[han]

AQ10x
AJxxx
x
AJx

Jxx
Qx
Axxx
KQ10x

How would you bid these two? Again south is the dealer at IMPs.

[matmat]

1d - 1h
1n - 2d*
3c - 3n

[skjaeran]

We'd start:
1♣ - 1♦
1NT - 2♦
2♥ - 2♠

Opener having this far showed a balanced 11-14 with Hx in hearts, responder a GF with 44+ in the majors.

IF opener then continue 2NT (showing 3244), we might bid:
2NT - 3♣
3♦ - 3♥
4♥

Where opener expresses doubt about his diamond holding being sufficient for 3NT.

However, opener might chose to bid 3NT at an earlier opportunity.

[jdonn]

1♣ 1♥
1NT 2♦ (gf)
2NT 3♠
4♥ P

5-6 bids 3♠ over 1NT, and if north was 4531 with just game values he would bid 3NT over 2NT, so south knows not to bid 3NT having already shown the hand type.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

1D (1) - 1H (2)
1NT (3) - 2C (4)
2NT (5) - 3NT (6)

(1) SAYC style
(2) SAYC style
(3) SAYC style, i.e. 12-14, denies 4 spades
(4) NMF
(5) denies 3 hearts
(6) what else?

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mike777]

avoiding 3nt seems wow!

[kenrexford]

Double dummy I'd bid 3NT. Let LHO find a 3-card diamond lead.

[skjaeran]

kenrexford, on Apr 12 2008, 03:16 PM, said:

Double dummy I'd bid 3NT. Let LHO find a 3-card diamond lead.

If I or my partner is on your left, you'll face a diamond lead from 3, 4 or 5 - maybe also from a doubleton.

[kenrexford]

skaeran, on Apr 12 2008, 08:35 AM, said:

kenrexford, on Apr 12 2008, 03:16 PM, said:

Double dummy I'd bid 3NT.  Let LHO find a 3-card diamond lead.

If I or my partner is on your left, you'll face a diamond lead from 3, 4 or 5 - maybe also from a doubleton.

I'd prefer you to my left, at the other table.

[han]

jdonn, on Apr 12 2008, 12:57 AM, said:

1♣ 1♥
1NT 2♦ (gf)
2NT 3♠
4♥ P

5-6 bids 3♠ over 1NT, and if north was 4531 with just game values he would bid 3NT over 2NT, so south knows not to bid 3NT having already shown the hand type.

Hmm, I thought 1C-1H-1NT-3S was a self splinter, and that with 5-6 you'd bid 2S and then 3S. What does that auction mean for you?

Our (transfer-walsh) auction was similar to:

1C - 1H
1NT - 2S
2NT - 3C
3H - 3S
3NT

[jdonn]

I play 2♠ there is 4-4 invitational, which I first heard of from the Italians. Frankly I'm not sure the way you suggest wouldn't be better for me, since I rarely bypass spades unless 4333.

[FrancesHinden]

1D - 1H
1NT - 2D*
2H* - 2S
2NT - 3C
3H - 4H

2D = shows 5 hearts, forces 2H
2S = 4-5 at least invitational
2NT = minimum
3C = pattern

[kenrexford]

I still don't get the fear of 3NT.

Double dummy, this seems to only be in jeopardy if RHO has 5+ diamonds and the spade King. If RHO must have 5+ diamonds, then LHO must have three or fewer diamonds. That seems to make the odds beter than 10:8 in our favor. Or, the 3NT game is better than a 56% likely makers.

A heart game, in contrast, when the spade hook fails, turns on losing only two hearts. If hearts split 4-2, a diamond lead causes similar problems. You win the diamond and eventually lose a heart before pulling the last trump. Another diamond reduces you to equal trumps. Even if you can pull their trumps, the losing spade hook allows them to cash diamonds, and RHO will have the long diamonds to cash.

[jdonn]

kenrexford, on Apr 12 2008, 11:15 AM, said:

I still don't get the fear of 3NT.

I admire your ability to judge in the auction whether partner has the ten of spades or the ten of hearts. Is that in the next book? Actually the only auction your comment seems a valid criticism of is Frances's, since there north knows the heart situation below game and has a chance to judge things further. Probably on that auction north should bid 3♠ or 3NT over 3♥, unless those are slam tries for hearts (which seems unlikely in what is almost surely a 5-2 fit).

You are getting a diamond lead a lot more than half the time if you open 1♣ and investigate your major suit fits, even from shorter holdings.

[pclayton]

If you don't skip a 4 card spade suit over 1♥ you are much better placed.

2♠ as a natural reverse is still useful IMO in the above context. In this case, responder can pattern out with 3♣ over 2N.

Avoiding 3N isn't so wow in this case. You'll find 4♥ fairly easily.

[cherdano]

Here was our auction:
1C 1D* (hearts)
1H 2S (2-3 hearts, many hand types, but most often weak NT; natural reverse, forcing)
2N 3C
3H 3S
3N

Comments?

[skjaeran]

cherdano, on Apr 12 2008, 07:53 PM, said:

Here was our auction:
1C 1D* (hearts)
1H 2S (2-3 hearts, many hand types, but most often weak NT; natural reverse, forcing)
2N 3C
3H 3S
3N

Comments?

We play this sequence differently - 1♥ promise 3, then 2♠ is inv+ splinter.

I dont't think 3NT on A empty fourth is the correct bid vs a known singleton - I prefer 4♥. Might of course be a little subjective, knowing both hands. But you've more or less guaranteed a diamond lead on the auction.

[jdonn]

cherdano, on Apr 12 2008, 12:53 PM, said:

Here was our auction:
1C 1D*  (hearts)
1H 2S    (2-3 hearts, many hand types, but most often weak NT; natural reverse, forcing)
2N 3C
3H 3S
3N

Comments?

A couple questions. Does 2NT guarantee a weak notrump? And does it deny three hearts?

[kenrexford]

jdonn, on Apr 12 2008, 11:18 AM, said:

kenrexford, on Apr 12 2008, 11:15 AM, said:

I still don't get the fear of 3NT.

I admire your ability to judge in the auction whether partner has the ten of spades or the ten of hearts. Is that in the next book? Actually the only auction your comment seems a valid criticism of is Frances's, since there north knows the heart situation below game and has a chance to judge things further. Probably on that auction north should bid 3♠ or 3NT over 3♥, unless those are slam tries for hearts (which seems unlikely in what is almost surely a 5-2 fit).

You are getting a diamond lead a lot more than half the time if you open 1♣ and investigate your major suit fits, even from shorter holdings.

Well, actually my auction would be:

1♦-1♥
1NT-2♦
3♣-3NT

In that event, I'm less concerned about a diamond opening. Whereas I might not be able to predict stray tens, I would also be unable to predict missing cards in diamonds.

This seems to simple. We have no major fits and no minor fits, with enough for game, and good cards in every suit. With a buter knife, I bid 3NT in this situation. It seems to work OK.
-----
If I were playing an unbalanced diamond approach, then 1♣-1♥-1NT-2♦-2NT-3NT.

[cherdano]

jdonn, on Apr 12 2008, 01:48 PM, said:

cherdano, on Apr 12 2008, 12:53 PM, said:

Here was our auction:
1C 1D*  (hearts)
1H 2S    (2-3 hearts, many hand types, but most often weak NT; natural reverse, forcing)
2N 3C
3H 3S
3N

Comments?

A couple questions. Does 2NT guarantee a weak notrump? And does it deny three hearts?

Yes. Yes.