[jillybean]

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[mikeh]

North is clearly to blame here......passing 2♠ was a poor decision.

South showed a good hand with a good suit....really couldn't do more over 2N given the lack of support, the hearts shown on his right, and Axx in a minor. So when N competed to 4♠, S would feel that he was probably going to make in comfort yet would have no inkling that partner had so many working cards.....two honours in trump, and Ace and a side stiff.

I can understand that N felt torn over 2♠...does he show the diamonds or the spades? Is the hand good enough to do both? But however one answers those questions, surely the answere should not include 'pass'...it hides both features.

I personally think that this hand is probably (just) worth 3♦ followed by spades.....yes, this is forcing to game and I may end up regretting it, but fortune (usually) favours the bold and the prospect that both sides may have a double fit makes it very important to let partner know where we live.

Having passed, there is some reason to do more than 4♠....5♣ springs to mind as a possibility...it is not at all clear that that will solve the problem.....it is impossible for S to realize that this 5♣ call was based on a hand that should never have passed in the first place.

[andy_h]

Both, but more to North. North must act one way or another over 2S because it will be too hard to catch up later. Whichever route North chooses (whether it'd be 3D/3H/3S) anything is better than a pass (although I probably prefer 4D fit showing). South gets a bit of the blame too because I would just bid 4S over 2NT as one or two random cards and game is a good bet.

[pooltuna]

North should just grit his teeth and bid 4♠ that is what you do when you hold a limit raise in a competitive auction and have no easy way to show it. It would be useful if you could use unusual/unusual here but I suspect you need the minor that the Michael's caller does not have as natural.

[Zelandakh]

If North held xxx/xxxx/xxxxx/x what contract would you like to be in? Not 1S I would hope! I think South is worth a 2C opening. As others have said North is worth a bid over 2S. So with both partners underbidding their hands it is not surprising that slam was missed.

[gwnn]

I agree with the magic dinosaur (although I see that his avatar is not here anymore so I hope this isn't confusing to anyone).

[twcho]

South hand is far too strong to open a mere 1♠. Imagine north holding a complete yarborough xxx xxxx xxxx xx. Game prospect is just very very good. Even with both black suit doubleton, game is still very reasonable. After 1♠ - 2♠, north of course should do something over 2♠. I will overcall 3♦ (forcing 1 round in my partnership) with this hand. If partner bids 3♠, I may pass.

[andy_h]

For the the 2C openers (not me), did you take a look at your example hands? Opponents have a total of 22 points and we have 10(!) spades between us. I highly doubt that the auction is going to die out at 1S.

[han]

pooltuna, on 2010-November-18, 11:40, said:

North should just grit his teeth and bid 4♠ that is what you do when you hold a limit raise in a competitive auction and have no easy way to show it. It would be useful if you could use unusual/unusual here but I suspect you need the minor that the Michael's caller does not have as natural.

3H is a limit raise.

[Fluffy]

IMO north should bid 4♦, but still 4♠, 3♠, 3♥ are better than pass, even bidding 4♥ splinter is better than pass actually (close)