[gnasher]

Scoring: IMP

---

Pass-2♣
2♦-2♠
3♣-3♦
3♠-3NT
?

[JLOL]

First instinct was 4N, it actually seemed quite normal, but I am really worried 6S is the right spot (AKTxx Ax AKQx Kx etc) and we won't get there if I bid 4N. Maybe partner will bid 5N and pass 6S though with that... I don't really see what else I can do anyways.

Actually reconsidering it maybe I am supposed to just drive to slam? I think that's too much though... so back to 4N heh.

Actually I have changed my mind again, I think it's not worth a slam force but I like 5S. It gives us a presumably safe out, and makes sure we get to spades when it's right. Good problem.

[MFA]

I would expect 4♣ from me to be natural, so all there is left, if I want to show a good spade raise, is 4♥. So that's my bid. I want to emphasize spades with this hand. I have ruffing power and I need to tell him about my good support.

[H_KARLUK]

Pass

[rogerclee]

Nice post, Michael, I agree with your logic.

[jdonn]

I would bid 5NT then 6♠ over whatever he does to offer a choice between that and 6NT, which I think emphasizes spades just about the right amount. I am willing to force to slam on this hand.

[ASkolnick]

I bid 4N even if spades is right. We already showed tolerance with 3♠ and I don't think you have enought to force to slam. So if 6♠ is right, he could bid 6♠.

[jdonn]

I have to say, good problem. 6 posters, 5 answers (P, 4♥, 4NT, 5♠, 5NT). One of them is a LOL but good problem anyway.

[FrancesHinden]

I'm only not answering because I know the hand (I was a team-mate).

Clearly you can't pass 3NT (that's the LOL), but whether you invite or drive slam depends a bit on your style of 2C opening. If partner likes to open hands at the 1-level unless he has a serious monster, this is a drive (in which case I like 5NT if that's pick). If partner opens 2C rather more often, this is an invite.

I quite like this super-scientific 4H bid. And as I know who your partner was, he would very much like any super-scientific bid we were to choose.

[OleBerg]

MFA, on Feb 5 2009, 03:00 AM, said:

I would expect 4♣ from me to be natural, so all there is left, if I want to show a good spade raise, is 4♥. So that's my bid. I want to emphasize spades with this hand. I have ruffing power and I need to tell him about my good support.

In this context, what would a 4♠ bid show? Choice of games?

[Phil]

I'm with JLOL here - I think 5♠ zeroes in on our values better. While I respect 4♥ (and the 4♥ bidders and supporters), I just don't see what it gets pard to focus on. Usually, when we make this cue bid, its when we haven't had an opportunity to support spades on a previous round.

Frankly, pard could have a 5=3=4=1 here, and I'm starting to think 4♥ is natural. Give me ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣A9xxx and wouldn't we want to bring hearts into the picture opposite ♠AKxxx ♥AJx ♦AKQx ♣K?

[jdonn]

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 11:30 AM, said:

Frankly, pard could have a 5=3=4=1 here, and I'm starting to think 4♥ is natural. Give me ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣A9xxx and wouldn't we want to bring hearts into the picture opposite ♠AKxxx ♥AJx ♦AKQx ♣K?

Why not bid 3♥ instead of 3♠ on that?

Anyway I sort of agree with your point that while 4♥ is kind of a cool bid, I'm not sure it accomplishes the intended goal.

[OleBerg]

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 06:30 PM, said:

I'm with JLOL here - I think 5♠ zeroes in on our values better. While I respect 4♥ (and the 4♥ bidders and supporters), I just don't see what it gets pard to focus on.

Sometimes it will get partner to focus on playing the good 4♠, instead of a hopeless 5♠

[jdonn]

OleBerg, on Feb 5 2009, 11:43 AM, said:

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 06:30 PM, said:

I'm with JLOL here - I think 5♠ zeroes in on our values better. While I respect 4♥ (and the 4♥ bidders and supporters), I just don't see what it gets pard to focus on.

