[luis]

whereagles, on Jan 27 2005, 02:12 PM, said:

Thx all for the suggestions

I too think responder is a bit too good for a single raise. A 7,5 loser hand deserves at least a game try, if not game outright. Ok, probably not worth forcing to game given the sub-par hcp strenght.

The hand should have been bid, I believe, via the semi-forcing 1NT. The 1NT can be passed, but that's very rare (11-12 hcp, 5332, scattered honors - you probably won't make 4 in this case). So..

1♠ 1NT
2♣ 3♠
4♠ <-- maybe pass works well too, but vuln at imps and with a singleton, 4 is probably mandatory.

I wouldn't dismiss a direct 1♠-3♥ splinter raise, albeit responder has only 3 cards. If responder is optimistic and considers he has a game force, it could go..

1♠ 2♣
2♠ 3♠ <-- not 4♠ - that would be a picture bid.
3NT 4♠ <-- 3NT frivolous. Better than a straight 4♠, as responder could still have extras.

Curious tactics Mr Watson!
If you bid 1NT followed by 3s expecting pd to bid 4s with a minimum hand then why don't you bid 4s and rest in peace? Seriously, how bad can it be to play 4s down 1? Just to make sure you don't play 3s making 5 when opener has a fitting minimum.
I think that 1s followed by 3s is a very bad distortion of the hand since it's a strength based invitation, you expect opener to go to 4 if he doesn't have a normal minimum but with responder's hand a lot of minimums will produce game. If for some reason you decide to invite you need to show the heart singleton, because the key to make opener evaluate correctly if he has to bid game or not is to know that you have a heart singleton. If you don't have a way to show the singleton in an INV sequence then just bid 4s.
All this if you think you have to invite I really think it's more practical to just look for the best game for your side (can be 4s, 5d or 5c, even 3NT) instead of flirting with the idea of stopping below game.

[whereagles]

luis, on Jan 27 2005, 04:07 PM, said:

I think that 1s followed by 3s is a very bad distortion of the hand since it's a strength based invitation

I know, but what else can I do? This is the only way we have to show a limit raise.

Another possibility would be to play mixed trials, e.g.

1♠....2♠
2NT..3♣
3♦....4♠

2NT = trial with undefined singleton.
3♣ = waiting bid.
3♦ = diam singleton.

It could also go

1♠....2♠
2NT..3♥ <--- relay evasion, responder shows a singleton of its own.
4♠

But that assumes opener won't pass the constructive raise, which isn't a clear-cut action. Of course, opener is more likely to go on if he has the mixed trial gadget.

[cherdano]

If the auction starts
1♠-1NT-2♣,
I think it is not unreasonable to jump to 4♠. Now responder knows about a double fit, and that both his queens are of full worth.

I still like the mini-splinter. Even if I would prefer to have a 4th trump, it is the only invitation after which I will feel good about partner either accepting or rejecting it.

[whereagles]

cherdano, on Jan 27 2005, 05:08 PM, said:

If the auction starts
1♠-1NT-2♣,
I think it is not unreasonable to jump to 4♠. Now responder knows about a double fit, and that both his queens are of full worth.

Hum.. I hadn't thought of that. Now his 7,5 losers become a fine 7 losers and 4♠ is clear-cut.

[mila85]

whereagles, on Jan 27 2005, 10:43 AM, said:

...
Another possibility would be to play mixed trials.
...
But that assumes opener won't pass the constructive raise, which isn't a clear-cut action. Of course, opener is more likely to go on if he has the mixed trial gadget.

From my point of view opener has no reason not to pass 2s.
He has bad 13 points, 7 loosers,....
(Maybe if he plays mixed trials for the first time and wants to try how it works )

[mike777]

All this forcing to game?

I guess your partners never open on AKJXX=KXX=XXX=XX IN FIRST SEAT vul, where 2s can go down. or NV with AKJXX=QXX=XXX=XX.
Style does matter! Knowing the double fit is nice here or non wastage in all the side suits seems to be the key here not counting pts.