[kenrexford]

This weekend, an auction started an interesting discussion and resolution.

1♠-P-1NT(forcing)-P-
2♣(could be 2-card)-P-P-X-
2♦/2♥-P-?

Discussion points/resolution:

1. Opener can be fairly strong for his 2♣ rebid.

2. Opener's rebid, here, below 2♠, could either be based upon pure extras or simply pattern, getting below 2♠, and allowing Responder more options.

3. Game is still possible. If Responder wants to now super-accept clubs (weaker than a 3♣ bid earlier, of course, but contextually max), he can cue 2♥ over 2♦ or "cue" 2NT after 2♥.

4. Responder need not always invite immediately. If the risk of inviting (3♣ immediately) is in going down one for no reason opposite a doubleton is outweighed slightly by the possible gain of a making game, that might not be enough. For, some percentage of the time when game can be made the opponents will not pass the auction out. However, you then need tools.

Responder's actual hand was ♠xx ♥Kx ♦xxxx ♣KJxxx. After 1♠-P-1NT-P-2♣, a pass seems appropriate. After a reopening double and 2♥ from partner, the hand grows up. 2NT to express this makes sense.

[whereagles]

What's double?

Anyway, all rebids can be natural.

[FrancesHinden]

It seems a bit obscure to want to discuss specific tools for getting to game on an auction where you have tried to pass out the contract at the 2-level in the same denomination. If you genuinely think that you can have 3NT making after this start to the auction sufficiently often to make it work discussing conventional bids I suggest you rethink your methods after the 2C rebid (or indeed the 1NT response).

Yours,

A Simple Soul

[kenrexford]

FrancesHinden, on Jan 5 2009, 09:56 AM, said:

It seems a bit obscure to want to discuss specific tools for getting to game on an auction where you have tried to pass out the contract at the 2-level in the same denomination. If you genuinely think that you can have 3NT making after this start to the auction sufficiently often to make it work discussing conventional bids I suggest you rethink your methods after the 2C rebid (or indeed the 1NT response).

Yours,

A Simple Soul

Um, the goal is not to find 3NT. It is to find 5♣.

Responder held ♠xx ♥Kx ♦xxxx ♣KJxxx. You'd pass 2♣ with that, surely?

What if Opener held:

♠A109xx ♥AJx ♦-- ♣Axxxx?

Surely 2♣ is enough, eh?

But, after this is passed around to a reopening X, 2♥ seems right, no? Responder might now bid 4♣, but that seems much. 2NT as an impossible bid and hence a power club acceptance would allow us to reach 5♣, often making an overtrick and very possibly two overtricks.

[cherdano]

Lol, why wouldn't you jump to 4♣ with that hand, after opener bids 2♥? What do you think opener has?
(Actually I would have expected you to bid the obvious 3♦ Blumer, but...)

[mike777]

"Responder held ♠xx ♥Kx ♦xxxx ♣KJxxx. You'd pass 2♣ with that, surely?"


I rebid 2s with that responder hand.

2s says you have 3 spades and less than constructive or 2 spades and at most 9hcp.

[kenrexford]

mike777, on Jan 5 2009, 02:01 PM, said:

"Responder held ♠xx ♥Kx ♦xxxx ♣KJxxx. You'd pass 2♣ with that, surely?"


I rebid 2s with that responder hand.

2s says you have 3 spades and less than constructive or 2 spades and at most 9hcp.

An unfortunate decision, opposite the actual hand. 2♠ has no prayer, whereas 3♣ is lay-down. Especially bad at IMPs. If that is OK with you, then tweak the hand ever-so-slightly to something like a stiff spade and five small diamonds, or whatever.

As to Cherdano's idea of jumping, that was the option taken at the table, before discussion. However, 4♣ can (should) be set (5-1 spade stack). Why force the four-level to invite game? Why not simply bid 2NT to show "something meriting a jumping invite" and then have partner not sign off at 3♣ if he would be interested?