[ArtK78]

You are playing in a BBO ACBL matchpoint pair game with a good player who you have not played with in 20 years. Even then, you only played together on a couple of occasions (once was in the Spingold).

Several boards into the game, you pick up:

Scoring: MP

1♠ - (2♦) - ?

---

1) What does 3♥ mean in this sequence (your basic structure is 2/1, and you did not have any real discussion of methods)?

2) What is your call?

[kfay]

I guess without discussion and with someone who hasn't played in 20 years I would call this a weak jump shift.

That's what I'd bid because that's what I have. Nice hand for it.

[mtvesuvius]

Pass then 3♥. I haven't discussed an immeadiate 3♥ bid with most of my partners, however I wouldn't want to risk it being taken as a splinter, besides I ave too much to make a WJO.

[TimG]

This is tough. I think modern practice is 3♥ and 4♣ are likely to be fit bids, but expect that some would think 3♥, 4♣ and 4♦ were splinters. Without discussion, I think they should all be natural, but expect that most good players would assume some conventional meaning. Regardless, 4♥ would be natural.

If I were going to act, I would bid 4♥ to avoid potential confusion. I think it's close, but think I would bid 4♥ at the table.

[ArtK78]

kfay, on Mar 10 2009, 09:49 AM, said:

I guess without discussion and with someone who hasn't played in 20 years I would call this a weak jump overcall.

That's what I'd bid because that's what I have. Nice hand for it.

I didn't say that my partner has not played in 20 years - I said that we have not played as a partnership in 20 years.

[jdaming]

I don't think this will be the end of the auction lets pass now and get back in later as that will surely not be a splinter. We might even be supporting ♠ later. In all hoesty we will probably be jumping back in with a big ♥ bid then p will get the picture. I think our hand is too good to be prempting. This could still be our hand points wise if not surely distribution wise.

[H_KARLUK]

PASS

[fachiru]

To me, without prior discusion on methods:
_X=4+♥, 8hcp or so
_2♥=normal 5+ suit, forcing
_3♥=preempt, just like the hand given. This is my bid.
_4♥=splinter.

I guess you could X (or pass) then try to bid ♥, but see these options inferior to an immediate, highly descriptive 3♥ bid.

[FrancesHinden]

To me, without prior discussion on methods,

x = take-out, usually 4 hearts but can be longer if weak
2H = natural, inv values, forcing for 1 round (not promising a rebid)
4H = to play. Repeat after me: In unclear situations, game is to play.

3H = no idea. I play it as fit with most people, but when playing with someone I haven't played with a long time, who knows? With e.g. most English juniors I'd assume fit; with the pensioners at my local club I'd assume a strong jump shift.

[Apollo81]

I'd just bid 2♥, not risking any misinterpretation.

If you moved my queen to a minor then I would be tempted to bring out the undiscussed bid, but here I feel like I'm not absurdly far away from having the right values for the 2♥ bid.

[mike777]

ArtK78, on Mar 10 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

You are playing in a BBO ACBL matchpoint pair game with a good player who you have not played with in 20 years.  Even then, you only played together on a couple of occasions (once was in the Spingold).

Several boards into the game, you pick up:

Scoring: MP

1♠ - (2♦) - ?

---

1)  What does 3♥ mean in this sequence (your basic structure is 2/1, and you did not have any real discussion of methods)?

2)  What is your call?

1) I bid 3h.....this guy played in the spingold.


1b) 2h must be natural and 100% forcing with no discussion.