[neilkaz]

pclayton, on Oct 12 2007, 02:37 PM, said:

4♠ is a novice bid.

It might be the universal novice bid. I see it time and time again in club games.

It wouldn't occur to me to bid 4♠..LOL. I play Q bid =limit raise+ but really don't see where this hand is more than a max raise to 2♠ which would be my call had there been no overcall.

Can responder upgrade the hand based on the overcall ? I doubt it. OK, there's now a better chance the the K of ♥ is favorable, but that is counter balanced, IMHO, by having three small losers in ♦. So no upgrade for the 4333 10 HCP scattered hand for me.

Sometimes, 4♠ is bid to try to goad the opps into 5♦ and because slower routes with Q bid=limit+ or stepping more slowly to 4♠ can give away more info to the opps and aid their call over 4♠ be that 5♦, x or whatever. However, 4♠ seems a clear overbid here.

Opener's bid over 5♦ is automatic, except I prefer a Last Train call of 5♥ since I think slam is likely opposite many hands.

Why is 5♥ Last Train for me, and especially if 4♠ can have a decent range of playing strength ? Well, there's no other inbetween bid after 5♦ so when I am cramped for room, I much prefer to be able to ask PD if he has a max for what he's shown.

Similarily, and 1♠-2♦ overcall -2♠raise-3♦ overcall, I have one way to make a game try and that is by bidding 3♥ which says absolutely nothing about ♥ and just asks PD to go to game if he has maximal offensive prospects based on his raise and the opp's bidding.

.. neilkaz ..

[han]

I think 1S followed by 5S is clear. Partner's jump to 4S was ill-advised.

[Mbodell]

jocdelevat, on Oct 12 2007, 11:29 AM, said:

I had a similar hand and my partner (pick up)intermediate said that you are not allow to open at one level with 10hcp if you play SAYC and I should have open weak 2 or 3.
Any comments about that please.

I might open that a SAYC 2♣ since it is only 4 losers or a trick away from game in spades with a self sufficient spade suit. Anyone advising 2♠ weak with this hand is clearly crazy.