[cRi cRi]

Scoring: IMP

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2♣ - 2♦
3♦ - 3NT AP

5♦ is making and 3NT is down 1.

Bad luck ?

[mich-b]

I think North's hand is not good enough for 2♣.
I would open 1♦ planning to rebid 3NT.

I don't think I would get to 5♦ (which is a poor contract anyway), unless EW bid ♠s (which is quite likely to happen after a 1♦ opening).

[the hog]

Nope. Hate the 2C opening with an absolute passion. If you open 2C you should be prepared to double any opponents bid, even if partner has trash. Would you be happy doubling 4H/S with your hand?
Mind you, 5D is certainly no thing of beauty. You may well get to 3NT anyway:
1D 1H 3NT or something similar.

[gwnn]

you do realize that OP is French no? they have 2 strong openings so I think 2♣ is good. that said I'm not really acquainted with said style so I'm not 100% sure of all the implications.

[Cascade]

I wouldn't dream of opening 2♣ with this 17 HCP.

Basically you preempted yourself so you start bidding suits at the three-level and then wonder why you have to guess and have guessed badly.

[helene_t]

It's not like this hand has an easy rebid so 2♣ is OK with me playing a French 2♣. It might go
2♣-2♦
3♦*-3♥
4♦-5♦
pass

*non-forcing.

Of course the way to the best contract is
1♦-pass

which I think would happen at most table at our club (unless opps bid spades).

[cRi cRi]

Well, I have to confess that, even if I am French, 2♣ was Game forcing.
But I strongly disagree with this dbl thing after 2♣ opening.
Anyway, I can always bid 5♦ over 4♥ or 4♠ From the oponent.

Talking about the South Hand now, everyobdy (exept Helene) Is OK with 3NT ?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

Even playing Benjamin, the hand is to weak for 2C,
but as always knowing the style of your partnership
is most important.

But in the end, it is purely bad luck.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Fluffy]

If you open the french 2♣ you should rebid 3NT and get the heart lead

I would not open 2♣, I have played the french 2♦ GF for sevral years and it is not good.

[pooltuna]

not Bad luck, bad bidding! This is not a 2♣ opener

[andy_h]

I really don't see what is wrong with opening 1♦ planning to rebid 3NT as this sequence is so perfect. By opening 2♣ you're prone to preempts and possibly would not be able to show your hand but at the 5-lvl and in no way am I prepared to bid 5♦. That sequence 2♣ then 5♦ shows a ton better hand than we have.
Anyway, bidding anything other than 3NT with the South's hand (on the actual auction) is just resulting.

[Phil]

Hate 2♣.

1♦ - 1♥ - 3N looks obvious.

What might happen on this layout is the opponents will bid spades. I don't know if thats enough to warn you off 3N, but it might be.

[cRi cRi]

Ok, now there is the trick, We play 1♣ 1♥ 3NT as a fit bid.

[Phil]

cRi cRi, on Jul 29 2009, 10:39 AM, said:

Ok, now there is the trick, We play 1♣ 1♥ 3NT as a fit bid.

cRi cRi....

All of my peers appear to have graduated from genius school.

You now restore hope that there is a freshman class of genies that have arrived.

This is a good thing. After 4-5 years, and 7,000 posts, you'll be alive in Day 3 of the Spingold

[cRi cRi]

Well .... you play what you'v been tought, and I am French.

French level is not that great internationaly I admit, but 100% of french people play this as a fit showing bid.

I am not saying it is better, far from it. But, well, I polosh will play p olish club, you can like it or not, he will always play polish club with an other polish. Same here with French.... Making fun of us should not be the point here.

[Phil]

cRi cRi, on Jul 29 2009, 10:52 AM, said:

Well .... you play what you'v been tought, and I am French.

French level is not that great internationaly I admit, but 100% of french people play this as a fit showing bid.

I am not saying it is better, far from it. But, well, I polosh will play p olish club, you can like it or not, he will always play polish club with an other polish. Same here with French.... Making fun of us should not be the point here.

I'm pretty sure in SEF that 2♣ shows a good, but not quite GF hand, sort of like the old "standard international' that was an off-shoot of Romex.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but this hand definitely qualifies as a 2♣ opener in SEF.

Therefore, 1m - 1M - 3N, is not needed as a good hand, at least 2/3 outside suits stopped, which is how its played in other parts of the world.

If the French want to play it as a "fit bid" (whatever that means in this context), go ahead.

Oh and by the way, be proud of your record in international play, especially the ladies

[Free]

I disagree that this is a good SEF 2♣ bid. If the long suit was a Major, sure, but it's ♦!

[WesleyC]

I think its impossible to avoid 3NT on this hand if the opponents don't bid spades. You can't win them all!

1D-1H-3NT seems like a normal auction.

cRi cRi: Using 1D 1H 4D* & 1D 1H 4H to show hands with a fit might be a worthwhile change to your system.

[cRi cRi]

This is not really the point I wanted to talk about but, we play, as most french :

1♦ 1♥ 3NT = Balanced hand with 4♥
1♦ 1♥ 4♥ = Unbalanced hand with 4♥ showing 5 ♦
1♦ 1♥ 4♦ = 4♥ And 6 strong ♦ (at least AKQxxx) .

Once again, I am not saying that this is best, just that this is what we play, and what we have been though from the very begining