[blackshoe]

This auction came up in today's game. We got to the right spot, but afterwards I asked my partner how she would have taken a cue bid, and she didn't know.

---

I held a 3=4=4=2 16 count, and jumped to 3♥ over 2♣, which is the same bid I'd have made had West passed. Partner bid 4, swish. With a trick more (say 19-21 points) I would have jumped to game. I feel that a 3♣ cue bid ought to (probably) be some kind of slam try, but beyond that partner and I couldn't say. So I figured I'd ask here.

[ggwhiz]

We play a 3♣ cue as a 3 1/2♥ bid, respect it and pass if pard bids only 3♥ unless we have more.

There are a lot of similar competitive situations where we play the cue as our suit level plus 1/2 until further notice. Might be a game force or even a slam try here.

3♥ might be played as the shape (weakly invitational, ie 2-4-6-1 prime 13 count) bid and 3♣ the power raise where pard should cater to a possible big one, still attempt to sign off with a pooch but return a courtesy cuebid on an acceptance with teeth. Blast game on the rest.

[aguahombre]

We use the 3C cue with game forcing hands that do not have 4 card support for responder's major ---often 3, but not often enough to be a guarantee.

[CamHenry]

I've played both "sound raise" and "good hand, no good fit" for the cue-bid here. I'm not certain which is technically better: the risk is that you can't describe the second hand type (e.g. AKx/xx/AKQxx/Qx in the auction given), but that advancer can show a fit for the overcall safely by doubling, without committing them to a sacrifice.

On balance, I prefer to play "good hand, F1" rather than a sound raise.

[MrAce]

I think the standart use of 3♣ cue has nothing to do with how many cards we have in responder's suit. I may have void in his suit or 4 card fit giant of 1 opener and inability to splinter. This is why some of the responses surprised me.

Wth am i supposed to bid with monster 1 suited hands that was not good enough to open 2♣ ?

Note that i am not saying 3♣ cue should deny any number of hearts either.

Some may think (pairs like Aguaman and his pd) 2♥ -3♥ -4♥- 4♣ splinter, raises are enough for one suit. But the matter of the fact is they are not always satisfactory.

2♥ worst opening with 4 card support
3♥ invitation, though most of us play so called strong NT , so we would not have the hand OP had.
4♥ should be spared for the hands that is borderline 3-4 ♥ bids, not neccesarilly a giant 1 level opening. Opener should bid it when he believes responder may pass with reasonable number of hands that game makes.

So 3♣ then 4♥ should be the giant imho.

[rhm]

DBL: Needs agreement whether support or showing spades. I prefer the latter when spades is the unbid suit.
2♥: Minimum with at least 3 card support unless playing support doubles
3♥: Distributional four card raise, shortage in a black suit, an offensively oriented hand, too good for a single raise.
3♣: Usually a strong HCP raise above your notrump opening range. If strong and distributional, splinter in a black suit.

Rainer Herrmann

[aguahombre]

MrAce, on 2013-May-01, 04:15, said:

Some may think (pairs like Aguaman and his pd) 2♥ -3♥ -4♥- 4♣ splinter, raises are enough for one suit. But the matter of the fact is they are not always satisfactory.

Heh. One of my frequent rants; like about having 13 or 14 ways to support an opening Major.

But, here, I don't see how 2C ---which didn't interfere with any of our non-comp raise structure --- should have any affect on the meanings or ranges of our raises. Oh, I guess there could be one case: where we were too strong to splinter with 1-4-5-3 (a hand revalued to about 21 in support of hearts) and intended to J.S. to 3C.

[jeffford76]

blackshoe, on 2013-April-30, 19:25, said:

This auction came up in today's game. We got to the right spot, but afterwards I asked my partner how she would have taken a cue bid, and she didn't know.

---

I feel that a 3♣ cue bid ought to (probably) be some kind of slam try, but beyond that partner and I couldn't say. So I figured I'd ask here.

You don't need the cue to raise (just bid 2/3/4♥), so it's a strong hand, frequently one-suited in opener's suit, but could be strong balanced with no stopper.

[ggwhiz]

CamHenry, on 2013-May-01, 01:54, said:

I've played both "sound raise" and "good hand, no good fit" for the cue-bid here. I'm not certain which is technically better: the risk is that you can't describe the second hand type (e.g. AKx/xx/AKQxx/Qx in the auction given), but that advancer can show a fit for the overcall safely by doubling, without committing them to a sacrifice.

On balance, I prefer to play "good hand, F1" rather than a sound raise.

Yeah that example hand is awkward but we play that the cue promises support (might be 3 cards as best foot forward)and would reverse into 2♠ with this one. Hoping for notrump by pard but a spade moyse isn't the end of the world and is occasionally really good.

The .1% exception to the cue promising support is a much longer solid diamond suit in a moose. We just find this to be easier on the brain, perhaps not best bridge.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

sometimes you hold a strong game forcing hand without clear direction,
espessially without a fit.
If you need a fit for the cue, what will you do with hands without a
fit, say 18-20 4-2-4-3, no club stopper?
Going via the cue, bidding 4H delayed is certainly stronger, but the
primary purpose of the cue is to find a place to play.

This depends of course on add. agreements, e.g. if you happen to play
2NT as some kind of good-bad, than the bid raise is the jump raise,
by passing 2NT, in which case the cue denies fit.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[gszes]

a 3c cue bid here can mena many different things but the general
principles of bidding do not change game or no game majors/nt/minors

We assume the simplest explanation of the cue bid and allow p to correct
our assumption if it was incorrect. FOR ex here the first duty of responder
is to bid 3n with a club stopper. Opener can always make some other bid
after 3n to show us it meant something else. What does opener do with a
hand like QJx A AKQJxxxx x? If you are allowed to x with extra values and
no clear direction that allows for a more focused use of 3c. The main thing
is to essentially ignore the interference when opener can adequately describe
their hand with support for responders suit.

[fromageGB]

I'm of the group that thinks 3♣ is normally an unspecified game force, may be anything other than a direct 3NT hand, commonly diamonds in a hand too good for a simple 3♦, or looking for a club holding in partner's hand for NT. Following the cue with a bid of 4♥ I would assume was a hand too good for an initial 4♥, that is only marginally short of a 2♣ open.

[blackshoe]

Interesting variety of responses. Thanks, everyone.