[microcap]

Rex and I aren't really arguing over this one, we just don't have any good ideas.

So i will give you both hands:

Scoring: IMP

---

Rex opened 1♥ , I bid 2♦, Rex rebids 2♥, which is our catchall and could mean many things. But the one hand he CANNOT hold is 12-16 balanced with a 5 card ♥ suit. So he either has longer ♥ or extras.

If you rebid 3♦, then what?

If you rebid 4♦, then what?

Any other votes for my second bid?

Thanks as always...

[HeartA]

If you play 2/1 and 2D is gf, 3D would be good enough. Opener can bid 3H and then you may try 4C or raise to 4H.

But if 3D is not gf, 4D is the choice. Opener can choose 4H or 5D.

[awm]

A lot of this depends on your methods. If 2♦ was game-forcing it seems clear to bid 3♦ now. If 2♦ was not a game force, you might have considered starting with a strong jump shift to 3♦ (this is what Elianna and I would do, playing fairly standard methods with a bunch of gadgets). If 2♦ followed by 3♦ would be NF and this hand doesn't qualify for an initial jump, then I'd punt with 3♣. Obviously there is some risk that 3♣ will be raised, but I don't want to bypass 3NT (which is still the most likely contract at this point in the auction).

I'd recommend something like:

1♥ - 2♦
2♥ - 3♣
3♥ - 3♠
3NT - 4♥

The 3♣ bid is obviously a "fake" suit, but with a hand not strong enough to rebid 3♣ over 2♦ partner is unlikely to be in a huge hurry to raise. If he does raise he probably has no spade stopper and/or six hearts and we can revert to 4♥. On the actual hand opener will rebid 3♥, showing a real heart suit (but not good enough to bid 3♥ over 2♦) and still leaving space to show the spade stopper via a 3♠ ask and 3NT rebid. Responder's 3♠ asks for spade cards which opener shows, and pulling this to 4♥ shows a mild slam try. With a void in responder's first-bid suit and very minimum values, opener will pass this.

[pclayton]

microcap, on Oct 25 2006, 09:05 AM, said:

Rex and I aren't really arguing over this one, we just don't have any good ideas.

So i will give you both hands:

Scoring: IMP

---

Rex opened 1♥ , I bid 2♦, Rex rebids 2♥, which is our catchall and could mean many things. But the one hand he CANNOT hold is 12-16 balanced with a 5 card ♥ suit. So he either has longer ♥ or extras.

If you rebid 3♦, then what?

If you rebid 4♦, then what?

Any other votes for my second bid?

Thanks as always...

4♦ should show a solid suit, but its not my choice. If hearts weren't a possible strain, I might consider it.

Apparently 3♦ is forcing in your system, so I'd start with that.

Whence:

.....3♦
3♥..?

The hand is way too strong for 4♥, but I can't key card either. If 4♣ is taken as a cue for hearts, thats my choice, but I don't thats totally clear either. Why can't I have 7-5 in the minors for instance? Do I really have to bid 3♣ with this pattern?

Frankly, 4N is pretty reasonable, if you are worried about the meaning of 4♣. The chances that we are off 2 cashing spades is pretty minimal.

If 4♣ won't be misunderstood, I think North needs to retreat to 4♥ in spite of holding a spade control. If South has the ♥AK, South should make one more try. Over 4♥, South should pass I think.

[whereagles]

I wouldn't feel too dissatisfied with

1♥ 2♦
2♥ 3♦
3♥ 4♥
pass

but this is probably biased from seeing all the hands.

[keylime]

Playing slow arrival style structures it's 1♥-2♦-2♥* (any minimum)-3♦-3♥ back to you.

Now 4♣ should be some all purpose cuebid ending in 4♥.

If you got a SJS available I'd consider it here.

[at1839]

After 1♥ - 2♦ - 2♥ I guess 3nt smells badly .. What about a 4♣ jump ?

Paolo.

[FrancesHinden]

keylime, on Oct 26 2006, 09:00 PM, said:

Playing slow arrival style structures it's 1♥-2♦-2♥* (any minimum)-3♦-3♥ back to you.

Now 4♣ should be some all purpose cuebid ending in 4♥.

If you got a SJS available I'd consider it here.

I agree with this auction.
With a 7-5 in the minors, I'd bid 3C over 2H.

I can see myself getting to 5H one off sometimes, as South has such a huge hand for hearts - opposite a known 7-card (or good 6-card) suit it's hard to imagine that the 5-level is in danger.

South can just envisage something like

Axx
Axxxxxx
x
Kx

opposite where 7 is an OK spot

[Robert]

Hi everyone

Playing a 2/1 version, 1H-2D-2H-3D-3H-4C*(extras for the heart raise)-4H

Holding 7-5 minors you should bid 1H-2D-2H-3C IMHO

Seven hearts with Axxxxxx opposite Kx is not a real good idea until after the hand is over and the hearts are known to be divided 2-2.

Regards,
Robert

[jdeegan]

Perhaps I am being too simple minded, but it looks to me as if the south hand has to give up on slam and bid 4♥ after an auction that goes (no interference):

1♥ - 2♦
2♥ - 3♦
3♥ - ???

Partner has shown 6+ ♥ w/o a solid suit and, on percentages, has a relatively minimum hand. Just bid 4♥.

The pseudo-expert treatment of a long, pregnant hesitation followed by 4♣ meant as a cue bid is what we used to call 'a job' in olden days. The bid should show 6-4 or 7-4 etc. in the minors, confirming the likely misfit and still looking for a place to play.

Now, if partner's 2♥ bid had advertised a six-bagger, then his 3♥ bid represents a place to play. In this case, 4♣ should be a cue bid.