[gwnn]

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

you held

xx
Axxxx
AT
AQJx

what do you think of our bidding thus far?

what are opener's possible bids here? which one fits best?

[pclayton]

3♦ looks fine now. Let's find out about a heart or a few spade cards. if I had to guess the contract now it is 6♣, but there is no hurry. The bidding up to now is fine I think.

[gwnn]

what do 3D 3H 3S 3NT 4C mean here?

[mikeh]

gwnn, on May 20 2008, 11:55 AM, said:

what do 3D 3H 3S 3NT 4C mean here?

3♦: cue bid... which is the correct call here

3♥: cue bid, denies diamond card (whether denies diamond stiff or void depends on cue-bidding style)

3♠ high spade.. strange call because it implies a good hand but denies a red suit cue, so this is extremely unlikely

3N shut down bid: bad hand, two diamond stoppers, no interest in moving towards slam

4♣ very odd call.. maybe 1=5=2=5 with no Aces and good clubs.


For me, this hand is an easy 3♦.. I like my hand in the context of the auction so far, so let's get partner in the loop and off we go.

[gnasher]

gwnn, on May 20 2008, 05:55 PM, said:

what do 3D 3H 3S 3NT 4C mean here?

3♦, 3♥ and 3♠ are all initially investigations of the best game.

3D: Only a single diamond stop, nothing to emphasise in the majors
3H: Good hearts
3♠: Hx
3NT: To play, probably with a double diamond stop
4♣: Confirms clubs as trumps and initiates a cue-bidding sequence

Mike and I would make a good partnership, wouldn't we?

I'd bid 4♣, though 3♦ is also reasonable.

This post has been edited by gnasher: 2008-May-20, 11:55

[gnasher]

Jlall, on May 20 2008, 07:04 PM, said:

edit: Just remembered my partner kevin thinks that with Hx of spades and 1 diamond stopper the default bid over 2D should be 2S not 2N. Anyone else agree with this e.g. Kx Axxxx Ax QJxx?

I do, but I was under the impression that it was mainly an English custom. In that style, I agree that 3♠ over 3♣ would be any doubleton.

In fact, I usually play the first step over two-level fourth suit as artificial, showing specifically a 5422 type. That helps a lot with reducing ambiguity in other auctions.

[OleBerg]

gwnn, on May 20 2008, 06:55 PM, said:

what do 3D 3H 3S 3NT 4C mean here?

3♦: A hand that is uncertain about nt or clubs. May contain a mild slam-try.
3♥: 6 card suit, or strong 5 card suit.
3♠: Normally two spades. May on a rare occasion be xxx in spades.
3nt: Natural.
4♣: Certain that we belong in clubs, at least at the five level. Shows a better hand than 5♣

[P_Marlowe]

4C, what ever it may mean, it should show some
life and interest in 6C.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[kenrexford]

Bids below 3NT are, IMO, blended until confirmed.

3♦ is my pick. I plan on bidding past 3NT.

[Fluffy]

I don't like that partner might think 3♦ shows spade shortness, 4♣ comes to mind as an alternative, but it consumes too much space.

about bidding so far just wonder about what 3NT instead of 2NT would had meant, my agreements are that 3NT shows a better stopper than 2NT, so I like 2NT a lot more.

[andy_h]

gnasher, on May 21 2008, 03:54 AM, said:

gwnn, on May 20 2008, 05:55 PM, said:

what do 3D 3H 3S 3NT 4C mean here?

3♦, 3♥ and 3♠ are all initially investigations of the best game.

3D: Only a single diamond stop, nothing to emphasise in the majors
3H: Good hearts
3♠: Hx
3NT: To play, probably with a double diamond stop
4♣: Confirms clubs as trumps and initiates a cue-bidding sequence

This is how I would also interpret it. Though with Hx of spades and a single diamond stop my style is to also bid 2S over the 4sGF.

On the actual hand, we certainly have great cards for a club slam so I will slow it down with 3D to investigate further.