[Fluffy]

♠109xx
♥9xx
♦A
♣A108xx

1♦-1♠
2♥-??

Nobody vul, MPs.

Would you try to slow down into a partscore here? wich one? If it matters partner would very rarelly have 5422, and if he has 4441 he will be so strong that won't allow the slowdown.

[gnasher]

I'd bid 3NT. The fact that we don't know which partscore to play in is a good reason to play in game.

[aguahombre]

If we were to bid 3nt, as gnasher suggests, we would be showing 11-13 systemically.

So, 2NT ---followed by 3NT must cover, in addition to the less than 9-pt hands, the hands with 9-10 and no fit for partner. It is close, IMO, what to do if opener bids 3C/2NT (leben) showing a minimum. In our style 3D would also show a minimum reverse, but without club tolerance. Because opener will rarely be 2-4-5-2 (strong NT), and because it looks like we want to be in a 25-pt game here, I guess we have to suck it up and bid 3NT if opener bids 3C ---hoping they don't run the spade suit. (5C is too tough to get to for me, even if Partner has the right 1-4-5-3 17-count).

If opener bids 3D/2nt ---3nt
If Opener bids 3H/2nt ---will cue 4C (Is it a cue, a bluhmer, or a bad hand with long clubs?)
If opener bids 3s/2nt ---3nt.

[rmnka447]

Opener has reversed so shows presumably 17+ value. You have 2 bulls which should be enough for game, "misfitting" or not. (Actually, your stiff ♦ A is a terrific card opposite opener's known ♦ length.)

Not sure of your methods, but will assume something similar to what I play -- namely cheapest of 2 NT or fourth suit "could" be the start of a signoff. Under that agreement, 2 NT might be the start of a sign off here or natural. Here but you have the values to carry on over partner's next bid after 2 NT.

Reverser owes you another call to clarify what is held even over your potential signoff. Unless responder has a big hand opposite the reverse, it's often right for responder to get out of the way and let reverser describe his hand. Here 2 NT does just that.

I agree with Aguahombre suggested options over 3 ♦, 3 ♥, and 3 ♠ continuations by reverser. (4 ♣ is definitely a cue in support of ♥s in my view.) But it's just possible that reverser might bid 3 ♣ showing a 0=4=5=4 or 1=4=4=4 hand. In that case, you can raise to 4 ♣ and explore for game or slam in ♣s. It's also just possible that reverser might bid 4 ♠ showing a 4 card fit, implying a ♥ control, and a hand too good to splinter ( something like ♠ AKJx ♥ AJ10 ♦ KQ10xx ♣ x).

If you play 2 NT -> 3 ♣ as start of a sign off, then I think you've got to bid 3 ♣ showing a positive response and wait to see what opener does next.

[Zelandakh]

I am with Andy - follow whichever sequence the system uses to play 3NT, usually by just bidding it now. I would prefer not to show the defence I have good clubs and so-so spades, which is the most likely result of starting with 3♣.

[PhilKing]

3♣ over 2♥ should show this hand, but the world is not ready.

[Fluffy]

if you bid 3NT lets see how much balls you have

♥6 lead (4th best, high from doubleton or 3 small) after some tank

dummy has

♠4
♥AKJ3
♦KQJ1092
♣KJ

you had

♠10963
♥942
♦A
♣A10863

[aguahombre]

Not enough balls to hope RHO has one card higher than the 6 and it is the seven or eight. So, I can wait til later.

[Fluffy]

Spoiler

over a high heart east will play ♥7, std carding