[jillybean]

Scoring: IMP

---

West North East South

 Pass  1♣    Pass  1♠
 2♥    3♦    Pass  5♣
 Pass  Pass  Pass  


Hi,
Here is a hand Richard and I played. We know we should have been in a better contract, what is the best way to get there?

[kenrexford]

3♦ was a big bid. With no wasted values in hearts, and so much stuff, it seems like South should allow North to complete the picture. 5♣ seems like the weakest of all options, completely wrong.

A nice auction would start with 3♥ after 3♦. When Opener bids 3♠, showing the nature of his pattern, South has little trouble finding 6♠, I'd imagine.

[FrancesHinden]

1C = impeccable
1S = impeccable

3D = not absurd, but if you play support doubles, why not make one? There is no law that says you can't bid again having made such a double. That leaves 3D to show a serious minor-suited hand, which is what I would have expected. So I prefer a double, but I don't think 3D is blatantly wrong.

5C = blatantly wrong. I surmise South was uncertain whether 4C was forcing or not (and it is a murky sequence in competition), so merit marks for ensuring NS get to game, but South has a hand worth a game force with uncertain direction, and a cuebid (3H) would express that perfectly.

After the 3D bid, I would expect to end in 6C, rather than 6S, because South has a lovely hand for the minors and rather anaemic spades (just imagine something like Kx x AKJx KJ10xxx opposite, which would bid 3S over 3H to finish describing his hand).

[pclayton]

This really isn't a good hand for support doubles. The auction gets a little murkey after 1♣ - (p) - 1♠ - (2♥) - dbl - (P). I suppose South has to cue 3♥ to set up a force. North return cue 4♥ (or 4♦). You might bull your way into 6.

A cleaner start is North's actual 3♦. South should now cue 3♥ (5♣ is way off base, and shows a lack of poise), and North can pattern out. South's values are working overtime, and can take control.

[Apollo81]

Jlall, on Apr 23 2007, 01:13 PM, said:

South is worth a slam force if partner can cuebid hearts at some point. The 3D bid was fine if you don't play a X of 2H as penalty but I would recommend you change this to either support or "good hand."

I think you meant "...if you DO play..."

[whereagles]

What's wrong with South bidding 3♠ over 3♦? Pard supports in 4♠ now and South knows all his hcps are golden.

[pclayton]

whereagles, on Apr 23 2007, 10:32 AM, said:

What's wrong with South bidding 3♠ over 3♦? Pard supports in 4♠ now and South knows all his hcps are golden.

Because our suit sucks. I doubt its forcing as well.

[FrancesHinden]

whereagles, on Apr 23 2007, 07:32 PM, said:

What's wrong with South bidding 3♠ over 3♦? Pard supports in 4♠ now and South knows all his hcps are golden.

YH

Kx
x
AKJx
KJ109xx

1C P 1S 2H
3D P 3S P
?

doesn't 4S seem like the obvious call?

[skjaeran]

South should have bid 3♥ over 3♦. When north then rebids 3♠, it should be quite simple to reach 6♣.

[Edmunte1]

3♦ was OK if you're not playing support doubles. South has a great hand now with 4 filling cards, and if we have ♥ control the slam is obvious. So 3♥ (establishing GF) and on 3♠ from partner bid 4♣. From here it's easy

[Edmunte1]

3♦ was OK if you're not playing support doubles. South has a great hand now with 4 filling cards, and if we have ♥ control the slam is obvious. So 3♥ (establishing GF) and on 3♠ from partner bid 4♣. From here it's easy

[han]

I would have made a support double instead of 3D if playing them. If not then 3D is automatic. I agree with everybody that north should bid 3H, not 5C.

[asc]

1♣___1♠_(2♥)
3♦___3♥
4♥ -singleton with ♠3
________5♥ ( pick a slam no lost honors in ♥)
____no more bids in ♥ (no ♥ void )

[whereagles]

pclayton, on Apr 23 2007, 06:37 PM, said:

whereagles, on Apr 23 2007, 10:32 AM, said:

What's wrong with South bidding 3♠ over 3♦? Pard supports in 4♠ now and South knows all his hcps are golden.

Because our suit sucks. I doubt its forcing as well.

huh? Opener has made an extra-high reverse. How high must one bid a minor to establish a game-force? The 5 lev?

[whereagles]

FrancesHinden, on Apr 23 2007, 06:44 PM, said:

whereagles, on Apr 23 2007, 07:32 PM, said:

What's wrong with South bidding 3♠ over 3♦? Pard supports in 4♠ now and South knows all his hcps are golden.

YH

Kx
x
AKJx
KJ109xx

1C P 1S 2H
3D P 3S P
?

doesn't 4S seem like the obvious call?

Indeed. But hey, unless you're playing the dreaded support dbl, most of the time opener will have 3 spades for his raise to 4♠.

[Fluffy]

I agree with all that Francis said.

[jillybean]

Fluffy, on Apr 25 2007, 05:51 AM, said:

I agree with all that Francis said.

Me too

Richard bid 3♦, I hadn't told him I've added support doubles to my card.
I panicked and blasted 5♣, In hindsight 3♥ is perfect.


West North East South

Pass 1♣ Pass 1♠
2♥ 3♦ Pass ?


I dont know if 4♣ is forcing here but I would think 3♦ is gf

[Fluffy]

Yes, certainly 3♦ is GF