[pclayton]

hrothgar, on Dec 3 2006, 10:44 AM, said:

whereagles, on Dec 3 2006, 09:21 PM, said:

If we're talking

pass pass 1♣ dbl
pass 2♣ pass 2NT

then I why can't it be invitational with, say, 14 or bad 15 hcp?

As I've noted before, the standards for direct seat doubles vary based on geography. This post assumes that folks are playing fairly standard North American methods.

You don't use 2NT to show a balanced 14 count because you don't double with this hand type.

♠ KT4
♥ KT2
♦ KT32
♣ KQT

This is a very nice NT oriented 14 count. You have a double club stop. Positional stoppers in all the suits. No 4 card major to show at the 2 level. The sort of hand where a natural 2NT might make sense.

This is also a hand that would pass RHO's 1♣ opening. I suspect that most of the other hands that you construct that would want to rebid 2NT would also be considered passes.

A hand I considered was: AQx, AQx, xxxx, Kxx. We have high standards for 1N overcalls, and this hand doesn't qualify.

[whereagles]

hrothgar, on Dec 3 2006, 07:08 PM, said:

Why would you ever want to bid 2NT rather than 2♠?

oops, bug. I was thinking of a spade less and a diam or club more.

[cherdano]

hrothgar, on Dec 3 2006, 09:08 PM, said:

Partner's cue bid establish a game force. It doesn't deny a 4 card major.

At least in the US, I think the standard is that the cue forces up to suit agreement. So cue-2H-3H is passable.
I think in Germany, even weaker cues are popular ("I am willing to play either major at the 2-level").

[helene_t]

hrothgar, on Dec 3 2006, 09:08 PM, said:

Partner's cue bid establish a game force. It doesn't deny a 4 card major.

Do you really think so? Over here, people cue with 9+ and 3+ (usually 4+) in both majors. With Whereagles' hand you rebid 2♥, indeed, but partner can pass that.

[FrancesHinden]

cherdano, on Dec 4 2006, 04:51 AM, said:

hrothgar, on Dec 3 2006, 09:08 PM, said:

Partner's cue bid establish a game force.  It doesn't deny a 4 card major.

At least in the US, I think the standard is that the cue forces up to suit agreement. So cue-2H-3H is passable.
I think in Germany, even weaker cues are popular ("I am willing to play either major at the 2-level").

The norm here (England) is that the cue is forcing to suit agreement by a non-passed hand, but the weaker form of the cue is popular by a passed hand.

So with

KQJx
Kxxx
xx
xxx

you probably bid 2S as a non-passed hand (not strong enough to force to the 3-level) but can cue as a passed hand.