[sathyab]

When I was reading one of the responses in another thread, the one on a 9-count with a singleton, I was reminded of a hand that came up recently.

Scoring: MP

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LHO opens 1♦, partner overcalls 1♠, RHO makes a negative X. Your call.

If you think xxxx x AJxx KTxx was worth a 4♠ bid opp a 3rd seat 1♠ bid, you no doubt think this is worth bidding game as well, although this is MP and both opponents are bidding, but do those considerations matter to the adherents of that school of thought ? You're playing 3♦ to show a mixed raise and 4♣ would be fit-showing.

Even if you think you're going to bid game eventually are there any tactical advantages in bidding a fit-showing 4♣ bid on the way so partner's in the picture or do you simply bid 4♠ to force opponents to guess before they have had a chance to define their hands at all ? Given the colors, opponents will be inclined to double you readily if you press them too hard. Any considerations about 4♣ being lead-directing against an enemy 5-level contract ?

[mtvesuvius]

I just shoot out 4♠, I don't want to give LHO a chance to bid 4♥...

[Winstonm]

3S. MPs I don't want to go set and I want to put opps under maximum pressure. I have enough defense with my 3S bid not to be concerned if partner passes 4H and enough shape to be OK if he bids 4S over 4H.

[jdonn]

4♠. This is seriously a wtp. Any bid that doesn't get to game is far too wimpy, and any bid that gets to game more slowly is far too ineffective.

[neilkaz]

4♠ for me, inspite of it being MP. Let the opps make the last guess with as little info as possible.

[655321]

Agree 4♠ WTP.

If you want to make a lead directing or fit showing bid, Axxxxx is not the best suit for it.

And as for 3♦ mixed raise, your first priority is to play bridge. I am trying to say yes, you could describe this hand in such a way that it fits the category 'mixed raise' - but you have 4 card spade support, a singleton, shape, some values, (and, FWIW, not much defense) ... why wouldn't you just bid 4♠?

[skjaeran]

Agree that this is a clear 4♠, wtp. And I'd not raise to 4♠ on the 9-count with a singleton - at least not playing vs my own 3rd seat openings.

[fitjump]

I would bid 4 clubs, the fitjump. Fitjumps are to help a partnership make a reasoned final *guess*

[OleBerg]

fitjump, on Feb 7 2009, 06:44 AM, said:

Fitjumps are to help a partnership make a reasoned final *guess*

Then why do you make a fitjump, when you don't have the hand for it?

[jdonn]

OleBerg, on Feb 7 2009, 02:13 AM, said:

fitjump, on Feb 7 2009, 06:44 AM, said:

Fitjumps are to help a partnership make a reasoned final *guess*

Then why do you make a fitjump, when you don't have the hand for it?

Aw come on, his name is fitjump and it's his first post. What else can he do?

[Free]

jdonn, on Feb 7 2009, 08:19 AM, said:

OleBerg, on Feb 7 2009, 02:13 AM, said:

fitjump, on Feb 7 2009, 06:44 AM, said:

Fitjumps are to help a partnership make a reasoned final *guess*

Then why do you make a fitjump, when you don't have the hand for it?

Aw come on, his name is fitjump and it's his first post. What else can he do?

Maybe he should've called himself "preempt" or "game"

[andy_h]

I'm a 4S bidder as well. Axxxxx doesn't come close to a FSJ for me and besides, my hand isn't that great to be advertising to everyone and it would also allow my LHO a freerun/space if we bid 4C.

[mikestar]

4♠ wtp assuming fairly normal 1 level overcalls. If your overcalling style is very light or frequent 4 card suits, pull in a notch and bid 3♠ on these colors. In no case is 4♣ useful--they aren't getting to 3NT on this freak deal, so 4♣ effectively takes no more space than 3♠ but gets you as high as 4♠. Never choose a bid that gets you the worst of both worlds.

A further point against 4♣--it will cause they enemy to devalue secondary club honors and upgrade red suit honors, which is accurate on this hand. Stick to bidding spades and they just might bid too high or bid when they should double when their ♣ holding is something like KQx opposite a stiff.