[awm]

Scoring: IMP

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You are in first seat at IMPs. Feel free to open 2♠ if you want; otherwise if you pass partner opens a strong notrump (15-17). What do you do?

In your methods, stayman followed by 2♠ over 2♦ is not weak; it shows an invitational hand with five spades.

[han]

Transfer and pass for me.

[ochinko]

I voted for transfer and pass, but the hand deserves an invitation at IMPs. If the red Queen was part of a 4 cards suit instead of a three I would feel more comfortable with an invitation.

There's no way to inquire how many wasted values partner has in clubs, but I think chance for making a game would be on our side given that I have 7(8?) losers, and partner would have 6 or 7.

[whereagles]

transfer and 4.

[Free]

Stayman followed by 2♠

[pclayton]

I voted transfer and raise to 3. I would pull 3N to 4♥.

I've had a lot of invites and it has been right for the modest 6-4 to make a move and the 6322 not to. The void compensates for about another Q.

[Cascade]

pclayton, on Apr 9 2008, 03:16 AM, said:

The void compensates for about another Q.

... and increases the variance.

Partner can have a sub-minimum where game is cold.

♠ AKxx
♥ xx
♦ AKx
♣ xxxx

or a useless maximum

♠ xx
♥ AKQx
♦ xxx
♣ AKJx

etc.

For me I guess it seems about right to invite.

[jdonn]

Invite. Invites to me on this auction are about the playing strength of a bare minimum weak two bid, which I think the void brings this up to.

[awm]

This hand had two very different evaluations made in a team match. At one table, my teammate held this hand. She passed, partner opened a strong notrump, and she decided to stayman followed by 2♠ over partner's 2♦ rebid. Partner bid game and it made.

At my table, the auction was a bit different:

P - P - 1♣(1) - 1♥
P(2) - 2♥ - X(3) - P
2♠(4) - All pass

(1) Either natural or 16-21 balanced
(2) Wow!
(3) Takeout
(4) Double wow!

[Fluffy]

agree with Han.

[effervesce]

Depends on how lucky you feel on the day I'd transfer and invite.

[neilkaz]

effervesce, on Apr 9 2008, 06:38 PM, said:

Depends on how lucky you feel on the day I'd transfer and invite.

Me too, but passing unless a super accept (for me 4♠ and a decent NT opener or a good 3♠ cards, 17 HCP and a doubleton) is very close for me.

[rbforster]

I voted for transfer and pass, the conservative route.

It seems to me that transfer and raise to 3♠ is almost always worse than the 2♣...2♠ invite alternative. This is because the latter let's you find the 4-4 heart fit. Over 2♣-2♦-2♠ when opener has an acceptance, you'll end up in 4♠ in any event. When opener will decline, at least now you can stop at 2♠ some of the time (and pulling 2N to 3♠ the rest of the time).

[neilkaz]

Rob F, on Apr 9 2008, 07:26 PM, said:

I voted for transfer and pass, the conservative route.

It seems to me that transfer and raise to 3♠ is almost always worse than the 2♣...2♠ invite alternative. This is because the latter let's you find the 4-4 heart fit. Over 2♣-2♦-2♠ when opener has an acceptance, you'll end up in 4♠ in any event. When opener will decline, at least now you can stop at 2♠ some of the time (and pulling 2N to 3♠ the rest of the time).

Yes but some play 2♣ 2♦ 2♠ as a weak s/off..ie junk with 54 in majors

[skjaeran]

2♣ followed by 2♠ seems perfect.

I'd not be able to do that, since I play 2♠ as a GF relay over a 2red response. In my own methods I'd transfer and raise (if no super-accept).

[PassedOut]

I voted for 2♣ followed by 2♠. I can't tell partner to value diamond honors above clubs, but this sequence will focus partner on spade support and heart honors.