[Stephen Tu]

Sorry don't have hand link.

GIB essentially has
Tx Tx QJ9xx Kxxx

and bids 1s-1nt-2d-3d. 3d is described as "8-12 total points 5+d".

I think 6 hcp and 2 doubletons is a bit thin for a raise here. Especially when don't have the impossible 2s available to distinguish between courtesy and serious raises. Kind of feel should at least 8 HCP minimum, maybe even 9 when impossible 2s not avail?, 10-13 total points?

[m1cha]

Stephen Tu, on 2016-November-20, 21:25, said:

Sorry don't have hand link.

GIB essentially has
Tx Tx QJ9xx Kxxx

and bids 1s-1nt-2d-3d. 3d is described as "8-12 total points 5+d".

I think 6 hcp and 2 doubletons is a bit thin for a raise here. Especially when don't have the impossible 2s available to distinguish between courtesy and serious raises. Kind of feel should at least 8 HCP minimum, maybe even 9 when impossible 2s not avail?, 10-13 total points?

Oh yes!

And then you sit there with a two-suiter, 14 points, and you wonder: If partner has a minimum, you must pass now since 3♦ is the last contract that makes; while if partner has a maximum, 3NT may be a no-brainer, or even 5♦ might make.

I had that recently with clubs instead of diamonds, here's the link:

{comments}

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I decided to fake a 3♦ bid hoping partner may be able to bid a heart stop, but I got a 4♣ reply and went down. 3NT makes!
Bidding 3♥ with my hand instead of 3♣ carried a label like "5+ ♠s, 4+ ♥, 4+ ♣s ...", iirc. I didn't want to fake that one for fear of being raised to 4♥ with who-knows-what.

Anyway, I find the range from 8 to 12 points too wide, the information is next to useless opposite a frequent set of hands. How about bidding 2NT with the 11 - 12 points hands and keep the simple raises "courtesy"? If opener is strong, you may still find the game in 5m after a 2NT bid.