[mike777]

Scoring: MP

1C-1D
1S=?
NOTE:2H=GAME FORCE

---

Your call and why?

[hrothgar]

The opponents look to have 9 hearts between them and neither of them is bidding?
Can we infer that partner has a non-minimum?

In any case, if the opponent have a fit, we have a fit and that convinces me to be aggressive and GF

[bid_em_up]

I'll bid 2H GF. Even though I don't like it, I think it is the lesser evil amongst all the other choices. The keys to this hand are likely to be:

1) how many diamonds does partner have
2) what kind of heart wastage, or stops does he have
3) did he start with 5+ clubs or 5+ spades (he could be 6-5 in the blacks at this point in the auction or he could just have 5+ clubs)

and the only call flexible enough to allow us to find this information out is 2H.

[cherdano]

2H, the problem will come next round

[mike777]

I will try 2S, a spade short and a queen heavy, matchpointitis......

Since this is BWS..no walsh...

From what I can understand...1D shows 5+d and 4 card major any strength or
4 d and 4 card major with invite plus or denies a 4 card major?
In any case partner has not promised 5 clubs and 4s and 2s by me is not game forcing.

btw as a side note if playing walsh I would rebid 3C since for me 2s would be a slam try in spades. We know pard would have 5 clubs.

[jdonn]

I would go for 3♣ since it feels like partner is short in diamonds (has to have some hearts, right?) so I don't think my hand is worth even the stretch to a game force. I would expect an expert poll to show 2♥ as the most popular answer though.

[mike777]

jdonn, on Aug 16 2007, 04:51 PM, said:

I would go for 3♣ since it feels like partner is short in diamonds (has to have some hearts, right?) so I don't think my hand is worth even the stretch to a game force. I would expect an expert poll to show 2♥ as the most popular answer though.

I posted this since there are many expert choices here that were picked....wide range.

Hint 2h was not the majority or even the most popular

[Foxx]

Uh-oh. When I voted for 3♦, I thought, "What's the problem?" I decided not to post in the thread for fear of looking like a codfish...... oops...... too late.....

[awm]

This has to depend somewhat on style. Does bidding 1♠ promise 5+♣, 4+♣, or 3+♣?

If 5+♣, partner is almost sure to have shortness in diamonds (let's assume opponents have nine hearts and not ten). Partner's also likely to have some wastage in hearts (either opponent could've bid 1♥ and neither did, so they probably don't hold all the honors). This makes forcing game somewhat less appealing, makes 3♦ rebid less appealing, and suggests that rebidding 3♣ may be a reasonable course of action.

If 4+♣, bidding 3♣ seems silly as this could easily be a 4-3 fit opposite a balanced hand. Partner could easily be 4-3-2-4 and diamonds can be the best fit. On the other hand, if partner has this shape it actually upgrades our hand (now the diamond cards are much more useful). It becomes appealing to consider 2♥ (GF), or even raising spades (if we're going to play a 4-3 fit, let's play in the major).

If 3+♣, then a diamond fit starts to look more likely and rebidding 3♦ has a fair amount of appeal. It's not unlikely that partner holds strong hearts (given the lack of heart bid) and I wouldn't be surprised if partner was 4-3-3-3 or 4-3-2-4 with weak clubs. A 2♥ rebid or spade raise is still possible too.

[mike777]

awm, on Aug 16 2007, 06:11 PM, said:

This has to depend somewhat on style. Does bidding 1♠ promise 5+♣, 4+♣, or 3+♣?

If 5+♣, partner is almost sure to have shortness in diamonds (let's assume opponents have nine hearts and not ten). Partner's also likely to have some wastage in hearts (either opponent could've bid 1♥ and neither did, so they probably don't hold all the honors). This makes forcing game somewhat less appealing, makes 3♦ rebid less appealing, and suggests that rebidding 3♣ may be a reasonable course of action.

If 4+♣, bidding 3♣ seems silly as this could easily be a 4-3 fit opposite a balanced hand. Partner could easily be 4-3-2-4 and diamonds can be the best fit. On the other hand, if partner has this shape it actually upgrades our hand (now the diamond cards are much more useful). It becomes appealing to consider 2♥ (GF), or even raising spades (if we're going to play a 4-3 fit, let's play in the major).

If 3+♣, then a diamond fit starts to look more likely and rebidding 3♦ has a fair amount of appeal. It's not unlikely that partner holds strong hearts (given the lack of heart bid) and I wouldn't be surprised if partner was 4-3-3-3 or 4-3-2-4 with weak clubs. A 2♥ rebid or spade raise is still possible too.

MSC so BWS...no walsh....

see previous post.

[benlessard]

3♠


With 2♥ stopper my pd will bid 3nt to offer choice of game. If partner pass ill be happy to play a partscore and probably happy to be in spades. If partner bid 4♠ it rate to be a fair MP anti-field contract.


Ive bid these kinds of hands regularly and im very satisfied with my 3cd raise result so far ... so ill keep doing until proven otherwise.


edited --- 2♥ seems like a dangerous overbid since partner will be short in ♦ and my KQ♦ are a bit of wasted values.

An interesting gamble is also to bid a low 2♣ and waiting for partner response... and if partner pass you have great chance the opps will balance.

[P_Marlowe]

3D

With kind regards
Marlowe

[ArtK78]

3♦.

Right on values, right on distribution. The suit is not as good as I would like, but when is the last time you had a perfect bid available in a problem hand?