[ahydra]

MP, all vul

Partner opens 1D, not exactly what you want to hear holding

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You make the obvious 1H bid, p continues with 3D, now what? Horrible misfit, but there's still hope of slam - consider x Kx KQJxxxx AQx, and you certainly don't want to give up on 4H.

At the table I chose a rather dodgy 4C, bringing 4H from partner. Hmm, not such a misfit after all. I bid 5C trying to get the message across we needed a spade control to bid slam. Although we did stop in 5H unfortunately the defence promptly cashed ♠AK ♣A. (Partner's hand was QJ KJx AKQxxx Qx) So, was I overambitious or just unlucky?

This makes me wonder whether it's worth, in 1m-1M-3m auctions (and even 1C-1D-3C), playing 3M (3D) as forcing. After all, you're more likely to have more use for it forcing than the number of times you hold a rubbish hand with 6 hearts and no diamonds. Anyone play this? Does it work well? Here it would be perfect: 1D-1H-3D-3H-4D (heart fit, otherwise 3NT; but no spade or club control)-4H-pass.

ahydra

[manudude03]

3H is forcing after 1D-1H-3D. After that start, I'd pass 4H. It's worth noting that even the hand you gave is an ok slam, but not great (on a H/C lead, you only have 11 tricks in H or C assuming they break nicely and still need a ruff a spade before they can pull your trumps or must establish a 12th in diamonds i.e the ruffing finesse must work)

For what it's worth, I prefer 4C to show diamond support. Whether it is a cuebid or merely slam interest depends on the meaning of 1D-1H-3D-4D

[gordontd]

ahydra, on 2011-January-27, 17:58, said:

Anyone play this?

Just about everyone.

ahydra, on 2011-January-27, 17:58, said:

Does it work well? Here it would be perfect: 1D-1H-3D-3H-4D (heart fit, otherwise 3NT; but no spade or club control)-4H-pass.

I wouldn't expect 4D to show a heart fit.

[ahydra]

Wow, I had no idea that 3H in that situation is normally forcing... And the thing is, with a partner you've only played with 3 times, you can't be sure he does either.

I guess if you happen to hold Qxx J1098xxx - xxx or something, you pass 3D and apologise to partner? (One reason to play weak jump shifts, aside from the obvious space-eating problems with strong jump shifts)

ahydra

[the hog]

ahydra, on 2011-January-28, 15:26, said:

Wow, I had no idea that 3H in that situation is normally forcing... And the thing is, with a partner you've only played with 3 times, you can't be sure he does either.

I guess if you happen to hold Qxx J1098xxx - xxx or something, you pass 3D and apologise to partner? (One reason to play weak jump shifts, aside from the obvious space-eating problems with strong jump shifts)

ahydra

Well with your posted hand, Qxx J1098xxx - xxx, I would not bid over 1D. You have a misfit with partner and insufficient values. Why would you think about bidding?

[Fluffy]

3♥ is forcing, no mater how many times you played with your partner, if your partner is inexperienced then maybe he will pass forcing bids, but that's something you can't fight against.

[mtvesuvius]

the hog, on 2011-January-28, 18:58, said:

Well with your posted hand, Qxx J1098xxx - xxx, I would not bid over 1D. You have a misfit with partner and insufficient values. Why would you think about bidding?

Because you could be cold for (a grand) slam? AK AKxx xxxxx Ax lol

Passing with Qxx JT9xxxx - xxx is really bad IMO. Over 3♦ you just have to accept it though, and would pass. 3♥ is definitely forcing, if you have having trouble with partner passing forcing bids, you either need a new partner or need to study forcing bids together.