[quiddity]

Scoring: IMP


W N E S
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      2S X
P 2N P 3C
P 3S P 4H
P P P

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North's sequence showed 4 hearts and a spade stopper, choice of games.

1. After 3S, should South cuebid 4C or 4D? Is the cuebid mandatory or does it show extras? In the actual auction, should North continue past 4H?

2. How do you play the "slow" cuebid vs the "fast" cuebid after a weak 2?

[awm]

I don't think 4m is necessarily a cuebid over 3♠. What if south has a five-card minor and extras, such as x AQx KQJxx AJxx. Bidding 3NT here seems quite wimpy as slam could easily be on, and it seems normal to introduce the minor suit.

Anyway I think north owes partner another call on this auction, with 16 high opposite at least an opening bid and a known fit in hearts. Even the spade holding is not nearly as bad as it could be (compare to KQxx which might be useless in a heart contract).

[whereagles]

Right. Pass over 4♥ seems a bit pessimistic. It usually pays to play safe over prees, though.

[MarkDean]

I would probably have had the same auction if I bid both hands. I also think it is an interesting play question if you are in it.

[gnasher]

I think that 4m is natural, and I wouldn't take any stronger action with either hand.

Some people use one of the cue bids to distinguish strength. That might work well here, but I don't usually play that.

[barmar]

It sure would be nice to have an auction that leads to North being declarer, to protect against a ♠ lead.

[rbforster]

awm, on Mar 30 2009, 01:20 PM, said:

I don't think 4m is necessarily a cuebid over 3♠. What if south has a five-card minor and extras, such as x AQx KQJxx AJxx.

Is this in the range where you've got "some extras" but not enough to bid 3♦ instead of relaying with 3♣ over lebensohl? Or is this an argument that 4♣ needs to be natural above, but 4♦ can be a cue of some sort?

Getting back to making North's owed call instead of just 4♥, is 4N blackwood in hearts or quantitative in NT?