[bid_em_up]

IMP Pairs
Nobody Vul
East Deals

(P) 1N (2S) ?

---

Your partner opens 1N (15-17) in second seat, and your RHO overcalls 2S (explained as "natural").

How do you plan to proceed?

[Fluffy]

There is no point to put hearts into play since we will play at least at the 5 level.

3♦ by now.

[pclayton]

Fluffy, on Dec 10 2007, 08:34 AM, said:

There is no point to put hearts into play since we will play at least at the 5 level.

3♦ by now.

Are you sure? I think its very possible I will get a chance to bid 4♥ at my next turn. The opps don't always bid 4♠.

If they do, I'll try 4N.

[FrancesHinden]

Yes, I bid 3D now and 4H if legal next round, failing that 4N.

[whereagles]

3♥, likely to be followed by 6♦.

[kenrexford]

2NT Lebensohl, so I can think about this one more.

[bid_em_up]

kenrexford, on Dec 10 2007, 04:17 PM, said:

2NT Lebensohl, so I can think about this one more.

ummm, what kind of leb are you playing?

If you force 3C, is your next bid forcing? If you choose to force 3C then bid 3S, isn't it supposed to be stayman with stop?

Just curious.

[ArtK78]

This hand can make anything between 10 and 13 tricks in a red suit depending on the fit with partner and the lie of the cards.

I have to admit, when I first saw this hand, my first reaction was to blast to 5 - and only 5 - diamonds.

However, on second thought, since 12 tricks will be a claim opposite xxx Ax Axxx xxxx and partner did open a strong 1NT, I realized that 5♦ was a little pessimistic.

On the other hand, I do not like the idea of giving my opponents a free run in the auction. Clearly, there is a lot of distribution around the table (even if partner has a balanced hand, although I suspect it is not a classic 1NT opening).

I can think of nothing more descriptive than bidding 3♦ for now. It is not clear whether I will ever be able to introduce my heart suit at any level. However, for slam purposes, it is likely that diamonds will play at least as well as hearts, unless partner has very strong hearts.

A direct jump to 6♦ is not unreasonable, but a grand slam cannot be ruled out.

[gwnn]

whereagles, on Dec 10 2007, 10:12 PM, said:

3♥, likely to be followed by 6♦.

how's that gonna help pd evaluate his red suit holdings? or we don't plan to involve him? then why not just jump to 6♦?

[kenrexford]

bid_em_up, on Dec 10 2007, 04:33 PM, said:

kenrexford, on Dec 10 2007, 04:17 PM, said:

2NT Lebensohl, so I can think about this one more.

ummm, what kind of leb are you playing?

If you force 3C, is your next bid forcing? If you choose to force 3C then bid 3S, isn't it supposed to be stayman with stop?

Just curious.

If I later bid 3♠, that's forcing.

[P_Marlowe]

3D, followed by 4H.

This should show 6-5, and partner will
move on, if slam makes, at least most
of the time.

If they bid 4S, I will bid 5D.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[bid_em_up]

Assuming you bid anything at the three level (3D or 3H or 3S), partner will bid 3N.

What now?

I'm a little surprised noone choose 3S (leb, stayman without stop). Wouldn't it be nice to find out if partner happens to have 4 hearts or not?

[whereagles]

gwnn, on Dec 11 2007, 01:49 AM, said:

whereagles, on Dec 10 2007, 10:12 PM, said:

3♥, likely to be followed by 6♦.

how's that gonna help pd evaluate his red suit holdings? or we don't plan to involve him? then why not just jump to 6♦?

Well, 3♥+6♦ is just asking pard for a preference. The hand has 5 losers and pard's expectancy is 4 cover cards, so slam is on percentage-wise. Unless pard comes up with a 3NT bid, I'll probably stick to this losing-tricks evaluation and follow-up with 6♦. If he does bid 3NT, I might devaluate and follow up with 5♦ only. This doesn't involve pard much, but this isn't the sort of hand where it's possible to be scientific so I just BWITICM (bid what I think I can make).

I don't like 3♦ + some nr. of hearts because I fear that might mess-up the auction.

[awm]

Partner is free to bid a four-card heart suit over 3♦. Bidding stayman directly gives up on ever playing in hearts when partner doesn't have four, as well as forcing you to play in hearts on some hands where 6♦ is the better slam. Consider for example:

Axx
Axx
Ax
KJxxx

here 6♥ is easily the best slam.

xxx
Axxx
Axx
AKQ

Despite the nine-card heart fit, 6♦ is a much better spot.

Anyways, I'd bid 3♦ followed by 4♥. This should show 5-6 in the reds and prompt partner to make a reasonable decision about our game/slam prospects.

[han]

I'd bid 3D followed by 4D. I'm only going to play hearts if partner introduced them.

[JanM]

Considering the number of people I see playing transfer Lebensohl, I'm surprised that no-one has suggested 3♣ = invitational+ in diamonds. Now if partner accepts with 3NT (would s/he?), I think I'll bid 4♦, trying for the diamond slam. Partner's 3N over an invitational 3♦ should show some diamond fit, so slam is pretty likely. On this hand, it would work well for 4♥ to be natural and constructive, but I don't think I get to use one "toy" and abandon another - it would be RKC for diamonds, not what I want to bid on this hand.

[benlessard]

4D leaping michaels. and ill make a further move over 4H.

[bid_em_up]

benlessard, on Dec 11 2007, 01:40 PM, said:

4D leaping michaels. and ill make a further move over 4H.

Interesting treatment. Personally, I play 4D as a Texas transfer in this sequence. Is this not the norm?

[benlessard]

We play transfer lebensohl.

(2H)----X------(pass)-------4m

1Nt-----(2M)-----4m

1Nt------(3C)-----4D

(1M)-----X------(2M)--------4m


These are all leaping michaels for us. Holding a good 2 suiter we like to show both our suits as soon as possible because the risk of further preemption is higher then when holding a single suiter.

Qx
KQJxxxx
x
AQx


Qx
KQJxx
x
AQxxx

1Nt------(2S)--------???

The preemption risk is higher with hand 2. With hand 1 its more a level problem then a strain problems so if they are further preemption you are in a less vulnerable position.


1Nt------(2S)---------3D (H to play or GF)---------4S
pass-----(pass)--------???


would a new suit be natural or a cue-bid ? Whatever you choose will give you some problems.

void
AQxxxxx
xxx
KJx

Here you would want to cue.

Qx
KQJxx
x
AQxxx

Here you would want to bid 5C natural.

If your 2 suited hands are out of the way then all that is remaining are cue-bids and 6-4, 6-3 etc hands