[kenrexford]

P-1♦-2♣-P-
2♥?

Advancer held:

♠xx ♥109xxxx ♦Kxx ♣J10

[david_c]

No, I think it should be more constructive, even if you are a passed hand.

[pclayton]

Way too weak. What is the objective here by bidding? We might have a game, but that looks like a real long shot. I doubt we are improving the partial either.

[ArtK78]

When you make a bid like this on a hand this weak, it had better be right.

I would not bid on these cards.

[skjaeran]

Even playing transfer advances, where 2♦ shows ♥s, I think this hand just is too week to make a bid. The value of the ♦K in front of opener is dubious. And except from that card you haven't got much here.

[kenrexford]

I thought it was a tad too weak as well. The problem, IMO, is as to what hand type is expected. There seem to be two, or maybe three, possible meanings, in light of the failure to open 2♥, that could exist, and the two meanings are not remotely similar.

Meaning #1: Too weak to open 2♥, either because of suit quality or strength, or both. If this meaning is applicable, then perhaps 2♥ is about right.

Meaning #2: A constructive problem hand. Typically might have six hearts and four spades, weakish hearts but decent spades. This might make sense as well, which allows partner to opt for a spade contract occasionally. If partner has one heart and four spades, 2♠ is right. But, if Advancer meant Meaning #1, a 2♠ call would likely be a disasterour move.

Meaning #3: Somewhat "snapdragon." A five-card heart suit, a club fit/tolerance, and constructive values. If this is the meaning, then partner might appropriately bid 2♠ naturally (in case of Meaning #2), 2NT naturally (a disaster if Meaning #1), or 3♣ (a disaster if Meaning #1 and probably bad if Meaning #2).

Thoughts?

[awm]

The standard agreement is that 2♥ shows a decent hand. When partner overcalls at the two-level you usually expect that it won't be a disaster to play undoubled in his suit. There's no need to correct "just to improve the contract" when you have a pile of garbage with a long weak suit.

I think this leaves both (2) and (3) as possibilities.

Playing transfers lets you bid 2♦ (transfer) with all three hand types, since partner will normally accept the transfer after which you can pass (1) or bid 2♠ (2) or bid 3♣ (3).

[TimG]

As a passed hand, I'm in the FNJ (fit non-jump) camp -- 5-6 hearts plus some sort of fit for clubs. The snapdragon type, if you like.

I don't think transfers help much with this type because the partnership may want to play 2H, but you can't do that if you transfer and then bid 3C.

[kfay]

My partner made this bid (sort of) twice this weekend. Both times it made it very difficult for me to decide how high I wanted to compet. (Read: Total guess, but I'm used to guessing with her)