Sometimes it will get partner to focus on playing the good 4♠, instead of a hopeless 5♠

Can you please show me a hand for partner where 5♠ is "hopeless"? It's hard enough for me to even think of one that is any worse than making unless a suit breaks 5-1, or something like that.

[Phil]

jdonn, on Feb 5 2009, 11:39 AM, said:

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 11:30 AM, said:

Frankly, pard could have a 5=3=4=1 here, and I'm starting to think 4♥ is natural. Give me ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣A9xxx and wouldn't we want to bring hearts into the picture opposite ♠AKxxx ♥AJx ♦AKQx ♣K?

Why not bid 3♥ instead of 3♠ on that?

Eh; 3♥ sounds like a punt to me that doesn't want to move past 3N. Something like x Qxx xxx KJxxxx.

[jdonn]

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 01:40 PM, said:

jdonn, on Feb 5 2009, 11:39 AM, said:

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 11:30 AM, said:

Frankly, pard could have a 5=3=4=1 here, and I'm starting to think 4♥ is natural. Give me ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣A9xxx and wouldn't we want to bring hearts into the picture opposite ♠AKxxx ♥AJx ♦AKQx ♣K?

Why not bid 3♥ instead of 3♠ on that?

Eh; 3♥ sounds like a punt to me that doesn't want to move past 3N. Something like x Qxx xxx KJxxxx.

Looks like a wtp 3NT to me, I think partner will never pass that with a singleton heart. But if we can't even agree on 3♥ I don't see how we'll ever agree on 4♥ a round later...

[orlam]

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 01:40 PM, said:

jdonn, on Feb 5 2009, 11:39 AM, said:

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 11:30 AM, said:

Frankly, pard could have a 5=3=4=1 here, and I'm starting to think 4♥ is natural. Give me ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣A9xxx and wouldn't we want to bring hearts into the picture opposite ♠AKxxx ♥AJx ♦AKQx ♣K?

Why not bid 3♥ instead of 3♠ on that?

Eh; 3♥ sounds like a punt to me that doesn't want to move past 3N. Something like x Qxx xxx KJxxxx.

Why wouldn't this hand bid 3N?

[Phil]

orlam, on Feb 5 2009, 01:45 PM, said:

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 01:40 PM, said:

jdonn, on Feb 5 2009, 11:39 AM, said:

Phil, on Feb 5 2009, 11:30 AM, said:

Frankly, pard could have a 5=3=4=1 here, and I'm starting to think 4♥ is natural. Give me ♠xx ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣A9xxx and wouldn't we want to bring hearts into the picture opposite ♠AKxxx ♥AJx ♦AKQx ♣K?

Why not bid 3♥ instead of 3♠ on that?

Eh; 3♥ sounds like a punt to me that doesn't want to move past 3N. Something like x Qxx xxx KJxxxx.

Why wouldn't this hand bid 3N?

Because of the lousy heart stopper? Because 3♥ will get pard to bid 3N with a heart stop himselfl from the correct side? with a holding like AJ or KT.

[mikeh]

I liked 5♠ before I read the posts, and I still prefer it.

As for the super-scientific 4♥.. I admire the partnerships who can successfully claim that this call will be understood... my partners would play me for something like Qx Axx xx Kxxxxx... I would never bid 3N over 3♦ with this hand....and this is too good to do anything other than 4♥, imo.

I am not especially interested in suggesting 6N. Given my spade honours, partner rates to hold a 6 card suit most of the time, and AK10xx when he holds 5.. and so the possibility of ruffing a diamond for the extra trick is simply too high to stay out of the suit contract.

Opposite me, I'd bid 6♠

Opposite a more moderate 2♣ bidder, 5♠ is enough.

BTW, I suspect that all of us 5♠ bidders (or just thinkers) treat this as a general 'do the right thing' slam try rather than a call carrying implications about a specific suit.

[mikestar]

Mark me down for 5♠ as well.