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W____N____E____S
Pass_2♣___2♠___3♥
Pass__??
Vuln.N/S
imps.The last deal of an importnt match (28 deals). It seems to be even till now, ahd we need a little win to go in a higher division. And if we finish 15-15 we have to wait for the other results, if we lose -the chance is bad. What is your bid now and how You think to bid next to show your hand?

[hrothgar]

Abstain

I can't ever conceive opening 2♣ with this hand. Accordingly, I'm ill positioned to recommend an appropriate follow-up.

In all seriousness, 2♣ is a travesty.

[Free]

Yeah, 2♣ is a really poor bid... people making this deserve problems

[helene_t]

3N.

As other have said, 2♣ was a very bad opening, but I don't think that's a reason for dismissing the problem.

[FrancesHinden]

I wouldn't have opened 2C, that's silly.
Even with another ace, I wouldn't have opened 2C.

Be that as it may, 4S here should show spades, and that's what I have to bid.

[hrothgar]

helene_t, on Apr 30 2007, 04:10 PM, said:

3N.

As other have said, 2♣ was a very bad opening, but I don't think that's a reason for dismissing the problem.

Yes and no...

The original poster asked for our help. I certainly agree that that dealing with psyches is an important skill that every player needs to learn. However, from my perspective, this is much less important than a basic understanding about what a 2♣ opening normally looks like.

For what its worth, I dislike a 3NT response on this hand. If you bid NT, LHO will be on lead and will start cashing Diamonds. I think that your best course of action is a 3♠ bid. In an ideal world, partner will be able to bid 3NT showing a stopper. If he does, your well positioned to force the hand into a Spade contract.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

having opened 2C (not my choice, but oh well
I have bid under drugs before, and will so do in
the future):
3S, followed by 4S and 5S, praying silently.

Another option would be to bid 4NT intending to
pass 5S (I guess the most likely responde ...).

With kind regards
Marlowe

[ArcLight]

Does 4♠ really show spades? Or might it be a splinter in support of hearts?
What is the "usual" agreement used by "most" experts?

We need a swing. OK.
- I think 3NT may be down quite a few.
- Lets assume RHO has 4 Spades including the QJ. That means all thos ein Slam are going down in 6♠.
All we need to do is make a plus.

I'll pass and hope we do.

[kenrexford]

6♠.

I botched this hand by opening 2♣. One particular downside to a strong 2♣ opening fit a one-suiter and weak HCP's is that it is very psychic-vulnerable, as illustrated. The opps will more likely have general strength sufficient for safely bidding a fake suit, and we will have insufficient strength for alternative courses.

The upside to 6♠ is that it is unambiguously exposing the psychic. I have the right stiff, such that this may well make. I have chances opposite some trash like ♠x ♥Axxxxx ♦xxxx ♣Jx.

[FrancesHinden]

ArcLight, on Apr 30 2007, 02:32 PM, said:

Does 4♠ really show spades? Or might it be a splinter in support of hearts?
What is the "usual" agreement used by "most" experts?

One of 3S and 4S has to show spades. Which it is I don't think is standard, but bidding game 'feels' to me more likely to be a natural call, than bidding 3S followed by 4S.

[Halo]

Let's see.

At the extreme it isn't a psyche and LHO has four tricks against a spade contract...

It looks like a spade opener leads quickly to four spades, so that is what I will bid - and hope to get out with a flat board.

[goobers]

How do we know 2♠ was psychic?

[Apollo81]

Wow. You are so screwed. No way will partner will take a jump to 4♠ as spades.

I guess I would bid 6♠ -- the only bid that unambiguously shows spades.

[whereagles]

Some psychs are hard to handle. This is one. I guess I'd bid 3S + 4S + keep on bidding spades.

As for "2♣ is ridiculous", that's just silly. Give opener the same hand with ♣AKQ and 2♣ is completely obvious and you'd STILL have the same problem.

[FrancesHinden]

whereagles, on Apr 30 2007, 08:22 PM, said:

As for "2♣ is ridiculous", that's just silly. Give opener the same hand with ♣AKQ and 2♣ is completely obvious and you'd STILL have the same problem.

AK10xxxxx x x AKQ ain't a 2C opening either

[Halo]

Apollo81, on Apr 30 2007, 12:42 PM, said:

Wow. You are so screwed. No way will partner will take a jump to 4♠ as spades.

I guess I would bid 6♠ -- the only bid that unambiguously shows spades.

You may be right, but what is 4♠ then - are you really splintering like this after 2♣ and inviting the weak hand to take control of the auction. I can't see that. For me with 3♠ available, 4 is natural.

[mikegill]

Quote

AK10xxxxx x x AKQ ain't a 2C opening either

So do you require a full 11 tricks for your 2c openers instead of just probably 11? I assure you that partner will never be raising you to slam with an A and a small doubleton spade if you don't open 2c. You're just never going to convince partner you opened something else holding 11 tricks in your hand.

[Double !]

Whether or not this hand is worth a 2C opening is irrelevent. The issue is what methods one can use to expose suspected psychics.

One possible method is to play neg X's with neg free bids in such a situation.
Unfortunately, many players have adopted using a double in this situation as showing some type of double-negative. Perhaps this approach as well as the dbl-neg 2H response to 2C (which wrong-sides heart contracts) might benefit from some re-assessment.

dhl

[jdonn]

FrancesHinden, on Apr 30 2007, 02:55 PM, said:

whereagles, on Apr 30 2007, 08:22 PM, said:

As for "2♣ is ridiculous", that's just silly. Give opener the same hand with ♣AKQ and 2♣ is completely obvious and you'd STILL have the same problem.

AK10xxxxx x x AKQ ain't a 2C opening either

I am going to have to seriously disagree with you on that one.