[dicklont]

Scoring: MP

---

Partner opens 1NT, 15-17.
Any suggestion how to bid this one?

[Ant590]

I'm probably falling into a trap here, but start with a transfer to spades, then show clubs either by bidding or transferring as your style permits?

I'm intrigued how other will deal with it though

[Echognome]

I would force this one to game. I would love it if we were playing transfer extensions here so I could bid 2♥ (transfer), then 2NT (clubs), then 2♥ showing ostensibly a 5=3=1=4.

In standard I would bid 2♥, then 3♣, then see what partner does. It might also matter whether partner could have a 5-card ♥ suit in your methods.

[Ant590]

I agree with Matt - 2♥, then 2NT, then 2♥ would be ideal

[han]

Agree that it is clear to GF this hand.

[jdeegan]

2♣ has a lot going for it opposite a 15-17 HCP opener. If pard bids 2♦ or 2♥, you try 2♠ which shows a hand with 5♠. Over a 2♥ bid it is invitational. If pard bids ♠, you are in game. At most you have 25 HCP with every possibility for a misfit. Any sign of a fit, and I'm in game, but I need a sign.

[rogerclee]

This hand is a minimum GF; GFing also has the advantage of allowing us to get both spades and clubs in.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I dont think it is a question between Stayman
or Transfer, but if you force to game or not.

I would go with the inv., simply because 5C
is a long way to go, hence 2H followed by 2NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[the hog]

dicklont, on Oct 22 2008, 06:08 AM, said:

Scoring: MP

---

Partner opens 1NT, 15-17.
Any suggestion how to bid this one?

Suggestions? Absolutely! 2C puppet to 2D followed by an invitational 2S bid.
This is not good enough to force to game.

[655321]

Transfer to spades, show your clubs, force to game.

[gwnn]

i agree with the number above

[effervesce]

The_Hog, on Oct 22 2008, 06:29 AM, said:

dicklont, on Oct 22 2008, 06:08 AM, said:

<!-- ONEHAND begin --><table border='1'> <tr> <td> <table> <tr> <td> Dealer: </td> <td> North </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Vul: </td> <td> None </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Scoring: </td> <td> MP </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tr> <th> <span class='spades'> ♠ </span> </th> <td> 109874 </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='hearts'> ♥ </span> </th> <td> A102 </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='diamonds'> ♦ </span> </th> <td>  </td> </tr> <tr> <th> <span class='clubs'> ♣ </span> </th> <td> A9653 </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td>  </td> </tr> </table><!-- ONEHAND end -->

Partner opens 1NT, 15-17.
Any suggestion how to bid this one?

Suggestions? Absolutely! 2C puppet to 2D followed by an invitational 2S bid.
This is not good enough to force to game.

Problem is, alot of minimums belong in game, and alot of maximums dont. There's no way of really way of avoiding guessing whether game is right or not, hence I think it is correct to force to game on this hand.

[P_Marlowe]

effervesce, on Oct 22 2008, 07:23 AM, said:

<snip>
Problem is, alot of minimums belong in game, and alot of maximums dont. There's no way of really way of avoiding guessing whether game is right or not, hence I think it is correct to force to game on this hand.

This is certainly true, but ...
Assuming ypu have made the transfer to spade:
If you bid a 2nd time, you know, if partner holds a hand worth
a super accept or not, and if not, the chances decreased, that
you belong into game even opposite a min opener.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[kenrexford]

Third bid options are important here.

Because of the precise minor suit being clubs, I would be able to transfer to spades and then bid clubs, because pener could bid 3♥ naturally or 3♦ to support clubs. If the second suit were diamonds, Opener's 3♥ call would agree diamonds, depriving him of the ability to show five hearts.

If you have this sort of problem, then the transfer does not work.

An alternative is Puppet 3♣, if you play a variant where Opener, for example, bids 3NT with 5 hearts and 3♥ with no 4+ major, allowing you to bid 3♠ with this pattern, and then 4♣ if Opener bids 3NT.

