[Antrax]

jillybean, on 2011-June-30, 00:40, said:

You hold AKJT2, KT3, void, T9743 and open 1♠ in second seat. (IMP NV)

(P) 1♠ (2♣) X
(3♣) P (P) 3♥
(P) ?

Experts, please hold off on your answers until some B/I's have had a chance to respond.

jillybean, on 2011-July-01, 12:31, said:

Partners hand was Q QJ98xx KT9xxx void, 4♥ the winning bid.

Could someone elaborate a bit? I know it's probably a silly question, but why doesn't partner balance with 3♦? doesn't it have a greater chance of finding a fit after I could find no bid over the negative double?
Moreover, how does the play go? Do you make if hearts are 4-1? Diamonds 5-2?

[wank]

Antrax, on 2011-July-01, 12:58, said:

Could someone elaborate a bit? I know it's probably a silly question, but why doesn't partner balance with 3♦? doesn't it have a greater chance of finding a fit after I could find no bid over the negative double?
Moreover, how does the play go? Do you make if hearts are 4-1? Diamonds 5-2?

whilst it's true that bidding 3♦ would show hearts (i.e. already shown) and diamonds, it wouldn't show the extra heart length i.e. the 5th and 6th. one may very well decide that the long heart suit was the most important feature of the hand as 4♥ is the most likely game and hearts is the best scoring partscore.

as for the play in 4♥ you want to cross-ruff - if the opps don't lead trumps, you've got 5 trump tricks in the long hand, 3 ruffs in dummy and the AK of spades (maybe 3 spades). you don't care how anything breaks because you've ruffed with all your low trumps so if you get overruffed you only have high trumps left.

if the opps try to spoil your party by drawing 2 rounds of trumps on you, you just run the spades.

[hrothgar]

Antrax, on 2011-July-01, 12:58, said:

Could someone elaborate a bit? I know it's probably a silly question, but why doesn't partner balance with 3♦? doesn't it have a greater chance of finding a fit after I could find no bid over the negative double?
Moreover, how does the play go? Do you make if hearts are 4-1? Diamonds 5-2?

With a 6-6 shape, I am planning on pulling partner's 3NT
Therefore, I prefer to show Hearts rather than Diamonds

[han]

Partner should just bid 2H over 2C and then bid diamonds. If you count 8 HCP and conclude that the hand is not good enough for 2H then there is something seriously wrong.