[jtfanclub]

awm, on Sep 20 2007, 04:01 PM, said:

In any case, if partner has a 2434 18-count, I can't imagine what else he's going to bid other than 3♥.

OK, so he has a 2434 18 count, and you have a 2254 4 count. Let's add in that partner does not have a spade stopper, since that seems reasonable (he isn't bidding NT).

xx AKxx Axx AKxx - iffy


xx AKxx KJx AKxx - solid

xx AKxx Axx KJxx - no chance

I don't know, it's too close for me to tell. If he does have a spade stop....

Kx AKxx Axx Axxx

then it's going to be hopeless, I think.

[skjaeran]

When I said competitive I meant a hand where partner expects to make 3♥ vs an average 2♥ bid with a 4c suit. Here I've got queen fifth, two doubletons and Q98x of ♦'s. I'm pretty sure 3♥ is cold and that we'll make 4 some 40% of the time. So I raise at IMPs.

[SoTired]

(1H) X (p) 1S
(2H) 2S
does not show extras. It only confirms 4-card support. It is dated to play that a takeout dbl of a major promises 4-cards in the other major. It only promises 3-cards (and an opening bid, of course). If you want to invite game, you have to jump to 3S.

BUT
(1S) X (p) 2H
(2S) 3H
is not the same auction. In this auction you are raising to the 3-level. 3H has to show extras because you have no other way to invite game.
Jx Qxxxx Qxxx xx is on the bubble. You have an extra heart, but only a couple of isolated Q's for strength. I think Vul at IMPS pushes this to bid 4H.

Personally, I would not argue with 4H or pass on this hand because it is a close decision.

[DWM]

One thing that has confused me one this one.

If I am reading it correctly the two card spade suit is a good thing. I thought that this would be bad as it increases the chance that we have 2 losers in spades I thought 1 or 4 cards in spades would be a good thing and 2 or 3 bad.

[helene_t]

For those who play 3♥ as competitive, how would p show an invitational hand? Dbl again, on the basis of the idea that his initial double already showed four hearts? Or using 2N as an invite with hearts fit, while a natural 2N hand would double? I think "standard" is double showing something like 1345/1354 with extras, 3♥ to be invitational, 2N to be natural. Maybe it's better to switch dbl and 2N.