[TylerE]

Scoring: IMP

(p) - p - (1♥) - X
(2♥) - 3♦ -(p)

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[rogerclee]

I'd play 2NT by partner to be minors. He didn't open 2♦, so while not 100%, it seems partner's most likely shape is 2254. If he has the ♦K, there goes my club loser on the probable heart lead.

I like my chances here, actually. I think I will just bid 6♠.

[pclayton]

rogerclee, on Feb 8 2008, 03:38 PM, said:

I'd play 2NT by partner to be minors. He didn't open 2♦, so while not 100%, it seems partner's most likely shape is 2254. If he has the ♦K, there goes my club loser on the probable heart lead.

I like my chances here, actually. I think I will just bid 6♠.

What's the hurry?

I'll start with 3♠ and see what that fetches.

[helene_t]

3♠ now is forcing (I hope) so you could do that to see if p can raise.Otherwise I chicken out with 4♠.

[mikeh]

I agree that 3♠ should be forcing.

This post, as with many similar posts, illustrates the importance of having methods.

What would 2N by partner have been? For me, in my regular ppships, it would have been lebensohl: the desire to compete at the 3-level in a minor but not so much that I want doubler to take me seriously: xx xx QJ9xxx Qxx: I surely am not wanting to pass 2♥ yet I have no interest in a high level contract unless partner has the nuts.

With both minors, I'd double... denying, in my methods, 4+ spades.. with spades, bite the bullet and bid the suit

If this is indeed a reasonable approximation of our methods, then 3♦ is constructive.. by no means forcing but showing a real hand. In that context, 3♠ is obviously forcing: the 3♦ bid announces the type of strength that should be a gf opposite a hand that can double and bid a suit.

Since 3♠ is forcing, that has to the call. We can always blast 6♠ later if that seems to be our guess, but I can't see why it is necessary to guess now. Admittedly, I have doubts as to the way forward, but if partner raises, I can either keycard or pull a Zia and cue-bid 5♣ over 4♠. 4N is the technical approach, but 5♣ might be the better.

Note that if we don't have a lebensohl-like bid available, we may find our blast facing the example hand I gave in which we are probably -2, and probably doubled as well.

[han]

3S looks good.

I'd overcall 1S when playing with jdonn.

[jdonn]

han, on Feb 8 2008, 07:38 PM, said:

3S looks good.

I'd overcall 1S when playing with jdonn.

Why? I'm sure that is a joke, but I don't get it

[han]

Cause you get upset when people overcall with very strong hands.

[jdonn]

han, on Feb 8 2008, 07:47 PM, said:

Cause you get upset when people overcall with very strong hands.

21 counts and stuff, sure! Just like when you preempt on 18 counts, it gives me bridge-rage.