[TylerE]

Assume standardish 2/1 methods. If you have some special treatment that handles this hand feel free to mention it.

Scoring: IMP

1♦ - (p) - 1♠ - (p)
?

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[aguahombre]

downgrading, here. 2D is fine with me. that stiff ace is just awkward.

[effervesce]

agree 2♦.

[the hog]

2S. Support with support.

[dicklont]

3♦.
I feel optimistic about this hand.

[Echognome]

Seems like another example of the BWDH.

[Jlall]

Super automatic 2S bid. Partner will bid over 2S way more often than he will over 2D, especially with 5 spades.

[Cyberyeti]

Jlall, on Sep 12 2009, 02:33 AM, said:

Super automatic 2S bid. Partner will bid over 2S way more often than he will over 2D, especially with 5 spades.

But will he bid enough, extreme example, KQxxxx, xx, xx, xxx will give you plenty of play for 4S, even KQxxx, xx, xxx, xxx may be enough. I've seen 3N make opposite dummys as bad as Axxx, x, xxx, J10xxx when opponents' only crime is to lead their 9 card heart suit.

My partner and I have a treatment that I wouldn't use on this hand, but is worth mentioning that 1x-1y-2N is GF and not balanced with a 3C relay (weak NT and no gap between wide range 1N rebid and 2N opener), so 1D-1S-3D is limited by the failure to bid 1D-1S-2N-3C-3D and this hand is plenty good enough, but will shut out partner's spades.

I'd probably invent a 2H bid. If partner raises, he will guarantee me a 5th spade so there's no issue there. I'll take the risk he's 4315 with a bad hand.

[Mbodell]

Jlall, on Sep 11 2009, 11:33 PM, said:

Super automatic 2S bid. Partner will bid over 2S way more often than he will over 2D, especially with 5 spades.

Agree. I hate raising with 3 card support and don't often do it. But on this hand I would since you have a bit more than a minimum hand, 3 card support with 2 honors, and a suit to ruff, plus a possible source of tricks.

[andy_h]

It's NV and I don't have that great of a hand, so put me with 2♠ as I much prefer supporting the major rather than bidding my minor.

[Fluffy]

I am overbidding to 3 diamonds

[mtvesuvius]

I really like 2♠ here. Partner may have trouble rebidding spades with 5, and the moysian very well may be the best spot. Also, partner after 2♠ can ask for Range/Length, then I can show a Maximum with 3♠. 2♦ is an underbid and risks losing the spades, 3♦ is an overbid and will almost certainly lose the spades.

[Phil]

Love 2♠. This is such a great dummy for spades.

[gnasher]

I don't understand all the enthusiasm for 2♠. Yes, it's the right bid, but it still understates the strength of the hand if partner has five spades, and also doesn't go very far in describing the diamond suit. Can't we bid 2♠ without liking it that much?

[helene_t]

I suppose I should raise with three more often since that is what the forum experts do.

I have some concerns about it, though. If partner is slamish, he has a lot of work to do sorting out the right strain. All five strains could be right after our simple raise. Hence it is not obvious that 2NT, 3♦ or even 3♣ should be forcing if one of those is his next bid. I suppose they all are, but if we also raise on 3 with all kind of minimum hands, we will end up in 3♠ in a 3-4 fit on a regular basis. Now this hand would accept any invite but even that hand causes a problem - how do we show 6 diamonds, 3 spades and extras over partner's 2NT inquiry?

[mcphee]

2S an underbid, but as Justin points out, partner is more likely to act when raised. Yes there are days when you blow game when partner holds the marvel hand. On those days you hope partner errs in the play and takes only 9 tricks. His hand could be even worse and you make 10 tricks. I have missed games before. He may also hold Kxxx xxx x Qxxxx .

[Bende]

helene_t, on Sep 15 2009, 02:54 PM, said:

I suppose I should raise with three more often since that is what the forum experts do.

I have some concerns about it, though. If partner is slamish, he has a lot of work to do sorting out the right strain. All five strains could be right after our simple raise. Hence it is not obvious that 2NT, 3♦ or even 3♣ should be forcing if one of those is his next bid. I suppose they all are, but if we also raise on 3 with all kind of minimum hands, we will end up in 3♠ in a 3-4 fit on a regular basis. Now this hand would accept any invite but even that hand causes a problem - how do we show 6 diamonds, 3 spades and extras over partner's 2NT inquiry?

I play 1♦-1♠; 2♠-2NT as forcing (often with exactly four spades), which means opener can bid something else than 3♠ with only three card support. After 2NT I would bid 3♦ with the current shape. I can't differentiate between "min" and "extras", but in the system I usually play the range is not very wide anyway (11-14 as 15-17 would rebid 3♦ showing 6♦-3♠).

[skjaeran]

Nothing is perfect here, but 2♠ is IMO clearly the best bid.

[ArtK78]

helene_t, on Sep 15 2009, 07:54 AM, said:

I suppose I should raise with three more often since that is what the forum experts do.

I have some concerns about it, though. If partner is slamish, he has a lot of work to do sorting out the right strain. All five strains could be right after our simple raise. Hence it is not obvious that 2NT, 3♦ or even 3♣ should be forcing if one of those is his next bid. I suppose they all are, but if we also raise on 3 with all kind of minimum hands, we will end up in 3♠ in a 3-4 fit on a regular basis. Now this hand would accept any invite but even that hand causes a problem - how do we show 6 diamonds, 3 spades and extras over partner's 2NT inquiry?

The method that I use over 1m-1M-2M-2NT is:

3♣ - minimum hand with 3 card support for partner's major.
3♦ - maximum hand with 3 card support for partner's major.
3♥ - minimum hand with 4 card support for partner's major.
3♠ - maximum hand with 4 card support for partner's major.

Higher bids would show a maximum, 4 card support and another feature. For example, after opening 1♦ and raising partner's major suit response, over partner's 2NT inquiry 4♦ would show a very good diamond suit, 4 card support for partner's major and a maximum.

With only 3 card support for partner's major suit, one cannot just start jumping around, as 3NT may be the right place to play the hand. The 3♦ response to 2NT is game forcing, as a maximum hand opposite a hand good enough to inquire must be enough to bid game. So partner can start looking for slam by just rebidding his major or making some other call other than 3NT or 4 of his major.

[Fluffy]

oh please helene don't fall to the dark side!

I use 2NT for slam investigation hehe.