[bid_em_up]

Scoring: IMP

RHO opens 3♦ in first seat.

Your call?

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I started to include 4♣ as non-leaping michaels in the poll, but it wasn't an option at the table. Feel free to call it "something else".

However, I'm really more interested in what you do when NLM is not available.

[Phil]

4♣.

Non Non-Leaping Michaels.

[Fluffy]

3♠

[Gerben42]

I guess without NLM (how can we live without it?) I will bid 4♦ and correct ♥ to ♠.

[mikeh]

It would be nice to play non leaping michaels, but I haven't historically missed having that gadget. It would be nice to be able to bid 4♦, intending to correct 4♥ to 4♠, but I don't have a 'stop bidding' card I can wave in front of LHO, so my correction may come at an uncomfortable level.

Of course, what's left isn't very attractive either... 3♠ means hiding clubs, and the suit isn't long enough to feel good about, with the diamond tap coming at trick one. 4♣ is nice IF we get another chance at the 4-level, but why should we?

So I return to the 4♦ bid... I hate it, but it looks like the least of evils for now.... let's hope partner gives us some rope, and we don't use it to hang ourselves. I confess I am not sure what to do over 6♥

[Phil]

If 4♦ is defined as the "majors", why would we ever make that call. We are completely hosed over...5♦...5♥...pass and why shouldn't that happen? I don't mind making cue bids that don't show what I mean them to show if I can control the auction later.

At least with 4♣ we have a reasonable shot at getting our spades in.

[whereagles]

NLM for me. Without it, well... 3♠ I guess.

[gnasher]

Phil, on May 5 2009, 04:59 PM, said:

If 4♦ is defined as the "majors", why would we ever make that call.

Is that how it's defined? Not playing NLM, I'd assume that a cue bid includes all three two-suiters, and advancer would take that into account in choosing his reply.

[Phil]

gnasher, on May 5 2009, 11:28 AM, said:

Phil, on May 5 2009, 04:59 PM, said:

If 4♦ is defined as the "majors", why would we ever make that call.

Is that how it's defined? Not playing NLM, I'd assume that a cue bid includes all three two-suiters, and advancer would take that into account in choosing his reply.

Mike's comments imply that's how he plays it. I would also assume this with a new partner, but there may be regional differences.

It seems unplayable to me to play it as three suit combinations. How can partner ever evaluate properly, and find the right strain?

[jdonn]

I would always take 4♦ as majors undiscussed but it must be regional. I know GIB plays it as any two suits and he doesn't have a region.

In the original problem I could personally bid 4♣ clubs and a major. Without that available I guess I would try 3♠ and just hope for a raise.

[Hanoi5]

4NT. Any non-both Majors two suiter.

[gnasher]

Phil, on May 5 2009, 05:37 PM, said:

It seems unplayable to me to play it as three suit combinations. How can partner ever evaluate properly, and find the right strain?

"Unplayable" is a strong word. As often over preempts, you give up some accuracy in the slam zone in exchange for improving your chances of getting to a sensible game, but bidding a slam after an opposing preempt is rare anyway. You will also sometimes play in your second best fit, because advancer has to cater for all three possible two-suiters. In this auction, for example, advancer has to bid 4♥ with 4-3 in the majors.

[andy_h]

4C. Not sure if partner is supposed to bid 4D over 4C with 4432 or 4531 but at least with one or two majors, Q/J-x of clubs and enough values for game there's more chances that he will bid 4D. Looking at my diamond void, maybe LHO will also help me out bidding 4D or 5D over my 4C and partner can still act.
2nd choice is 3S. And I would also assume 4D is both majors.