[Bbradley62]

---

IMPS, in case it matters. You are playing Lebensohl. What action do you take? Thanks for your help.

[mtvesuvius]

3N - I don't have a stopper. What else is there to bid?

[Bbradley62]

mtvesuvius, on 2011-March-01, 09:47, said:

3N - I don't have a stopper. What else is there to bid?

I agree... my partner didn't, so I'm asking...

[Phil]

Bbradley62, on 2011-March-01, 09:57, said:

I agree... my partner didn't, so I'm asking...

I think this is a good problem and I agree with 3N, but not for the reasons given.

Perhaps partnerships have this agreement, but maybe they do not. If I bid 3♣, can partner reliably infer that my RHO's suits are red? If so, this is an easy auction. Partner bids the stopper he has, or 3N with both. Otherwise there is mass confusion over the meaning of 3♦ or 3♥.

There are tactical reasons to bid 3N however. With ♦Txx, I'm not terrified of a diamond lead, and partner will be passing 3N with a heart stopper. I also don't want my LHO to sneak in a 3♥ call w/r.

If LHO bids 4♥, and partner doubles, I think I need to pull to 4N. We really don't have any defense to hearts with RHO advertising a red two suiter and we have a great source of tricks partner doesn't know about. If partner makes a FP over 4♥, I will bid 5♣. 4♠ is possible, and perhaps logically should be a stopper ask. I wouldn't dare try it though.

[Fluffy]

I have clubs I can afford to bid a forcing 3♣ and hear partner's bids. Not sure if this is the right bid, but certainly it is an option. Even better option for you who allow partner to have 5 spades

[Bbradley62]

My partner decided that we should play 4♠ if I had four of them, so he bid 3♥ (Stayman) and we played our Moysian. Comments?

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Bbradley62, on 2011-March-02, 09:20, said:

My partner decided that we should play 4♠ if I had four of them, so he bid 3♥ (Stayman) and we played our Moysian. Comments?

Interesting... that option didn't occur to me, but I see your parter's reasoning now...
... to ruff Ht losers in the short trump hand.

The risk is not being able to cash enough of your Cl winners at the end, but if he has a good 4 cards Sp, you might win out.

[Gerben42]

I bid whatever shows interest in 3NT if partner has a stopper. For me that's 3♥, but standard seems to be 3NT (which I think is a terrible convention).

[whereagles]

3NT seems ok, but 3♣ should do the trick too.

[gnasher]

Gerben42, on 2011-March-02, 12:54, said:

I bid whatever shows interest in 3NT if partner has a stopper. For me that's 3♥, but standard seems to be 3NT (which I think is a terrible convention).

It's not standard everywhere.

I'd bid whatever says I want to play in 3NT regardless of partner's heart holding. 5♣ is awfully high, and even if we're off one of the red suits they still have to lead it.

[RMB1]

gnasher, on 2011-March-02, 17:42, said:

It's not standard everywhere.

Thank goodness.

gnasher, on 2011-March-02, 17:42, said:

I'd bid whatever says I want to play in 3NT regardless of partner's heart holding.

Especially if that bid is 3NT now.

[kenrexford]

This is actually one of the hands that tempts me toward old-school methods in a new-school context.

Meaning, I kind of like stolen-bid doubles (double here as a transfer to spades), so long as the rest of the methods compensate:

X = transfer to spades
2♠ = one or both minors, weak or GF
2NT = invitational of some variety, not remotely promising a stopper; typically clubs but also possibly four spades
3♣ = Puppet Stayman (modified for the context, of course)
3♦ = Invitational with diamonds
3♥ = 31 majors with clubs
3♠ = 31 majors with diamonds

Obviously, that makes 3♥ stand out.

I mean, Lebensohl is nice as an agreement to reach in a developing partnership, but I think a developed partnership can do much better.

[Fluffy]

Bbradley62, on 2011-March-02, 09:20, said:

My partner decided that we should play 4♠ if I had four of them, so he bid 3♥ (Stayman) and we played our Moysian. Comments?

Its a wrong option given that his spades are weak and yours might also be, yo play in moysan you need good trumps, combined AKQ is ideal, but AK, KQ10+ is playable, QJxx is not playable.

That's one of the reason why I prefer 3♣, I need partner to suggest spades by himself to play there

[rogerclee]

It's a general principle that if your side has a stopper in their suit, and you are very likely to be able to get to 9 tricks without setting up your 4-3 major fit or 5-2 major fit or whatever, just play 3N. That couldn't be more obviously the case here, so thinking that it's right to play a 4-3 spade fit is pretty crazy.