[mtvesuvius]

I will give both hands, and everybody can ATB later... For right now:

2♣* - 3♣**
3♥ - 3♠***

*21+ HCP; Artificial
**Positive Hand, 5+♣
***What is it?

More to come soon...

[awm]

Natural, 4-5 or 4-6 or something. If natural is a possibility, I think natural is the right answer.

If partner really had a minimum positive where getting to 3NT was the goal, he could've saved a whole level of bidding by responding 2♦. I think the 3♣ call needs to be shapely and/or slammish.

[Fluffy]

I'd play like if that's natural, but don't discard that it is a cue for hearts.

would 4♥ be forcing? probably not.

[jdonn]

I assign the blame to responder.

[RichMor]

Agree with 'awm', it's natural.

[JLOL]

yep natural, you can bid 3N without stoppers as responder in this auction (since you should have so much in the way of values that it won't be an issue that often).

[neilkaz]

3♠ is natural for me also.

[snillrik13]

Natural. Spades can be three only, but good ones. We do not want to bypass 3 NT.

[peachy]

4-card spades, IMO. I am guessing that very few people have an _agreement_ what 3S is in this auction and I don't see the logic of it being anything but natural and denying 3-card hearts. If it wasn't natural and there was no prior discussion of the meaning of this 3S call, then I will just wish "good luck with the experiment".
PS. I like to restrict the space-consuming 3C response to be six cards with two of the top three or five only if AKQxx or AQJ10x.

[FrancesHinden]

Natural, 4+ cards (OK, unlikely to be 5...).
There's no rule that says we can't have a spade fit here.

I like to play a positive response in a minor as F4NT (making 2C - 3C - 3H - 4H forcing), although that probably mitigates JLOL's comment elsewhere about Helgemo's comment that light positives can be very successful.

In practice, partner makes a positive and then supports your primary suit. When are you going to pass?

[mtvesuvius]

Okay, Have at it now:

ATB now

---

2♣* - 3♣**
3♥ - 3♠***
4NT' - 5♦''
6♥ - P


*21+ HCP; Artificial
**Positive Hand, 5+♣
***What is it?
'1430 FOR ♠
''3 or 0

[JLOL]

It's a very good contract on this auction probably.

[jdonn]

jdonn, on Feb 4 2009, 02:49 PM, said:

I assign the blame to responder.

[neilkaz]

jdonn, on Feb 5 2009, 01:07 PM, said:

jdonn, on Feb 4 2009, 02:49 PM, said:

I assign the blame to responder.

Me too....although I'd have opened 1♥ on this hand with only 17 HCP as it is so rarely passed out when we have game.

3♠ seems like a new partner asking bid.

Just my opinion .. neilkaz ..

[mtvesuvius]

JLOL, on Feb 5 2009, 02:07 PM, said:

It's a very good contract on this auction probably.

Sadly, the person on lead has Txxx in ♠ and found a spade lead... (As we deserved)

[Fluffy]

This is not remotelly close to a 2♣ opening IMO, but still south has a big rebid problem when north has a real hand.

I try to avoid bidding clubs when I have 5 of another suit.

[nxw0016]

3♠ looks natural, or at least its bidder has a plan of how to handle the auction afterward.

By responding 3♣ over a strong 2♣ opening, you have to be prepared to look for a fit starting at the 3 level. If your hand can not afford to do so, it might be better to use an artificial 2 level response depending on your system.