[JLOGIC]

Winstonm, on 2013-May-06, 22:26, said:

I certainly appreciate your concern, but what you cannot know (as opener) is where any stiff is located. In NT, KQ10 works pretty well opposite x, but if pard holds A, AQxx, A10xxx, xx and opener has KQ10,KJ, Kx, Kxxxx then 3N looks preferable to 5D.

Now, if there were a way to mix in 4 suit transfers to add more combinations then more of these hand types could be bid.

Only 12 cards but if I bid 3D and partner bids 3N I will pass. I don't share other peoples optimism on a 14 count with AT9xxxx as my suit after partner bids 3N over 3D.

You're right you can't know partners stiff but you can infer his shortness. For instance if you have bad hearts and KQT of spades, you will bid 3S and partner will bid 3N with short spades. If he has long spades and shortness elsewhere he will bid something other than 3N and that's fine. When my hand is KQT KJ Kx Kxxxxx then I would bid 3N since I have everything well stopped and a bad hand/fit.

[JLOGIC]

aguahombre, on 2013-May-06, 19:22, said:

That was not what I was suggesting. But, after Stayman and then 3D:

1NT-2C
2S-3D

or

1NT-2C
2D-3D...Opener Cues for Diamonds or bids 3NT. If responder did not have a slam try, he doesn't try for slam thereafter. If responder had mild slam interest, he might not continue toward one after the 3NT bid. If responder still is interested in slam knowing Opener was not enthused with diamonds, he moves on.

The concern about a stiff somewhere dissipates with Opener's 3NT bid after 3D.

Ok I understand you, you are talking more about openers response to 3D than the 3D bid showing slam interest. I was just voicing my opinion that it is borderline unplayable to play 3D shows slam interest. Yes, sometimes you have some decisions over 3D when you have both majors well stopped and also a somewhat slam suitable hand. I guess that is the downside but I think it usually works itself out. That downside compared to bidding 3N over 2D with a stiff major is very small imo and that is more what I was talking about, how to respond to 3D can sometimes be difficult. If the suit is clubs I think it's simple enough though since you have added room.

[Winstonm]

JLOGIC, on 2013-May-06, 23:10, said:

Only 12 cards but if I bid 3D and partner bids 3N I will pass. I don't share other peoples optimism on a 14 count with AT9xxxx as my suit after partner bids 3N over 3D.

You're right you can't know partners stiff but you can infer his shortness. For instance if you have bad hearts and KQT of spades, you will bid 3S and partner will bid 3N with short spades. If he has long spades and shortness elsewhere he will bid something other than 3N and that's fine. When my hand is KQT KJ Kx Kxxxxx then I would bid 3N since I have everything well stopped and a bad hand/fit.

I certainly know better than to argue with a multiple champion, especially one who is smarter than me. I can understand that a hand that bids 2 suits in this auction is probably questioning the wisdom of playing game in nt, so opener is advised to look at both unbids.

As usual, how you think about these problems seems unusual at first but on deeper reflection turns out to be playable and probably better.