[jillybean]

Playing XYZ how do you play 2♠ in this auction, asking or showing? I think standard , 4th suit is asking, does XYZ change anything?

1♣:1♦
1♥:2♦*
2♠

[mike777]

never asking


always showing.

I think responder is captain on this auction.

[Fluffy]

To me it is very obviously showing 4 cards in spades*, however I have never played 4th suit forcing on any auction by opener.

*:2♠ might promise an unbalanced hand also for some people but that is another question.

[jillybean]

Fluffy, on 2011-April-28, 06:18, said:

To me it is very obviously showing 4 cards in spades*, however I have never played 4th suit forcing on any auction by opener.

*:2♠ might promise an unbalanced hand also for some people but that is another question.

Hi, 2♠ is not 4sf, 2♦ created the game force.
With spade control why wouldn't opener bid 2N?

[helene_t]

2♠ shows spades. 2NT would show a balanced hand.

What if you have a balanced hand and four spades? I think 2NT is best. 2♠ has quite a wide range and it may get overloaded if it contains 12-14 balanced in addition to 11-18 4414/4405.

What if you have a balanced hand without a spade stopper? I think 2♥, the most economical bid, is best, unless you are happy to bid 2NT without a spade stopper. 3♦ on a 3-card suit may be more natural but it gets overloaded if it contains unbalanced (1435, 1436) as well as balanced hands.

What if you have an unbalanced hand with a spade stopper but less that four spades? I think 2NT is ok with 3415 if 12-14 points, at least if the diamond is an honour. Otherwise 3♣ with a 6-card suit or otherwise 2♥.

[jillybean]

Here's the hand Q975, AK52, V, AT654

1♣:1♦
1♥:2♦*
?

[Fluffy]

This is definetelly a 2♠ bid

[jillybean]

Q975, AK52, V, AT654

Now what

1♣:1♦
1♥:2♦*
2♠:3♣
?

[Phil]

jillybean, on 2011-April-28, 08:03, said:

Q975, AK52, V, AT654

Now what

1♣:1♦
1♥:2♦*
2♠:3♣
?

I'd try 3♥. I'm unclear if we are going to play 3N, 5♣ or higher, but all I know is that I'd rather be describing my hand rather than v.v..

[Fluffy]

4♣

[han]

Yep, 4C. If partner wanted to play 3NT opposite this hand, she shouldn't have tempted us.

[jillybean]

---

It appears all roads lead to the unmakeable 5♣

[mike777]

south for me has a clear 2c bid in xyz and walsh; not game force 2d so:

1c=1d
1h=2c!
2d!=3c(invitational)
?

[Siegmund]

Perhaps we can upgrade our Qx enough to force to game, if partner plays soundish openers.

The original question about 2S is a good one. I will add it to the list of reasons I have soured on XYZ. (I was briefly a fan, mostly as a means of tricking partners into playing 1-1-1-3 auctions as natural and forcing, accepting the cost of wasting a 2-level bid to avoid an argument.)

[Phil]

jillybean, on 2011-April-28, 17:06, said:

---

It appears all roads lead to the unmakeable 5♣

Unlucky!