[Mosene]

Your are the dealer with the hand below and the bidding goes as follows:

1♣ - P - 1♦ - p
3♣ - P - 3♥ - p
??

What do you bid next and why?

♠---
♥1073
♦A73
♣AKQ10987

[jdonn]

4♠, which I believe should show spade shortness three card diamond support since I have already denied four hearts. It's possible we can end in diamonds when we belong in clubs but I'm not sure that can be helped since I refuse to not support diamonds now.

[ArcLight]

How about 3♠, asking pard to bid 3NT with a stopper?

[Mosene]

I bid 4 diamonds. And partner bid 5 diamonds - do you then pass? I did. We only made 7. I felt partner could (should) have bid 4 hearts after 5 diamonds. I then bid 4 spades and we are off to the races. Is 4 spades clear cut? Does 4 diamonds show 3?

Partners hand.

♠qx
♥AKJX
♦KQ9XXXX
♣--

[pclayton]

Mosene, on Aug 20 2008, 02:47 PM, said:

I bid 4 diamonds. And partner bid 5 diamonds - do you then pass? I did. We only made 7. I felt partner could (should) have bid 4 hearts after 5 diamonds. I then bid 4 spades and we are off to the races. Is 4 spades clear cut? Does 4 diamonds show 3?

Partners hand.

♠qx
♥AKJX
♦KQ9XXXX
♣--

I think your pard has a 4♥ call over 4♦ - although there is some concern this could denote a 5-6.

[cherdano]

Wow, if partner wants to bid diamonds over 4♦, he should certainly bid 6♦, not 5♦.

[Mosene]

I am mostly interested in the merits of 4♠ instead of 4♦. Is 4 spades fairly automatic, or is it close b/n 4 spades and 4 diamonds? My thought was that 4 diamonds is forcing and gives partner more room (plus it was a pick-up partner on BBO so I thought 4 spades had a risk side to it as well). Not sure if it shows 3 diamonds or not - although I think it should.

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

[jdonn]

4♦ would have to show three diamonds since with a hand like xx AQx Ax KQJxxx could bid 4♥, having already denied four of them (or 3♠ if it wanted to). Other than that partner might misunderstand though, I can't think of any reason NOT to bid 4♠. Can you?

[pclayton]

jdonn, on Aug 20 2008, 03:37 PM, said:

4♦ would have to show three diamonds since with a hand like xx AQx Ax KQJxxx could bid 4♥, having already denied four of them (or 3♠ if it wanted to). Other than that partner might misunderstand though, I can't think of any reason NOT to bid 4♠. Can you?

Does 3♥ promise a control? (no)

Does 4♠ say "bid 6 with a heart control"? (no).

[jdonn]

pclayton, on Aug 20 2008, 06:43 PM, said:

jdonn, on Aug 20 2008, 03:37 PM, said:

4♦ would have to show three diamonds since with a hand like xx AQx Ax KQJxxx could bid 4♥, having already denied four of them (or 3♠ if it wanted to). Other than that partner might misunderstand though, I can't think of any reason NOT to bid 4♠. Can you?

Does 3♥ promise a control? (no)

Does 4♠ say "bid 6 with a heart control"? (no).

Is 4♠ the last bid below slam? (no)

Are you still sure 4♦ 4♥ doesn't promise 5-6, or is even forcing? (no)

[655321]

Agree that 4♠ is easily the best bid playing with a regular partner.

Don't know what is best playing with a BBO pick-up partner.

[cherdano]

pclayton, on Aug 20 2008, 05:43 PM, said:

jdonn, on Aug 20 2008, 03:37 PM, said:

4♦ would have to show three diamonds since with a hand like xx AQx Ax KQJxxx could bid 4♥, having already denied four of them (or 3♠ if it wanted to). Other than that partner might misunderstand though, I can't think of any reason NOT to bid 4♠. Can you?

Does 3♥ promise a control? (no)

Does 4♠ say "bid 6 with a heart control"? (no).

Do I want to say "Bid 6 with a heart control!"? (no)

[skjaeran]

4♠ looks superb to me.

[Edmunte1]

-I think your partner should have started with 3♦ instead of 3♥
1♣-1♦
3♣-3♦
4♦-4♥
5♠(exc)-7♦

-Over 4♦ he had an easy 4♥ bid too

[miguelm]

4S strikes me as a bit dangerous... is our fit in Diams. that clear...? Can't I have 4 Hearts...? If not, why the 3H bid...?

After the 3H bid, two bids are still possible, 3S (4th suit) and 4D.
I like 3S better. 4D sounds like a hand that doesn't want to go further if partner can't make an attempt on his own. After 3H I don't think I need him to have that much.

After 3S, if partner bids 3N (or 4C for that matter), I will clarifie where we stand with 4D, if he bids 4D, I will bid 4S.

[skjaeran]

miguelm, on Aug 22 2008, 12:45 PM, said:

4S strikes me as a bit dangerous... is our fit in Diams. that clear...? Can't I have 4 Hearts...? If not, why the 3H bid...?

The 3♣ jump rebid denies holding a 4-card major suit.

[P_Marlowe]

Mosene, on Aug 19 2008, 12:18 PM, said:

Your are the dealer with the hand below and the bidding goes as follows:

1♣ - P - 1♦ - p
3♣ - P - 3♥ - p
??

What do you bid next and why?

♠---
♥1073
♦A73
♣AKQ10987

Hi,

3S.

For whats it worth: partner does not need to hold 5
diamonds, 3H was just stopper showing.
He may be 4-4, he may be 4333, what do I know,
and for that matter partner does not need to hold
more than 7/8HCP either.

If you dont want to bid 3S, bid 4C, setting trumps.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: whith partners actual hand, he should have bid
3D, it showes 5 diamond, and gives partner max. room
to decribe his hand further, if you dont like the bid, bid
4D, after 3C you wont stop below th 6 level anyway, so
you may as well show your 6 card suit.

[helene_t]

miguelm, on Aug 22 2008, 11:45 AM, said:

4S strikes me as a bit dangerous... is our fit in Diams. that clear...? Can't I have 4 Hearts...? If not, why the 3H bid...?

3♥ shows a stopper (although 3♥ followed by 4♥ might be interpreted as 5-6, as Phil says).

Arc said:

What about 3♠, asking p to bid 3NT with a spade stopper?

I think p would have bid 3NT instead of 3♥ if 3NT is the right contract. 3♠ should show a little bid in spades, at least Jx or xxx I think.