[Mosene]

The bidding has gone:

1♦ - Pass - 1♠ - Pass
2♣ - Pass - 3♠ - Pass
???

Your hand is:

♠Q9X
♥--
♦AKJXX
♣K98XX

What do you bid next? And yes, some or many may not like the 2 club bid - but please assume that is the bid you made (I bid it saying to myself - "If I can only get by this round of bidding.")

[Echognome]

I bid 4♥, which seems to be my only strong bid in support of spades. It's a strange call that shouldn't promise a control as it is my only available cue in support of spades, but I have to do something other than bid 4♠. I will respect or cooperate with whatever partner decides to do next.

[kenrexford]

I think I am big enough to bid 5♥ here. I cannot imagine a better hand for the call.

[mtvesuvius]

I agree with Ken on a potential slam auction! Wow... What have I done

[Apollo81]

agree with 4♥; also I *really* don't think we should go past 4♠ here without cooperation from partner

[Phil]

If 3♠ is invitational, I think 4♥ is an overbid.

If 3♠ is forcing, then 4♥ is obvious.

[Mosene]

Based on these responses I really overbid the hand. It is a pick-up partner from BBO - what type of hand is expected here? How long and strong is the spade suit expected to be.

[mtvesuvius]

Mosene, on Jan 12 2009, 04:34 PM, said:

Based on these responses I really overbid the hand.  It is a pick-up partner from BBO - what type of hand is expected here?  How long and strong is the spade suit expected to be.

Probably 6+ ♠; GF; No Particular quality, but probably A or K at least...

(Edit: If 3♠ was invitational, then I would only have bid 4♥)

[Codo]

I had belived that 3 Spade is invitational for most players.
But I still had tried 4 ♥.

[Fluffy]

Between 4 and 5 hearts, I don't find that we have 5 level safety, so 4♥ will have to do it.

[mike777]

mtvesuvius, on Jan 12 2009, 04:37 PM, said:

Mosene, on Jan 12 2009, 04:34 PM, said:

Based on these responses I really overbid the hand.  It is a pick-up partner from BBO - what type of hand is expected here?  How long and strong is the spade suit expected to be.

Probably 6+ ♠; GF; No Particular quality, but probably A or K at least...

(Edit: If 3♠ was invitational, then I would only have bid 4♥)

If you play 3s as g/f here what do you do with 6s and invite?

[peachy]

Responder has six+ spades and invitational hand. If he were gameforcing, he would have bid the 4th suit first and then rebid spades.
Opener's hand has grown big (compared to many hands that he COULD have in this auction) and opener has to make a move somehow, not just bid 4S. I will bid 4H.

[kenrexford]

I also assumed GF. Ooops!

As to what to bid with six spades and invitational...

I was assuming without thinking that 1♦-P-2♠ is either weak (and hence 1♠...2♠ constructive) or that 1♦-P-2♠ was immediately constructive (8-11 or so), in which case 3♠ here shows extras.

[whereagles]

mtvesuvius, on Jan 12 2009, 06:23 PM, said:

I agree with Ken on a potential slam auction! Wow... What have I done

You showed a death wish

[Mosene]

I assumed game force. Partner had:

♠AJ10XX
♥QXX
♦XX
♣AXX

so it is not clear if it was intended as game force or not (probably but not clear).

Anyway - I had on my optimistic glasses and bid 6 spades.

I assumed GF with no discussion. It actually has reasonable play if the spade hook wins - alas, it did not.

I was mostly interested in what I could expect from that hand (assuming GF) and given that what to bid next.

[skjaeran]

I don't know why so many expect 3♠ to be GF here.
Playing a normal version of FSF, I'd expect 3♠ to be invitational, and GF hands to bid 2♥. Anyway, that's standard where I play.

I'd just raise to 4♠.

[Apollo81]

skaeran, on Jan 13 2009, 02:28 PM, said:

I don't know why so many expect 3♠ to be GF here.
Playing a normal version of FSF, I'd expect 3♠ to be invitational, and GF hands to bid 2♥. Anyway, that's standard where I play.

I'd just raise to 4♠.

I think some of the 4♥ bidders (well, maybe just me) thought we could have a slam opposite an invitational 3♠, such as AKxxxxx xxx x Qx. I do see the posts you're referring to though.