[han]

IMPs, all vulnerable

KJx
Q
Axxx
KJ10xx

1C - 1H
1NT - 4D
??

[655321]

Agree with the obvious 1NT; now our hand is very good. Partner should be happier to see the ♥Q than he would be to see two small.

Edit: Oh, you want a bid too? 4♠ for me.

This post has been edited by 655321: 2008-April-16, 08:36

[gnasher]

Is there a conspiracy to prevent my voting in any BBO polls? I neither agree with 1NT nor find it disgusting. I quite like my hand now, so I bid 4S.

[ArtK78]

Good auction. Good hand. I will make a forward going move - either 4♠ if the partnership allows cuebiding of any control or 5♦ showing 1st round control of diamonds, interest in slam, and no black suit first round control.

[jtfanclub]

Edit - misread the bidding. Sorry! Never mind.

This post has been edited by jtfanclub: 2008-April-16, 08:47

[Apollo81]

1NT was fine and now my hand's great, I would cooperate.

[louisg]

6♣.

I have a high card maximum and everything is working, so some slam must be good. Let's give partner a chance to do the right thing with hands like:

Axx
KJxxxx
x
AQx

or

AQx
AKxxxx
x
Qxx

[mikeh]

edited: posted way too quickly... and misread the comments as well: just goes to show how desperately I need caffeine before thinking.

I guess it is a self-splinter but as I posted initially, I haven't ever seen this auction before and I don't like it at all. Why not set hearts as trump cheaply? Whether through 2D or 3H (if played as forcing)? Why can't opener have Kxx xx AKJ Qxxxx as a hand?

If it is a self-splinter, then I cooperate.. the hand is too good to sign off and the stiff heart Q is better than xxx opposite AKJxxx which seems like the worst holding he should have. I bid 5♦... I think this basically says it all: I like my hand, I hold the diamond Ace and no other side Ace... and so presumably have pure diamonds (else I wouldn't like my hand) and some useful black cards.

[mikegill]

Strongly agree with 1n, I assume 4♦ is a self-splinter. I would bid 4♠ I guess regardless of its meaning.

[helene_t]

I think it's an auto-splinter (6+ hearts) because a hand with club support may not want to bypass 3NT.

[Apollo81]

Agree with 4♦ is a self splinter, didnt realize that the meaning of this bid was in question

[gnasher]

mikeh said:

I guess it is a self-splinter but as I posted initially, I haven't ever seen this auction before and I don't like it at all. Why not set hearts as trump cheaply? Whether through 2D or 3H (if played as forcing)?

For the same reason that sometimes we bid 1♠-4♦, and sometimes we bid 1♠-2NT. A splinter is useful when responder wants opener to cooperate only if the hands fit well; a slower route is appropriate when responder wants cooperation regardless of the location of opener's high cards, or when responder wants to know more about opener's shape.

If you have a way for responder to bid 2♦, then set hearts as trumps, then show a shortage in diamonds, all without an adverse effect on your ability to show other hand types, I'd be interested to hear it.

Quote

Why can't opener have Kxx xx AKJ Qxxxx as a hand?

He can. If he does, he'll sign off in 4♥.

(Edited following the change to Mike's post.)

[jdonn]

mikeh, on Apr 16 2008, 10:48 AM, said:

If it is a self-splinter, then I cooperate..

If? hehe

I should mention I don't think the hand is good enough for keycard. Aside from the stiff heart, the ace of diamonds would be worth more in another suit, which is an often overlooked point opposite splinters. I'm going to bid 5♦ and leave it to partner. I think this focuses on his trumps and general strength (he will know I am not uncontrolled in the black suits, that's impossible for this bid).

[kenrexford]

I would cooperate, considering the sequence so far.

I also understand that many would have this sequence.

My auction, however, would have been different. I would open 1♣, planning to bid 1♠ after partner's 1♥ call. But, this would have been discussed.

[P_Marlowe]

1 NT is fine, you need not bid it, but it is ok.

4D from partner, ... well, I usually dont carry
a gun, but if partner happens to make regular
those bids, he is bound to be dead, I am a nice
guy, it will be quickly done.

I dont have the slightest idea, what 4D is, and
hence cant answer, what to bid.
I would assume, that we play something like NMF,
i.e. partner could have created a forcing situation
below 3NT, and he should do it.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: I never though, that 4D is a splinter, maybe it is,
but maybe it showes 6 diamonds and only 4 hearts,
who knows, ... every second I think longer about the
bid, i am more willingly reaching for my gun.

[dburn]

Not much to add to preceding comments, but 5NT "pick a slam" is not silly. Maybe he will have ♠xx ♥AKJxxxx ♦x ♣AQx and be able to bid 6NT.

[pclayton]

I like my hand. Give pard a partial club fit and we might even have 7.

I'll bid 4♠ and pray pard can keycard.

[marcD]

4D is undefined would assume it is an autosplinter but would never try it without discussion. 1NT is disgusting but so are the alternatives . auction worked well (my partner would rebid 2H ) and now 4S seems clearcut

[Fluffy]

1NT is ridicolous, lying about support for partner's why do americans love it?

After 4♦ our hand is great, don't forget to add some extra HCP for the singleton heart lol, after all we sould open 1NT instead.

[hrothgar]

Few quick comments:

1. I have no strong objections to the 1NT rebid. There are many 3=1=4=5 hands where I would open 1♦, preparing to rebid 2♣ over partner's 1♥ advance. This is not one of those hands. As MikeH pointed out, the stiff Q is as good as xx in Hearts.

I consider a 2♣ rebid with this hand much more of a distortion than either a 1NT rebid or a 1♦ opening.

2. I think that a self splinter is the most reasonable interpretation of the 4♦ rebid.

3. The 1NT rebid did a very nice job in limiting my hand. Once partner has bid 4♦ I am clearly at the top of my range. My stiff Queen of Hearts is now pulling full weight because its supporting partner's long suit. I have an Ace, a pair of Kings and a studly club suit.

Choice of call depends on cue bidding style. I would bid either 4♠ if I can cue bid second round controls.

I think that I prefer 5NT (choice of slams) to 5♦. I don't want to stop short of 6. I don't see how we can make an intelligent decision about a grand after a 5♦ bid. Might as well give partner some options