[ahydra]

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Scene: East is playing in a county level event. He holds the above cards. To his right is David Stevenson.

East (thinking quietly to himself): Oh, I have a perfect opening bid for this hand!

His partner places a STOP card on the table, followed by 3D. North passes. East begins cursing. He eventually reaches into his box and pulls out...?

ahydra

[Hanoi5]

3♥. How's the vulnerability?

[nige1]

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IMO 4♣* = 10, 3♥ = 9, 5♦ = 8, 3N = 4, Pass = 3.
* Key-ask: 4♦ = 0, 4♥ = 1, 4♠ = 1 + Q, 4N = 2, 5♣ = 2 + Q.
If partner has a miracle (2 keys + ♦Q), then try 6♦; if 0/1 keys then pass; otherwise settle for 5♦

[Winstonm]

Completely screwed so I stay that way and try to bid most of my hand, not all of it, and I do that with 4H. Imperfect, but it gets across the message that I have a very fine hand and it gets us to a game contract.

[gordontd]

Winstonm, on 2013-June-23, 16:17, said:

Completely screwed so I stay that way and try to bid most of my hand, not all of it, and I do that with 4H. Imperfect, but it gets across the message that I have a very fine hand and it gets us to a game contract.

That's not bidding your hand at all. Isn't bidding 3♥ obvious? If you did have to make a stab at a game contract (which you don't) I wouldn't have thought 4♥ would be the first choice.

[P_Marlowe]

4NT key card for diamonds, 6D is a bit to fast.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Winstonm]

gordontd, on 2013-June-23, 16:24, said:

That's not bidding your hand at all. Isn't bidding 3♥ obvious? If you did have to make a stab at a game contract (which you don't) I wouldn't have thought 4♥ would be the first choice.

You don't think partner might pass 3H or 4C? Also, 4H is a stronger bid than 3H, so I don't quite get your point.

[y66]

Winstonm, on 2013-June-24, 13:02, said:

You don't think partner might pass 3H or 4C?

3H is forcing. So is 4C.

I think the problem is what do you do after pard responds 4D to 3H.

[Winstonm]

y66, on 2013-June-24, 13:56, said:

3H is forcing. So is 4C.

I think the problem is what do you do after pard responds 4D to 3H.

Good god - I thought I was in overcall position but I am responding to 3D opening. 3H,wtp?

[ahydra]

OK, this is the bit where I reveal my embarassing 3D opener:

♠QJ8
♥6
♦KJ9643
♣T96

I was in 1st position green vs red.

We bid 3D-3H; 3NT-4C; 4H-pass. Partner was not happy , but did make the contract - with an overtrick no less. And they were in the same thing at the other table!

So, how about passing 3NT?

ahydra

[P_Marlowe]

ahydra, on 2013-June-24, 14:35, said:

<snip>

I was in 1st position green vs red.
<snip>
ahydra

This is certainly missing in the post describing the scenery.

[y66]

I think it's ok to open 3D but yeah, discuss this. I think 3N should be a hand that can't bid 3S to show a stopper or 4D to show a weak hand unsuitable for no-trump or 4H to show support. But 3N there seems ok to me. I don't understand 4H. I would raise 4C to 5C.