[Lobowolf]

IMPS; Both Vul.
Dealer: West


♠ xxx ♠ AQJ
♥Txxx ♥ -----
♦KJTxx ♦ AQ9
♣x ♣ AKJTxxx

---

P - P - 1♣ - 1♥;
P - 2♣ - 2♥ - P
3♦ - 3♥ - 4♣ - P
P - P

Clubs 3-2, Queen onside. 4♣+7 = 190. Not a pickup of IMPs

[TylerE]

East opens like a 2.5-3 loser hand 1♣ in 3rd seat and is surprised they missed slam?

[gwnn]

1♣ is good, it may not be my choice but many people would do it. I'd bid 3♥ then 5♣ over partner's 4♦. This is a strong hand, we shouldnt be aiming to stop in 4♣. 4♥ 2nd round is also a good idea but that will miss some last game 3NT's every now and again

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

#1 1C is fine, I dont mind 2C, but 1C is fine.
#2 Pass is fine as well
#3 2H, ok ... it showes a great hand and is forcing,
but, what does it ask partner? Never mind, 2H
is ok as well
#4 3D is ok, what else?
#5 either you go or you dont.
As it is West has no idea, that his diamond suit will
be of so much help, and 11 tricks are a lot.
East has no idea, that West showed a 5 carder, and
that he holds some values.

So I would say, reasonable actions, next board.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: You forgot the option "bad luck".

[P_Marlowe]

gwnn, on Aug 19 2008, 01:58 AM, said:

1♣ is good, it may not be my choice but many people would do it. I'd bid 3♥ then 5♣ over partner's 4♦. This is a strong hand, we shouldnt be aiming to stop in 4♣. 4♥ 2nd round is also a good idea but that will miss some last game 3NT's every now and again

Given your auction, you treat this hand as a gameforcing hand,
since you force to game oppossite a partner, who may hold
nothing, ... which of course begs the question, why not open 2C?

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: The only justification I see is, that you know from the auction,
that the opponents have a heart fit, i.e. partner wont have a lot of
wasted heart values, ... not the worst justification.

[gwnn]

There are hands that open 1 of a suit but secretly don't want to stop below game. There are various reasons for this, most common would be that you want to get your suit in. Also, it helps to have strict requirements for your 2♣ opener. As I said, though, I'd open 2♣, but it's quite close for me.