[MarkDean]

Scoring: IMP

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The opponents are silent:
2♣ - 2♦
2♥ - 3♦
3♠ - ?

Your agreements are that 2♦ is waiting, and that 3♣ would have been negative. Do you agree with 3♦? What now?

[JLOL]

5N

[Phil]

5N too.

I would have 2N'd over 2♥ I think.

[thebiker]

What is a 5NT response supposed to mean?
Trump ask for spades? (An explanation would be helpful to those of us who view the forum in search of new ideas and wisdom)

Don't quite see the point if thats is the case.
How does that help avoid a grand slam if some inmportant card is missing
Why not find a slower bid ?

regards

thebiker

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I guess the alternative to 3D is 2NT?

Anyway, I think 3D is fine.

Now I would bid 5H, I am not conviced, that
is best, but I doubt, that 4NT is natural, and
since I dont want to force to slam (may tell
you more about my 2C openers), it is out.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[karlson]

If 5n is pick a slam, I'm not sure I understand it. What strain do we think is going to play better than hearts, where we know we have an 8-card fit?
Might partner not bid 6♦ over 5n with Ax, figuring that he's already denied more support than that?

Mark gave me this problem earlier, but I bid 4♥ and tried to do so quickly before my tank barred partner. It really looks like I have only one useful card, but of course it's very useful, so I think 5♥ is reasonable. On many (of course not all) hands where the ♠K is all partner needs, the 5-level should be safe, and I have already promised some values.

[hanp]

As far as I know partner has shown 5+ hearts. There is no reason to think that out minor suit honors aren't useful, especially in 6NT.

[karlson]

I guess I think that 2♥ and then 3♠ should show 4-6 (and 5-6 being much more likely). With 4513 partner should bid some level of NT over 3♦, and with 4531, raise diamonds.

I would be shocked if we were not off two tricks in the minors in 6N on this auction, I would never try to get there. But apparently I think partner has shown a whole lot more shape on this auction than other people.

[jdonn]

5NT is so obvious, there is no other viable alternative.

[lilboyman]

A lot depends on your full agreements with respect to a 2C opener. Assuming 3 Diamonds is acceptable in your methods, it certainly describes your hand as to you Diamond holding. Two NT would not be a bad bid but if NT is the spot, ideally, the stronger hand should be the declarer.

Partner has shown a two-suited hand. What do you expect partner to hold for this? Many partnerships avoid bidding 2 Clubs with 5/5 or 6/5 hands except where the hands are so strong in high cards that a pass by partner cannot be risked. If this is your agreement, then your side has the high cards for slam and the question becomes what slam. If this is not your agreement, some partnerships only promise that the opener is within one or one-and-one-half tricks of game. In this case, the limit of your side based on your cover cards may only be game or one more.

In the first case (a strong 2 suiter), a NT slam seems like a logical landing place but I see no reason to race there. Four Clubs would would further describe your hand and encourage the stronger hand to initiate NT and leave room for opener to further describe by rebidding Spades or Hearts. This assumes you are not using 4 Clubs as some kind of Ace or key-card bid.

In the second case (a 9 trick promise in 2 suits), you cannot be sure your high cards in Diamonds and Clubs are working for partner. Your 3rd response is probably a choice is between a NT call and a preference for one of partner's suits. If 5 NT is your choice, your partner must have the discipline to pass without extras. If 3 NT is your choice, partner must understand that your 2 Diamond call promised only 2 controls and at least one of them is not in partner's suits. If you choose to take preference, to partner's first bid suit, you have to agree what a single raise or a double raise mean. Does a single raise mean only 2 controls or promise extra controls? Or the inverse? Also, you must agree on how many cards in support this bid promises to partner.

[thebiker]

jdonn Posted on May 3 2009, 01:52 PM
"5NT is so obvious, there is no other viable alternative"

It is clearly obvious to you but what does it mean ??

Not everyone is blessed with the ability to see into your mind

regards

thebiker

[jdonn]

thebiker, on May 3 2009, 02:06 PM, said:

jdonn Posted on May 3 2009, 01:52 PM
"5NT is so obvious, there is no other viable alternative"

It is clearly obvious to you but what does it mean ??

Not everyone is blessed with the ability to see into your mind

regards

thebiker

Asking partner to pick a slam. We have the values to play in slam, but we don't know what strain is best.

[gnasher]

karlson, on May 3 2009, 07:20 PM, said:

I guess I think that 2♥ and then 3♠ should show 4-6 (and 5-6 being much more likely). With 4513 partner should bid some level of NT over 3♦, and with 4531, raise diamonds.

How do you find a spade fit with 4513 opposite 4252?

[Fluffy]

I'd bid a natural 4NT just.

[karlson]

gnasher, on May 3 2009, 02:52 PM, said:

karlson, on May 3 2009, 07:20 PM, said:

I guess I think that 2♥ and then 3♠ should show 4-6 (and 5-6 being much more likely). With 4513 partner should bid some level of NT over 3♦, and with 4531, raise diamonds.

How do you find a spade fit with 4513 opposite 4252?

You don't. I think that's less damaging than forcing partner to bid up to the 5-level to show extreme shape, which, given the 2♣ opening, can't be that unexpected.