[kfay]

Scoring: IMP

P-(1♦)-1♠-(1N)
2N!!!

---

Partner deals on this one. I know 2♦, 2♠, 3♦, 3♠ and 4♠ as spade raises. This can't possibly be natural but it doesn't seem necessary as a ♠ raise. What DOES it show?

[helene_t]

Lawrence plays
1x-(1NT)-2NT
as a GF two-suiter. I doubt he would play that in response to a 1♠ overcall, though, especially by a passed hand.

My guess is a good distributional spades raise, while 2♦ would be a more balanced spades raise. Oh no, 3♦ is available as well.

I really don't know. Maybe some weak hand that would normally bid 3♠ but now decides to bid 2N just for fun, hoping that the confusion will harm opps more than p.

[P_Marlowe]

Well, ... some play it as spade raise, I dont.

This would allow you to differentiate between 3 card
and 4 card raises, and between preemptive,
semi-preemptive (mixed) and constructive / inv.
raises.

Another possible meaning would be transfer to
clubs, depends a little bit on your agreements
after an overcall, transfer advances are not a bad
idea.
.... or if you play Rubensohl (after 1NT), maybe partner
said, well this looks similar.

Making such a bid undiscussed is certainly a reason
to kill partner, at least he will have to pay the next
round of beer.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Gerben42]

I play "When in doubt, 2NT is an invitational raise".

In this case that would mean:

2♦: Forcing 3-card raise
2♠: Constructive 3-card raise
2NT: Invitational 4-card raise (mixed raise)
3♦: GF 4-card raise
3♠: Preemptive
4♠: To play

[jtfanclub]

kfay, on Nov 5 2007, 10:46 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

P-(1♦)-1♠-(1N)
2N!!!

---

Partner deals on this one. I know 2♦, 2♠, 3♦, 3♠ and 4♠ as spade raises. This can't possibly be natural but it doesn't seem necessary as a ♠ raise. What DOES it show?

I guess I'm old fashioned and boring...

Why can't it be natural? 10-11 hcp and a balanced hand, not forcing, with serious diamond stoppers? Why X and let them find their fit at the 2 level?

[P_Marlowe]

jtfanclub, on Nov 5 2007, 11:14 AM, said:

kfay, on Nov 5 2007, 10:46 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

P-(1♦)-1♠-(1N)
2N!!!

---

Partner deals on this one.  I know 2♦, 2♠, 3♦, 3♠ and 4♠ as spade raises.  This can't possibly be natural but it doesn't seem necessary as a ♠ raise.  What DOES it show?

I guess I'm old fashioned and boring...

Why can't it be natural? 10-11 hcp and a balanced hand, not forcing, with serious diamond stoppers? Why X and let them find their fit at the 2 level?

... and risk playing 2NT with less than 20HCP?

I know, opponents open lighter ervery day, but this is
also true for the strength of today 1 level overcalls.
And you did already limit yourself, so if partner overcalled
on min. values, they will use the red card, and you can only
decide if you go down in 2NT or let partner go down in 3S.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[kenrexford]

If you have an agreement to play it as a raise of some variety, then it is a raise of some variety.

If you want to play it as natural, a plausible treatment, then you better opt to use a sound overcall structure here.

The latter would be my preference, but maybe that's just me.

[awm]

How about a distributional hand with clubs and hearts?

This is certainly an unusual 2NT bid.

In any case, it seems like with the right hand to bid a "natural" 2NT one would double the 1NT call, and as the original post mentioned there are already a zillion ways to raise spades without risking a possible misunderstanding.

On the other hand, either of 2♣ or 2♥ by advancer is presumably natural and non-forcing (and could land in the "wrong" fit fairly easily).

[pclayton]

With my regular group, its some kind of raise but it definitely guarantees 4 trump. Its either mixed or limit - 3♦ serves the purpose of the other range whatever you agree.

I would tend to think its limit.

[jonottawa]

I vote for distributional with Clubs and Hearts. Whatever it is, I bid 3♣.

Pard had other, less confusing, ways to show a good hand (Dbl), a limit raise (2♦) and a mixed raise (3♦.) He had no other way to show a really distributional hand with the round suits.

I try to make my partner's life as easy as possible and I tend to play with people who feel the same way.