How would you bid this?

#21 mikeh

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Posted 2007-August-29, 17:06

Hey... whaddya know... I like Ken's idea of the use of 3N. I don't think I agree with the cover card aspect, but I do like the idea of 3N showing a slam-suitable hand with precisely 4 trump, leaving the raise to show the same hand with 5+.

I have never liked hearing a 'natural' 3N after my hsgt's, since my hsgt's are NEVER aimed at 3N. So inventing an artificial use for it serves two purposes: 1: it is good for the occasional slam hand and 2: it stops partners from bidding 3N to play.

BTW, I don't think it matters whether you play constructive: partner should certainly never move beyond 3M unless he has a hand that, in context, is or has become at least constructive. Plus, I will not willingly play constructive raises by a passed hand.

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#22 kenrexford

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Posted 2007-August-29, 17:34

mikeh, on Aug 29 2007, 06:06 PM, said:

Hey... whaddya know... I like Ken's idea...

Will wonders never cease? :rolleyes:

As an enticement, somesider the following basic layout:

♠AQJxx ♥KJxx ♦??? ♣???
♠Kxx ♥AQxx ♦??? ♣???

In 4♠, you can count nine tricks without touching the minors yet, on the basis of only 20 HCP's. In 4♥, assuming one ruff in Opener's hand, you get to 10 tricks on the same cards. Add a heart to dummy, and you get to 11 tricks, in hearts, on the same 20 points.

Now, add in a stiff and an Ace:

♠AQJxx ♥KJxx ♦Axx ♣x
♠Kxx ♥AQxx ♦xxx ♣xxx

With 24 HCP's, you get to 10 tricks with spades as trumps. With hearts as trumps, you get to 11 easily, 12 if Responder has a fifth heart. Opener's 15 HCP's could easily be 18, with the diamond King, eh? But, even without that, a possible nine-card secondary fit makes for 12 tricks on 24 HCP's, and the Jacks might be fluff (especially the spade Jack).

Adding in distribution, you get to a grand total of 28(26/27), and yet slam is great with the fifth heart.

LTC? Opener has 6, Responder has (with the fifth heart) 8. 24-6-8=10. Strange...

Same thing happens when you add in the extra King of diamonds instead.

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#23 Mr. Dodgy

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Posted 2007-August-30, 03:34

Thanks for all the replies

Bonus Question: How do you feel about a start like this...

2♦*-2♥**-3♣***...

*Multi: weak 6-card Major OR 20-21 balanced (theoretically some other VERY big balanced hands also start with 2♦) OR 21+ 3-suited.
**Pass-or-Correct. Denies (9)10+ HCP.
***21+ 3-suited, short in ♦s or ♠s.

Strictly speaking the opener should be 4441, not 5440. Continuations are not terribly well defined, general principle is that responder will bid paradoxically (short/bad suits) and opener natural, so 3♠ by responder then is probably next (implies at least tolerance for ♥s I suppose).

Go on, laugh if you want, I did.

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