[Mbodell]

Scoring: IMP

1♦-X-P-2♣
P-2♦-P-2♥
P-3♦-P-??

---

Playing with a strong partner but with this sequence undiscussed what do you do in expert-standard?

[gnasher]

I voted for 4♣, but I've changed my mind: I bid 3♠, in case partner is 4=3 in the majors. If I had four hearts I'd rebid them, so he'll expect 3=3 in the majors. Let's hope he doesn't play me for more jacks than I have.

There's a case for playing 2♥ over partner's 2♦ as an artificial negative. That would work well here.

[Fluffy]

I might had bid 3♣ the round before, but now I entered the spiral I should try 3♠.

[Mbodell]

How would you grade partner for his bids holding the following hands:

Hand 1: AQJ93 AQT4 A AQJ
Hand 2: AKT3 AQT4 AK KJ4
Hand 3: KQT4 AK76 K AKQ4
Hand 4: AKJ Q54 AKQJT3 A
Hand 5: QJT KQT AK AKQ54

[mike777]

object prefer:
1h then 2h then 3h

I do not want to encourage partner by shifting suits.....btw he has shown a 26 pt hand at this point

I Have made the cheapest bidpossible at all times.

If pard bids 4d I will pass

[Winstonm]

I think this is a good question, but I don't like lurker's second bid - I would have bid 3C over 2D.

As to partner, he simply has some kind of monster and is letting me know that anything of value at all will be a worthwhile card - that the right 5-count might be slammish. Whatever it is, he'll let me know soon enough.

This is another reason I like 3C the second time - it sounds the weakest of any bid I can make, and now when partner bids 3D, I can bid 3H without grossly distorting my shape while still keeping the bidding low.

#1:A
#2 A
#3 A
#4 F
#5 D

[benlessard]

With my hand my goal isnt to showing my shape its to stay low so partner can tell me what hes got. After 2D by partner he would have bid a 5M GF. So he doesnt have a 5M and hes got a huge clubs fit. I loathe 2H. At this point ill bid 5C to discourage partner as much i can.

[gnasher]

Mbodell, on Apr 14 2008, 01:52 AM, said:

Partner should realise that 2♥ is almost certainly a three-card suit. The only time I'd respond 2♣ on a hand with four hearts is if I'm expecting further competition from LHO and have enough to want to make two bids. If I have this hand, partner can expect me to bid again, regardless of what he does after 2♥.

Hand 1: AQJ93 AQT4 A AQJ - I'd prefer 2♠ (presumably forcing) over 2♥.
Hand 2: AKT3 AQT4 AK KJ4 - He should have bid 2NT over my 2♥.
Hand 3: KQT4 AK76 K AKQ4 - He should bid 3♣ over my 2♥.
Hand 4: AKJ Q54 AKQJT3 A - He should have bid 3NT over 2♥.
Hand 5: QJT KQT AK AKQ54 - He should have bid 2NT over my 2♥.

With most of these, I can't imagine what he'd hope to gain from a further cue bid. He should stop banging on about how strong his hand is and start mentioning possible strains.

[Free]

Fluffy, on Apr 13 2008, 04:57 PM, said:

I might had bid 3♣ the round before, but now I entered the spiral I should try 3♠.

Agree

[Codo]

Mbodell, on Apr 14 2008, 09:52 AM, said:

How would you grade partner for his bids holding the following hands:

Hand 1: AQJ93 AQT4 A AQJ
Hand 2: AKT3 AQT4 AK KJ4
Hand 3: KQT4 AK76 K AKQ4
Hand 4: AKJ Q54 AKQJT3 A
Hand 5: QJT KQT AK AKQ54

1. X cue and jump to 3 Spade
2. Jump to 3 NT after my 2 Club bid
3. this is what I would expect.
4. 3 NT after 2 Club
5. 3 or 4 Club after X and cue

[Poky]

Mbodell, on Apr 14 2008, 01:52 AM, said:

Hand 1: AQJ93 AQT4 A AQJ
Hand 2: AKT3 AQT4 AK KJ4
Hand 3: KQT4 AK76 K AKQ4
Hand 4: AKJ Q54 AKQJT3 A
Hand 5: QJT KQT AK AKQ54

1: 2/10
This is Cue+2♠

2: 1/10
This is Cue+3NT

3: 10/10
Cue+Cue is best.

4: 0/10
3NT on 2♣ is best.

5: 5/10
This is Cue+3NT.

[FrancesHinden]

Mbodell, on Apr 14 2008, 01:52 AM, said:

How would you grade partner for his bids holding the following hands:

Hand 1: AQJ93 AQT4 A AQJ
Hand 2: AKT3 AQT4 AK KJ4
Hand 3: KQT4 AK76 K AKQ4
Hand 4: AKJ Q54 AKQJT3 A
Hand 5: QJT KQT AK AKQ54

I'm not sure the stated sequence actually exists... why can't he just tell us what trumps are at some point?

3D sounds as if it is desperately trying to get us to bid 3NT with something vaguely useful in diamonds, so by elimination it must have a club fit.

Hand 1: Would have bid spades earlier (over 2H if not before)
Hand 2: bids 3NT over 2C
Hand 3: Possible for this auction
Hand 4: Bids 3NT over either 2C or 2H
Hand 5: Bids 3NT over 2H

[TimG]

Isn't double, followed by a cue-bid, followed by a suit (even a raise of our suit), forcing? If so, intervenor doesn't need a 3♦ cue-bid in the cue-bid sense. Maybe it's natural?

[jdonn]

TimG, on Apr 18 2008, 12:54 PM, said:

Isn't double, followed by a cue-bid, followed by a suit (even a raise of our suit), forcing?  If so, intervenor doesn't need a 3♦ cue-bid in the cue-bid sense.  Maybe it's natural?

I think it just shows doubt about strain, maybe 4333 but not eager to bid notrump. He can't preference back to clubs since I'm sure that shows real support. Alternatively he might have club support since maybe it's not totally clear 3♣ would have been forcing, at least not to partner.

I like the convention where the cheapest bid over his first cuebid is artificial and shows an absolute bust, and anything else is game forcing.