The Stayman...2♠ sequence risks a stop at 2♠, which may be bad.

[Apollo81]

The most commonly taken approach in this situation is to force to game, showing both suits. It's better to get the suit right than to nitpick over a HCP or two.

[jdonn]

Obvious to force to game, unless you can invite and still get the suits in in your methods. If you get to 2♠ via an invitational route, I hope your partner has Ax KQx QJx Kxxxx! (See I was nice, I gave him a two wasted queens and a wasted jack in his 15 count).

[mr1303]

Playing the Hog's route (which sounds like Keri) you will not end up in 2S on those cards, they will end up in some (probably 5) clubs, since the auction will continue:

1NT 2C (forces 2D)
2D (forced) 2S (invitational with 4 or 5 spades)
2NT (min with 2 spades) 3C (unbalanced hand with clubs, often 5-5)

and then opener will re-evaluate.

[jdonn]

mr1303, on Oct 22 2008, 12:56 PM, said:

Playing the Hog's route (which sounds like Keri) you will not end up in 2S on those cards, they will end up in some (probably 5) clubs, since the auction will continue:

1NT 2C (forces 2D)
2D (forced) 2S (invitational with 4 or 5 spades)
2NT (min with 2 spades) 3C (unbalanced hand with clubs, often 5-5)

and then opener will re-evaluate.

It depends if 2NT promises an unbalanced hand or not. If it does and you want to make that 2NT bid forcing, fine, but if not then it's silly to play 2NT is a min with two spades, you just want to pass with that hand. In fact I would strongly argue that if 2♠ might or might not be unbalanced, 2NT should show a MAX with two spades.

[the hog]

jdonn, on Oct 23 2008, 01:42 AM, said:

mr1303, on Oct 22 2008, 12:56 PM, said:

Playing the Hog's route (which sounds like Keri) you will not end up in 2S on those cards, they will end up in some (probably 5) clubs, since the auction will continue:

1NT 2C (forces 2D)
2D (forced) 2S (invitational with 4 or 5 spades)
2NT (min with 2 spades) 3C (unbalanced hand with clubs, often 5-5)

and then opener will re-evaluate.

It depends if 2NT promises an unbalanced hand or not. If it does and you want to make that 2NT bid forcing, fine, but if not then it's silly to play 2NT is a min with two spades, you just want to pass with that hand. In fact I would strongly argue that if 2♠ might or might not be unbalanced, 2NT should show a MAX with two spades.

This is not correct. With keri the 2C 2D 2S route can be made on an invit hand with 4/5 S. If opener has only 2S, she will remove to 2NT (nf) and responder now has an easy 3C bid.

[cherdano]

The_Hog, on Oct 22 2008, 07:08 PM, said:

jdonn, on Oct 23 2008, 01:42 AM, said:

mr1303, on Oct 22 2008, 12:56 PM, said:

Playing the Hog's route (which sounds like Keri) you will not end up in 2S on those cards, they will end up in some (probably 5) clubs, since the auction will continue:

1NT 2C (forces 2D)
2D (forced) 2S (invitational with 4 or 5 spades)
2NT (min with 2 spades) 3C (unbalanced hand with clubs, often 5-5)

and then opener will re-evaluate.

It depends if 2NT promises an unbalanced hand or not. If it does and you want to make that 2NT bid forcing, fine, but if not then it's silly to play 2NT is a min with two spades, you just want to pass with that hand. In fact I would strongly argue that if 2♠ might or might not be unbalanced, 2NT should show a MAX with two spades.

This is not correct. With keri the 2C 2D 2S route can be made on an invit hand with 4/5 S. If opener has only 2S, she will remove to 2NT (nf) and responder now has an easy 3C bid.

If 2S doesn't promise 5 spades you will miss many games opposite 3 spades with partner.