[nickf]

The Summer Festival of Bridge in Canberra has a history of throwing up freak hands late in the event. This is a 17 round , 16bd Swiss between 242 teams split into two fields.

This pearl came up early, in Round 7.

Vul vs not Partner deals and opens 3D. He's an honest guy so his pre-empt will be sound.

You're still sorting your hand into two suits and eventually discover you hold

void
AKT32
void
AKQT9843

Before you answer, you are constrained by the system imposed upon me. 4C by you is a slam invitation requesting cue bidding Italian style (1st or 2nd round ctls).

For what its worth, this is half way through the match, you are confident you are well up as your dear partner has just made 4Dx (unbeatable) on the previous board and earlier made 6Cx.

Over to you.

nickf
canberra

[the hog]

Its about time you two posted some reasonable results. Justin was on the phone complaining today. (Just kidding). I bid 3H, Nick. We play 1 step shows 0-1 cards, 2 steps shows 2 cards, 3 steps shows 3 cards. If pd shows 3 cards I will try 5NT to check for honours in the H suit, and if he shows 0 sign off with 6H, else bid 7C

Datum was 1240 NS

[helene_t]

4♦. Over 4♠ I bid 5♣ and hope that the opp's double.

[Free]

I also bid 3♥. If partner has support, we can go to 6♥ or 7♥, when he doesn't show support, we'll end up in 7♣.

[Chamaco]

I bid 4D followed by 6C unless pard shows hearts (in which cas i will use RKCB to find about the trump Q to bid 7).
(BTW: 3H is NON forcing so a clear underbid).

[Free]

Chamaco, on Jan 18 2005, 11:56 AM, said:

(BTW: 3H is NON forcing so a clear underbid).

3♥ IS forcing...

[Chamaco]

Free, on Jan 18 2005, 11:02 AM, said:

Chamaco, on Jan 18 2005, 11:56 AM, said:

(BTW: 3H is NON forcing so a clear underbid).

3♥ IS forcing...

Not in "normal" methods.
If your pard is broke he is allowed to pass.
Actually - playing normal methods - he will pass most hands in the 0-7 hcp trange without support or distributional features.(see for instance, the "Rule of Seven" suggested by Mike Lawrence : http://www.bridge-fo...ce_lecture.html )

There may be good reasons to play it as forcing, winning in hands like the current one (but losing when pard is broke and LHO is sitting for penalties... , or more simply when 3H would be the right contract.. or when it is already an overbid but undoubled ), but without agreements, 3H is not forcing, although strongly suggesting to pard to show any signs of life.

But I know not everyone likes "standard" methods !

[nickf]

3H not forcing? I don't believe that. 3H is always forcing.

back to the hand.

I dare anyone to say they don't want to play 7C. What's the worst answer 3H could ellicit? 4D ? Then what? You still really really want to bid 7C, dont' you?

I bid 7C. I would have opened 7C if the bidding had gone pass pass to me.

nickf
canberra

[Chamaco]

nickf, on Jan 18 2005, 12:55 PM, said:

3H not forcing? I don't believe that. 3H is always forcing.

Oops I misread.
I thought OPPONENTS HAD PREEMPTED, not partner.
Ia pologize for the lack of attention.
I agree with you and Free, of course.

[the hog]

I was wondering why you bid 4D Mauro.

[arrows]

Holding this hand is like in the nut house, where anything can be right, or wrong.

I would just try to make another 6♣ doubled

[pclayton]

Nick / Ron: Look up Tom Romine / Bob Carter from Montana while you are there. They are some old acquaintances of mine. They said they have done pretty well so far.

[flytoox]

I think here 3H is a well-thought call. If pd has no support, then presumally you can ruff your heart loser in dummy by bidding 6C. If pd can raise hearts you can play some number of hearts.

I think I will be happy with 6 most of the time.

[the hog]

pclayton, on Jan 19 2005, 07:51 AM, said:

Nick / Ron: Look up Tom Romine / Bob Carter from Montana while you are there. They are some old acquaintances of mine. They said they have done pretty well so far.

Phil, your friends are currently in 35th spot. Nick's team and my ex pd are in 17th spot. Nick posted this hand. However your friends have not played any decent teams yet.

Unfortunately I am not there this year - family duties. Interested in 2006?

[Fluffy]

After reading the posts I was happy with the 3♥ intention of many, but I though deeper and found my partner is gonna auto raise with ♥Qx, ♥Jx and maybe ♥xx also, wich makes ♥ contracts poor, also partner may give a preference to ♥ after 7♣ if he has ♣ singleton or void.

All in all no bid is perfect, since most people is trying 3♥ I'll be happy with just 6♣.