[jillybean]

We've just had a great (57.6%) game at the club tonight, here's the one hand I'd like to have again:

Scoring: MP

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Your bid.

[bluecalm]

My view is that passing sucks but it may be necessary.
Most people play a style where you can't open 2♠ with this hand. Good or bad you can't expect partner expecting that much for 2♠ even vulnerable.
That leave 1♠.
My view is that unfortunately it will cause going overboard very often if you don't have good partnertship understanding. Unfortunately in standard the sequence:

1♠ - 1NT
2♠ is basically 10-15hcp so it's close to impossible to make good decisions as responder. You will misguess quite often.

So... playing matchpoints with partner who isn't truly great I would pass it because I think opening cause too many bad boards.

Playing standardish system but in my pet style I would open this 2♠ as I like to play those as more constructive than classical.

Playing imps I of course always open no matter who I play with or what system is this.

[gwnn]

1♠

if you don't like 1♠, bid 2♠ and show a maximum.

[apjames]

6 losers and a six card suit, I'd open 1♠

[peachy]

1S. It may not work out well but the hazards in the alternatives (Pass or 2S) are probably just as bad, or worse.

[bluecalm]

Quote

6 losers and a six card suit, I'd open 1♠

I don't see a point in pointing out how many "losers" the hand has but didn't you miscount them losers on this one ?

[the hog]

2S

[JLOGIC]

I like 2S vul but it's a style thing.

[jillybean]

I opened 2♠ and partner bid 4♥, which I took to be a splinter

2♠:4♥
4♠:5♥

AQ9643, T84, 32, A5
opposite
5,AKQJ762,T,KQJT

The auction could have been
2♠:3♥
4♥:4♠*
5♦*:6♥

Or, if I open 1♠ it is easy to find.

[the hog]

jillybean, on Aug 28 2010, 02:07 PM, said:

I opened 2♠ and partner bid 4♥, which I took to be a splinter

2♠:4♥
4♠:5♥

AQ9643, T84, 32, A5
opposite
5,AKQJ762,T,KQJT

The auction could have been
2♠:3♥
4♥:4♠*
5♦*:6♥

Or, if I open 1♠ it is easy to find.

There is not really much of a point in playing splinters opposite a weak 2. Partner probably doesn't have any wasted values to evaluate.

[jillybean]

So 4♥ should be to play and 3♥ stronger?

[karlson]

I've seen many an experienced partnership have an accident with 2♠-4♥.

[JLOGIC]

karlson, on Aug 28 2010, 02:52 AM, said:

I've seen many an experienced partnership have an accident with 2♠-4♥.

?!

Jumps to game are to play, especially over a preempt!

Jilly, over 2S p 3H p your hand is much too good to just bid 4H, I would bid 4C which is a cuebid. Over that partner can bid 4D, as you might still be off 3 aces (KQJxxx xxx Kxx x), and with 2 aces partner will certainly move over 4D.

[Cascade]

I don't believe there is a gap between 1♠ and 2♠. So it is either 1♠ or 2♠. I don't care much the most important thing is that partner is on the same wavelength - its most important that partner knows what you will do not that you will necessarily judge exactly the same as your partner.

[Cascade]

JLOGIC, on Aug 28 2010, 07:55 PM, said:

Jumps to game are to play, especially over a preempt!

That is not universally true.

Many play 1♠ 4♥ as a splinter which is analogous to this auction.

Again the most important thing is that you are agreed with partner.

[JLOGIC]

Cascade, on Aug 28 2010, 03:04 AM, said:

JLOGIC, on Aug 28 2010, 07:55 PM, said:

Jumps to game are to play, especially over a preempt!

That is not universally true.

Many play 1♠ 4♥ as a splinter which is analogous to this auction.

Again the most important thing is that you are agreed with partner.

Yes 1S-4H is the specific exception to that rule if you play it that doesn't involve bidding their suit. I would take 1S-4H as natural with no agreement. I would say that makes it one of the most hard and fast rules in bridge!

By the way, 1S p 4H and 2S p 4H are in no way analagous.

[karlson]

JLOGIC, on Aug 28 2010, 12:10 AM, said:

Cascade, on Aug 28 2010, 03:04 AM, said:

JLOGIC, on Aug 28 2010, 07:55 PM, said:

Jumps to game are to play, especially over a preempt!

That is not universally true.

Many play 1♠ 4♥ as a splinter which is analogous to this auction.

Again the most important thing is that you are agreed with partner.

Yes 1S-4H is the specific exception to that rule if you play it that doesn't involve bidding their suit. I would take 1S-4H as natural with no agreement. I would say that makes it one of the most hard and fast rules in bridge!

By the way, 1S p 4H and 2S p 4H are in no way analagous.

I agree, but I also think that 1s-4h splinter is very standard.

[Fluffy]

in this zone 1♠-4♥ is specifically an exception to splinter for most (so it is natural)


jilly your partner should bid 3♥ not 4 to involve you a little, it is true that expecting 2 aces from your hand is maybe too much, but it costs nothing to go slower. If he/she takes 4♣later as a cuebid (it is a cue!) its another story.

[Cascade]

JLOGIC, on Aug 28 2010, 08:10 PM, said:

By the way, 1S p 4H and 2S p 4H are in no way analagous.

Probably a bad choice of words by me.

It maybe it maybe not.

Common rules for splinters are:

Double jumps over one-level openings;

Any jump one level above a natural forcing bid.

If you happen to play strong jump shifts then you only need the second rule.

If you have agreements like that then the two auctions are analogous.

If you have different conflicting agreements for the two auctions then they are not analogous.

[kenberg]

The sequence thatl I want to discuss with partner is 2♠-3♥-4♣. It certainly makes sense for this to be a cue in support of hearts, as recommended. With that agreement the lack of such a cue would be useful as well. After 2♠-3♥-4♥ I think I, as the heart holder, would look at my three off the top losers and pass in an instant. Mostly I would be right, whatever our agreements, because the 2♠ bidder will seldom have two aces. With the cue agreement, I will even more often be right in passing the raise to 4♥.

Btw: It is, imo, somewhat close between 1 and 2 spades as an opening bid. I do not consider passing. I think I go with 1♠. If partner has some spades, this hand has a LTC of 7 (or 7 and a half, I guess) which is about what he expects for an opening 1 bid. If he doesn't fit spades maybe we can get out in 2♠ just as if I had opened 2. Or maybe it will all go south. But I think 1♠ is my opening bid.