 with the Q, then I'd have carried on to slam.