[starfruit]

Hi all!
Just realised that this section is more suitable for my posts

Scoring: IMP

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Dealer passed, and for once partner did not open in you void suit.
He opened 1♠.
East come in with 2♥ and it's your bid.

On the table I considered 2 possible actions :

1)Bid some number of ♣s.
For this I felt like 5♣s seems like a good idea as we play this as preemptive style, denying as much as 2 defensive tricks. With 2 or more we start with 3♣s.
But after some reflection this seems like a bad idea as 3NT can easily be our best spot.
So probably 3♣s is better?

2)Raise ♠s.
How how to raise? How good is my hand in support of ♠s?
Our definition of a limit raise is 3 cover tricks... is this correct? And if it is, does it mean that it's ok to cuebid 3♥? The problem is we also define a cue in such situation as "our hand" (is this a wrong idea?) so we might have to double them later if the auction gets too high.

[awm]

Ideally you want to show both clubs and spades. If you play fit-showing jumps, perhaps this hand qualifies for a 4♣ call (showing an offensive-oriented raise to 4♠ with a side club suit). Of course ordinarily that's 4♠+5♣ but I think this hand is okay for the bid as well.

Not playing fit jumps, it seems reasonable to bid 3♣ followed by spades at the three or four level at next turn.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

depending on the forcing nature of 3C,
3C is certainly ok, altough I prefer a
spade raise, 3H, you want to play 4S
opposite max. values.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[kenrexford]

2♣ is my vote. I have no idea where this should end up, and I do not want to stress my spade support unless developments suggest that I should. So, I start slowly.

[twcho]

2♣ is out as opp has already overcalled 2♥. My choice is 3♣ and then support ♠ if given the chance.

[hrothgar]

You're a passed hand...

3♣ should imply spade support

[Walddk]

hrothgar, on Aug 18 2006, 06:07 AM, said:

You're a passed hand...

3♣ should imply spade support

I am not a passed hand, LHO opened, so 3♣ doesn't show spade support. I would bid 3♣ anyway, followed by spades as cheaply as possible.

Roland

[pclayton]

I don't like fit jumps with a 4 card difference in the suits. With AQJ-6th I might try it though, but I'd really like a spade honor with only 3 trump.

I had a similar hand about 5 years ago. Pard opened 2♠ weak and RHO doubled. I tried 4♣ and competed to 5♣ which seemed a good description. The difference is we had a known 9 card fit. They competed to 5♥ which we nipped a trick.

I don't mind supporting the major with a side 7 bagger, but I've had a few cases with a side 8 bagger and 3 card support. The 8 bagger invariably plays better and suit quality doesn't seem to be a huge issue.

[HeartA]

I would bid 3C as well.

[Free]

It's hard to choose between 3♣ and 4♣ (fit jump). For a fit jump you probably need better ♠s, so I'll go with 3♣.

[whereagles]

4♣ if it's a fit-bid.
3♣+4♠ otherwise.

Can't get picky with points on hands like these.

[kenrexford]

I'm bidding 2♣ anyway. LOL

OK -- I'm with the THREEEEE CLubs people.

[Free]

You can always try to bid 2♣, if opps accept it, you're doing great

[neilkaz]

I support PD ny bidding what I expect we can make and that is a direct 4♠.

Since I didn't bid 3♥ first or make some forcing call like the natural 3♣, PD should know that I don't have too much defence.

I probably have to bid 4♠ anyhow if the opps compete in ♥ as expected and prefer playing in a known fit, rather than speculating on 5♣ being better.

.. neilkaz ..

[kenrexford]

The problem with just raising spades is that I hate this hand for spade play. I expect a trump lead. On bad days, I may contribute only two tricks, with a finesse in diamonds failing. In contrast, in clubs, I may well give up the diamond finesse and the club King and still make game on my junk.

I can see some argument for a simple 2♠, probably not the end contract, and later club fanaticism.

[bid_em_up]

If I had a 4th trump, I would be willing to bid 3C and then raise to at least 4♠ later. Since I dont, and although my hand has reasonable values, it is not strong enough to force to game.

I do have a fit with partner, however, and am a believer in the philosophy that weak(ish) hands should show a fit for opener as quickly as possible, so a mundane 2♠ it is for me. I will bid 4♣ or 4♠ over any further call partner may make, but the odds are....if it gets passed out in 2♠, this is where we belong.

[starfruit]

Here comes the full hand~

Scoring: IMP

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On table i tried 5♣ and LHO doubled with his strength of 2 Aces.
5♣X went -2 while the other table, without interference, got to the good 4♠ game and made it easily after a ♦ lead and ducked. 15 IMPs. Ouch
Defense only got its ♦A and ♠A and a ♦ ruff with the ♠K.

Now upon reflection, I think I support bidding 3♣ and supporting ♠ at the next convenient level.
Sure it'll be expecting too much for partner to cover 5 out my 7 losers.

Nobody here's looking for a 3NT with that juicy looking ♣AQJTxxx?

[pclayton]

starfruit, on Aug 18 2006, 04:54 PM, said:

Here comes the full hand~

Scoring: IMP

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On table i tried 5♣ and LHO doubled with his strength of 2 Aces.
5♣X went -2 while the other table, without interference, got to the good 4♠ game and made it easily after a ♦ lead and ducked. 15 IMPs. Ouch
Defense only got its ♦A and ♠A and a ♦ ruff with the ♠K.

Now upon reflection, I think I support bidding 3♣ and supporting ♠ at the next convenient level.
Sure it'll be expecting too much for partner to cover 5 out my 7 losers.

Nobody here's looking for a 3NT with that juicy looking ♣AQJTxxx?

If I chose 3♣ as a WJS (is that what the others are suggesting?), I think thats where the hand plays. On the actual layout if I raise spades, pard just shoots out the game with the 5 loser hand.

[starfruit]

The auction has gone 1♠ - (2♥) so WJS isn't available.