[Cascade]

lexlogan, on Jan 13 2008, 03:18 AM, said:

Cascade, on Jan 11 2008, 09:03 PM, said:

lexlogan, on Jan 12 2008, 10:01 AM, said:

I'm curious about what opener has shown after 1♠-2♦-2♥. Does this promise 5+-4+ ? How would opener bid with 4-4 and 15-17 ? Rebid 2NT and depend upon responder to show hearts if he's got them? Or rebid 2♥ and plan to suggest notrump later if partner goes back to spades?

With 4=4=3=2 or 4=4=2=3 and 15-17 hcp most modern Acol (weak NT; 4-card Major) players would open 1♥ and rebid 2NT after a two over one response.

OK, good, I've always thought 1♥ was more logical than 1♠ with 4-4; now how do you respond over 1♥ with 4 spades, 5+ diamonds and sufficient strength for a 2♦ bid? 1♠ unless strong enough to force to game? Or 2♦, planning to rebid 2♠ but willing to rebid 3♠ over 2NT since opener has promised a game force?

It depends on how you play responder's reverse:

How do you play

1♥ 2♦
2♥ 2♠?

I play this as invitational or better and a one-round force but some play it as game forcing. If I am strong enough for this I bid 2♦ if not then I bid 1♠.

If instead opener rebids 2NT showing 15+ then I have an easy 3♠ to check for a spade fit.

1♥ 2♦
2NT 3♠ ...

There is a slight problem if you have clubs instead of diamonds as then

1♥ 2♣
2♦ 2♠ would be forth suit forcing and not necessarily show spades. Theoretically opener could be 4=5=4=0 and you could miss your spade fit. With that hand opener can raise to 3♠ but you would need to discussion to be sure this absolutely guarantees four spades.

[1eyedjack]

I think you are borderline for wanting to GF, given the constraints of the system, and I think that some of those who bid 4S or 3C are doing so by shoehorning their own preferred methods onto the preceding auction.

So I went for 3S and I am not too bothered whether partner treats it as forcing or not. You have shown your shape and you have also shown your extras. Partner may rate you for a 6th Spade, but I think should be alert to your problems without a Club guard and perhaps insufficient for 3C, and if the Clubs are badly stopped (one stop may not be enough) then a 5-2 Spade fit is not the end of the world.

EDIT:
Slightly surprised no-one went for 3D - not an unreasonable choice I think.