[Phil]

Matchpoints, nv / nv

QJ8xxx x JTxx xx

1♦ - (2♣) - ?

[Fluffy]

2♠, 3♦ and pass all look close to me. I feel that 2♠ (NFB) is the right move, not riskless obviously, but has a lot of ways to win.

[Jlall]

If 2S was a negative freebid obviously bid that, but I don't see any reason to assume that when it is not specified.

I would bid 2D, planning to bid spades later if I get a chance at a reasonable level.

[karlson]

Hm, I would double and it even seems pretty normal, I've always thought this hand type is allowed. It's by far our best chance to get to spades.

Why wouldn't 2♦....n♠ show something more like KJxx x Axxxx xxx?

[Jlall]

karlson, on Nov 1 2009, 01:13 PM, said:

Hm, I would double and it even seems pretty normal, I've always thought this hand type is allowed. It's by far our best chance to get to spades.

Why wouldn't 2♦....n♠ show something more like KJxx x Axxxx xxx?

Double then diamonds to me shows 4 spades and an inv hand, like the hand you just gave for 2D then 2S. 2D then 2/3S to me shows a weak hand with long spades and some diamonds like the one posted.

[jdonn]

I agree exactly with jlall. I have bid this way before on shapes like 5-5.

[karlson]

Wasn't planning on double then diamonds (about which I agree), just double then spades.

Anyway, certainly you can play that diamonds then spades shows this, but it seems like you'll get to play 2d a bit more often than i would like. Or if you do it on 5-5 as well as 6-4, is partner going to sit it out with two spades and 5 diamonds? At mp, playing diamonds might be a disaster.

[dellache]

I'd bid 3♦ : where are the Hearts ?
Of course, if I play 2♠ as NFB, that's my call.

[Phil]

dellache, on Nov 1 2009, 02:07 PM, said:

I'd bid 3♦ : where are the Hearts ?

Hearts are about to bid by your LHO.

I passed and competed to 3♠ over RHO's raise to 3♥. This gave LHO a fielder's choice and they took the 800. Pard held a 1=3=5=4 and hitched over the double, so I chose to sit (4♦ x'd only goes for 300, maybe 100). I don't feel like I could take the push based on the pass.

2♦--> 3♠ is much better and I hadn't considered it at the time. Pard would have an easy pull to 4♦ now.

[Jlall]

karlson, on Nov 1 2009, 01:55 PM, said:

Wasn't planning on double then diamonds (about which I agree), just double then spades.

Double then spades doesn't show any diamond support imo. I would do that with KQTxxx Qxx xx xx.

[whereagles]

agree with 3♦, hoping to keep the hearts shut.

[jdonn]

I want to let in the hearts to give myself a better chance of being able to bid spades next. But yes 3♦ is better if your goal is to shut out hearts.