[han]

Teams, vulnerable.

Q
Kxxx
AJ9xx
K10x

North dealer, opposition is silent.

1C - 1D
1NT - 2H
3D - ??

[the hog]

Pass. Not worth a gf opposite the crap I usually open. Pd made the weakest possible bid - assuming 2NT is not some artificial puppet.

[655321]

In the style I usually play, this hand would normally go through checkback. A 2♥ rebid shows more of an interest in playing in diamonds (4-6), hence opener's 3♦ shows a fit but does not say anything about spade stoppers. Playing that style, I might try 3NT now.

However, the fact that we did, actually, rebid 2♥ suggests that we are not playing this style.

On the assumption that partner might have rebid 2NT with spade stoppers, I will make the subtle bid of 5♦.

[gnasher]

3NT. 13 HCP is 13 HCP, and partner's 3♦ doesn't make my hand any worse. It might be right to play in diamonds, but there's no room to explore.

I'm curious. That you had this auction suggests that you don't play any kind of Checkback after 1♣-1♦-1NT. Is that correct, and if so is it normal?

This post has been edited by gnasher: 2008-May-02, 01:23

[P_Marlowe]

Pass.

Of course this assumes, that 3D can
be passed.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[inquiry]

Pass is difficule to understand. I play a raise to 4♦ here as essentially forcing. But I am not good enough for 4♦, I am not going to bid 3NT if partner could only raise ♦, either hearts are singled stopped or more likley, spades are a problem.

So, I am simply going to bid 5♦. At MPs I might try for 3NT,

[gnasher]

It's possible to hold a hand that is interested in game if opener has four hearts, but not otherwise. I don't think this hand falls into that category, but if it did I'd like to be able to bid 2♥ and then pass 3♦.

In fact, that sounds quite a good use for 2♥. Playing two-way checkback (or whatever you choose to call it), 2♥ isn't needed for real invitations or game-forces, so maybe it should show specifically a weaker hand with aspirations only opposite a heart fit.

[FrancesHinden]

In my two-way checkback partnership 2H specifically shows 4-6 and real interest in playing in diamonds. (In the other partnership 2H shows 4 spades.)

On this hand with an English partner I would bid 3S, fourth suit forcing, showing doubt about 3NT. I get the impression from these fora that many other people would think 3S is patterning out/length so I wouldn't do that with them. If partner thinks 3S is length I would bid 3NT, because partner can then infer that the suit I am unsure about is spades.

I would have thought partner was bound to bid 3D over 2H looking at any hand with a diamond fit whatever his spade holding e.g.

KJx
Ax
KQx
Jxxxx

or the boring

K10xx
Qxx
K10x
Axx

[kenrexford]

This may sound, or even be, stupid, but are we playing Walsh here?

If so, then I agree 100% with Justin (aka, jlall)(aka, "the Kid")(aka "Rexford 12B")(this new parenthetical idea is fun).

Opener likes diamonds for some reason. Diamonds is the focus. Now decide whether to sign off somewhere(3NT or 5♦), cue, or notrump probe.

[jtfanclub]

Jlall, on May 2 2008, 03:02 AM, said:

Lacking any system I don't understand how 3D can be passed. What is partner supposed to do with a random good hand with diamonds?

Um, not open 1 club and rebid 1NT?

What is the point of making 3♦ forcing here?

[mike777]

5D

I think partner is worried about spade stoppers.


btw many who play two way checkback will play in this exact auction:
1) 2h here as a game force.
2) 2c as game force checkback with no 4 card major
3) 2d as natural, weakish to play.

"1C 1D
1NT ??

THIS is what I play with ...........(we don't need 2 way in this situation)

2C....Game forcing Checkback...(used for forcing hand when responder has no 4 card major and isn't certain about 3NT)
Opener should rebid 3C with 5 clubs, and rebid 3D with 4 diamonds. With both majors well stopped, opener rebids NT,
When he can't make any of those bids, he should bid the major where he has the most strength....Remember, the 2C
bid is NOT looking for a 4-4 major fit.

2D.......to play
2H.......4 Hearts, game forcing.....
2S.......4 Spades, game forcing...
2NT.....invitational
3C......invitational
3D......invitational

You can't sign off in clubs....if you had 5 card club support, no 4 card major, and a weak hand, you should have bid 3C the first time..."

[gnasher]

I play 2C and 2D as the same as after any other 1x-1y-1NT sequence: 2C is a puppet to 2D, either a signoff or various invitations; 2D is any game force.

2H is either 5-6 or not discussed, depending on the partnership.

[dcvetkov]

inquiry, on May 2 2008, 03:37 AM, said:

Pass is difficule to understand. I play a raise to 4♦ here as essentially forcing. But I am not good enough for 4♦, I am not going to bid 3NT if partner could only raise ♦, either hearts are singled stopped or more likley, spades are a problem.

So, I am simply going to bid 5♦. At MPs I might try for 3NT,

I agree with this, pass in unphantomable. Just one note, that 4♦ would be interpreted as RKCB for diamonds in a lot of circles, so I would just bid 5D. It should have a play, unless there is too much spade wastage

[Apollo81]

Without necessarily agreeing with the bidding so far, I would bid 3♠, still hoping we can reach 3NT.

[jdonn]

I don't usually pass in game forcing auctions. So I'll try 3NT.

[helene_t]

3NT. Not sure why I bid 2♥. Are we playing Walsh? Otherwise I would have bid 3NT in previous round. So maybe I should bid 3♠ now to be consistent.

[mike777]

Whether we are playing Walsh or not opener has clearly denied 4 spades by bidding 3d. With 3 good spades and 3 lousy d I assume they would rebid 2nt not 3d.

[jdonn]

mike777, on May 2 2008, 11:57 AM, said:

Whether we are playing Walsh or not opener has clearly denied 4 spades by bidding 3d. With 3 good spades and 3 lousy d I assume they would rebid 2nt not 3d.

Two questions. What would you expect partner to do with three good spades and three good diamonds? And is partner barred over 3NT?

I want to mention I think your posting style has greatly improved lately and become a lot more bearable. Keep it up soldier!

[ArtK78]

If I bid 3NT here, I would not be surprised to find that our spade suit consists of Q opposite xxx.