[cnszsun]

Scoring: IMP

1♦-1♠
2♣-2♥*
2N-3♣
3♥-3N

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1, do you like my 2NT or prefer to bid 3c?
2, what's you final choice, 3nt or 5c?

[maggieb]

1) 3♣ in my opinion is the better bid, there are a lot of hands where partner is heavy in the minors but is uncomfortable about exploring slam opposite a 5-4 hand. 2N is a thoughtful bid though, and I would be interested in hearing some other people's opinions about this.
2) 3N of course, the diamonds are a huge liability in 5♣. Partner wants to play 3N and we have a minimum with ♥AK! In fact now I am very happy with my decision to rebid 2N instead of 3♣.

[phil_20686]

I think this problem is much more complex than maggieb suggests.

For one thing, is partner pbliged to show 4 clubs after your 2N bid? I am not so dogmatic in my approach, i think that with a balanced hand and 4 clubs i will normally bid 3N, unless the hand is very suity, particularly if i have a heart fragment. I would think that partner is suggesting that we try 5c by bidding 3c at all, in the context of the fact that he clearly didnt have a club slam try or he would not have signed off over 3N.

Further, a lot depends on the meaning of 3s here? Personally, I think that the spade suit is still live here. Partner could be 6-4, or a very good 5s4c. Thus his 3N doesnt really express anything except an unwillingness to go past 3N opposite a random hand that is 54 with a heart control.

We should be looking at whether to bid 5c based on the fact that we are certainly in a 9 card fit with partner having something in his hand that suggests a suit contract. He could have a stiff in either red, or be 2-2 in the reds. The danger of our own h and is that we have to many controls missing in our diamonds. However that is equally a danger in 3N. if we are missing the ace of spades and two top diamonds then 3n doesnt rate to be a great spot, unless partners spades are solid.

I think its very close between bidding 5c and passing. I thought originally i was going to decided to bid 3n as the hand is kind of stodgy, but thinking and writing this has decided that most hands where 3n will be good will play equally well in 5c. For 3N we essentially need to be able to knock out one oppo card and then cash 9, as they will probably lead a heart and parnter doesnt rate to have anything there. Ill bid 5c.

[ONEferBRID]

I hope we aren't missing a Club slam.

I tend to agree with the 2NT call with 2 stoppers in the 4th suit.
With a stronger hand, I would rebid 3C to show my 5-5.

But after partner shifts the focus to Clubs with his 3C bid, I would like to explore slam at a low level. Hopefully, we would have something like 4C! ( Minorwood in a GF auction ), or 4D!-jump ( Redwood ) or even 4H! ( the out-of-the-picture suit ) as RKC for Cl.

[Jlall]

Prefer 3C if partners 3H bid over that would be a punt, prefer 2N if partners 3H bid over 3C would be 5-5 majors.

Pass now.