[Benoit35]

Partner opens 1NT (15-17) in second seat. You have:

♠AQ764
♥K8542
♦95
♣J

How do you respond with a competent pick-up partner? With a regular partner?

What I did:

Spoiler

Used Stayman, planning to reply 2♥ (criss-cross) if partner denied a 4-card major. If he then said 2NT denying three spade cards, I would go to 4♥ knowing that he couldn't have two major doubletons, having to play the hand myself.

All of this with a new partner. Fortunately, he replied 2♠.

If you're nice I'll post a follow-up question.

[jillybean]

2♥ transfer to ♠ then bid 3♥

Why cant partner have doubletons in the Majors?

[marcD]

I want to be in game with that hand facing a strong NT. With a regular partner 4♦ showing 55 in the majors without slam ambitions. Barring that Stayman and over 2M I raise to game , over 2♦ 3♥ smolen (5S4H) and probably 4H if partner does not raise (passing 3NT is a possibility but I do not think it is a long term winner)

[helene_t]

What Kathryn (Jillybean) says is standard and I don't think it can be misunderstood - however, some partners might not be confident that you have five hearts, so if it goes

1NT-2♥
2♠-3♥
3NT

you can decide to bid 4♥ (especially if you are sure that partner can't have two doubletons in the majors, of course).

If it goes
1NT-2♣
2♦-2♥

most would take it as a weak hand with five hearts and 4-5 spades and would pass unless spades are better than hearts - even with 17 points. So this is not what you should do with this hand.

[Hanoi5]

How about using Texas Transfers, in which 4♣ shows this hand.

[helene_t]

Hanoi5, on Jan 8 2009, 11:17 AM, said:

How about using Texas Transfers, in which 4♣ shows this hand.

Yeah that's what I do with Shogi, too, but the question was what to do with an unfamiliar partner, relying only on "standard" treatments, whatever that is.

Edited: oops sorry Hanoi, just realized there were two questions, one about a pick-up partner and one about a regular partner.

[Hanoi5]

Then I'd bid 2♥ and rebid 4♥ over 2♠.

[helene_t]

Hanoi5, on Jan 8 2009, 11:50 AM, said:

Then I'd bid 2♥ and rebid 4♥ over 2♠.

oops splinter

OK, it will probably work as well.

[Fluffy]

It doesn't matter that partner might have 2 doubletons in the majors, this hand plays 4M anyway.

[Benoit35]

Quote

Hanoi5, on Jan 8 2009, 11:50 AM, said:

Then I'd bid 2♥ and rebid 4♥ over 2♠.

oops splinter

OK, it will probably work as well.

Speaking of... here's that other question:

After 1NT - 2♣ - 2♠, somehow I was emboldened by the 5-4 fit and felt that there was less possibility of a misunderstanding so I replied 4♣. He took control at this point and tried the slam, which went down 1 on bad luck (3-1 trumps and 5-1 hearts).

My questions are, is it a common or advisable thing to splinter 1) after a Stayman? 2) after a transfer? 3) More generally, holding the hand with long trumps?

Partner held:

♠JT83
♥AT
♦AKT4
♠A32

[kenrexford]

With reg, 3♦ for majors.

[hrothgar]

Hanoi5, on Jan 8 2009, 01:17 PM, said:

How about using Texas Transfers, in which 4♣ shows this hand.

???

I am somewhat confused by this comment.
What auction are we talking about?

My understanding is that "Texas Transfers" describes the auction

1N - 4♦ and
1N - 4♥

The use/failure to use of Texas introduces a number of negative inferences which impact the Jacoby structure.

I've never heard people refer to

1N - 4♣ = 5-5 in the majors

as an integral part of the Texas Transfers.

[Fluffy]

Splinter is great on any hand that thinks of slam, helps you find out about how well the hands do fit.

[hrothgar]

There's been a lot of discussion about showing shape, but not all that much about showing strength.

