[Apollo81]

None vul, IMPs

♠x
♥H1097xxx
♦xx
♣Axx

1♠-1NT
2♦-2♥
2NT-??

[jtfanclub]

I wouldn't bid 4♥ ever. My choices for bids are 3♣ and 3♥.

Guess that shows how ignorant I am on these auctions...

[Apollo81]

My bad. I should have included a "never" option.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

depends how trust worthy partner is,
but 2NT should show a strong NT type
hand and 2 hearts, 2NT is not a rescue
bid.

I would go with the King, but the Queen
may do.

If I cant trust partner, ... what ever I do
is a guess, but with the Ace I would bid
4H, ... most likely.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[kenrexford]

I always heard that a preempt opposite an opener is a good game bet.

That being said, common sense should rule somewhat here.

I'm assuming that 3♥ after 2♦ was not an option because it would be deemed shortness in support of diamonds. If not, I would probably have bid 3♥ the first time.

Having bid a mere 2♥, 2NT is a big call. I cannot imagine not bidding game with anything except J10xxxxx.

[jdonn]

A for sure, K for sure, Q is close. I voted K.

[Ronald_21]

I voted for the Queen, but then I wondered what the outcome of a simulation would be. The results were interesting.

[jtfanclub]

kenrexford, on Dec 3 2007, 12:13 PM, said:

Having bid a mere 2♥, 2NT is a big call. I cannot imagine not bidding game with anything except J10xxxxx.

I guess I'm going against the grain here...but if partner has a 17 or 18 count balanced hand, and your H is the A or K, don't you think there's a possibility here for more than just game?

I guess I feel that with the A or K, you should at least make a courtesy slam try (if that's not what 3♣ would mean to you, then something similar).

[kenrexford]

jtfanclub, on Dec 3 2007, 01:05 PM, said:

kenrexford, on Dec 3 2007, 12:13 PM, said:

Having bid a mere 2♥, 2NT is a big call.  I cannot imagine not bidding game with anything except J10xxxxx.

I guess I'm going against the grain here...but if partner has a 17 or 18 count balanced hand, and your H is the A or K, don't you think there's a possibility here for more than just game?

I guess I feel that with the A or K, you should at least make a courtesy slam try (if that's not what 3♣ would mean to you, then something similar).

Maybe yes, but what kind of f'ed up auction starts with a non-forcing 2♥ call, followed by an implied-suit slam try after Opener declines to raise? Even I am not that sick. LOL

[jdonn]

jtfanclub, on Dec 3 2007, 01:05 PM, said:

kenrexford, on Dec 3 2007, 12:13 PM, said:

Having bid a mere 2♥, 2NT is a big call.  I cannot imagine not bidding game with anything except J10xxxxx.

I guess I'm going against the grain here...but if partner has a 17 or 18 count balanced hand, and your H is the A or K, don't you think there's a possibility here for more than just game?

I guess I feel that with the A or K, you should at least make a courtesy slam try (if that's not what 3♣ would mean to you, then something similar).

So you have 24 to 26, a singleton in partner's long suit, and no sign of a fit for your long suit. Sounds like a slam to me

[bhall]

For me, 2N suggests a stiff ♥, so I have to count on two ♥ losers, even with the A. Partner should play me for a decent 6-card suit and raise with honor-doubleton and the strength of a 2N rebid. The image of the 2N rebid is then a 5143 17, but he is not guaranteed to hold both pointed aces. Consequently, I also have a loser outside the trump suit.

Bottom line, I need the ♥A to bid 4.

[han]

Yeah I'd go for slam if it wasn't for the fact that we have 3 likely heart losers (if we have the king).

[whereagles]

K is risky, but worth it. Q is a much worse proposition, as 3 losers are certain.

[jtfanclub]

bhall, on Dec 3 2007, 02:04 PM, said:

Partner should play me for a decent 6-card suit and raise with honor-doubleton and the strength of a 2N rebid. The image of the 2N rebid is then a 5143 17, but he is not guaranteed to hold both pointed aces.

Sorry, I probably sound like an idiot because I am an idiot.

AKJTx
x
KQJ9
QJx

Or swap these around a little.

What's the advantage to playing this in 4♥ instead of 3NT?

I just can't bring myself to believe that a leap to 4♥ is right on this auction. Why be in such a hurry? Partner can have a wide variety of hands, some of which make 6, some of which go down in 4. A cheap forcing bid can let us explore a little. What's the harm?

Oh well, I've exposed you all to enough of my stupidity for today.

[pclayton]

Pard has a 5242 or a 5142 16-17 or so.

This is somewhat akin to responding to a strong NT.

Queen for sure and I wouldn't be surprised if we had game with JT-7th.

[jdonn]

I don't believe 3♣ is either artificial or forcing. Perhaps it's open to debate, but what would you do with a weak 1615 hand? It is too late in the auction and partner has made too many descriptive bids to play anything like 4SF here.