[mr1303]

Scoring: IMP

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You get dealt the following hand, and have the following auction at red:

P 3C ?

What do you try here?

[han]

I would bid 4S, the disparity is too large to show both majors. 3S when you need so little for game is also wrong.

[jdonn]

I will bid 4♣, planning to pull 4♥ to 4♠. I consider this hand a minimum for that, but barely worth it in case partner has heart help for slam. At first I was worried about a 5♣ bid on my left but in that case, if partner doesn't bid 5♥ or double I'll chance 5♠. If I bid 4♠ now I would feel compelled to bid 5♥ over 5♣ anyway.

[han]

jdonn, on Aug 14 2007, 11:39 AM, said:

If I bid 4♠ now I would feel compelled to bid 5♥ over 5♣ anyway.

Agree, but wouldn't that leave you better placed than:

p - (3C) - 4C - (5C)
p - (p) - 5S

?

[jdonn]

Hannie, on Aug 14 2007, 11:45 AM, said:

jdonn, on Aug 14 2007, 11:39 AM, said:

If I bid 4♠ now I would feel compelled to bid 5♥ over 5♣ anyway.

Agree, but wouldn't that leave you better placed than:

p - (3C) - 4C - (5C)
p - (p) - 5S

?

Yes if the auction went that way I would prefer to have bid 4♠ before. But

- Partner might be able to bid 5♥ himself over 5♣ after I showed both suits, so we can get there sometimes when it's right anyway. If partner can't do so, I think it's very likely that spades are at least as good as hearts.
- If partner doubles 5♣ after my 4♣ bid I'm much more satisfied than if I had bid 4♠ and he doubled 5♣, since I would be really worried he had like KQxxx of hearts and we were missing an easy game or that they might even be making.

I agree with you the disparity is too great to bid 4♣ planning to pass 4♥, I am just doing it in case we have slam where partner will know xxx of hearts is awful, for example.

[ArtK78]

I bid 4♠.

I don't want to get fancy in a situation where the bidding may be at the 6 level when it next comes back to me.

[skjaeran]

4♠ for now.
Over 5♣ p p I'll rebid 5♥.

[pclayton]

skaeran, on Aug 14 2007, 09:21 AM, said:

4♠ for now.
Over 5♣ p p I'll rebid 5♥.

Now this is the best strategy I think.

I realize this hand has great playing strength, but 4♣ really overstates the honors. 4♣ will gets us to hearts when pard has a large disparity between ♠/♥, but thats about it.

I want to make sure we get to the right game, and because of the strength of the spades, 4♠ is indicated.

[neilkaz]

skaeran, on Aug 14 2007, 12:21 PM, said:

4♠ for now.
Over 5♣ p p I'll rebid 5♥.

We agree !

[Free]

4♠, don't see any alternatives...

[mr1303]

Well, I chose 4C, and partner had a big go at me, saying that this bid showed a much stronger hand than I had, and that I should only bid 3S.

That aside, doesn't pulling 4H to 4S show spades and diamonds, rather than both majors with significantly stronger spades?

[Edmunte1]

I completely agree with 4♠. Mr. Benito Garozzo says that you should treat a 7-5 hand as a one suiter, not as a two suiter. The reason is simple: playing in a 7-1 (7-0) fit you won't lose control, playing in a 5-3 fit after 2 club ruffs you can easily lose control of the hand.

[han]

mr1303, on Aug 14 2007, 03:37 PM, said:

Well, I chose 4C, and partner had a big go at me, saying that this bid showed a much stronger hand than I had, and that I should only bid 3S.

Nuts, the hand is too good for 3S.

[Fluffy]

4♠and 5♠ next, don't plan on showing hearts at all.

[han]

That makes no sense to me Gonzalo, why on earth wouldn't you show hearts once you have bid spades? Are you afraid that partner will play you for better hearts than this?

[jdonn]

Hannie, on Aug 15 2007, 10:04 AM, said:

That makes no sense to me Gonzalo, why on earth wouldn't you show hearts once you have bid spades? Are you afraid that partner will play you for better hearts than this?

I'd go even farther. If you are not intending to show hearts it would be stupid to bid again at all. It is telling partner you think he has no judgment. At least rebidding 5♥ is telling him something about your hand that he didn't know.

I'm not at all calling you a stupid person but I certainly won't hide how I feel about that bid. Bidding 4♠ then 5♠ is a great way to lose your partner forever.

[Fluffy]

jdonn, on Aug 15 2007, 04:28 PM, said:

I'm not at all calling you a stupid person but I certainly won't hide how I feel about that bid. Bidding 4♠ then 5♠ is a great way to lose your partner forever.

At least you read my post, I'd say that's an improvement

Quote

That makes no sense to me Gonzalo, why on earth wouldn't you show hearts once you have bid spades? Are you afraid that partner will play you for better hearts than this?

I am just too afraid of playing on the 5-3 when 7-1 was avaible, playing in spades you never go 1400.

Maybe you think 4♠ then 5♥ shows a 7-5, I am not that sure, I don't like disasters.

[jdonn]

Fluffy, on Aug 15 2007, 02:12 PM, said:

jdonn, on Aug 15 2007, 04:28 PM, said:

I'm not at all calling you a stupid person but I certainly won't hide how I feel about that bid. Bidding 4♠ then 5♠ is a great way to lose your partner forever.

At least you read my post, I'd say that's an improvement

Glad you took it well. Sorry I regretted saying stupid lol. Oh well, no one ever wonders how I feel!