One of the problems with 5-5 hands is letting partner know whether you're showing

1. an invitational hand
2. GF values
3. Slam invitational values

Some NT response structures use

3♥ = 5+ / 5+ in the majaors with invitational values
3♠ = 5+ / 5+ in the majors with GF values

The transfer followed by 3M shows a slam invite. 5-4 patterns with both majors work through Smolen.

I've also seen schemes in which GF 5-5 with little / no slam interest work through Smolen.

On this hand, you'd anticipate an auction like

1N - 2♣
2♦ - 3♠
3N - 4♥

[vuroth]

I like 2♥ 3♥ 4♥.

Given that partner bid 2♠ over Stayman, I like 4♣. What I don't like is partner's response to it.

This has always kind of bugged me. Ace out opposite a splinter isn't a terrible holding, but I always felt that it wasn't as clearly helpful as a trash holding. Having those 4 points in the other suits, connecting to other honours, can make things easier.

I'm not saying I'd abandon ship with p's hand over 4♣, but I think I'd bid 4♦ rather than grabbing the steering wheel.

0.02

Vuroth (Intermediate)

[kenrexford]

hrothgar, on Jan 8 2009, 09:38 AM, said:

There's been a lot of discussion about showing shape, but not all that much about showing strength.

One of the problems with 5-5 hands is letting partner know whether you're showing

1. an invitational hand
2.  GF values
3.  Slam invitational values

Some NT response structures use

3♥ = 5+ / 5+ in the majaors with invitational values
3♠ = 5+ / 5+ in the majors with GF values

The transfer followed by 3M shows a slam invite.  5-4 patterns with both majors work through Smolen.

I've also seen schemes in which GF 5-5 with little / no slam interest work through Smolen.

On this hand, you'd anticipate an auction like

1N - 2♣
2♦ - 3♠
3N - 4♥

1NT-P-3♦(majors)-P-
3M(agrees trumps)-P-?

Relay = lower stiff/void, max slam interest
R+1 = higher stiff/void, max slam interest
R+2 = lower stiff/void, mild slam interest
R+3 = higher stiff/void, mild slam interest
Game = no slam interest

Opener can also bid 4♥/4♠ with no slam interest even if Responder does, or 4♣/4♦ with some other specific hand as agreed.

[mike777]

Smolen:


1nt=2c
2d=3h(forcing 5s and 4h)

[Benoit35]

Quote

I'm not saying I'd abandon ship with p's hand over 4♣, but I think I'd bid 4♦ rather than grabbing the steering wheel.

He did both, actually.

The rest of the auction went 4♦ - 4♠ - 4NT - 5♦ - 6♠.

[realnumpty]

With regular partner using heeman:

1nt - 2♦ (transfer 4+♥)
2♥ - 2♠ (4+♠ INV+)
3♣ (max) - 3♦ (retransfer 5+♥ GF after max)
3♠ (sets ♠) - 4♣ (cue 1st or 2nd bypassing serious 3nt)
4♦ (cue 1st or 2nd) - 4♥ (cue 1st or 2nd)
4nt (6 ace RKCB when two suits shown) - 5♦ ( 2 or 5)
6♠ - pass

At first I thought these methods handled the hands nicely but on reflection I am not so happy. Should the 4♥ bid be LTTC? Also 6 Ace RKCB really sucks here as Axxx(x) opposite JTxx in trump is possible as asking for queens takes the bidding beyond 5♠. Ordinary RKCB works much better here. All thoughts appreciated.

[BobElliott]

Agree with Ken...3D = 55 MAJ. GAME + .... ALSO:

2C - 2D - 2S = INVL. 55/54

2H - 2S - 3H = INVL. 64.

2D - 2H - 2S = INVL. 45/46.

2C - 2D - 3M = SMOLEN 4M & 5 OM (GAME + ).

2C - 2D - 4C = SLAM INV.+ 4S & 6H.

2C - 2D - 4D = SLAM INV. + 6S & 4H.

2C - 2D - 4M = 6M & 4OM TO PLAY.