[jillybean]

1♦ (P) 1♥ (2♣)
X (P) 2♠ (P)
3♣ (P) 3♠

Is 3♣ gf or 1rf?

[jdonn]

How do you play the double? Support double, penalty, takeout, something else? In any case a cuebid like this by opener is generally game forcing, although some partnerships make allowances to stop in 4 of a minor if you look for 3NT but can't find it. 3♠ here is definitely forcing.

[ArtK78]

I agree. 3♠ here is definitely forcing unless there is a lot of stuff we are not being told about the auction.

For example (and I don't mean to imply that this is the case), suppose that 1♥ was a transfer to spades showing length in spades. And suppose that the double of 2♣ was a support double. Now 2♠ would be a signoff, and 3♣ would be some sort of game try. 3♠ would then be a signoff again.

Otherwise, it is quite clear that 3♠ is forcing. The only reason I am trying to come up with a reason why it would not be forcing is that it seems so clear that it must be forcing in any standard bidding structure.

[jillybean]

Double is support, 3♥'s

[Echognome]

If double is support, then what is 2♠? I would play it as a game try in first instance (akin to 1♦ - 1♥; 2♥ - 2♠). I would also play it as natural (long suit). In that case, 3♣ would be a counter try of some sort.

[jdonn]

Echognome, on Jul 14 2009, 01:05 PM, said:

If double is support, then what is 2♠? I would play it as a game try in first instance (akin to 1♦ - 1♥; 2♥ - 2♠). I would also play it as natural (long suit). In that case, 3♣ would be a counter try of some sort.

Then unless opener must bid 3♥ any time he doesn't have four spades, the 3♠ bid is game forcing as opener hasn't confirmed a spade fit.

[Echognome]

Ah. I answered the question in Kathyrn's first post rather than the poll question. As I play it, then a new suit that forced us to game would change the game try to slam try.

[Phil]

3♠ is forcing, simply because 3♣ promised another bid.

[Cascade]

3♣ GF and therefore 3♠ is forcing.

It is possible in a practiced partnership to play 3♣ is only forcing to 3NT effectively allowing your side to play in 4m if you cannot find a stopper for no trumps. Perhaps even on this specific sort of auction you could agree that 3♦ could be passed if you do not have a club stopper and responder has to bid 4♦ forcing with a better hand or a good holding (shortage) in the opponent's suit.

We normally have the general rule that if we ask for a stopper via a cue-bid or 4th suit forcing and don't find one we can subside in 4minor otherwise we are GF.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

since X is support, I would assume, that 2S showes
spades values, at least inv. values and should deny a
club stopper.
I am not sure, that 3C promises add. values, since 2S
is forcing, opener has to find a bid, and the question
is, what he bids with 4342 and 12-14.

But than 3C sounds like gf, and opener should bid 3H
with the weak NT hand, espesially if 2S denies a club
stopper (3C could still be asking for a half stopper).

With kind regards
Marlowe