[Quartic]

Playing in my local club with an infrequent partner, we had this tricky hand:

---

Unfortunately, we hadn't discussed any defence to two-suited overcalls, so all bids from 2♥ onwards were complete guesswork.

Assuming a natural 1♣ opening, how would your auction continue after a 2♣ overcall? What about over 3♣ also showing both majors? (This was the bid at some other tables.)

[dwar0123]

1♣-2♣-2♥-pass
4nt-pass-3 keys-pass
7♣

Looking at west's hands, I am not sure what else he needs to know except where the 3 aces are.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

A) Opps helped you agree ♣ at a low level.
B) So it is easy to use Minorwood ( 4C ) as RKC -- let's say by East .
C) West shows 2 + ♣Q .
D) Now this allows for TWO low-level K-asks ... ( the first guaranteeing ALL key cards + the trump Q ).
E) West is the only one who knows of the extra length ♣ suit and can count 12 tricks, so he is the one to take the plunge at 7C after the 2nd K-ask. He is hoping Partner has "something else" besides the 3 bullets to garner the 13th trick.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

dwar0123, on 2012-February-24, 18:15, said:

1♣-2♣-2♥-pass
4nt-pass-3 keys-pass
7♣

Looking at west's hands, I am not sure what else he needs to know except where the 3 aces are.

West shouldn't go RKC not knowing about 2 quick losers in ♠. What if East showed only 2 key cards ?

[Cyberyeti]

I'd have been inclined to say that 2♥ was an invitational raise (so 4N is ridiculous) and 2♠ was FG, obviously your partner felt otherwise. Asking for aces with whichever of 4♣/4♦ does it for you is fairly reasonable although if you get an answer of 2, you have no clue as to whether partner has: Jxx AJ, AQJx, Jxxx or AKJx, xx, Axx, Jxxx so no clue whether to bid 5 or 6, so there must be a better way, 4N is even worse as it will commit you to 6 or 5N opposite 1.

I think I'd bid:

1♣-(2♣)-2♠(GF clubs)-3♣-3♦-3♥-3N-4♦(KC, if partner has a spade stop, would be unlucky to have 2 losers there)-4♥(0/3)-5♣(signoff opposite 0)-5N(3 keycards, extras, but no side K)-7N

I'd probably have opened 2N which might have shut opps up, 2N-3♣-3N(2♠2-3♥)-4♣-4♥(keycard ♣)-4♠(0/3)-5♣(signoff opposite 0)-5N(3 keys,extras but no side K)-7N.

[mike777]

dwar0123, on 2012-February-24, 18:15, said:

1♣-2♣-2♥-pass
4nt-pass-3 keys-pass
7♣

Looking at west's hands, I am not sure what else he needs to know except where the 3 aces are.

I only count 12 tricks but this gets us to 13.

3h over 2h then 3s
4d(rkc for clubs)=4h=(0-3)
5h(KH, deny Ks, grand try)=6c(deny kd and ks)
6d(kD)=7nt (bids 6nt without QD)

[Flem72]

dwar0123, on 2012-February-24, 18:15, said:

1♣-2♣-2♥-pass
4nt-pass-3 keys-pass
7♣

Looking at west's hands, I am not sure what else he needs to know except where the 3 aces are.

Yeah, but looking at E's hand, is 2H (=LR+?) all that attractive? Why not the more flexible double, showiing values and cards in at least one major opposite what may be a WNT kind of hand?

Regards and Happy Trails,

Scott Needham
Boulder, Colorado, USA

[aguahombre]

Flem72, on 2012-February-24, 22:05, said:

Yeah, but looking at E's hand, is 2H (=LR+?) all that attractive? Why not the more flexible double, showiing values and cards in at least one major opposite what may be a WNT kind of hand?

Valid point. Now, how do you get to 7C?

[Quartic]

Flem72, on 2012-February-24, 22:05, said:

Yeah, but looking at E's hand, is 2H (=LR+?) all that attractive? Why not the more flexible double, showiing values and cards in at least one major opposite what may be a WNT kind of hand?

Thankfully for my partnership, this wouldn't be an issue as we play a weak 1NT opening. We also play 4 card majors, so I know we have at least an 8 card ♣ fit. But, yes, playing a strong NT you do have to worry about the weak NT hand.

[Flem72]

aguahombre, on 2012-February-24, 22:48, said:

Valid point. Now, how do you get to 7C?

Valid point. Problem, of course, is both hold significant extras.

1C-(2C)-X-2H
2N*-(P)-3H**-(P)
4C***-(P)-4D****

* = 12-14 or 18-19, H card
** = ubiquitous cue, suggests extras/asks values
*** = real C, big hand
**** = Redwood, thinking now that 6 is possible. However, bounty abounds.

In the interests of full disclosure, I always confuse people with these ubiquities and I haven't been successful persuading regular partners to play Redwood in these 4-level things. But that's how I'd like to be able to do it.

Another way to bid it: Open W hand 2N.

[FrancesHinden]

Playing weak NT this is much easier.
Playing 5 card majors, strong NT it's tougher, but I'd expect a start along the lines of

1C (2C) dbl (3H)
3NT (P) 4C

etc